Need Advice for MCAT Prep + Regular application

[Acunar]

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Hi all,

So I am here because, like many others, I am in dire need of advice when it comes for applying to medical schools. Basically I want to know 1. realistic options for successful MCAT prep and 2. If my plans to strengthen my resume good. I graduate in the Spring, and plan on taking a year off to work on my resume/ take necessary classes.

Quick synopsis of my college background:
Started off as a communications major, and switched to be a Kinesiology major my junior year with hopes of being a PT. Well, somewhere recently down the line I realized I wanted to go to medical school instead. This happened when I became EMT certified, and wanted a career more similar to that in the long run. Because it took so long for me to realize that I wanted to go to med school, I am a little behind.

I need advice because I did a lot of research on my own and had a plan for applying to medical school, but the pre-health advisor at my school more or less **** on my idea and suggested that I wasn't qualified enough for med school and to look into other careers. While I agree that I am not at the moment, I was extremely frustrated after leaving that meeting because I felt as if she counted me out more than she helped me. I want to see what others have to say about my options.

Here's a little info about my academics:
School: Temple University
Grade: Senior
cGPA: 3.4
sGPA: 3.25 (Calculated to be 3.57 if I get all As in my science classes this semester)

Sciences:
Chem 1: B
Physics 1: B+
Physics 2: B
Bio 2: A-

Currently Taking: (All on track to get As)
-Bio 1
-Chem 2
-Microbiology

Classes in Future:
Both Organic Chems (1 next semester before I graduate)

Certifications:
-EMT Certified

Activities:
Temple Club Lacrosse team (2 years)
Resident Assistant (3 Years)

Future Activity plans:
-Academic Associate Program at Cooper Hospital
-Research at Temple Hospital ( Will become lab technician through it)
-Mission trip to Kenya this summer to provide free medical services (2 week trip)
-Continue to volunteer as an EMT

Main questions:
1. Best way to study for MCAT?
Is my best option to apply for a post bacc? This option is super expensive and I would rather not if possible. I had an idea of using Khan Academy and MCAT prep books to prepare for the test (Which I would take the necessary time to study) but my advisor didn't think it was a good idea. I know I have the discipline to study in this way, but I'm asking you all if it is as stupid as my advisor suggests. I do not want to do anything that will hurt my chances.

2. Are general prereqs for med schools only the bios, general chems, physics, and organic chemistry?
I am aware that every program have slight differences, but I was wondering if there are any other subjects that pretty much all programs ask the applicant to have on their transcript.

3. What other ways can I volunteer/ spend my gap year that will improve my chances?

Any feedback would be appreciated. I understand I have a long way to go if I want to get into a medical school, but I am really motivated and excited to start that journey.

 

[ticktock5051]

I'll throw my two cents in:

1) Take a course during undergrad on ANY topic that will be tested on the MCAT (which I believe now includes biochemistry and sociology). An MCAT review course/book is simply that, it’s not going to teach you the fundamentals of the subject and you’ll be left trying to make up for what you’re lacking. With that, I cannot recommend anyone take the MCAT before finishing ALL the courses that will be on it. Some may disagree, but I don’t think it’s wise to take the MCAT when you still have an entire semester of coursework left to complete.

Devote sufficient time for studying! The AAMC recommends that to do well on the MCAT, you should devote 350 hours to studying for it. I personally came pretty close to that. Know your limits. If you plan on studying for the MCAT while in school, don’t create a challenging academic schedule. If you’re doing it during the summer, don’t try to fit in studying with a crazy work schedule. This exam is so important for your aspirations as a doctor, clear your schedule (as much as possible) and make studying a priority. To compensate for your GPA, you have to kill this exam.

Some may disagree with this point, but I highly, highly, highly, highly, recommend taking an MCAT prep course. Once again, I cannot recommend highly enough the benefits of taking a prep course. Why is this? As mentioned before, the AAMC recommends that you spend 350 hours studying for the MCAT. However, if you don’t know what’s on the exam, you could spend 350 hours studying all the wrong things. The beauty of these prep courses (full disclosure: I took one from Kaplan) is that they are built around what the MCAT will actually examine on! They have employees whose sole job it is to comb through old versions of the exam and factor label the content material being tested. This is how they build their curriculum. A prep course will only teach you things that will be fodder for questions on the MCAT. Even better, the Kaplan books I used had a “five star system” detailing how important a topic matter was. This helped organize my studying.

More importantly, a prep course will teach you exactly how to take the MCAT. This exam is not like the ones you took during undergrad. In addition to assessing your knowledge, it’s also designed to trip people up. For example, a common folly on MCAT passages is spending too much time trying understand everything in the passage. A prep course will teach you that reading a passage for understanding is a waste of time! You read the passage for general content information and refer back to the passage only if it relates to a specific question. A prep course will give you test-taking strategies and passage comprehension skills that you won’t have developed as an undergrad.

Final point with a prep course: the AAMC and the prep course companies have a working professional relationship. The AAMC definitely whispers in their ear about how the exam will be structured etc. With the new exam format, taking a prep course will allow you to take advantage of this invaluable information.

2) MANY schools (I'd estimate 25-30%) are now requiring biochem as a pre-req. Buy online access to the MSAR (it's like $30 and SO worth it). They'll tell you the EXACT courses required/recommended for every single school. They'll also give the GPA/MCAT spread for their accepted class and tons of other information.

3) Your gap year plans sound solid. But you need to make this year count. Your odds of success right now are tenuous. Rock those extra courses you're going to take. If possible, get a publication out of your research. Devote prodigous amounts of time to volunteering in a healthcare setting that will give you PATIENT CONTACT (your EMT skills can get you this, don't settle for doing clerical work or something).

Other tips/ideas:
-Carefully research the schools you want to apply to. Even with future coursework, your GPA will likely be average compared to accepted applicants, so you need to plan well.
-Write a compelling, thoughtful personal statement for the AMCAS
-Submit your AMCAS as early/well-done as possible (don't sacrifice quality for expediency, but don't dawdle either)
-You go to Temple University, talk to someone on the Admissions Committee about the possibility of a career in medicine. Most pre-med advisers (though I can't speak for yours) are not doctors or involved with actual medical school admission. As long as you make clear that you're only trying to get a second opinion after talking to your health adviser (and not just trying to curry favor or network), they'll likely speak with you. Plus, it shows chutzphah!

I'm not sure what your timetable is for target matriculation. Since you still have to complete orgo, I can't recommend you take the April MCAT. On the other hand, taking the August MCAT will put you behind the curve for applying. Completing coursework, studying for the MCAT, working, and applying for school sounds like too much to handle. It may be wise to take a two year gap period to devote sufficient time for preening your application, and then actually applying the following year.

A post-bacc program (combined with your volunteering and research) would be your best bet for getting in (but I think most are two years anyway, and expensive), but it's not necessary if you're very diligent and plan accordingly. That being said, it will also boost your GPA, so it's a tradeoff.

One final note: I studied my butt off in undergrad and still felt denigrated by my pre-med committee. The only thing they provided me with all four years was negative reinforcement (and I mean that in the psychological sense): they wouldn't praise you for doing well but would criticize and tell you to abandon hope at the first sign of poor performance. Pre-med committees discourage less than stellar applicants from applying because rejections hurt their own numbers. I still carry a small chip on my shoulder from all those years of abuse so anyone pursuing a career in medicine despite admonitions from their committee is a friend of mine. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

 

[Glazedonutlove]

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