MCAT: When to throw in the towel?

[brudog59]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello everyone.


What has made me inclined to write this post is that I have invested an extraordinary amount of time and money into MCAT prep and have yet to make enough progress that would get me into a Medical School (U.S. mainland or Caribbean). I’m hoping that someone who has taken as much crap from this test as I have will offer some insight as to what has helped them to finally make progress.

Counting this upcoming exam, I have prepared for the MCAT on 6 separate occasions. I have sat for the sat for the actual exam 3 times and only had 1 of those exams scored (8b,6p,5v). Preparation has included 3 in-class prep courses (Kaplan, Exam Krackers, & Princeton Review), a private MCAT tutor, and a general study skills program in West Virginia. I even did a special masters program to strengthen my foundational knowledge in the medical sciences. Despite all of this, I have still never managed to score better than a 22 on any of my practice exams.

To see if there were biological issues going on, I had a neuropsych evaluation done which showed that I have ADHD (FYI..those are not cheap) To address this I saw multiple specialists who put me on every ADHD medication out there, but these only made matters worse. I had terrible problems with hyperfocusing, critical thinking, and mood swings (which my wife loved btw), just to name a few. Well at least I could get testing accommodations because of my diagnosis, right?...nope. I was rejected because my attention was no more impaired than the average person my age (rather than as compared to the average college graduate). Has anyone else had this same problem??

I have scored less than a 22 on all of the 7 practice tests I have taken in the last month and a half, including on today’s exam (19). At this point, I just don’t know what to do. I’m scheduled to take the exam on August 5th and I realistically don’t think I’ll be able to produce a respectable score by then, or even if I postpone the exam until September for that matter. I could always delay my application another year and quit my job to study full time, which I would totally do if 1) I had the money to do so and 2) if I thought that time was the only limiting factor.


Has anyone else had just as many problems with the MCAT yet found a way to persevere?? Please share if you have.

 

[millepora]

A 19 should get you into any caribbean school, and if you make a 20-22 you would have a good shot at a DO school.

It seems like you have exhausted every effort and every company, so I am not to sure if there is much more you can do.

Just take the test, apply to the top 4 caribbeans (SABA, ross, SGU, AUC), and a handful of lower level new DO schools to keep the application cycle cheap, and see what happens. What have you got to lose, 1000 bucks? Fractions less than you have spent on your MCAT prep probably.

Caveat: Just consider this, if it has taken you this long to pull your score to this level, have you considered what might happen when you have to start taking your Step's, and you are on a much smaller time constraint? With the Step one you only get roughly a month to study, and it is 3 times the amount of material than what the MCAT requires.

I only say this because there will be caribbean schools that will give you a chance even if they don't fully believe in you (hence the term: for-profit) so you got to decide whether you want to chance paying out all that money for tuition.

 

[Gfliptastic]

Hi,

If you want to discuss this in the thread or PM me, LMK. I'm ex-Kaplan. I'm interested in how you are studying for it and what your focus has been on? Or what your private tutor has done with you, since I also have done private tutoring for extra $ and been really successful. (I have 3 students who's scores exceeded my own w/ the highest a 36).

Also you may question your own (I'm referring to them as) "tragic" abilities to handle the rigors of med school. There is 5-6x's the amount of information to retain for the USMLE Step 1. And that itself is administered as a day long test of 7 1-hour long sessions of 50 MCQ's. The MCAT is the 1/2 marathon compared to the MARATHON of the Step 1.

I can bet you have the purist most genuine humanitarian reasons to be a physician (as opposed to being $ hungry), so I'm just guessing you would make a great doc as far as bedside manner/patient interaction is concerned. Which is a shame. I'd rather have a compassionate person to call a colleague, than a brainy insensitive person any day.

 

[brudog59]

First off, thank you both for your swift and valuable input.

@ millepora
One thing that I haven't done is take some time to truly evaluate the DO option. I have spoken with students in DO schools who have managed obtain MD residencies, so I at least know that this is a possibility. Since I plan on practicing primary care, it would certainly be a viable option.

With regards to Caribbean schools, I have done enough digging to know that some schools place you in clinical rotations on the mainland after doing the basic medical science coursework on their school. The residency match list for Ross seems pretty good.

I actually applied to Ponce School of Medicine in PR, which not a "Caribbean Medical school" per se since it is LCME approved, and made it as far as the top group on the wait list. I didn't ultimately get in though, which may have been a blessing in disguise. When I was down there for my interview, I learned that unemployment is very high there right now and that if I had got in, my wife would have been forced to stay here in the northeast. Living separately is not something either of us want right now.

As for step one, yeah...that's going to suck. I will say though, the immersion experience of an SMP which allowed me to take med school courses alongside med students really helped to expose me to the rigors of the course load and what goes into step 1 prep. I actually got higher than a B average in my program, which means I would have definitely moved on to MS2 if I was a first year. That being said, I have such poor standardized test taking skills, which I know will come back to haunt me IF I ever make it that far. I'm just hoping that whatever I find helps me get through MCAT will help me get through step one as well.

@Gfliptastic

My MCAT tutor worked with me mostly on content rather than strategy (hindsight's 20/20). I actually have two tutors right now (orgo and verbal) who are good, but I still feel like I'm not making any progress with their help...it certainly isn't hurting (except for my wallet), but maybe my problems require something beyond private tutoring (brain transplant???).

You're right about one thing, I'm definitely not in it for the money. My goal has alway been to work as a pediatrician in medical underserved areas in the U.S. Believe me, having worked for Radiologists, Neurologists, and Cardiologists, I know the lifestyle that comes with specializing...but I still want to stick with primary care.


My plan for the next two weeks is to take 3 more practice tests (2 Princeton Review tests and AAMC 8) and just do practice passages and problems in between.

Any advice that might help me between now and August 5th?

 

[Gfliptastic]

Wish I could help tutor you. I think you are getting the wrong kind of tutoring. Which is often what happens in review classes (like Kaplan and Princeton).

The MCAT is an application test. It tests your abilities to apply what you know. It tests your ability to critically think. And critically read. It's a "predictive" exam. As opposed to other exams that merely test your ability to regurgitate what you know. Or test what you know. Not how you use it.

Problem is they (usually Kaplan and tutors) will drill you on the information. And NOT give you insight on how to use it.

Example: Name the pathway of blood from the IVC to the aorta. (traditional "drill")

The MCAT doesn't necessarily care that you can say it as quickly as your phone number. So a question using more critical thinking would be the following:

A pathogen causes a drastic drop in the resistance. What happens to the pressure in the left ventricle?

You got drilled on the pathway of blood but that won't necessarily help you answer the question.

As an MCAT tutor, I drill strategies that involve creating a practical working understanding of a subject area you can apply.

The 15 discretes x 2 will test your ability to regurgitate facts or work a formula. The passage based questions don't necessarily reward you for a memory. They reward you for critical thinking.

I teach having a system of answering questions. Based on:

What do I know about the topic?
What don't I know about the topic?
Is there an aspect of what I know that I can use to logically bridge the two together?

So when there's a passage based on EQL (Earth Quake Lights) created by seismic activity, you most likely sure has heck have NEVER studied that. But you know seismic activity is just like waves...of land. They'll have a wavelength an amplitude and a frequency. Etc.

Working knowledge is the key!

 

[avatarftw]

Hmm, sorry but a 19 seems too low for Caribbean MD schools or DO ones. The average DO matriculant has a 26 and even though there are people below the mean...a 19 does not leave you sitting pretty.

Are you actually studying enough? After all, you can't buy your way to a high score.

A 19 should get you into any caribbean school, and if you make a 20-22 you would have a good shot at a DO school.

It seems like you have exhausted every effort and every company, so I am not to sure if there is much more you can do.

Just take the test, apply to the top 4 caribbeans (SABA, ross, SGU, AUC), and a handful of lower level new DO schools to keep the application cycle cheap, and see what happens. What have you got to lose, 1000 bucks? Fractions less than you have spent on your MCAT prep probably.

Caveat: Just consider this, if it has taken you this long to pull your score to this level, have you considered what might happen when you have to start taking your Step's, and you are on a much smaller time constraint? With the Step one you only get roughly a month to study, and it is 3 times the amount of material than what the MCAT requires.

I only say this because there will be caribbean schools that will give you a chance even if they don't fully believe in you (hence the term: for-profit) so you got to decide whether you want to chance paying out all that money for tuition.

 

[millepora]

The average DO matriculant has an average of 26, but that is an average for all the schools, some of the newer ones have averages of 23-24. Every school fluctuates 3-5 points below their average so I don't see why this is not unreasonable.

I have seen people get into Ross, SABA, and AUC with sub 20 numbers. I will agree that SGU is a lot pickier because they are a much better school, so you will probably stand less of chance at them.

-----

If you plan on going into primary care that is perfect. Those residencies (especially family medicine) are extremely easy to get into. If you go caribbean that will probably be the only ones you have a shot at though, because of their reputation.

 

[TieuBachHo]

I don't know when a person should throw in the towel but I can tell you this. Many students make perpetuated mistakes early on from the very first time they learn the materials and concepts. It's very hard to break away and start over from fresh. Like the old saying, "Old habits die hard". Just forget everything you've learned sofar and study them like you've never seen the materials before. At every stages, don't just read but do some practice problems on side as well until you thoroughly understand them (Avoid using the ones that you've already done). Hold on to the practice FLs because you can only have so much. Use them effectively.

 

[CookDeRosa]

Hi,

If you want to discuss this in the thread or PM me, LMK. I'm ex-Kaplan. I'm interested in how you are studying for it and what your focus has been on? Or what your private tutor has done with you, since I also have done private tutoring for extra $ and been really successful. (I have 3 students who's scores exceeded my own w/ the highest a 36).

Also you may question your own (I'm referring to them as) "tragic" abilities to handle the rigors of med school. There is 5-6x's the amount of information to retain for the USMLE Step 1. And that itself is administered as a day long test of 7 1-hour long sessions of 50 MCQ's. The MCAT is the 1/2 marathon compared to the MARATHON of the Step 1.

I can bet you have the purist most genuine humanitarian reasons to be a physician (as opposed to being $ hungry), so I'm just guessing you would make a great doc as far as bedside manner/patient interaction is concerned. Which is a shame. I'd rather have a compassionate person to call a colleague, than a brainy insensitive person any day.

>>

I'm not trying to be discouraging, I'm trying to show you a path you possibly have not considered *and realistically, I wouldn't even suggest it until this ap cycle and you have applied and been rejected. I'm a firm believer in real rejection, not anticipated rejection. 🙂
Anyway, there is a path to nurse practitioner that is much more direct than what you'll find people here (and on nursing boards) talking about. It's called different things by different schools, but it's essentially a direct entry path. As long as you have a bachelor's degree you have met the pre-req. You essentially get fast-tracked in the first 15-20 months through the RN process, and the last portion is in a specialty. These are about 3 years. This process doesn't work if you want anesthesia- I'd explain if you want reasons- even though a few places offer it. Anyway, it's a 3 year process and you'd be a mid-level provider graduating with both an RN credential as well as an MSN. The difference that would put me into a NP program vs a PA program is the autonomy. PAs are supervised, NPs are not. I'm not going to discuss the friction between midlevel providers and docs, of course there is friction.

I hope you take my post in the way it is intended, not as a discouragement, but just giving you something else to think about if need be. Entrance will be cake compared to med school- you're bio/chem/physics/orgo sciences already exceed the prereqs. Total cost for 3 years ~$60k, income as a new grad ~$60-$70k. If you were considering family practice or OB as an MD/DO, this might be a very real option for you. The pay of a family practice for a NP is half of a doctor, however the investment is a FRACTION of medschool.

 

[Disinence2]

MCAT and the Step Exams are completely different types of exams. However if your a good test taker and a hard worker you will do well on both. If your a bad test taker and a hard worker you may do mediocre on both. If your a bad test taker and a slacker you will probably fail them.

Testing is a HUGE part of medical education, and trouble passing the very first part is a pretty big warning sign. Chances are you need to be putting in significantly more time then you think is necessary. Everyone learns at a different pace.

 

[Disinence2]

I'm not sure what hospital you work at where NP's are not supervised by MD's

Scary!

This may be a different argument, but you can't possibly be equating 4 years med school + 3 years of residency with 3 years of an accelerated nursing program.

Check out the EM thread for some more info.

If you want to be a doctor then do what it takes to go to med school!

 

[CookDeRosa]

I'm not sure what hospital you work at where NP's are not supervised by MD's

Scary!

This may be a different argument, but you can't possibly be equating 4 years med school + 3 years of residency with 3 years of an accelerated nursing program.

Check out the EM thread for some more info.

If you want to be a doctor then do what it takes to go to med school!

>>


All the words. Let's read ALL the words.

 

[brudog59]

@ Millepora
After reading your feedback, I decided to seriously consider the D.O. route. I went ahead and signed up for the D.O. mentoring program through the American Osteopathic Association's website. I was able to search through local D.O.'s and put in a request to shadow those whose area of expertise most closely matched my interests. That same day a D.O. responded and agreed to meet with me in 2 weeks (after MCAT) for an info session and shadowing.

I’m actually pretty excited to learn more about the philosophy from the practitioner’s perspective. I’ll let you know who things work out.

@TieuBachHo

Point well taken. After studying for it the first two times, I did a study skills program at Marshall University (Med H.E.L.P.) and was able to diminish many of my ineffective study habits and build new ones. Those good habits really helped me to solidify basic concepts, but as Gfliptastic astutely pointed out,

The MCAT is an application test. It tests your abilities to apply what you know. It tests your ability to critically think. And critically read. It's a "predictive" exam. As opposed to other exams that merely test your ability to regurgitate what you know. Or test what you know. Not how you use it.

With that said, my score still didn't improve because I didn’t take enough practice exams or do enough practice passages. This time around I am doing practice passages every day and have already taken 7 practice exams. This has definitely helped but now the main factor is not having enough time to do as much practice as I need. Though I started studying in early June, I have been working two jobs while doing so. Last week marked the beginning of a study vacation (from both jobs) which will run up to the day of the exam. Whereas I’d like to say those 2.5 weeks of full time studying is enough time for me to really get the most out of doing all those practice passages; realistically it might not be. My scores from the last few practice Full lengths before the test will determine this. Hopefully, I’ll see an upward trend.

@ CookdeRosa

I didn’t find your suggestions discouraging at all! The NP route is certainly a viable option. As a research coordinator, I actually work with them on a daily basis at a major cancer research institution and certainly see the benefits of becoming one in terms of debt and workload. From what I have observed, NP’s see patients with or without the accompaniment of the primary oncologist. I guess it depends on the preference of the attending physician in this particular field. My lifelong goal has been to open my own pediatric clinic, so I’ll probably give the NP route stronger consideration if the M.D. or D.O. pathways don’t work out. Thank you for your input.

@ Disinence2

I think you’ve hit the nail right on the head: I need more QUALITY time to put towards studying. As I mentioned before, I think this may be the #1 factor that is hindering my performance. Some people can study effectively after working a full day, but I am not one of those people. I really think the only way I am going to do significantly better is if I can study full time for 1-2 months; doing practice problems, passages, and full lengths.

On that point, I am trying to decide on what I should do if I don’t score greater than a 25 on a Summer MCAT (Aug 5th or Sept 11th if postponed). I’m thinking I may just save up and leave my job in late February that way I can sit for the May 1st MCAT after 2 months of pure, uninterrupted preparation. I’m also considering maybe leaving in November and taking the Jan 31st exam, with the benefit of course being just that the material may be fresher. Either way, I will need 2 full months to study for this test!

 

[2cool4u]

How sure are you that you will be able to handle the arduous work of medical school because you mentioned you have ADH? I just don't want you to drop out because you couldn't pass the tests required in medical school. Its just something to consider.

 

[brudog59]

How sure are you that you will be able to handle the arduous work of medical school because you mentioned you have ADH? I just don't want you to drop out because you couldn't pass the tests required in medical school. Its just something to consider.

I think a few med student's might take issue with ADH having a negative effect on med school performance 😛 J/k you obviously meant ADHD.

I completed a special Master's program at a local medical school that allowed me to take the same 1st year courses as the med students. Students who get accepted into the school's MD program after completing the master's program get some of these classes waived if he/she got a B or better. I got a B or better in all my courses so at the very least I can say that I will not be surprised at the shear volume of information expected to be learned in a certain time frame. Having been exposed to and tested on the same topics doesn't hurt either.

Something else that I noticed while doing the Master's program was the level of academic support that is offered to struggling medical students. It seemed like once you got in, the school takes an interest in keeping you in...which seems logical.

 

[MF863]

Omg when I read this I felt like we were living parallel lives. I have taken the MCAT 3X and 4th score is pending. I too have been recently diagnosed ADHD but inattentive type; it was missed in childhood. I too went to graduate school for a Masters in Medical Sciences and scored a B average. Don't give up! People like us are self motivators and hard workers it just takes us time to process and understand because our attention span is in spurts but we are highly intelligent just like everyone else who is applying. Unfortunately the standardized system works against us but we just gotta just be patient for our time to shine. What really helped me this time around for MCAT was that the psych prescribed me Adderall and this medication does help me focus and concentrate.

If you ever decide to retake MCAT... take 6-5 months to study and study everyday but don't exhaust your brain by straight hours pick it up and down. Make graphs, diagrams, mnemonic and relationships between topics and know the whys!!!!! This is important bc this is where MCAT is headed. Not spitting back facts. If you have any questions feel free to ask. BTW DO schools do take lower MCATs but they also like older applicants too.

 

[Laboratorian]

Hello everyone.


What has made me inclined to write this post is that I have invested an extraordinary amount of time and money into MCAT prep and have yet to make enough progress that would get me into a Medical School (U.S. mainland or Caribbean). I’m hoping that someone who has taken as much crap from this test as I have will offer some insight as to what has helped them to finally make progress.

Counting this upcoming exam, I have prepared for the MCAT on 6 separate occasions. I have sat for the sat for the actual exam 3 times and only had 1 of those exams scored (8b,6p,5v). Preparation has included 3 in-class prep courses (Kaplan, Exam Krackers, & Princeton Review), a private MCAT tutor, and a general study skills program in West Virginia. I even did a special masters program to strengthen my foundational knowledge in the medical sciences. Despite all of this, I have still never managed to score better than a 22 on any of my practice exams.

To see if there were biological issues going on, I had a neuropsych evaluation done which showed that I have ADHD (FYI..those are not cheap) To address this I saw multiple specialists who put me on every ADHD medication out there, but these only made matters worse. I had terrible problems with hyperfocusing, critical thinking, and mood swings (which my wife loved btw), just to name a few. Well at least I could get testing accommodations because of my diagnosis, right?...nope. I was rejected because my attention was no more impaired than the average person my age (rather than as compared to the average college graduate). Has anyone else had this same problem??

I have scored less than a 22 on all of the 7 practice tests I have taken in the last month and a half, including on today’s exam (19). At this point, I just don’t know what to do. I’m scheduled to take the exam on August 5th and I realistically don’t think I’ll be able to produce a respectable score by then, or even if I postpone the exam until September for that matter. I could always delay my application another year and quit my job to study full time, which I would totally do if 1) I had the money to do so and 2) if I thought that time was the only limiting factor.


Has anyone else had just as many problems with the MCAT yet found a way to persevere?? Please share if you have.

DAMN.

I believe you where discriminated against because ADHD is a disablity and they can not refuse reasonable accomodation. I would be contacting a lawyer.

But anyway, have you thought about anything what besides going to medschool? What about taking the GRE and applying to a PA program?

 

[bonoz]

I don't really have any advice. But you have my respect and well wishes. Cheers.

 

[noshie]

Well, I haven't read much of the above posts... It's way too early! But I will say that I have taken the MCAT 5 times, with the first three scores being 16, 19 and 17... My scores from this year were 22 (computer froze, long story, AAMC wouldn't overturn my score) and I finally got my actual score, a 27...

I say that you should never ever throw in the towel on the MCAT. If you want to be a doctor, you need to prove yourself by doing well. Even though I had 4 ugly MCAT scores, I still have 7 interviews so far for this cycle, so you can overcome the past. It takes some serious dedication and motivation though... If anyone wants my really long pep talk... Message me...

 

[david05]

Just curious, what's your GPA? it might compensate a part for the mcat scores.

 

[asnlady]

i felt as if i was reading my own story when i read your thread (minus the ADHD), but i saw noshie's mdapps and it gave me some inspiration. i've never told her that.

i didn't do so well in undergrad for many reasons so I wasn't sure of many of the topics in the mcat. i took it the first time as a sophomore (just because all my friends were taking it) and got a 16. yikes. i took it again 2 years ago and got a 19 (1 year into my master's program). ugh. after finishing grad school, i figured i just didn't know what the heck i'm doing!! so i just decided i needed to study from the very beginning. i made sure i tested after every topic, not only as discretes but in passages as well. i saw some improvement and started scoring around the 20's in my practice tests. i just took the aug24th mcat so i don't have my score yet. but all i'm hoping is at least a score higher than the one i had before. at least it would tell me i'm doing something right.

but don't give up!!! you and i are in the same battle, and we need to pump each other up!!! LOL. fighting spirit. you should conjure some courage and look at other people's track record like noshie's and use it as an inspiration. =)

 

[noshie]

i felt as if i was reading my own story when i read your thread (minus the ADHD), but i saw noshie's mdapps and it gave me some inspiration. i've never told her that.

i didn't do so well in undergrad for many reasons so I wasn't sure of many of the topics in the mcat. i took it the first time as a sophomore (just because all my friends were taking it) and got a 16. yikes. i took it again 2 years ago and got a 19 (1 year into my master's program). ugh. after finishing grad school, i figured i just didn't know what the heck i'm doing!! so i just decided i needed to study from the very beginning. i made sure i tested after every topic, not only as discretes but in passages as well. i saw some improvement and started scoring around the 20's in my practice tests. i just took the aug24th mcat so i don't have my score yet. but all i'm hoping is at least a score higher than the one i had before. at least it would tell me i'm doing something right.

but don't give up!!! you and i are in the same battle, and we need to pump each other up!!! LOL. fighting spirit. you should conjure some courage and look at other people's track record like noshie's and use it as an inspiration. =)

Aww, you are so kind! I'm glad that my MDapps gave you the motivation you needed to retake the test. Good for you for overcoming your initial low scores (which by the way were exactly like my first two scores!) and gathering yourself to try again. It's hard to be persistent when the MCAT beats you down time and time again... But it's totally worth it. After applying twice before with no interviews at all, and now this third time I have already received 7 invites, I can truly say that I don't regret anything I have done.

In my interview at LECOM last week, the adcom asked me if I would take back anything in my academic record. I told them I wouldn't. Not a single bad MCAT, not even my poor undergraduate GPA. Why? Well, because it has made me a better person, it has made me stronger and more motivated than I could have ever been without these struggles. I'm grateful that my experiences have humbled me, it has allowed me to not take things for granted and work hard for my achievements. I am now mature enough to be able to handle med school, whereas 4 years ago when I made a 16 I was no where near ready… Though I didn't realize it at the time when my MCAT scores left me devastated, I needed this lesson to show me who I really am… Someone who can persevere through even what I felt were the most impossible things, and rise above it to realize my dreams.

All of you have the ability to do this, you just may not know it yet… 🙄

Can't wait to hear what you made on your test Asnlady... 🙂 Keep me updated!

 

[asnlady]

Aww, you are so kind! I’m glad that my MDapps gave you the motivation you needed to retake the test. Good for you for overcoming your initial low scores (which by the way were exactly like my first two scores!) and gathering yourself to try again. It’s hard to be persistent when the MCAT beats you down time and time again... But it’s totally worth it. After applying twice before with no interviews at all, and now this third time I have already received 7 invites, I can truly say that I don’t regret anything I have done.

In my interview at LECOM last week, the adcom asked me if I would take back anything in my academic record. I told them I wouldn’t. Not a single bad MCAT, not even my poor undergraduate GPA. Why? Well, because it has made me a better person, it has made me stronger and more motivated than I could have ever been without these struggles. I’m grateful that my experiences have humbled me, it has allowed me to not take things for granted and work hard for my achievements. I am now mature enough to be able to handle med school, whereas 4 years ago when I made a 16 I was no where near ready… Though I didn’t realize it at the time when my MCAT scores left me devastated, I needed this lesson to show me who I really am… Someone who can persevere through even what I felt were the most impossible things, and rise above it to realize my dreams.

All of you have the ability to do this, you just may not know it yet… 🙄

Can't wait to hear what you made on your test Asnlady... 🙂 Keep me updated!

LOL. i kinda figured you were going to be able to read that and i was embarrassed for a bit. but, oh well. haha. i agree with everything you said and that is exactly how i feel (actually that's what i wrote in my PS). i was going to apply this cycle, but something went wrong with my transcripts and i took it as a sign and a chance for me to improve my app more. before finding your mdapps i thought it was a miracle to even get my mcat up. but your app proved it can be done. i will most def update on my mcat.

 

[metukah]

hi guys, i am glad i found this thread bc i am about to write for my 4th time this Friday. Since 2007 my scores have been 19S, 21R, and most recently 23S. I have taken the TPR (twice), and this summer got a private tutor, and used the EK and some of the BR materials. I have written all of the practice tests. I am trying not to psych myself out for Friday but am really praying for a better score. Everything else i my application is pretty good and I hate that this damn exam has become the bane of my existence. Anyway, just keep trying and if you really dont see an improvmet after a few tries, look at other options (carib/DO/other career). Good luck! And if anyone had any peptalk/advice for me -i need all I can get!!!! 🙂

 

[slick27]

hi guys, i am glad i found this thread bc i am about to write for my 4th time this Friday. Since 2007 my scores have been 19S, 21R, and most recently 23S. I have taken the TPR (twice), and this summer got a private tutor, and used the EK and some of the BR materials. I have written all of the practice tests. I am trying not to psych myself out for Friday but am really praying for a better score. Everything else i my application is pretty good and I hate that this damn exam has become the bane of my existence. Anyway, just keep trying and if you really dont see an improvmet after a few tries, look at other options (carib/DO/other career). Good luck! And if anyone had any peptalk/advice for me -i need all I can get!!!! 🙂

know the EK books cold. Know how to slove all the problems and why the answers are the way they are. Then slove all the 1001 problems and know why the answer is the way it is. Then take the mcat for a final time.

 

[Meerkatology]

mcat is more of an analytical test than a memorization test, i don't know how much *further* studying is actually gonna help you given how much you've done already

It seems like you've gone through multiple mentors/programs so I'm not gonna try to comment on whether you are studying the right way... it seems to me that your medical condition may be the main issue and improving the management of that may be more helpful than more devoted studying for the test itself.

you successfully completed university and a masters? I certainly don't think lack of intelligence or lack of studying is the issue here with the amount of effort your devoting and still not able to score above 19.

did you have similar problems with the SATs or other tests?

 

[Meerkatology]

DAMN.

I believe you where discriminated against because ADHD is a disablity and they can not refuse reasonable accomodation. I would be contacting a lawyer.

while it is unfortunate for medical conditions to get in the way of your dreams for the very career dedicated to fight them, if you needed an emergency appendectomy would you want a surgeon with ADHD who got special acommodations through med school to perform the surgery on you?

the ultimate goal of physician training and selection process is for the benefit of their future patients. in the professional world, the end result is the only thing that matters, no one cares how hard someone worked or how much more they had to overcome. not the most fair system, but it's just the way it is.

don't get me wrong I have all the respect in the world for people like the OP, i was lucky to have very few bumps in my journey through med school and reading stories like the OP's really inspires me to not take what i have for granted and stay motivated. and I hope things works out for OP and all the others in the same boat.

 

[slick27]

All I would care about is how good of surgeon he is, thats it.

while it is unfortunate for medical conditions to get in the way of your dreams for the very career dedicated to fight them, if you needed an emergency appendectomy would you want a surgeon with ADHD who got special acommodations through med school to perform the surgery on you?

the ultimate goal of physician training and selection process is for the benefit of their future patients. in the professional world, the end result is the only thing that matters, no one cares how hard someone worked or how much more they had to overcome. not the most fair system, but it's just the way it is.

don't get me wrong I have all the respect in the world for people like the OP, i was lucky to have very few bumps in my journey through med school and reading stories like the OP's really inspires me to not take what i have for granted and stay motivated. and I hope things works out for OP and all the others in the same boat.