Oh boy another MCAT thread

[Kyper]

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Hi hello. Wow I haven't been on SDN since '14. I am very surprised forums still exist haha.

Anyways I'll try and make this simple.

1. I am an active duty US Army PA-C applying to medical school for 2020.

2. Back when I was 23 I took the MCAT very abruptly due to a problem. I had been studying before deploying to Afghanistan for the first time as an enlisted Combat Medic. I had planned to take it with 3 weeks left before deploying. However, due to a manpower issue my orders were changed and I had to deploy within 48 hours of my MCAT test date. I spent 0 time studying and 100% of the time moving my stuff into storage because I had to leave the country. I took the MCAT with basically 0 prep time.

3. My score was so low that I don't want to even post it in a form populated by every human in the world smarter than me.

4. While downrange, my PA school packet that I had also put in was accepted and I just sorta rolled with it and kinda forgot about the med school application for awhile. This is a long discussion and I won't bore anyone with it.

5. Decided that I still want to go to Med school. Am applying now.

6. I am going to retake the MCAT in a few months. I am going to focus 100% of my efforts on it now that I am not deploying anytime soon and since I am in charge of my own schedule for patient care, I can set aside my own hours for studying without problem.

7. My score from 2013 is still on AAMC under my application. I cannot delete it.

8. I really REALLY REALLY don't want that score to be included with my current application. I busted my ass in PA school to turn my life around. But even if I absolutley KILL the new MCAT, will the sins of my old score from 2013 be an executioners axe? I sure hope not.


Thanks for your time guys.

 

[Stellaartwa]

All of your scores will show. Nothing you can do about that. Study extensively, kill it (510+) and you should be fine.

You have life experience, clinical experience, you're a veteran, adcoms will like you -- especially at USUHS!

 

[Kyper]

That's what I'm hoping. My GPA from my undergrad wasn't super great but my Master's for PA school was a 3.9. I'm hoping they can forgive me for being 99% idiot many moons ago. I'm trucking along now at a solid 27% idiot and that's the person I want the applicants to know about. Thanks for the vote of confidence.

 

[Stellaartwa]

I got boat loads of Cs, Ds and Fs 10 years ago in undergrad. I killed it in my post-bacc and on my MCAT and I had no problems getting interviews this last cycle. Adcoms are just normal people. They'll appreciate the comeback. Make sure you have a good narrative as to why MD and not PA though.

 

[Kyper]

I got boat loads of Cs, Ds and Fs 10 years ago in undergrad. I killed it in my post-bacc and on my MCAT and I had no problems getting interviews this last cycle. Adcoms are just normal people. They'll appreciate the comeback. Make sure you have a good narrative as to why MD and not PA though.

Sweet. Good to hear. Congrats! c:

I suppose I'm not ultra stressed out about it (like I imagine most med school applicants usually are) because I'm older now and worst case scenario I'm still a PA and have a job. So c'est la vie. But I just don't want to live the rest of my life wondering "what if".


Oh yeah, narrative for days haha. The model of medicine is changing so much and so rapidly, esp at the midlevel (NP's w/ full autonomy etc.)

Ultimately I just know what side of history I want to be on when everything changed. But I'll find a way to make it sound good. Glad to hear your success story. c:

 

[1uhbedoc]

I wouldn't worry too much about the past score. The story you described to us is definitely one the ADCOM needs to here in "justifying" a poor MCAT score but that was a few years ago and you aren't the same person you were (at least I hope not haha). Just kill it this time around and no worries! Best of luck.

 

[Goro]

Hi hello. Wow I haven't been on SDN since '14. I am very surprised forums still exist haha.

Anyways I'll try and make this simple.

1. I am an active duty US Army PA-C applying to medical school for 2020.

2. Back when I was 23 I took the MCAT very abruptly due to a problem. I had been studying before deploying to Afghanistan for the first time as an enlisted Combat Medic. I had planned to take it with 3 weeks left before deploying. However, due to a manpower issue my orders were changed and I had to deploy within 48 hours of my MCAT test date. I spent 0 time studying and 100% of the time moving my stuff into storage because I had to leave the country. I took the MCAT with basically 0 prep time.

3. My score was so low that I don't want to even post it in a form populated by every human in the world smarter than me.

4. While downrange, my PA school packet that I had also put in was accepted and I just sorta rolled with it and kinda forgot about the med school application for awhile. This is a long discussion and I won't bore anyone with it.

5. Decided that I still want to go to Med school. Am applying now.

6. I am going to retake the MCAT in a few months. I am going to focus 100% of my efforts on it now that I am not deploying anytime soon and since I am in charge of my own schedule for patient care, I can set aside my own hours for studying without problem.

7. My score from 2013 is still on AAMC under my application. I cannot delete it.

8. I really REALLY REALLY don't want that score to be included with my current application. I busted my ass in PA school to turn my life around. But even if I absolutley KILL the new MCAT, will the sins of my old score from 2013 be an executioners axe? I sure hope not.


Thanks for your time guys.

First off, many thanks for your service to our country.
Being a veteran, having a retake and doing better will make schools look at your second score.

 

[futuremdforme]

I don't think anyone will care if your new score is good. You might get asked about it at an interview (I was asked about a 10 year old isolated bad grade). I explained it and that was that -- I wasn't at all worried about being asked. It seemed kind of like a curiosity thing, so you could anticipate that. I'm not 100% sure it will show anyway. You can always call AMCAS and ask if scores from 2013 will be reported in that year just to know for sure.