Pretty deflating MCAT score. Application Advice?

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moorekw

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So I just received my MCAT score back. I have taken the MCAT three times:
8/18/2011: 4V 6PS 5BS =15
9/1/2012: 6V 7PS 4BS=17
1/26/2013 6V 7PS 8PS= 21

I am really surprised how low my verbal scores have been. I was always scoring in the 8's or 9's on practice tests/sections. And no I am not URM.

I have a 3.64 overall GPA and a 3.55 science GPA

I was vice president of a club in college
I graduated last June and have been working in a hospital
I have over 350 hours of volunteering in a hospital
I was involved in research for three years but no publications
I have just over 100 hours of physician shadowing experience
I have over 200 hours for different volunteering events

If I applied really broadly for this upcoming cycle, do I stand any chance of being accepted or should I retake the MCAT again?

Honest advice appreciated
 
you should take your mcat again. you may luck out but i have never seen someone with a 21 get into school, however i have not been following the underdog threads. a 21 generally means a lack of understanding the material. how are you studying?
 
I used BR books the first two times I took then I took a KAPLAN prep course the third time.
 
moorekw said:
I used BR books the first two times I took then I took a KAPLAN prep course the third time.
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If you really want medicine, then you have to retake it. You improved a good amount, but it took you 3 attempts to break 20. What averages were you getting on practice tests? You need to bring it up to at least a 24, so your average practice test scores should be around 27/28 before you take it again.

Are you running out of time? Are you not understanding the questions? Do you not know the material? You really need to reevaluate why you are aren't doing well, and work on your weaknesses. Kaplan lets you extend your access to the study materials, so you should tell them you need to study more (all it usually takes is a call and they'll extend your access for a couple months), and then really buckle down and take care of this.

As it stands your chances are slim to none, especially as a none URM, with 3 MCAT attempts (already a red flag), an MCAT 2 or more SDs away from almost all matriculant averages, and an OK GPA. That being said a retake with a 25 and applying early and broadly should give you a good shot.
 
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Reassess what you want in life and judge whether or not you have a capacity to pass standardized tests in an effective manner. If you're after 3 times and a prep course scoring under a 24 then you might just not be cut out for medicine.
Regardless, reassess things and or aim for podiatry.
 
hallowmann said:
If you really want medicine, then you have to retake it. You improved a good amount, but it took you 3 attempts to break 20. What averages were you getting on practice tests? You need to bring it up to at least a 24, so your average practice test scores should be around 27/28 before you take it again.

Are you running out of time? Are you not understanding the questions? Do you not know the material? You really need to reevaluate why you are aren't doing well, and work on your weaknesses. Kaplan lets you extend your access to the study materials, so you should tell them you need to study more (all it usually takes is a call and they'll extend your access for a couple months), and then really buckle down and take care of this.

As it stands your chances are slim to none, especially as a none URM, with 3 MCAT attempts (already a red flag), an MCAT 2 or more SDs away from almost all matriculant averages, and an OK GPA. That being said a retake with a 25 and applying early and broadly should give you a good shot.
Click to expand...

Honestly getting a 24 on your 4th try isn't going to cut it. Marginal improvement over such time probably would scare adcoms and make them think you'd have to retake the comlex or some of your classes to graduate into a very low tier residency.
The OP needs a 26+ to show competence.
 
Drop Kaplan. There are better avenues for MCAT prep. I would suggest picking up the Exam Krackers book for verbal and get to it. I've heard good things about TPR for the sciences. If you haven't done any full lengths from the AAMC, then I highly suggest doing them. Do more if you've already done a few.
 
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The issue is this - A big reason they look at your MCAT score is to determine whether you are capable of passing the next standardized tests (board exams). There really is no other way of proving your ability other than attaining an arbitrary threshold MCAT score.

I am under the impression that 21 is too low ��.
 
A 21 is just too low, and your GPA is about par for the course so it's not giving you any help. Your ECs are fine, but you'd need something earth-shattering to make up the lost ground.

In the lead-up to your next retake, analyze your missed answers and anything you guessed on (be honest with yourself) to understand why you were wrong/right.
 
Needing to take the MCAT more than three times to exceed a 21 is going to be a huge red flag for any US medical school, MD or DO.
 
moorekw said:
So I just received my MCAT score back. I have taken the MCAT three times:
8/18/2011: 4V 6PS 5BS =15
9/1/2012: 6V 7PS 4BS=17
1/26/2013 6V 7PS 8PS= 21

I am really surprised how low my verbal scores have been. I was always scoring in the 8's or 9's on practice tests/sections. And no I am not URM.

I have a 3.64 overall GPA and a 3.55 science GPA

I was vice president of a club in college
I graduated last June and have been working in a hospital
I have over 350 hours of volunteering in a hospital
I was involved in research for three years but no publications
I have just over 100 hours of physician shadowing experience
I have over 200 hours for different volunteering events

If I applied really broadly for this upcoming cycle, do I stand any chance of being accepted or should I retake the MCAT again?

Honest advice appreciated
Click to expand...

Look into BSN/RN.
 
Honestly, you're done. 21 after 2 tries wouldn't even get a URM in. Go into a new profession instead of wasting more time.

Sent from my SCH-R910 using SDN Mobile
 
Come on guys (and gals!) lets be a little optimistic here: OK, yes, the OP didn't do to hot on the MCAT after 3 times of taking the test. It is a hard test, and maybe something just didn't click on all 3 of those test days. As the OP stated, they scored in the mid 20's on practice tests.

The OP has a good GPA for DO schools, with a little bit lower GPA for MD. Clearly the OP is dedicated to med school by his/her good GPA, research, volunteer, EC's etc. JUST THE MCAT...We have all heard those words before. Therefore, I humbly suggest to the OP 3 solutions which are my opinion:

1) Look deep down inside you and ask yourself if you are still committed to become a physician. Your stats show it through hard work, but do you really want it? Is it financially viable for you to wait a whole other cycle, does your family help and support your goals, and are you still and undergrad or doing a Masters etc? Only with a pure intention does will your resolve become sincere, so make sure you are doing this for yourself as a career you can wake up to every morning and be happy.

2) If you are still committed to medicine and want to stay in the United States for med school via MD or DO, then you need to take the MCAT again. Once June 1 comes, apply broadly to about 5-10 low tier DO schools as you are right now without a new MCAT just to see if something special will happen. However, in all honesty, you are going to want around a 26-27+ on the MCAT to be competitive for DO and a 32-33+ for MD. DO WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOUR OWN STUDY HABITS! Study, work the hardest you have in your life, put it all on the line, because this could be your last shot. I would recommend taking a Princeton Review course with their prep books as I found that more helpful personally than Kaplan (since you already used Kaplan, and this is solely just my opinion not SDN's endorsement at all). Buy all of the official AAMC MCAT practice tests and problems, work hard, and hopefully you will succeed! Look on the SDN MCAT thread for more information/friends, teachers, youtube videos whatever helps you in the end is worth it in hindsight!

3) If you just still cannot manage to ace the MCAT and still want to be a physician, look into international options such as the Caribbean if possible.

The point is the OP is still only halfway exhausted with his/her options at this point, and being a licensed US physician is still possible.

Never give up hope, because if you do, who else will care?😎 Best wishes to your future success and hopefully we can be future attendings at the same hospital!
 
serenade said:
Honestly getting a 24 on your 4th try isn't going to cut it. Marginal improvement over such time probably would scare adcoms and make them think you'd have to retake the comlex or some of your classes to graduate into a very low tier residency.
The OP needs a 26+ to show competence.
Click to expand...

Generally I agree, but I wouldn't be that surprised if OP took it again in a year, got a 24/25, and then got in. Chances aren't good, but there is still a chance.

Getting such a low score consistently makes me feel like there is some inherent problem that needs to be addressed. Obviously if it isn't, doing better isn't an option and passing boards in the future will be almost impossible.
 
No chance this cycle OP. If you really want to be a doctor, you know what you need to do.
 
I think that your time and money would be better spent on pursuing "plan B". The mcat is the first of many long standardized tests that you will have to take. If you've put in a real effort and still done this poorly, I don't see how you could succeed in the future. Good luck.
 
moorekw said:
So I just received my MCAT score back. I have taken the MCAT three times:
8/18/2011: 4V 6PS 5BS =15
9/1/2012: 6V 7PS 4BS=17
1/26/2013 6V 7PS 8PS= 21

I am really surprised how low my verbal scores have been. I was always scoring in the 8's or 9's on practice tests/sections. And no I am not URM.

I have a 3.64 overall GPA and a 3.55 science GPA

I was vice president of a club in college
I graduated last June and have been working in a hospital
I have over 350 hours of volunteering in a hospital
I was involved in research for three years but no publications
I have just over 100 hours of physician shadowing experience
I have over 200 hours for different volunteering events

If I applied really broadly for this upcoming cycle, do I stand any chance of being accepted or should I retake the MCAT again?

Honest advice appreciated
Click to expand...


The discrepancy between your MCAT score and GPA indicates either poor preparation methods (in which case you want to stop doing your own thing with independent study and pay the big bucks to get a high quality prep course from a company that can provide one on one asstance, like PR) or memorization of facts instead of developing critical thinking for problem solving... or both.

Only you know what you are capable of but here's my advice, if you do decide to follow this path and retake, your approach to the test must be completely different, whatever habits or methods you have right now don't work. Finding your weaknesses may take some long hours and hard work but it is necessary both to preform at the level you will need on the MCAT and every future standardized test you you will in med school, residency or any boards.
 
thehoneybadger said:
Come on guys (and gals!) lets be a little optimistic here: OK, yes, the OP didn't do to hot on the MCAT after 3 times of taking the test. It is a hard test, and maybe something just didn't click on all 3 of those test days. As the OP stated, they scored in the mid 20's on practice tests.
Click to expand...
No "come on." The OP is done for. 3 times and the best is 21? No way. He'd be very unlikely to pass the COMLEX/USMLE.
 
Your best bet will only be with the newest schools. Mine would not invite you for an interview.

If you're not ESL, you're going to need to fix that VR deficit.

Also strongly suggest you look at alternative careers. You're below avg for PS and BS.

moorekw said:
So I just received my MCAT score back. I have taken the MCAT three times:
8/18/2011: 4V 6PS 5BS =15
9/1/2012: 6V 7PS 4BS=17
1/26/2013 6V 7PS 8PS= 21

I am really surprised how low my verbal scores have been. I was always scoring in the 8's or 9's on practice tests/sections. And no I am not URM.

I have a 3.64 overall GPA and a 3.55 science GPA

I was vice president of a club in college
I graduated last June and have been working in a hospital
I have over 350 hours of volunteering in a hospital
I was involved in research for three years but no publications
I have just over 100 hours of physician shadowing experience
I have over 200 hours for different volunteering events

If I applied really broadly for this upcoming cycle, do I stand any chance of being accepted or should I retake the MCAT again?

Honest advice appreciated
Click to expand...
 
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I can give you a 'I know people who got in with this' story, but it wouldn't help much. There are people that have taken more than 3 mcats and successfully entered an MD program though. If you are really adamant about becoming a physician, many applicants complete post-baccs or medical masters degrees to make up for poor undergraduate work or to just add to their application. You may want to look at a master's degree to boost your application and at the same time, retake the mcat. Don't listen to people that say 3+ mcats is too much. It happens to plenty of applicants and SDN doesn't give you a good sense of the entire application pool. People here are neurotic and sometimes inconsiderate, which probably shouldn't be that way for the medical profession, but that's just how it is. Maybe consult Dr. Meows, she is very nice and can give you a good pep talk, seriously. These people do make a good point, though. Always have a plan B.
 
Please ignore these people OP, your GPA is solid and I think you might have a shot of getting into a newer program. Apply to ACOM, MUCOM, CUSOM, WCU, LMU, VCOM, PCOM GA, KYCOM, WVSOM, and PNWU and hope for the best!
 
VinceViegel said:
Please stop giving advice already. He has 2 scores in the teens and a 21. What the hell makes you think he can get in ANYWHERE? Even if he does somehow get in, how is he going to pass the boards?
Click to expand...

Just like the others that struggled and got miserable low scores...
 
Cmon guys. Put your real life keyboard away and get your sugar coating and care bear keyboards out.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
VinceViegel said:
Please stop giving advice already. He has 2 scores in the teens and a 21. What the hell makes you think he can get in ANYWHERE? Even if he does somehow get in, how is he going to pass the boards?
Click to expand...

Sorry for giving encouragement 🙄
 
I would take it one more time. You are going to have to break a 25 if you want any chance at DO medical school.

This time, STUDY!!! Your GPA is great! Heck, if you nailed the MCAT the first time, you could have gone to a MD school
 
What scores were you getting on your practice tests? You really shouldn't sit for the exam if you aren't scoring well. I think the scores are only valid for like 3 or 4 years. I'd think you would have a better shot once these scores are invalid.
 
MedPR said:
Cmon guys. Put your real life keyboard away and get your sugar coating and care bear keyboards out.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
Click to expand...

At least he improved each time
 
user3 said:
Please ignore these people OP, your GPA is solid and I think you might have a shot of getting into a newer program. Apply to ACOM, MUCOM, CUSOM, WCU, LMU, VCOM, PCOM GA, KYCOM, WVSOM, and PNWU and hope for the best!
Click to expand...

These schools are newer but they still have no shortage of well qualified and increasingly large quantities of applicants. A 21 MCAT would be lucky to get a secondary at one of these schools much less an interview or acceptance. If the OP talked with any admission counselors I can assure you that each would not offer much positivity on this.
 
MedPR said:
Cmon guys. Put your real life keyboard away and get your sugar coating and care bear keyboards out.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
Click to expand...

+1

Sent from my SCH-I405 using SDN Mobile
 
GypsyHummus said:
At least he improved each time
Click to expand...

Are you being serious? If someone retook a class 3 times and got the following grades would you be saying "at least they improved each time"?

First try: F
Second try: D-
Third try: D

Those grades are about equivalent to the OPs scores. All abysmally below average.
 
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MedPR said:
Are you being serious? If someone retook a class 3 times and got the following grades would you be saying "at least they improved each time"?

First try: F
Second try: D-
Third try: D

Those grades are about equivalent to the OPs scores. All abysmally below average.
Click to expand...

4 more tries and they'll get there.😉
 
Hey thanks for all of the good advice guys I appreciate it! I know things don't look good now but hopefully I can turn things around.

What do you recommend if I have already taken all of the the aamc practice tests?
 
moorekw said:
Hey thanks for all of the good advice guys I appreciate it! I know things don't look good now but hopefully I can turn things around.

What do you recommend if I have already taken all of the the aamc practice tests?
Click to expand...

TBR tests

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
VinceViegel said:
This post is ridiculous.

Who said he studied for 4 years? And he doesn't even have a passable score. And most people only score ~24 or less after a semester of studying because that is the average score. How is he trying to cheat the system? It's not like he's storming into a medical school with a plasma gun threatening to vaporize everyone there if he gets rejected. Now that would be cheating the system. If anything, the fact that he took this thing 3 friggin times shows dedication.
Click to expand...

25.1 is the average score. Technically most people score better than 24. The vast majority of matriculated students (the number that actually matters) is higher than 24 as well.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
TriagePreMed said:
No "come on." The OP is done for. 3 times and the best is 21? No way. He'd be very unlikely to pass the COMLEX/USMLE.[/QUOTE]

They are two different tests. Most Physicians I have talked to said USMLE/COMLEX are not as conceptual as the MCAT...
Click to expand...
 
OP has 6V 7PS 8BS= 21....What if OP had 11V 7PS 8BS= 26? Would it be competitive?
 
Temperature101 said:
They are two different tests. Most Physicians I have talked to said USMLE/COMLEX are not as conceptual as the MCAT...
Click to expand...

If most physicians knew 21 was in the high 20th percentile of test takers (and even lower for actual matriculants) they'd probably say you have no chance.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
Temperature101 said:
TriagePreMed said:
No "come on." The OP is done for. 3 times and the best is 21? No way. He'd be very unlikely to pass the COMLEX/USMLE.[/QUOTE]

They are two different tests. Most Physicians I have talked to said USMLE/COMLEX are not as conceptual as the MCAT...
Click to expand...

I agree. I was chatting with a 3rd year med student the other day and he told me that Step 1 was nothing like the MCAT. Still tough, but different. He mentioned that the mcat requires a totally different caliber of critical thinking skills.
Click to expand...
 
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