Rolling the dice

[almualim]

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Afternoon everybody, sorry to clutter the boards with another thread like this, but I need some commentary from peers and elders. I recently took my first MCAT on June 16, 2017, and I'm not feeling too hot about it. I'm contemplating going for the mid august MCAT. I've already filled out my AMCAS, my LORs and committee letter are ready to be transmitted. I have recommendations from 2 MDs and the former chair of my engineering program at my ugrad school. As far as other stats breakdown:
3.56 cGPA biomedical engineering
3.56 BCPM GPA (ochem sunk me, redeemed with biochem)
Extensive shadowing with two physicians, solid non-medical volunteering (domestic and international), some hospital volunteering, and I currently scribe full time and have been doing so for almost 2 years. I'm applying to mid-low tier MD programs as well as some osteopathic programs, but would strongly prefer a MD program (preferably at VCU or USU for military medicine)

Do I roll the dice on the August MCAT? I will have about a month and a half of pure study time to hunker down and try to nail it. Thanks for reading.

 

[efle]

You're only like a week away from getting your score back right? Wait to see it, then decide. Many people feel terrible walking out of the test center but end up scoring right near their practice exams.

 

[almualim]

You're only like a week away from getting your score back right? Wait to see it, then decide. Many people feel terrible walking out of the test center but end up scoring right near their practice exams.

Should I go ahead and submit my AMCAS now and wait to submit the MCAT score, or just wait for the score to come out in a week or so?

 

[efle]

Should I go ahead and submit my AMCAS now and wait to submit the MCAT score, or just wait for the score to come out in a week or so?

Wait for the score, one week later in July is not going to change where you get interviews.

 

[ServiceFirst]

I would recommend submitting to a "throwaway" school for verification. The submission/days for verification is not necessarily the most linear relationship . . .

 

[almualim]

Thank you all. I'll submit to a throwaway school this weekend, wait for my mcat scores and go from there.

 

[almualim]

Ok, I'm panic mode now. I got a awful score of 499, combined with my piss poor GPA, do I stand a chance for domestic MD schools? Or should I opt for the august exam, study, and if I improve substantially on my practice exams, keep and send my august score? I was self study before, I will enroll in a kaplan class this time around.

My main hopes were targeted towards VCU and USUHS

What about carib schools (SGU, AUC?)

 

[efle]

You need to retake. Wait for your retake score before adding all your schools though, to avoid being a reapplicant unnecessarily if the retake goes poorly as well.

DO is a much better option than Carib (where even at the best schools ~40% or more end up with no degree or no residency and a mountain of debt). If you improve even a small amount into low 500s you'd be competitive for many DO schools, as a 3.6/503 for example you're in OK shape.

 

[lpp06]

Don't rush a retake. Amongst other things, a 3rd poor score will be extremely difficult to overcome.

If you focus, study effectively and score well - DO is well within striking distance.

If you haven't already - check out the MCAT subforum here and MCAT • r/Mcat for some great guidance

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Ok, I'm panic mode now. I got a awful score of 499, combined with my piss poor GPA, do I stand a chance for domestic MD schools? Or should I opt for the august exam, study, and if I improve substantially on my practice exams, keep and send my august score? I was self study before, I will enroll in a kaplan class this time around.

My main hopes were targeted towards VCU and USUHS

What about carib schools (SGU, AUC?)

Do not apply to the Carib. Right now your options are to apply broadly to DO, or retake the MCAT (after serious prep) and then apply broadly to MD and DO while focusing mainly on DO unless you somehow pull a 512+ on the retake.

Do not rush a retake. I would suggest foregoing this cycle and retaking it next spring and applying next year

 

[efle]

How were your AAMC official practice exams? Also around 500?

 

[almualim]

How were your AAMC official practice exams? Also around 500?

They were around 505-508 so I'm a little flustered how I got this low of a score.

 

[efle]

They were around 505-508 so I'm a little flustered how I got this low of a score.

Just a bad day then hopefully. If your retake comes back something like 506-507 you are in excellent shape for DO and still may get a couple MD interviews depending on what state you are from.

 

[Kpw101]

Don't rush your next MCAT. Take it when you are absolutely ready and scoring at or optimally a few points above your target score. Like a previous poster has said before, a 3rd retake will be hard to overcome.