Need some advices!?!

[lazygirl149]

---

Members don't see this ad.

.

 

[gyngyn]

*please don't quote cuz I will delete this post for privacy purpose*
Just got my mcat 496 (129, 120, 126, 121) today, super disappointed!
However, i already completed the secondary for several low tier schools and state schools (NC state)
gpa ~ 3.82
I have high science scores for mcat, but cars and psy look worse. Would the schools care if english is my 3rd language?
Btw, I'm asian, just moved to US 3 years ago, lived in underserved rural areas in Asia and have a striking story when lived in there.
Would the schools look at my whole app? or just mcat then screen me out??

Practice cars every night for 3 months and got 124-126 on practice exams, but don't know why it's so low on real exam. The same for psy. But I already tried my best on them, cuz English is not my native language...

We will look at the whole application and then decide against an interview.

 

[lazygirl149]

.

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks! But is there any MD schools accept a mcat of 496 in the history before? Would you suggest?

A mission-based school where you fit the mission might bite.

 

[lazygirl149]

.

 

[gyngyn]

What are mission-based schools???

HBCU's, Loma Linda, Puerto Rican schools, state schools with few applicants.

 

[Goro]

Your MCAT is lethal for MD schools and a lot of DO schools, including mine.

*please don't quote cuz I will delete this post for privacy purpose*
Just got my mcat 496 (129, 120, 126, 121) today, super disappointed!
However, i already completed the secondary for several low tier schools and state schools (NC state)
gpa ~ 3.8
I have high science scores for mcat, but cars and psy look worse. Would the schools care if english is my 3rd language?
Btw, I'm asian, just moved to US 3 years ago, lived in underserved rural areas in Asia and have a striking story when lived in there. Also, first college generation
Would the schools look at my whole app? or just mcat then screen me out??

Practice cars every night for 3 months and got 124-126 on practice exams, but don't know why it's so low on real exam. The same for psy. But I already tried my best on them, cuz English is not my native language...

 

[lazygirl149]

.

 

[gyngyn]

That's why it scares me...would the low mcat apply the same for all applicants? Would they just look at my mcat then screen me out?

No. We look at the whole application and then reject.
There are so many less risky applicants with so much to offer...
If you are bent on MD, a much better MCAT will be needed.

 

[lazygirl149]

.

 

[gyngyn]

Also, I saw some schools that have 25th percentile for applicants is 493 and 10th percentile of mcat for accepted student is 23 and. Does that mean that they accept mcat that low?

Applicant data has almost nothing to do with matriculant data.
Look at the 10th percentile for the schools you are interested in. Yours is a bit better than 23.
Matriculants with scores this low have compelling reasons for their acceptance. In NC there are no schools that have a 10th percentile of 23. The school with the lowest 10th percentile is Brody at 25. With a class size of 80, they may actually have no one with a 23...

 

[Goro]

No, and yes. see gyngyn's explanations.

Your score is a risk factor for your failing Boards and/or failing out of med school.

That's why it scares me...would the low mcat apply the same for all applicants? Would they just look at my mcat then screen me out?

 

[studentdocftw]

Take your time, take a year off and study, study, study. Take the aamc practice exams and unless you are scoring 508+, I'd be hard pressed to sit again. Everybody who wants to be a doctor doesn't necessarily get to be one. Don't be in that category and kick the mcats ***. If you do retake and get another poor score, then it would be time to reconsider this. But at least give yourself 2 chances.

 

[bananafish94]

I'm sorry to say this but with that MCAT score you essentially have a 0% chance of getting into any medical school this year, barring diploma mills. I would highly encourage you to not apply but rather take a year or two to strengthen your application in other regards while preparing rigorously to take the MCAT again. I know this isn't the answer you wanted to hear but I wish you the very best of luck!

 

[lazygirl149]

.

 

[summergirl]

Really?!? 0%?
My score is a little above 23 but when i look at the minimum of most school when screen for secondary, I saw like 495/24 or higher...
So I assume if they look at my score as 24, I still see 26.1% of acceptance like in this list https://www.aamc.org/download/321516/data/factstablea24-3.pdf
But not all Asians are the same. Some who were born in here or come here early, their English is just as fluent as native speaker. So would it be fair if they compare me with them? And even I lived in an underserved rural area in Asia for 18 years

That 26.1% acceptance rate is inflated due to URMs and applicants to state schools. Your ratio is much lower than that. And while being a newcomer to the US explains your MCAT score somewhat, it does not excuse it. Med schools still can't accept people with such low MCATs because they need people who are able to perform at a certain level and your application doesn't suggest that.

 

[gyngyn]

@bananafish94 @gyngyn
Really?!? 0%?
My score is a little above 23 but when i look at the minimum of most school when screen for secondary, I saw like 495/24 or higher...
So I assume if they look at my score as 24, I still see 26.1% of acceptance like in this list https://www.aamc.org/download/321516/data/factstablea24-3.pdf
But not all Asians are the same. Some who were born in here or come here early, their English is just as fluent as native speaker. So would it be fair if they compare me with them? And even I lived in an underserved rural area in Asia for 18 years

The screen is the dead minimum.
Someone interviewed with that score would have to to be amazing in other aspects of their application.
It just doesn't happen very often outside of mission-based schools.

 

[lazygirl149]

.

 

[laczlacylaci]

Regarding to taking MCAT, I have this question. If I retake the MCAT, then get a higher score, but if one of the section, say, P/S or B/B is lower than the one in the first mcat. So would the adcoms look at both my MCAT scores, then take the highest section scores of each? Or they would just look at my latest MCAT score and ignore the first one?

This would depend on the school. Some average, some take the most recent, some take the highest scored.

 

[lazygirl149]

.

 

[laczlacylaci]

Can you give me examples? like one that average? and the one that takes the highest scored???
Looks like my old score will affect my future scores so far.

No. You can research that on your own or buy the msar.

 

[Lawpy]

Regarding to retaking MCAT, I have this question. If I retake the MCAT, then get a higher score, but if one of the section, say, P/S or B/B is lower than the one in the first mcat. So would the adcoms look at both my MCAT scores, then take the highest section scores of each? Or they would just look at my latest MCAT score and ignore the first one?

Schools will see all scores. Now unfortunately, the AAMC recommends averaging all MCAT scores. The MD matriculant median MCAT score is a 510. This means you need to get a 524 on the retake, which is a 28-point (!!) improvement. Even for the lower cases of a 508, we're talking 520+ on a retake. That's pretty dramatic.

The best outcome then is to focus strictly on DO schools and aim for a 505+ on the retake.

 

[AgentMichaelScar]

Regarding to retaking MCAT, I have this question. If I retake the MCAT, then get a higher score, but if one of the section, say, P/S or B/B is lower than the one in the first mcat. So would the adcoms look at both my MCAT scores, then take the highest section scores of each? Or they would just look at my latest MCAT score and ignore the first one?

I don't know of any school that takes the best sections of all your exams. Many look and consider all your MCATs.
And if your P/S drops by a point, that's worth improving both your CARS/Psych.
Study hard and smart, and try a different study approach. I'd say improving your MCAT would be well worth your time since it'll open many more doors when applying. Don't rush the process and bank on "what ifs", I did the first time I applied and it bit me in the ***.

 

[gyngyn]

I don't know of any school that takes the best sections of all your exams. Many look and consider all your MCATs.
And if your P/S drops by a point, that's worth improving both your CARS/Psych.
Study hard and smart, and try a different study approach. I'd say improving your MCAT would be well worth your time since it'll open many more doors when applying. Don't rush the process and bank on "what ifs", I did the first time I applied and it bit me in the ***.

MCW, Vanderbilt and one of the George's cherry-pick scores. It is not recommended.

 

[bananafish94]

Can you give me examples? like one that average? and the one that takes the highest scored???
Looks like my old score will affect my future scores so far.

Let me preface this by saying that I am NOT an admissions committee member, I am just a lowly medical student. But here's how I see this: if somebody were to take the MCAT twice and score like a 508 and a 514, then in that case I would buy that the score that best represents their abilities is around a 511. In your case, say you retake the MCAT and get a ~510, which is right around what you need to be competitive for an MD school. Personally, I would not interpret that as, "this person got a 496 and a 510, therefore the score that best represents them is a 503." I would interpret it as, "Wow, something went dramatically wrong on their first test for whatever reason, and they really turned it around." So in my personal opinion, you do not need to get some obscenely high score on the retake in order to be competitive. Again, though, that's just me. Other more informed people might think differently! When I said you have a 0% chance, I don't mean to discourage you. But you do need to realize that you would be investing an awful lot of money and emotional energy into an endeavor that does not have a reasonable chance of succeeding. You have an excellent GPA, let's assume that your extracurriculars are good and will get better in the next few years. If you do well on your second MCAT you are certainly well equipped for DO applications, and quite possibly MD applications. Again, I wish you the best of luck!