One or two gap years?

[LightShallBringVictory]

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Hello! First of all, thank you for your interest and time for reading this post.

I am in a dilemma right now. I have been studying for the MCAT (5/19 test date) since the late January, and was feeling a little hopeful until yesterday when I took the AAMC practice test 1. I did relatively well on science sections: 128 C/P, 128 B/B, and 127 P/S. However, I got a 121 on CARS... (which makes it a total of 502).
I usually scored around 124~125 on CARS, but somehow I completely ruined it yesterday. I did make some timing errors, but it was mostly the general lack of reading comprehension.
Facing graduation, I was going to take one gap year, but now it is apparent that I am not ready to take the MCAT, I think I may need to take two gap years. My questions are:

1. Should I just take the MCAT on 5/19 and apply this cycle? My GPA is 3.7 (c) and 3.6 (s). I know I said I am not ready for the test, but I just feel anxious about taking two years instead of one, due to family and financial issues.

2. If not, when should I take the test? I may start working almost immediately after graduation in June, which will not leave me a lot of time to study...

3. It is kind of a side track to the thread, but I have about 40~50 hours of clinical experience (excluding the shadowing hours). I was wondering what clinical volunteer work people usually do during gap years.

Thank you for your time to read my post!

 

[123456ers]

Hello! First of all, thank you for your interest and time for reading this post.

I am in a dilemma right now. I have been studying for the MCAT (5/19 test date) since the late January, and was feeling a little hopeful until yesterday when I took the AAMC practice test 1. I did relatively well on science sections: 128 C/P, 128 B/B, and 127 P/S. However, I got a 121 on CARS... (which makes it a total of 502).
I usually scored around 124~125 on CARS, but somehow I completely ruined it yesterday. I did make some timing errors, but it was mostly the general lack of reading comprehension.
Facing graduation, I was going to take one gap year, but now it is apparent that I am not ready to take the MCAT, I think I may need to take two gap years. My questions are:

1. Should I just take the MCAT on 5/19 and apply this cycle? My GPA is 3.7 (c) and 3.6 (s). I know I said I am not ready for the test, but I just feel anxious about taking two years instead of one.

2. If not, when should I take the test? I may start working almost immediately after graduation in June, which will not leave me a lot of time to study...

3. It is kind of a side track to the thread, but I only have 40 hours of clinical experience (excluding the shadowing hours). I was wondering what clinical volunteer work people usually do during gap years.

Thank you for your time to read my post!

Honestly a 502 overall with your GPAs would still probably be competitive for admission to DO schools. CARS is CARS and some people just really struggle in it. If I were you I would focus heavily on CARs for the next two weeks you have before the exam and just roll with it. You're not in nearly as bad shape as you think, I don't think you need to delay the MCAT. Of course, it's totally your decision! I honestly think the biggest thing for the MCAT is confidence and if you dont feel good about it right now than you should push it back.

 

[rufflev]

I would recommend that you push your test date back to early to mid June so that you have time to review what you're doing right/wrong on each of the sections, specifically focusing on CARS. It is better to take the MCAT and score well the first time when you feel prepared rather than having to sign-up, pay for, and study for the MCAT a second time.

In regards to clinical experience, I would reach out to volunteer health clinics, hospitals, hospices in your area for volunteering. Note that most of these institutions ask that their volunteers stay with them for a minimum of 6 months - 1 year.

 

[LightShallBringVictory]

Honestly a 502 overall with your GPAs would still probably be competitive for admission to DO schools. CARS is CARS and some people just really struggle in it. If I were you I would focus heavily on CARs for the next two weeks you have before the exam and just roll with it. You're not in nearly as bad shape as you think, I don't think you need to delay the MCAT. Of course, it's totally your decision! I honestly think the biggest thing for the MCAT is confidence and if you dont feel good about it right now than you should push it back.

I think I might want to reschedule my exam to either 6/1 or 6/17, to earn myself more time to study. Thank you for your opinion!

 

[LightShallBringVictory]

I would recommend that you push your test date back to early to mid June so that you have time to review what you're doing right/wrong on each of the sections, specifically focusing on CARS. It is better to take the MCAT and score well the first time when you feel prepared rather than having to sign-up, pay for, and study for the MCAT a second time.

In regards to clinical experience, I would reach out to volunteer health clinics, hospitals, hospices in your area for volunteering. Note that most of these institutions ask that their volunteers stay with them for a minimum of 6 months - 1 year.

I just found out that 6/1 and 6/17 dates still have seats for the same place as 5/19 one. I think I'll push it back a little. I agree that one has to take the MCAT and gets done with it. Hopefully I can do it!
I am not sure if I can list future EC hours on AACOMAS like AMCAS? Also what do DO schools think of future commitment hours? Thanks for your information!

 

[rufflev]

I just found out that 6/1 and 6/17 dates still have seats for the same place as 5/19 one. I think I'll push it back a little. I agree that one has to take the MCAT and gets done with it. Hopefully I can do it!
I am not sure if I can list future EC hours on AACOMAS like AMCAS? Also what do DO schools think of future commitment hours? Thanks for your information!

"Q: I haven’t begun my experience yet, but plan on doing so soon. Can I report that?"
"A: No, you cannot report “planned” experience. Once you have accumulated the experience, however, you can add new experiences to your application, even if you have already submitted it to AACOMAS. Please note you may NOT edit experiences which have already been entered. You may send updated information directly to the schools to which you are applying."

That's whats posted on the AACOMAS website, so you won't be able to put future commitment hours. However, they also mention that after submission of your application, you can still add and edit extracurriculars as you acquire them.

 

[LightShallBringVictory]

"Q: I haven’t begun my experience yet, but plan on doing so soon. Can I report that?"
"A: No, you cannot report “planned” experience. Once you have accumulated the experience, however, you can add new experiences to your application, even if you have already submitted it to AACOMAS. Please note you may NOT edit experiences which have already been entered. You may send updated information directly to the schools to which you are applying."

That's whats posted on the AACOMAS website, so you won't be able to put future commitment hours. However, they also mention that after submission of your application, you can still add and edit extracurriculars as you acquire them.

Thank you for the information - I will spend more time on researching on my own next time... Too bad I cannot list planned hours 🙁 Looks like I really need to do well on the MCAT. I think I am going to push it back. Still haven't decided if I want to take one or two for gap years, so I'll probably take another practice exam and decide when to take the MCAT, hence the gap year decision. Thank you for your help thus far!