Please help me make a decision!

[lovedocta07]

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how much does applying late really affect your chances?
i took the 3/27 mcat an received a terrible score of 22M...
i have 3.85+ gpa science and overall, great ECs, and amazing LOR's....but i am really conflicted on what to do with applying...??

1)after my quarter ends in june, should study for the end of july MCAT, get my scores by end of august and apply late?

or

2) study a solid 2.5 months this summer take a end of august mcat, and apply next cycle?

need your help guys, i was avg. (29-30) on the ammcs....im a 3rd year rite now, thnx

 

[klmnop]

how much does applying late really affect your chances?
i took the 3/27 mcat an received a terrible score of 22M...
i have 3.85+ gpa science and overall, great ECs, and amazing LOR's....but i am really conflicted on what to do with applying...??

1)after my quarter ends in june, should study for the end of july MCAT, get my scores by end of august and apply late?

or

2) study a solid 2.5 months this summer take a end of august mcat, and apply next cycle?

need your help guys, i was avg. (29-30) on the ammcs....im a 3rd year rite now, thnx

Assuming your retake is a 29 or 30, yeah you would need to apply early. If you honestly need to study that much, which is normal, then I suggest either you start studying now and move the date up to june....or you devote your entire summer to it and take it in the fall as planned.
Then beef up your EC's with a job/volunteering over the next year and apply the following summer. Your GPA is amazing but honestly an increase in 8pts and 3 letters is drastic and unlikely unless you fell asleep during the last exam. With a 30, you have a shot if you send in your app before your MCAT results and indicate you are retaking. They will most definitely put you at the bottom of the pile before your results come in and by then it may be too late. Just my opinion. The thing you have to ask youself is it worth going through the application process twice. If you can guarantee a 32+, then by all means take it in Aug and apply right away. But if you can't then each day you wait your chances grow slimmer.

Another thing to note, each school has their own policy on MCAT scores as they are able to view all of them. Some avg. the two (so with a 30 it would be a 26), some take the lowest, some take the first, some take the highest, some take the last one. You can call schools and ask them as they will probably be upfront about this... that way you can know which schools you will have a realistic chance at after your retake.

 

[lovedocta07]

bump....is it really that unlikely for me to get a 30 from a 22..

 

[tremulousNeedle]

No, not with good smurf-aration (preparation). Does this reference make me sound old; I promise I'm not.😎



I'm not big on telling anyone what to do, this is your life. Here's some food for thought.

• For an average or below average applicant, a primary application completion date in late August is late and will probably cost you interviews. How many interviews is dependent on a lot of variables and is too difficult to predict.
• If your first MCAT was a 22, you should make sure that you are really ready before you take it again (regardless of whether you need 2 months of prep or 12 months of prep). Material review and lots of practice questions! Also, Rarely do schools look at your lowest MCAT alone, the highest, average, and most recent are by far the most common interpretations of multiple MCAT scores.
• Don't underestimate the stress of an application cycle, you really have be sure that you are willing to do it twice if you are unsuccessful the first time around.

I hope this gives you a little perspective.

-admissions committee interviewer / senior medical student

 

[klmnop]

bump....is it really that unlikely for me to get a 30 from a 22..

its as likely as you make it, we are not you. 22 is below avg so chances are you are not below average and will improve some. A 5 pt improvement is very large and an 8 is even larger, but its been done by many people. as long as you work hard and have a goal.

 

[amine2086]

how much does applying late really affect your chances?
i took the 3/27 mcat an received a terrible score of 22M...
i have 3.85+ gpa science and overall, great ECs, and amazing LOR's....but i am really conflicted on what to do with applying...??

1)after my quarter ends in june, should study for the end of july MCAT, get my scores by end of august and apply late?

or

2) study a solid 2.5 months this summer take a end of august mcat, and apply next cycle?

need your help guys, i was avg. (29-30) on the ammcs....im a 3rd year rite now, thnx

Dedicate the summer to studying for the MCAT, take the MCAT in late August before classes start for next year and apply next cycle.