- Joined
- May 29, 2016
- Messages
- 140
- Reaction score
- 92
I know you will read this thread title and think that there are other threads out there for me to read. Believe me, I have read tons of them, but I still have no clue what to do and could use as much personal advice as I can get.
The story:
I studied 400-550 hours for the MCAT. AAMC scores were 512/513. My actual MCAT was a 510 (130/124/129/127); the only thing off on my actual test was that CARS was 2 points lower than usual, but the problem is that it is 124. I have no clue if I should retake it and risk my relatively high science sections. Also, if it is worth any note, I took the test as a financial assistance program examinee. There is AAMC data that these examinees end up having a median of 495.
A little bit about me:
I am a senior bioengineering major. Cumulative GPA is 3.64 at the end of junior year (freshman year was 3.26; sophomore year was 3.79; junior year was 3.89).
I have 200+ hours of combined volunteering at various hospitals and with refugees (I am looking to go into cardiology to help underserved populations). After 2400 hours of research (I did 600 a summer for 4 summers), I have 8 conference posters, 1 co-authored paper (author 5 out of 13), and I was featured in an article at the hospital I did research at.
I also have a very unique clinical experience where I am in charge of patients with intra-aortic balloon pumps. I am the "engineer" who ensures the patient's safe transport to surgery and proper functioning of the balloon on patients. I will be working as a VAD engineer for my gap year (similar responsiblities but now with all ventricular assist devices such as LVADs, RVAD, impellas, etc).
What do you guys think? Is this 124 going to be the end? I don't want my application to be thrown out due to hard cutoffs and a low score, but I feel like the numbers do not show everything about me.
Any advice is very very appreciated, and I would be forever grateful for your advice.
The story:
I studied 400-550 hours for the MCAT. AAMC scores were 512/513. My actual MCAT was a 510 (130/124/129/127); the only thing off on my actual test was that CARS was 2 points lower than usual, but the problem is that it is 124. I have no clue if I should retake it and risk my relatively high science sections. Also, if it is worth any note, I took the test as a financial assistance program examinee. There is AAMC data that these examinees end up having a median of 495.
A little bit about me:
I am a senior bioengineering major. Cumulative GPA is 3.64 at the end of junior year (freshman year was 3.26; sophomore year was 3.79; junior year was 3.89).
I have 200+ hours of combined volunteering at various hospitals and with refugees (I am looking to go into cardiology to help underserved populations). After 2400 hours of research (I did 600 a summer for 4 summers), I have 8 conference posters, 1 co-authored paper (author 5 out of 13), and I was featured in an article at the hospital I did research at.
I also have a very unique clinical experience where I am in charge of patients with intra-aortic balloon pumps. I am the "engineer" who ensures the patient's safe transport to surgery and proper functioning of the balloon on patients. I will be working as a VAD engineer for my gap year (similar responsiblities but now with all ventricular assist devices such as LVADs, RVAD, impellas, etc).
What do you guys think? Is this 124 going to be the end? I don't want my application to be thrown out due to hard cutoffs and a low score, but I feel like the numbers do not show everything about me.
Any advice is very very appreciated, and I would be forever grateful for your advice.