Primary app ready to go... but MCAT isnt.. I need opinions

[Dr Poring]

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Hello guys,

Since my college graduation, I've been struggling with depression (slump) for 2 years due to family problems and financial instability.

During that time I was able to finish a couple of postbacc classes and 200 hours of physician shadowing.

I moved to the US when I was a HS student, and I studied engineering in college. English isn't really my thing (and I am a slow reader too). I also noticed I lack some vocab although I know all scientific vocab.

I have decent GPA (c3.78, bcpm 3.85) and I have a really good EC ( >150 hours non-clinical volunteering, >300 clinical volunteering, 2 posters and 5 publications, 4 honor society memberships, and 8 leadership positions)

I've been having problems with focusing on MCAT (currently about 20-24/45 and low verbal... not good) for a while. and now I only have 3 weeks to study. I haven't finished my content review yet, and I think I'm going to take full-length exams and cover my weakness until I take MCAT..

I have great recommendation letters and interesting story too. But I am really aiming for good medical school programs (I want to do some clinical research). I feel like I beat depression too late. I am a non-trad and my parents have been accusing me for waiting too long.

This year, I am taking a few more required class in post-bacc program. I have heard of terrible stories of reckless MCAT takers who ruined their chance to get into decent medical schools. I haven't taken the official MCAT yet and I don't want to scar my application. I'm not sure waiting two more years for medical school (since I'm applying now - total 2 years) is really worth it though. You don't have to tell me that I'm a loser, etc because I already feel like it. I am trying to fix it myself before it's too late.

I would appreciate if you could give me your advice. Thanks for reading.

 

[morneau]

You will be fine - three weeks is plenty of time to finish studying for the MCAT if you make a schedule for yourself. Try to just power through the content review, and then devote the final week to taking practice MCAT tests through AMCAS and going carefully over the answers that you get wrong. Everyone gets discouraged a few weeks before test time - you'll get through it. Good luck!

 

[grapepopsicle]

DO NOT TAKE THE MCAT THIS YEAR

With your research experience (5 publications, WOW!) and GPA (great!), I'd highly recommend for you to study for the MCAT like crazy for the next 6 months and take it next year. Anytime from Jan to early May would be ideal. An MCAT score less than 32 will make it very very tough to get into a top research school. If you take it next year, score 34+, and apply early, you'll be very competitive at top tier schools. Just make sure you can save those strong rec letters and use them next year.

Yes, you'll have two years before you start med school. But for the rest of your life after you are accepted next fall, I really doubt you will care about that extra year off knowing it got you that awesome MCAT score which got you into that awesome med school.

I wouldn't recommend taking the full-lengths now. Save those until after you really know the content, and preferably in the weeks leading up to the actual test.

You seriously have the opportunity to get into great, upper tier schools. Getting a score in the 20s in a few weeks could kill that opportunity.

You are absolutely not a loser. It would be a shame to waste your great ECs and GPA by applying late this year with an MCAT score that is much lower than what you are capable of.

 

[Dr Poring]

Thank you, morneau and grapepopsicle.
I actually received FAP this year because I have a part time job and my parents lost their jobs due to health problems.
I will try to take a full length exam during my last week of study - if it's not even near 28 after content review, I will discuss with my pre-med advisor and move my plan to next year..

This is what I think: if I want to be a good doctor, I should put my best effort into my application. What I did this year isn't really 100% of what I've got. Luckily I got my motivation back and I decided not to worry about my situation too much. I am already suffering from an ulcer and GI problems..

 

[Dr Poring]

Bump. I would like to have more opinion about this issue.