MCAT went down second time... what to do?

[mountainmed89]

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In need of advice:

I was about to submit my applications for a second time after getting waitlisted this last application cycle. I REALLY did not feel good about my MCAT re-take and almost voided after, but decided to go for it.

Unfortunately, just found out my MCAT score went down 2 points this time around to a much less desirable score than my already mediocre score the first time.

My EC's are great, GPA ~3.7, and have tons of clinical experience without going into too much detail. I wasn't planning to apply to top tier schools anyway.

Is it even worth reapplying at this point? Please help, I don't have anybody else to give advice on this.

 

[Goro]

What are your scores???????

 

[mountainmed89]

What are your scores???????

504 --> 502

 

[CaptainPoopyPants]

PA school or DO medical school.

 

[ndafife]

State of residence?

 

[Lucca]

You scored within the confidence interval of the first. Your score essentially didn’t change. Neither score is doing you much good though

 

[Goro]

504 --> 502 :/

Apply broadly to DO schools

 

[mountainmed89]

Apply broadly to DO schools

Should I not bother to apply to any MD programs? Not the one I got waitlisted for this cycle?

 

[deleted804295]

Should I not bother to apply to any MD programs? Not the one I got waitlisted for this cycle?

No, you won't have a chance at applying MD with your MCAT score and not at the school you got waitlisted at- you got waitlisted with a higher MCAT score, schools want to see improvement.

Ideally, candidates wait a year in between applications but as you're already determined to apply this cycle apply DO. If you want to be a doctor you shouldn't care about the two letters behind your name.

Best of luck.

 

[mountainmed89]

I don't care about what kind of healthcare provider I become as long as I become one, but do I even have a chance at DO programs without any DO exposure? Do I wait to reapply? I'm so confused as to what to do next. I feel like my whole life trajectory has changed because of this.

 

[mountainmed89]

No, you won't have a chance at applying MD with your MCAT score and not at the school you got waitlisted at- you got waitlisted with a higher MCAT score, schools want to see improvement.

Ideally, candidates wait a year in between applications but as you're already determined to apply this cycle apply DO. If you want to be a doctor you shouldn't care about the two letters behind your name.

Best of luck.

Thanks, I appreciate your insight. I'm still on the fence though, because the school has a minimum MCAT/GPA requirement, then after that is met, they are blinded from scores. Plus, other areas of my application have improved since last year. Does that change things?

 

[ndafife]

Should I not bother to apply to any MD programs? Not the one I got waitlisted for this cycle?

What changed in your application between that cycle and now other than your MCAT getting worse?

 

[mountainmed89]

What changed in your application between that cycle and now other than your MCAT getting worse?

More profound clinical work experience & an improved PS

 

[Goro]

Should I not bother to apply to any MD programs? Not the one I got waitlisted for this cycle?

Your scores are lethal for MD

 

[medschoolcoach_]

While disappointing, the 504 --> 502 is within a normal score variation. With a 3.7 GPA and a 504/2 MCAT score, your chances aren't fabulous, but they are absolutely not 0. You should absolutely apply again to MD schools this year (choose the school list wisely) but I would highly recommend also applying to DO schools. Excluding probably ~100 anecdotal students that have gotten in with that score that I've worked with, if you look at simple AAMC data this should tell you all you need to know: applicants with a 3.7 GPA, 502-505 MCAT have acceptance rate ~38%. Not terrible at all. Of course, lots of variables in that data (ethnicity, state of residence, etc), but it gives a baseline for consideration. You should not give up on this dream!

 

[BostonGeorge]

Your scores are lethal for MD

Why would you tell someone their scores are "lethal" when according to the AAMC data they have roughly a 40% chance?

 

[mountainmed89]

While disappointing, the 504 --> 502 is within a normal score variation. With a 3.7 GPA and a 504/2 MCAT score, your chances aren't fabulous, but they are absolutely not 0. You should absolutely apply again to MD schools this year (choose the school list wisely) but I would highly recommend also applying to DO schools. Excluding probably ~100 anecdotal students that have gotten in with that score that I've worked with, if you look at simple AAMC data this should tell you all you need to know: applicants with a 3.7 GPA, 502-505 MCAT have acceptance rate ~38%. Not terrible at all. Of course, lots of variables in that data (ethnicity, state of residence, etc), but it gives a baseline for consideration. You should not give up on this dream!

Thank you for the encouragement! My concern, however, is mostly in the fact that my score decreased. I don't know how severely that will hurt me.

 

[Goro]

Why would you tell someone their scores are "lethal" when according to the AAMC data they have roughly a 40% chance?

Because people are unfamiliar with where those stats came from. URM, veterans, mission fulfillers, grads of school-linked SMPs, and people who live in lucky states skew those numbers. How many people exactly had a 40% chance with a ~503 and 3.7? Ten? 1000?

 

[BurntFlower]

If you are URM, then do apply to some MD (depending how strong your ECs/letters are and if you got their mission) and DO schools. If not, then only apply DO. Shadow a DO ASAP. Most DO schools require a letter from a physician. If you are willing to retake a third time and forget this cycle, then wait for your score and proceed accordingly.

 

[mountainmed89]

If you are URM, then do apply to some MD (depending how strong your ECs/letters are and if you got their mission) and DO schools. If not, then only apply DO. Shadow a DO ASAP. Most DO schools require a letter from a physician. If you are willing to retake a third time and forget this cycle, then wait for your score and proceed accordingly.

I've read some places that retaking a 3rd time is lethal. Is that true?

 

[BurntFlower]

People have gotten in with retaking the MCAT 3+ times. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it lethal? Depends on what score you get.

 

[MyOdyssey]

I've read some places that retaking a 3rd time is lethal. Is that true?

What would you do to prepare for your third MCAT attempt that you didn't do before?

How much time and money can you devote to raising your MCAT score?

 

[Typeracer]

If you cross reference the AAMC data, showing 38% of people get in with those scores, with the data showing how many URMs are matriculating and what their mean stats are, it's pretty easy to see that's where those matriculants are coming from. If OP is an URM, he/she should absolutely throw in apps to MD programs. If not, I'd only do it if you have money to spare, and I'd focus your attention primarily on DO programs since your stats are very competitive there.

 

[mountainmed89]

What would you do to prepare for your third MCAT attempt that you didn't do before?

How much time and money can you devote to raising your MCAT score?

The reality of it is I really was much more prepared for this MCAT but I unexpectedly panicked on test day. I know I can study more and study harder but part of me is concerned I will get even worst test anxiety knowing this is a make or break test to prove that I am capable of better.

And as far as time and money goes, I work full-time, so not as much time as others may have. Not enough money to afford a test prep class but enough to afford to retake.

 

[Goro]

The reality of it is I really was much more prepared for this MCAT but I unexpectedly panicked on test day. I know I can study more and study harder but part of me is concerned I will get even worst test anxiety knowing this is a make or break test to prove that I am capable of better.

And as far as time and money goes, I work full-time, so not as much time as others may have. Not enough money to afford a test prep class but enough to afford to retake.

If you don't get control over your panic disorder, med school will kill you.

 

[MyOdyssey]

The reality of it is I really was much more prepared for this MCAT but I unexpectedly panicked on test day. I know I can study more and study harder but part of me is concerned I will get even worst test anxiety knowing this is a make or break test to prove that I am capable of better.

And as far as time and money goes, I work full-time, so not as much time as others may have. Not enough money to afford a test prep class but enough to afford to retake.

You're getting further and further away from the basic science and social science that makes up the core of the MCAT.

What was your best, timed full length practice MCAT exam score?

What was your latest, timed full length practice MCAT exam score?

Where did you underperform on the real, 2d MCAT exam you took?

How would you improve that?

Can you afford to take 3 months off (for example) to devote to the MCAT?