Not prepared for MCAT. need advice

[chillaxbro]

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I was planning to take the MCAT on 6/21 and apply by august but I'm not prepared
Is it better that I take it and see how well I do and then decide if I should apply for this cycle or not? or hold off on taking it/applying until next year when I should be more prepared?

I ask because I heard that applying for school the second time is way harder so I want to have the best chances possible when applying my first time. Also I heard that if you take the MCAT twice, they expect a way bigger increase. Any advice?

 

[kasho11]

How is the rest of your application? If you have a really strong application already, high GPA, good EC's, good LOR, then unless you are applying to top 10 you don't need a high mcat. But even with a strong application you will most likely need at least a 30 or high 20's for allopathic schools.

If waiting a year to apply won't significantly hurt your living and work situation it can only help you. A higher mcat and more volunteering/work experiences will just improve your chances.

 

[chillaxbro]

How is the rest of your application? If you have a really strong application already, high GPA, good EC's, good LOR, then unless you are applying to top 10 you don't need a high mcat. But even with a strong application you will most likely need at least a 30 or high 20's for allopathic schools.

If waiting a year to apply won't significantly hurt your living and work situation it can only help you. A higher mcat and more volunteering/work experiences will just improve your chances.

about 150 hours of volunteering so far
high GPA but from a state school
Currently ~1 month into my first research experience (actually doing stuff, not just washing beakers)
id say average LOR
no shadowing
Not looking for top 10
I took a practice kaplan MCAT a while back when I started studying the material and got a 26

 

[kasho11]

Have you been studying since that Kaplan test? If so you should be doing pretty well by now and the 6/21 test date would be fine.

Again it's really up to you, but applying next year would be a safer bet obviously.

 

[Ravizzle]

Take a practice test now to see where you are at. If u are not close to a score that is acceptable for you, then postpone.

Sent from my Galaxy S2 via tapatalk

 

[chillaxbro]

Took the free practice test on aamc website and got a 27

Not happy with the score

What is my best option? To take the real test and omit it if I dont feel like I did well? Take the real test and apply only if I get a good grade? Don't take the test at all?
What is the optimal choice?

 

[TheShaker]

Took the free practice test on aamc website and got a 27

Not happy with the score

What is my best option? To take the real test and omit it if I dont feel like I did well? Take the real test and apply only if I get a good grade? Don't take the test at all?
What is the optimal choice?

Is this your first time taking a FL? If so, then reflect on it and see if it is due to holes in your content knowledge or a lack of familiarity of the test (timing, format, style).

If the problem is that you're just not used to it then that's easily alleviated. Just take a few more FL's and it should work itself out. If it's a problem of content then maybe it's a good idea to postpone unless you feel like you can study enough to raise your score to whatever your goal is.

 

[Mehd School]

If you're not studying and pulling 27's, you could potentially get a quite stellar score with the right preparation.