Ok, I have a problem. So I had some problems that caused me to cancel two tests earlier this year, and I took my first MCAT at the end of August. I'm a senior about ready to complete my BS. However, I did poorly on the MCAT. My girlfriend and I got into a huge fight the morning of the MCAT, and I showed up to the test very pissed off. Now, mind you, I didn't study much for the test and it definitely shows, I still couldn't concentrate much on the test. I ended up getting an 18S on the test, but I sent in my applications anyway. I have a good GPA (~3.8) and a good SGPA (~3.6), but I know that this MCAT is way too low to get me in anywhere. The question that I have is where to go from here. I still want to go to med school, so would my best option be to take grad level classes for a year and study for my MCAT? Or, would I be better off getting a full time job for a year and studying for the MCAT? If the answer is grad school, do I need to apply for a program, or just take general classes as a non major. Please, I'm really confused and any input to the situation will be most helpful. I know I can do alot better on the MCAT, so I know I am going to keep trying for med school. Thanks for your time and thanks in advance for your input.
No clue what to do....
- Thread starter GAMB1T
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I'm sure you know this, but there isn't an adcom in the country that would be very sympathetic to your "girlfriend fight story"; even allowing something unusually generous like a 7 point drop due to your distractedness, you weren't going anywhere with a 25. So stop searching for excuses, man up and accept that you've gotta study hardcore over the next year; it's not that I'm without pity for the position you were in taking your MCAT under stress, but I'm just saying no one else will have any such pity. I'm a big proponent of the prep courses, particularly Kaplan
In general, med schools like to see applicants fulfill all of their commitments; therefore, going to grad school for a year and then trying to jump ship is generally frowned upon unless you had a really good reason to do so- "I went to grad school for a year while I prepared to re-apply to med school' is NOT a good reason. Rather, getting a full-time job is a better option; in particular, getting a research job at a school that you want to go to is often a good stepping stone to getting in, as it lets you get a LOR from someone on the inside of the school, while also giving you the much-coveted research EC.
In general, med schools like to see applicants fulfill all of their commitments; therefore, going to grad school for a year and then trying to jump ship is generally frowned upon unless you had a really good reason to do so- "I went to grad school for a year while I prepared to re-apply to med school' is NOT a good reason. Rather, getting a full-time job is a better option; in particular, getting a research job at a school that you want to go to is often a good stepping stone to getting in, as it lets you get a LOR from someone on the inside of the school, while also giving you the much-coveted research EC.
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Your GPA as it stands is very competitive, so there is no need to take additional classes, and taking the risk of having a GPA drop. You need an MCAT score of about 24 to get into a DO school, or about 30 to get into an MD school (plus or minus a point or two). I agree with GSG. Get a job. It could be either research or clinical, that's not too demanding, to make some money (for applications and interviews), but consider your full-time job to be studying for the MCAT. For you it will be worth dropping $1600 for a formal prep course (I liked Kaplan too, but have friends who swear by Princeton). During this time continue with your volunteering and clinical experience, so it will be really solid looking on your application.
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