Pre-App anxiety

[OrdinaryDO]

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Hello, friends. I am a junior/senior (depending on how you look at it) at the University of Arkansas. I just wanted to ask a few questions to see if this is a typical thing or not.

first of all, I have yet to take the MCAT, I wanted to before the 2015 MCAT, but it just isn't going to happen. Do you guys feel nervous about being some of the first candidates to take the new MCAT??

Also, did you all every have anxiety while sitting in class, thinking "I need ak A! What if I don't get an A in here!?" I find myself doing that so often in Organic and Cell bio...


Lastly, will it make me look any less capable to handle medical school if I drag out my senior year to, say, 3 semesters due to not only financial aid, but also for the ability to take less hours so I can study for the MCAT for the spring/summer dates?

Sorry if this is a messy thread, I typed it out on my crappy phone. Thanks for the input in advance! Love my DO hopefuls!

 

[Mad Jack]

Drawing out your last semester won't have a big effect on your application, aside from likely pushing you forward a cycle. Stress is a part of the process. Just make sure you don't lose yourself in it.

 

[kelminak]

My undergrad will be like 5 or 6 and a half years, don't sweat it. 🙂 Just rock your classes and you'll be just fine!

 

[mspeedwagon]

Think of this as a marathon (I'm a ex-cross country runner). You need to keep your nerves in check, but it's ok to be nervous.

Being the first to sit for the new MCAT may be to your advantage. The new MCAT is an experiment. The scores every time a new MCAT is released tend to be lower overall. Yes, it sucks that it is double the length. Yes, it sucks that scoring is convoluted. But, it'll take several batches of kids to understand it. Testing early in the experiment may actually help you some. Minor caveat, since you are aiming for DO, you should try AAMC 3 and see where you are (if you are above a 25, you may want to study for the Jan test).

Don't sit in the class thinking I need to get an A. I did that. I ended up with a post-bac GPA of over 3.8 (only got a B+ in English). However, I didn't learn the material well. Hence, I'm now stuck in the mid-20s on the MCAT. Sit in class and master the material. The A will follow.

No one will care how long you took to graduate, as long as you do well.

 

[OrdinaryDO]

Awesome, thank you all. It seems like I just over think it sometimes and wonder if my hard work will pay off some day. My heart is in medicine, so I can only hope and pray I get there.

 

[osteohack10]

OP, you're going to be fine. I think everyone on these forums has had the "MUST... ACHIEVE..." thoughts more than once. It's the nature of the game.

As far as dragging out your timeline, whatever it takes to do well. If that means an extra year so be it - use it to get some clinical time and do things you love. You'll be happy you did later.