MCAT this sat but practice scores are low

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
M

Mash43

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
May 15, 2012
Messages
78
Reaction score
0
Members do not see this ad.
I took the MCAT last year and ended up getting a 24P. I have been studying for about 3 months for the 5/19/12 test but not as hard as I was last year. My last 4 practice tests with AAMC scores have been a 21,24,22,22 ....I want to apply this cycle for D.O. schools. But since my practice test scores are around my previous score i dont know if it is a good idea to take the test and risk getting a lower score the second time. Should i wait and take the test in mid august. if so does that put me in a bad position to apply this cycle??
my best score on a practice test last year was a 23 and ended up doing better so i felt a little better but i was still unhappy....I dont know if i should roll the dice and take the test this sat.
any advice would be appreciated!
thanks 😕
 
Assuming you've been studying hard, maybe your limit is ~24. I don't think anymore time would've helped increase my score. Sometimes you just have to accept your limits.

Now, if you haven't been studying hard, that's another story.
 
FrkyBgStok said:
Take it and void. You are better waiting another month than getting another 24 or worse.
Click to expand...
i have heard from some that take it while gauging your performance during the test and deciding at the end to void or not. I feel like thats not the smartest move cuz it will lead to second guessing. Also, if I am going to void I wont actually ever get to see my score or learn from my mistakes, so is it even worth it?
 
Mash43 said:
i have heard from some that take it while gauging your performance during the test and deciding at the end to void or not. I feel like thats not the smartest move cuz it will lead to second guessing. Also, if I am going to void I wont actually ever get to see my score or learn from my mistakes, so is it even worth it?
Click to expand...

Most people think their score is going to be less than it really is. I thought I got an 8-9 on PS and I ended up with an 11. Thought I got a 10 on VR, got an 11. BS is a different story though. I thought I got a 12-13 and got an 11.
 
Have you passed some deadline where you can postpone to another date, or is it still possible with just a monetary penalty? Either way, I was in your position when I first took the MCAT. I was registered for a date then postponed it for another 2-3 months because I knew I wasn't ready.

What have you been doing differently this time for studying? You didn't give a breakdown of your 24P, so just be sure to focus on your weaknesses and don't forget to also review your strengths.
 
Mash43 said:
I took the MCAT last year and ended up getting a 24P. I have been studying for about 3 months for the 5/19/12 test but not as hard as I was last year. My last 4 practice tests with AAMC scores have been a 21,24,22,22 ....I want to apply this cycle for D.O. schools. But since my practice test scores are around my previous score i dont know if it is a good idea to take the test and risk getting a lower score the second time. Should i wait and take the test in mid august. if so does that put me in a bad position to apply this cycle??
my best score on a practice test last year was a 23 and ended up doing better so i felt a little better but i was still unhappy....I dont know if i should roll the dice and take the test this sat.
any advice would be appreciated!
thanks 😕
Click to expand...

this may be the reason you are not scoring well on your practice test. After getting your first score, you should have put your all into preparing for the retake. My advice is to postpone, study as if your life is depending on this test, then retake. good luck!
 
I wouldn't take it again without being confident that you are going to score better than your last one. Adcoms aren't too impressed with getting a lower score on a retake, though it's not necessarily a kiss of death. I would keep studying over the summer and take it again in late July or August.

And no, postponing your app until late summer isn't going to negatively affect your application by much.
 
Don't take it right now. Looks like it's too late to cancel (or maybe I'm reading it the wrong way). Wouldn't hurt to go take the test and void...could help to get you in gear for the one you're taking next.
 
NeuroLAX said:
Have you passed some deadline where you can postpone to another date, or is it still possible with just a monetary penalty? Either way, I was in your position when I first took the MCAT. I was registered for a date then postponed it for another 2-3 months because I knew I wasn't ready.

What have you been doing differently this time for studying? You didn't give a breakdown of your 24P, so just be sure to focus on your weaknesses and don't forget to also review your strengths.
Click to expand...
8 PS
7 VR
9 BS

The first time I was using Kaplan materials. Although for the VR I didnt use their mapping strategy. I thought that was stupid...This time i used EK materials. The weird thing is that 2 months ago I was scoring 25 and 26. Just the last month i have been in a slump..

I guess i will just either void or skip this weekend. Retake in August and apply. Now the question is, should i work on my apps and try to get them out asap or just submit them in around september.
Thanks for all the feedback so far!
 
Well you might as well take it just to get more practice. You are out the money anyway. I suppose you don't have to and you have already taken one so you know the routine, so I suppose it doesn't matter.
 
MedPR said:
Most people think their score is going to be less than it really is. I thought I got an 8-9 on PS and I ended up with an 11. Thought I got a 10 on VR, got an 11. BS is a different story though. I thought I got a 12-13 and got an 11.
Click to expand...
My score was 7 to 4 points higher than it was on my practice tests.
 
I would not chance it. You need to be confident in your ability and have a solid grasp of the material. Although practice test are not always 100% in their predictions, it is a good gauge. Fill out your apps and get verified ( as this will be the longest process ) and apply to at least one school. Mark in your app that you will be retaking it at a ( insert date ), that way everything will just be waiting on your MCAT score and you will only be applying a little late.
Good luck
 
Don't rush it. Take the test when you know that you're ready.

/thread
 
I agree, since you're out the cash anyway, take it and void it at the end, applying late in the cycle this year is a bad plan, you don't have a high enough score to overcome a late app, so maybe see if you can scrounge the money for an official class? I have heard they help for people who have a hard time committing to studying hard...
 
SBB2016 said:
I agree, since you're out the cash anyway, take it and void it at the end, applying late in the cycle this year is a bad plan, you don't have a high enough score to overcome a late app, so maybe see if you can scrounge the money for an official class? I have heard they help for people who have a hard time committing to studying hard...
Click to expand...
you think sending my apps out early and pending a better score retake in august is a bad idea?
from what i have read around here, august isn't too late....?
 
Did I miss somewhere that you have a 4.0? I applied with a 26, was complete by mid-june because my MCAT was mid May, and I already had IIs in Aug... I am not entirely sure where you heard that August isn't late, but it is for you. You don't have a 3.9 with a 35. If you have a 3.9, you still only are applying with a 24, and that's what your practice test have given you across the board. My personal opinion, FWIW, is that you should beg/borrow to get the money to take a prep course and apply next cycle. If you want the BEST POSSIBLE chance of getting in, you do your application ONCE and you do it RIGHT the FIRST time. The later you apply the more of a disadvantage you have... This is just how it is...
 
Mash43 said:
I took the MCAT last year and ended up getting a 24P. I have been studying for about 3 months for the 5/19/12 test but not as hard as I was last year. My last 4 practice tests with AAMC scores have been a 21,24,22,22 ....I want to apply this cycle for D.O. schools. But since my practice test scores are around my previous score i dont know if it is a good idea to take the test and risk getting a lower score the second time. Should i wait and take the test in mid august. if so does that put me in a bad position to apply this cycle??
my best score on a practice test last year was a 23 and ended up doing better so i felt a little better but i was still unhappy....I dont know if i should roll the dice and take the test this sat.
any advice would be appreciated!
thanks 😕
Click to expand...
If your GPAs are 3.4+, why not apply early with the 24 and see what happens. I would not retake if I were you with these practice scores.
 
It really depends on how well you do. The problem is that with you averaging 23. Pushing it back 3 months gives you ample study time, but clearly you need to relearn some stuff. if you have a good gpa and you get a 28+ you could probably end up being ok. your chances aren't great, but they aren't horrible. If you get another bad score though, august is way too late. It is entirely up to you. Realistically, how much do you think you can raise your average?
 
FrkyBgStok said:
It really depends on how well you do. The problem is that with you averaging 23. Pushing it back 3 months gives you ample study time, but clearly you need to relearn some stuff. if you have a good gpa and you get a 28+ you could probably end up being ok. your chances aren't great, but they aren't horrible. If you get another bad score though, august is way too late. It is entirely up to you. Realistically, how much do you think you can raise your average?
Click to expand...
i have a c3.49 gpa and a s3.31...but i read on some post that DO schools count Exercise Science as science courses?? not sure if this is true but if that is the case then my science gpa should rise.
I really think if i change my approach a little bit and concentrate harder i can come up to about 26-28...
I guess i could just apply to one school early and get verified till my retake score comes out in september. and then add schools based on the score. I have heard plenty of success stories with ppl scoring around 25-26 and getting in. so im just being hopeful..
 
Mash43 said:
i have a c3.49 gpa and a s3.31...but i read on some post that DO schools count Exercise Science as science courses?? not sure if this is true but if that is the case then my science gpa should rise.
I really think if i change my approach a little bit and concentrate harder i can come up to about 26-28...
I guess i could just apply to one school early and get verified till my retake score comes out in september. and then add schools based on the score. I have heard plenty of success stories with ppl scoring around 25-26 and getting in. so im just being hopeful..
Click to expand...
Apply early...you might get in with the 24 mcat...
 
Mash43 said:
i have a c3.49 gpa and a s3.31...but i read on some post that DO schools count Exercise Science as science courses?? not sure if this is true but if that is the case then my science gpa should rise.
I really think if i change my approach a little bit and concentrate harder i can come up to about 26-28...
I guess i could just apply to one school early and get verified till my retake score comes out in september. and then add schools based on the score. I have heard plenty of success stories with ppl scoring around 25-26 and getting in. so im just being hopeful..
Click to expand...

Temperature101 said:
Apply early...you might get in with the 24 mcat...
Click to expand...


Yea your 3.45/3.31/24 is probably about equal to my 3.2/3.22/33.
 
MedPR said:
I was being serious. I thought GPA counts for a lot more than MCAT?
Click to expand...
I think they are both weighted about the same. Some schools look at MCAT more while others favor GPA.
 
Look OP, Do you have any schools close to you? If so, go talk to them. Get some face time. Talk to the dean or admissions coordinator. Apply this cycle and study your A## off for the August date. If you show good improvement (i.e. 4-8 point gain which is totally doable coming from a 24 and three months to study) You should not have much of a problem getting into a school providing everything else is in order. I also took the MCAT in August but I waited to get my score before I submitted my app to aacomas. Big mistake, but even not getting my secondaries in until November third, I still got interviews and was accepted in December. Try hard and you will succeed. A 3.5 GPA and a 27+ MCAT will at least get your foot in the door somewhere, maybe not your first choice, but it will give you the chance to start this cycle. If getting in this cycle is not that important, then stop what you are doing, register for the January MCAT date and use the study course outlined on the MCAT forum of SDN (great in my opinion) and really stick to it and shoot for a 31+ MCAT to open additional doors for the next app cycle. The thought process of taking the MCAT just to void it out baffles me. Take those 8hours and go study. Whats going to happen is you will go take it and think you might have done well and not void it and get a 22. This will not look good. Many people can eventually get a good score if taken multiple times. Score well on your second attempt and don't worry about it again. You will hear many varied opinions here but you need to choose what you are most comfortable with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
multiple mcat scores
Replies
16
Views
2K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
F
Applied this cycle, MCAT Advise
Replies
7
Views
993
Faha
F
M
  • Locked
are adcoms notified when you get a new mcat score?
Replies
1
Views
758
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
A
Multiple DO As with low MCAT & "late" application
Replies
1
Views
2K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
D
DO acceptance for low MCAT score?
Replies
12
Views
7K
dial1010usa
D
Top