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- Mar 21, 2013
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Like my title suggests, Im out of the running for this application cycle 99% due to my mcat scores. Id like some advice on how spend my remaining year in order to improve for the next application cycle. I dont think its wise for me to take a gap year as Im a 24 year old Nontrad and have been doing the things that you tend to do during a gap year. The good news is that I only applied TMDSAS, so Im not out a lot of money. The bad news is that I only want to attend Texas schools in the first place.
For my mcat, my first exam was a 22 P7 V9 B6 and my second score is a 23 P8 V6 B9. My thoughts on the first exam are that PS/BS wasnt similar to the aamc practice exams. PS was extremely calculation heavy and BS was hard experiments (I averaged 9/10 for BS); Verbal was right on the mark (I averaged 9/10). My thoughts on the second exam is that PS and BS were similar to the practice exams, PS had more than a few questions that seemed to come out of left field. Verbal was nothing but dry and long winded passages and vastly different in style from the passages in the first real exam. I plan for a 3rd retake in February using TBR and princeton science and verbal workbooks as well as Organic chemistry as a 2nd language. In the past, I did all of the passages in TBR books and half of the princeton ones, but I really think that by changing how I review the answers should help me improve.
What I would really appreciate is if someone could offer suggestions that are non mcat related.
For my GPA TMDSAS has it listed as Overall GPA: 3.46
Overall Science GPA: 3.43
Undergrad GPA: 3.46
Undergrad Science GPA: 3.43
Undergrad Non-Science GPA: 3.52
My gpa when I graduated from junior college was a 3.25 which is why my gpa is so low. I didnt fail any courses, 1 W (texas history) but there are a few too many Cs. Chem 1 and 2 are both Cs. It wasnt content that was the problem, it was how often the professor would start yelling at the top of his lungs at the students in the back for them to be quiet that led to a lack of content being taught. I was young and didnt know how to self teach or study better (first generation). When I transferred to my university, I graduated with a 3.76 with 85% nothing but upper level sciences. All are As except for a science lab that got a B and non science courses (2?) that got Bs as well. I have no issue taking post bach courses, but I think I have to reregister at my university since none of my log ins work. The junior college gpa is the problem but Im not sure how many science classes are offered there and Im not sure how favorably adcoms would see me returning to take jr college courses to raise my gpa.
Since my first semester at jr college, I have worked part time at a District Attorneys office as a clerk. I am happy with the pay and was able to make it out of college with no debt and some dollars saved up.
For ECs and volunteering. I have raised show cattle since the start of high school, I take them to shows and they place well. Half way through jr college, I started Taekwondo and was awarded my black belt. I was a host for 2 years at a movie theatre where an animation company sent us dvds to watch, I led group discussions and interacted with voice actors if they were able to attend the showings. I have over 150 hours volunteering at my local ER. I entered on my application 30 hours for shadowing different physicians, but at the ER whatever physician is working that day I follow them as well. All ECs are ongoing except for the movie theatre host.
For leadership activities, I organize and teach show clinics where I teach students how to train and show their heifers/steers as well as other animal husbandry techniques. I teach and offer advice to younger students/belt colors in taekwondo. At work, I teach the new hires/volunteers/interns how to perform my range of duties.
LORs The one from work is amazing, the one from the ER is good, and the one from a former biology professor is poor to mediocre.
Since I dont know what the mcat cut off for Texas schools are, I dont know if the adcoms will even see my application and that makes it hard for next year when I ask them for advice on what/how to improve. If the adcoms dont review my application, how badly do I need to change my LORs to new people? The current writers are willing to write new ones for next year. I also dont know what to do with my personal statement. I know I need to update it or change a few things but I havent had any new experiences that make me want to be a physician and Im not sure what the new experiences should even be.
Im sorry for the length but I really want to improve.
For my mcat, my first exam was a 22 P7 V9 B6 and my second score is a 23 P8 V6 B9. My thoughts on the first exam are that PS/BS wasnt similar to the aamc practice exams. PS was extremely calculation heavy and BS was hard experiments (I averaged 9/10 for BS); Verbal was right on the mark (I averaged 9/10). My thoughts on the second exam is that PS and BS were similar to the practice exams, PS had more than a few questions that seemed to come out of left field. Verbal was nothing but dry and long winded passages and vastly different in style from the passages in the first real exam. I plan for a 3rd retake in February using TBR and princeton science and verbal workbooks as well as Organic chemistry as a 2nd language. In the past, I did all of the passages in TBR books and half of the princeton ones, but I really think that by changing how I review the answers should help me improve.
What I would really appreciate is if someone could offer suggestions that are non mcat related.
For my GPA TMDSAS has it listed as Overall GPA: 3.46
Overall Science GPA: 3.43
Undergrad GPA: 3.46
Undergrad Science GPA: 3.43
Undergrad Non-Science GPA: 3.52
My gpa when I graduated from junior college was a 3.25 which is why my gpa is so low. I didnt fail any courses, 1 W (texas history) but there are a few too many Cs. Chem 1 and 2 are both Cs. It wasnt content that was the problem, it was how often the professor would start yelling at the top of his lungs at the students in the back for them to be quiet that led to a lack of content being taught. I was young and didnt know how to self teach or study better (first generation). When I transferred to my university, I graduated with a 3.76 with 85% nothing but upper level sciences. All are As except for a science lab that got a B and non science courses (2?) that got Bs as well. I have no issue taking post bach courses, but I think I have to reregister at my university since none of my log ins work. The junior college gpa is the problem but Im not sure how many science classes are offered there and Im not sure how favorably adcoms would see me returning to take jr college courses to raise my gpa.
Since my first semester at jr college, I have worked part time at a District Attorneys office as a clerk. I am happy with the pay and was able to make it out of college with no debt and some dollars saved up.
For ECs and volunteering. I have raised show cattle since the start of high school, I take them to shows and they place well. Half way through jr college, I started Taekwondo and was awarded my black belt. I was a host for 2 years at a movie theatre where an animation company sent us dvds to watch, I led group discussions and interacted with voice actors if they were able to attend the showings. I have over 150 hours volunteering at my local ER. I entered on my application 30 hours for shadowing different physicians, but at the ER whatever physician is working that day I follow them as well. All ECs are ongoing except for the movie theatre host.
For leadership activities, I organize and teach show clinics where I teach students how to train and show their heifers/steers as well as other animal husbandry techniques. I teach and offer advice to younger students/belt colors in taekwondo. At work, I teach the new hires/volunteers/interns how to perform my range of duties.
LORs The one from work is amazing, the one from the ER is good, and the one from a former biology professor is poor to mediocre.
Since I dont know what the mcat cut off for Texas schools are, I dont know if the adcoms will even see my application and that makes it hard for next year when I ask them for advice on what/how to improve. If the adcoms dont review my application, how badly do I need to change my LORs to new people? The current writers are willing to write new ones for next year. I also dont know what to do with my personal statement. I know I need to update it or change a few things but I havent had any new experiences that make me want to be a physician and Im not sure what the new experiences should even be.
Im sorry for the length but I really want to improve.
