Need your opinions on Something -- EMT, retake mcat, wait for scores???

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theDr.

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Ok, so i got a 25 on the apirl '03 mcat and retook it in April '04. I just sent in my accomas application and released my score of 25. however, I want to take an EMT course which begins this MONDAY.....but...i don't get the april '04 scores back until some time in mid-JUNE. My fear is, if I get less than my 25 i'll need to re-take the august MCAT.

What do I do. Do i just take the EMT course and send in my two scores. I am looking to get into PCOM, NYCOM, UMDNJ, UNECOM, or NSUCOM. Do they average the scores, take only the best. If that is the case, then i'll just start the course and hopefully my mcat situation will turn out ok.

Or do I err on the side of caution just in case I did bad on the april and need to take the August '04 mcat. I can't do both because I have to study for one or the other. WHAT DO I DO????????????????????
 
I'm partial to EMS training (was/am a medic before starting at LECOM), however in your case my advice is to pass on the EMT course regardless of your past or future MCAT score. Two scenarios come to mind in your situtation.

#1: your scores get you in for the class of 2009 in which case the EMT course is largely a waste of time. Yes you do get some basic training and some clinical skills, but those will pale in comparison to what you'll learn during MS-I. And honestly, without a couple of years experience to complement the training, I'm not sure how valuable it'll be.

#2: not to downgrade your desire to learn, but think of the EMT training as icing on the cake. Without an otherwise decent application, the 4 month training course will be a bandaid on the application.

With all that said, your score of 25 certainly puts in the running for an acceptance. If your score went up even just a point, you're odds will definitely increase. If you're not fortunate enough to get an acceptance when a resonable amount of time has passed, then you can look into another EMT course in late 2004 or early 2005.

Best of luck
 
So if you take it again in August this will be your 3rd time? That test is a pain i know, i took it twice. At 25 you are a bit low.
My advice would be wait till you get your scores and see how you did.
Since the next time would be your 3rd (last time before needing a special reason) then you really really have to get it the 3rd time.

Just my thought.

Apply anyway though to the schools, ive heard they throw out your app from the previous year in most places so just apply again and again.
 
I think that if you really want to do the EMT thing, then you should do it. To me it's been important to balance the premed thing with doing activites that interest you. My application, numbers wise, has suffered a little due to this philosophy. To me, however, it's definately worth it. I want to get more out of college than being a premed. I've adhere to the belief that ADCOMS want to get application from people who have done things besides being premeds... of course, I'm just now applying, so maybe I'm wrong.

As for retaking the MCAT, I'd wait to see your score. I've always heard that it's pretty hard drastically change your MCAT score. If you did around 25 two times, it's not likely that your score is going to go up the third time. SOOOO unless you really bombed it this time, I'd apply w/o retaking.

My $.02.
S
 
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