I just wanted to let people reading this forum that SDN is NOT the average on the MCAT. For everyone complaining about about getting over a 30, you should be proud about your score. I just looked at my score and I did TERRIBLE. This was my second time taking it and I did worse. I'm sure a lot of people who did poorly are afraid to post their score which is why the average seems so high but I'll post mine just to make this place seem more "normal."
I ended up getting a 24R vs my first time where I got a 25S. I got a 7/9/8R. I am extremely disappointed because my first time i got a 10/5/10S and I spent so much time on verbal this time around causing my sciences to suffer. I already have all my apps submitted so I have to really push hard the next two months and retake for my last chance at medicine. It sucks because I never got anything lower than a 29 on AAMCs (averaging low-mid 30s) and PS was actually my strongest where I always scored between 10-12. I actually never scored lower than a 27 on any of the TPR exams which are supposed to be significantly harder.
Anyways, I think time was a huge factor for me. I was also really nervous when I took the exam. I wasn't expecting so many calculation problems on PS which killed my timing and made me guess on a bunch. Although I'm pretty bummed right now, I'm still not going to give up. So those people who didn't do well, keep your chin up and those who did well and beat the beast, congrats to you.
The first time I took the MCAT I got a 25M. 9 physics 9 bio 7 Verbal. I was very disappointed, and that was after taking a Kaplan course!
I decided to retake the Kaplan course more seriously (which they allow you to do for free, I did online so I could be comfortable at home), and allotted time in my schedule every day for studying, totaling about 23 - 27 hours per week for 3 months. The last two weeks I backed off to about 15 hours a week, and I didn't study the day before really except looking at their quick sheet.
Every day I also had a routine, that without fail I would never skip:
1 - Pump up song ('Til I collapse by Eminem for me) Build up confidence and just be excited! Think about the MCAT as your last hurdle before submission, that one thing that's stopping you from your dream. This was the biggest change for me, treating the test like a fun challenge instead of a test.
2 - 30 Kaplan MCAT flashcards
3 - One verbal passage
4 - Personal PS flashcards made from the quicksheet
5 - MCAT question of the day
This daily routine was really the only thing I added, and I did NOT count this towards my time per week. The confidence and forced study time really brought up my score. I took the exam again, walked out feeling like crap, and ended up with the following:
12 - Verbal
11 - PS
10 - BS
= 33Q, 8 points higher than previously, something I dreamed about
Trust me when I say I'm not the smartest, and my Kaplan practices weren't terribly promising (26/29/33/32/30/29/30, not counting that ridiculous diagnostic test at the beginning)
The MCAT is a test to see how much you can blend what you had learned. For me, when I took it the first time, it was clear that even as a Junior in college I had not paid attention enough, so I had to re-teach myself everything. I chose the hard route, as have you.
What you really need to do, if I may be so bold, is to pick between three options:
1. Stop taking the MCAT and apply DO. You can still be a doctor, especially if you have a good GPA! Shadow a DO and see what it's all about. Less competitive, and yes, harder to find an accepting hospital, but there are many especially in the South that do.
2. Rethink being a doctor (please read on!). If you think this is difficult, remember that your Step 1 USMLE is basically an entire test like Verbal reasoning! It is weighted heavily against you and is brand new info the entire time where you can't make assumptions (EXACTLY like Verbal on the MCAT). Also, doctors study and work all week with next to no free time. And the money? Dropping, especially with the new Obama healthcare plan if it is accepted. Many pre-meds have been telling family and friends their whole life that they want to be a doctor (most likely for the prestige of it), so it becomes a real hit to their pride if they have to change to not doing it. I had a friend do this recently when he re-took and scored a 24 (similar to you!). He realized that that was the best he could do, and maybe he just wasn't in it for the right reasons (you have to love this subject matter!). Many people say "Oh but I'm good at the health sciences like Anatomy and genetics, who needs calc and physics and verbal when I'm a doctor? Trust me, YOU'LL NEED IT! You need to understand all the facets of science to truly grasp being a doctor. This isn't like movies or tv; being a doctor in the U.S. is one of the hardest jobs there is, and you only have one life. Make sure you don't tear yourself apart for nothing! My friend has decided on being a teacher for math (he's very good at it) and his family and friends think it's a much better match for him. You have to go to your calling, even if it's not what you originally wanted.
3. Retake the MCAT, and study for real this time. Trust me when I say I know where you are coming from. Having scored so low the first time I was devastated. But I hunkered down, and really studied my butt off, and that daily routine made me even stronger, especially the part about boosting confidence. Don't give up, but remember: If you score a 24 - 26 again, your chances are ruined. MDs won't really want to look at you, and DOs will think "He was ok to apply before to us, why did he keep taking it? Oh must have wanted MD, we must be consolation prize." This will put your scant interviews at a bad start compared to those who got a 26 once and said "DO is my real calling, I like their philosophy."
It comes down to you. Introspect, meditate, really think. Talk to your health committee adviser or equivalent, learn about students they have had in the past who have been in your shoes, maybe talk to them too. However, take this post seriously. Really, really, think about who you want to live as, and don't just say doctor because it's what you've always said; you're only hurting yourself and your happiness!
Hope I was direct but not insulting. Message me if you'd like to talk more.
