MCAT retake materials

[premed67783]

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I'm applying for 2012 matriculation, but so far I have 0 acceptances and 4 waitlists. My MCAT score expires this year (that 3 year rule is bs, btw), so I've already signed up to retake it on June 21. I did very well the first time (38Q, 10V 14P 14B), and I'd like to make sure I do just as well, if not better, this time.

Does anyone have suggestions of what study materials I should use? I used Princeton Review last time, and it was great, but I'd like to use something new, and maybe more in depth. I'm really looking to find what MCAT study materials would be best suited for someone who already took them and did well, but would like to do even better.

suggestions?

 

[naomisky]

I was in your shoes last year (well, minus 3 waitlists, and my original score was only 31). I acutally re-purchased the Kaplan "on demand" online materials. Seems crazy to look over the same material but you'll be surprised how much MCAT you forgot in 3 years. I pulled my score up to a 38 and got in this year. Also, I studied much longer (3 months vs. 3 weeks) and dropped my fulltime work down to 24 hr/week.
Examkrackers has a great VR book. I like Kaplan for PS and BS because their questions are of similar scope to real MCAT Q's, with slightly harder calculations needed.

good luck to you; write lots of sweet interest letters and get off those waitlists!

 

[SeminoleVesicle]

TBR for sciences, EK for VR, AAMC and GS practice tests got my score up 5 points FWIW.

Sorry to hear about your situation.

 

[premed67783]

TBR for sciences, EK for VR, AAMC and GS practice tests got my score up 5 points FWIW.

Sorry to hear about your situation.

by "TBR", you mean "The Berkeley Review", yes?

 

[SeminoleVesicle]

by "TBR", you mean "The Berkeley Review", yes?

Yep! There are always people selling used copies on here, Ebay, and Craigslist so keep your eyes open. They helped me get up 4 points in PS and 3 points in BS.

 

[cincincyreds]

I'm applying for 2012 matriculation, but so far I have 0 acceptances and 4 waitlists. My MCAT score expires this year (that 3 year rule is bs, btw), so I've already signed up to retake it on June 21. I did very well the first time (38Q, 10V 14P 14B), and I'd like to make sure I do just as well, if not better, this time.

Does anyone have suggestions of what study materials I should use? I used Princeton Review last time, and it was great, but I'd like to use something new, and maybe more in depth. I'm really looking to find what MCAT study materials would be best suited for someone who already took them and did well, but would like to do even better.

suggestions?

How did you manage to not get into med school with a 38Q on the MCAT?

 

[premed67783]

How did you manage to not get into med school with a 38Q on the MCAT?

probably my 3.38 cGPA

 

[yankeefan18]

probably my 3.38 cGPA

3.4c and 3.6s gpa's supplemented by a 38 MCAT and 3.7gpa in a SMP is more than a solid starting off point for your application. Based upon this, it's conceivable there are other portions of your application that are holding you back. Hopefully one of the waitlists will work out for you, but given those strong stats, I think it would be worth your while to evaluate some other potential areas of improvement for your application if need be.

You could broaden your list of schools (although I realize your current list isn't all that unbalanced), rewrite your personal statement, work on interviewing skills, etc. Your EC's look pretty good so I highly doubt that's what may be holding you back.

By the way, I realize this isn't relevant to your original post but it may be something to think about. Definitely write those letters of interest and hopefully the point will be moo (you know…like a cow's opinion…it just doesn't matter).

 

[premed67783]

3.4c and 3.6s gpa's supplemented by a 38 MCAT and 3.7gpa in a SMP is more than a solid starting off point for your application. Based upon this, it's conceivable there are other portions of your application that are holding you back. Hopefully one of the waitlists will work out for you, but given those strong stats, I think it would be worth your while to evaluate some other potential areas of improvement for your application if need be.

You could broaden your list of schools (although I realize your current list isn't all that unbalanced), rewrite your personal statement, work on interviewing skills, etc. Your EC's look pretty good so I highly doubt that's what may be holding you back.

By the way, I realize this isn't relevant to your original post but it may be something to think about. Definitely write those letters of interest and hopefully the point will be moo (you know…like a cow's opinion…it just doesn't matter).

coming from a big agricultural school, i appreciate any and all cow puns

From what I've gathered, my only weakness is the wording of my activities/PS. It's silly that something as arbitrary as that would mean someone else gets my spot in med school, but that's just how med admissions is: arbitrary.

I want to be clear: I'm not retaking the MCATs just to improve my score.... I'm only retaking them because my score expires this year. I get the feeling that I'm coming across as trying to strengthen my application by raising my MCAT.

 

[Praefectus]

I highly recommend EK. I'm taking the MCAT this Friday and I feel confident after utilizing that material for ~3 months.

 

[CodeRedDew]

I have no idea how you didn't get accepted somewhere when you've applied to the multitude of schools listed in your MDapps profile. Given your MCAT score, ECs, and even SMP attendance/GPA someone is BOUND to accept you. A 3.4/3.5 GPA/Science GPA is not terrible. I know people who have gotten in with fewer ECs, lower GPAs, and lower MCAT scores than what you have. Something is not right here!

 

[yankeefan18]

coming from a big agricultural school, i appreciate any and all cow puns

From what I've gathered, my only weakness is the wording of my activities/PS. It's silly that something as arbitrary as that would mean someone else gets my spot in med school, but that's just how med admissions is: arbitrary.

I want to be clear: I'm not retaking the MCATs just to improve my score.... I'm only retaking them because my score expires this year. I get the feeling that I'm coming across as trying to strengthen my application by raising my MCAT.

Definitely understood you're not taking the MCAT for the sake of score improvement. My point is along the same lines of RedDew. That being it may be worthwhile to take an objective look at the application as a whole to make sure you're taking advantage of opportunities for improvement because from what we're seeing, something isn't quite adding up.

Oh and my two cents on the MCAT material...I had experience with Kaplan, EK and Princeton and I think Princeton is by far the best. EK is a great way to supplement TPR and in my opinion Kaplan is awful. In addition, you were obviously very successful with TPR the first go around so if it ain't broke, don't fix it. You'd be surprised how much you've forgotten anyway.

Best of luck to you.

 

[crazyasian]

Berkley Review. It is amazing albeit expensive. But like the last post said do something more to improve your app. You have an amazing app, something must have sent off red flags. if you have 4 interviews and 4 waitlists maybe practice interviewing there are good books that help alot. I used the medical school interview by Jeremiah Fleeno and it helped alot

 

[premed67783]

Berkley Review. It is amazing albeit expensive. But like the last post said do something more to improve your app. You have an amazing app, something must have sent off red flags. if you have 4 interviews and 4 waitlists maybe practice interviewing there are good books that help alot. I used the medical school interview by Jeremiah Fleeno and it helped alot

I read the same book. It didn't help me as much, apparently.