MD/PhD advice

[BrittanyOU]

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Thanks everyone for the advice!

 

[kassie]

At first glance it sounds like you're doing a lot. Maybe you are doing too much? I would pick a thing or two to drop and focus. Working full time and attending classes while taking the MCAT is tough.

28 isn't terrible. If you think you can do much better, try taking it again.

Hey guys~....

I have a question about MD/PhD programs and MCAT score cut offs

Im just a junior and took the MCAT this summer (worked in the lab 40-50 hours and studied when I could) Sadly, my score went down 6 points from practice test! (9PS 11V 8BS Q)

I have a 4.0 GPA, been doing research at a private medical research foundation since 2003, presented at numerous conferences, and will be published by next year. (a guaranteed 2nd author publication and hopefully a first authored....just trying to finish confirmation experiments)

I have studied abroad in Scotland where I did research, been really involved at my university, lots of shadowing and volunteering, and am intending an Infectious Diseases program this summer in Bombay India. (i work in the lab year round)

So.....my question to everyone is....What to do about the MCAT. Of course this is way below acceptable to my standards. Do I take it again? I was planning on pursuing a minor in History of Science, learning a new language, and working two full days in the lab next semester before India. I could just work hard at all my new plans and keep my 4.0 up (i only have 4 classes left in my major after this semeter) or....I could take that horrible exam again, this time studying more (by the way I took the test before Organic...which was my downfall on my form in August!)

I just need schools to look past the MCAT score....I have great recommendation letters from my institution for next year as well. But, if it is critical that I retake it and score <30+ then I guess thats what I will have to do.

These are schools I am looking at.... OU, Colorado, UT-Southwestern, WashU (probably out of reach right now?) , UAB, Washington (again probably out of reach), Boston (?)

 

[tr]

Yeah, I agree with kassie's diagnosis. You sound overextended.

Unfortunately there is a cutoff for a lot of schools where they won't even look at your application if you don't hit 30 on the test. Since you could get a 28 while juggling umpteen other activities, if you drop the extras and buckle down for a couple of months you should be able to do very well. That will help your application far more than extra activities at this point, since it sounds like you already have a lot of those.

(I know activities are way more fun than studying for this stupid test, but it's a short-term investment with a long-term payoff.)

Good luck!

 

[kassie]

(I know activities are way more fun than studying for this stupid test, but it's a short-term investment with a long-term payoff.)

Good luck!

Like being on SDN instead of studying for step 2?!

 

[tr]

Like being on SDN instead of studying for step 2?!

Exactly. Or like being on SDN instead of writing the boring Methods section. :/ I always seem to show up on here when I have to write stuff. You should have seen the posting binge I went on around my prelims. 🙁

 

[1Path]

I agree with previous posters, your best shot is with a 30+ MCAT score. I've personally decided not to apply MD/PhD this year (due to the MCAT) and try to transfer in or take the time off after my 2nd year. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[Thundrstorm]

You sound like a woman after my own heart. I got so into extracurricular stuff in college that by senior year, class just felt like a formality toward getting my degree because everything else was so interesting. Everything you've got planned sounds wonderful, but maybe you could drop the things that are least important to you. You could probably do without the new minor (maybe just take one interesting history of science class) and unless the language study is for your India trip, that's probably expendable too. Your 4.0 indicates that you have the intelligence and study skills to do well on the MCAT, so if you make time for it, you could likely raise your score by a few points. Good luck!