Ready to Apply (Almost)

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okmaxd

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Hi!

I'm a graduate of UCSD in Physiology and Neuroscience with a GPA of 3.35. Realistically, I knew that I would not have a shot at an MD program so I've been looking at DO schools for the past 6-7 months. Unfortunately, I took the MCAT in September and got a score of 498. I scored a 126 on CARS and a 124 on every other section. I knew I hadn't scored well and I started studying again right after my first attempt. I'm already doing well on practice exams, going over 505. However, I know some DO schools accept January MCAT scores and I'm looking to take one of the January MCAT exams.

I have already filled out my application, but haven't submitted it. I have decent extracurriculars including work as a lab tech in a lab on campus (no publication), volunteer work including 6 months of volunteering at a hospital, several volunteering experiences throughout undergrad that were nonclinical, and I currently work as a part-time chemist in a bleach factory and as a medical scribe in the emergency department. I have 2 letters from science professors, a letter from a non-science professor, a letter from the clinical volunteering experience I had, and a letter from one of the doctors I work with in the emergency department who happens to be a DO. In other words, my app is ready to be submitted.

So my question is, do I submit my primary with my garbage MCAT score and just put in that I will retake the test or should I wait until I take my second attempt and get scores back or does that even matter? Or do I submit my app to one school for now so that everything gets verified? I do not want to wait another year and I'm confident that I will do much better on the January MCAT as I'm giving myself enough time to study. I do want to take a shot at applying this year as I really don't care where I get in at this point. What do you guys think?
 
Hi!

I'm a graduate of UCSD in Physiology and Neuroscience with a GPA of 3.35. Realistically, I knew that I would not have a shot at an MD program so I've been looking at DO schools for the past 6-7 months. Unfortunately, I took the MCAT in September and got a score of 498. I scored a 126 on CARS and a 124 on every other section. I knew I hadn't scored well and I started studying again right after my first attempt. I'm already doing well on practice exams, going over 505. However, I know some DO schools accept January MCAT scores and I'm looking to take one of the January MCAT exams.

I have already filled out my application, but haven't submitted it. I have decent extracurriculars including work as a lab tech in a lab on campus (no publication), volunteer work including 6 months of volunteering at a hospital, several volunteering experiences throughout undergrad that were nonclinical, and I currently work as a part-time chemist in a bleach factory and as a medical scribe in the emergency department. I have 2 letters from science professors, a letter from a non-science professor, a letter from the clinical volunteering experience I had, and a letter from one of the doctors I work with in the emergency department who happens to be a DO. In other words, my app is ready to be submitted.

So my question is, do I submit my primary with my garbage MCAT score and just put in that I will retake the test or should I wait until I take my second attempt and get scores back or does that even matter? Or do I submit my app to one school for now so that everything gets verified? I do not want to wait another year and I'm confident that I will do much better on the January MCAT as I'm giving myself enough time to study. I do want to take a shot at applying this year as I really don't care where I get in at this point. What do you guys think?
I would apply now. I have already been accepted to multiple schools with a score only one point higher than your "garbage score" and have interviewed at quite a few MD and DO schools. However, my GPA is quite a bit higher than yours but if you're consistently doing a lot better on the practice exams to make up for your slightly lower than average GPA I would apply now!

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Hi!

I'm a graduate of UCSD in Physiology and Neuroscience with a GPA of 3.35. Realistically, I knew that I would not have a shot at an MD program so I've been looking at DO schools for the past 6-7 months. Unfortunately, I took the MCAT in September and got a score of 498. I scored a 126 on CARS and a 124 on every other section. I knew I hadn't scored well and I started studying again right after my first attempt. I'm already doing well on practice exams, going over 505. However, I know some DO schools accept January MCAT scores and I'm looking to take one of the January MCAT exams.

I have already filled out my application, but haven't submitted it. I have decent extracurriculars including work as a lab tech in a lab on campus (no publication), volunteer work including 6 months of volunteering at a hospital, several volunteering experiences throughout undergrad that were nonclinical, and I currently work as a part-time chemist in a bleach factory and as a medical scribe in the emergency department. I have 2 letters from science professors, a letter from a non-science professor, a letter from the clinical volunteering experience I had, and a letter from one of the doctors I work with in the emergency department who happens to be a DO. In other words, my app is ready to be submitted.

So my question is, do I submit my primary with my garbage MCAT score and just put in that I will retake the test or should I wait until I take my second attempt and get scores back or does that even matter? Or do I submit my app to one school for now so that everything gets verified? I do not want to wait another year and I'm confident that I will do much better on the January MCAT as I'm giving myself enough time to study. I do want to take a shot at applying this year as I really don't care where I get in at this point. What do you guys think?
I would concur with the above posts. If you're dead set on applying this cycle (probably not the best idea), then I would submit now and get verified so that when you update your new MCAT it's a much quicker process.

Here's to hoping that you score a 505+ on your next MCAT! Cheers 👍
 
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