MCAT/Application dilemma

[hayden]

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So, I'm going to be reapplying for 2007, and i talked with an advisor at a school i am wait listed at, she told me that, obviously, to make my application better, i could retake the mcat in august. However, that means they won't look at my application till october, so thats kind of a disadvantage. My score is a 29, 10 bio, 10 physical, 9 verbal, and my gpa is a 3.55. She said they generally look for 3.6 and 30's. Just trying to weigh whether to take it again versus being able to apply early...any advice??

 

[RxnMan]

Are you going to spend a lot of time studying for the MCAT, or are you just going to take it over? Will you make real changes to your study habits? If not, then it probably isn't worth it, because you might go up a point, or down a point, and it isn't worth the hassle, time lost, or negative impact it'll have on your chances by submitting later. If you think you can raise it 3-4 points, then go for it.

Another thing is right now you're kinda in the doldrums of admissions - a lot of people have stats just like your's. Have you done anything different? Exciting? What clinical, or research experience do you have? Why should an ADCOM sit up and take notice of your app? A good MCAT will do some of this, but work hard on your essays and make sure they show your passion for this career.

 

[hayden]

If i do decide to take it, I would definitely fully commit myself to studying for it, and realistically, i think i could raise my score 3-4 points. I'm doing research at the moment and actually just published my first paper as a first author. The advisor told me they like people to have an ongoing clinical experience, so i'm starting to volunteer in an ER, description sounds like it'll be a lot of good patient interaction. I've got a few other decennt things on my application, but hopefully that kind of thing will round it out a little more. The MCAT could possibly make the different I feel, especially with how the advisor was talking. She also said I could try and raise my GPA, but that seems ridiculous, all i could do is take a couple courses, but they wouldn't have the grades until december anyway. She made it seem like, with so many good applicants, they basicaly start at 30 and 3.6 and work up.