RRT TO DO? Need advice.

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
R

RRT95

New Member
2+ Year Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Members do not see this ad.
I am in need of some advice. I graduated with my degree in biomedical sciences in 2017, original goal was to become a PA which led me to receive my respiratory therapy license to gain some patient experience. I currently work in a level 1 trauma center where I work in ER and Trauma and have really contemplated on switching career paths to possibly applying to medical school instead of PA programs.
I unfortunately can’t score well on the mcat, first time I took the exam I studied for 3 months and scored a 487. Second time I studied for 5 months and scored a 492. Would it look bad if I took a third time? Or should I just give up my dream and go the PA route.
I am interested in Anesthesiology due to the relation of my current field.
I am a URM Male (Mexican)
GPA:3.7
SGPA: 3.5
Patient care experience: 2700 hrs
Volunteer: 1500 hrs
 
RRT95 said:
I am in need of some advice. I graduated with my degree in biomedical sciences in 2017, original goal was to become a PA which led me to receive my respiratory therapy license to gain some patient experience. I currently work in a level 1 trauma center where I work in ER and Trauma and have really contemplated on switching career paths to possibly applying to medical school instead of PA programs.
I unfortunately can’t score well on the mcat, first time I took the exam I studied for 3 months and scored a 487. Second time I studied for 5 months and scored a 492. Would it look bad if I took a third time? Or should I just give up my dream and go the PA route.
I am interested in Anesthesiology due to the relation of my current field.
I am a URM Male (Mexican)
GPA:3.7
SGPA: 3.5
Patient care experience: 2700 hrs
Volunteer: 1500 hrs
Click to expand...
Unfortunately 2 sub 500 mcat scores is not a good sign, it puts you at a high risk of a board failure especially considering the amount of time you took to study for them. Unless you took the mcat a 3rd time and scored well (like 512+) I don't think you really have a chance of getting into a US medical school
 
Schwifty said:
Unfortunately 2 sub 500 mcat scores is not a good sign, it puts you at a high risk of a board failure especially considering the amount of time you took to study for them. Unless you took the mcat a 3rd time and scored well (like 512+) I don't think you really have a chance of getting into a US medical school
Click to expand...
Thank you for being honest! I figured this would be the feedback I would be getting. I guess PA is the right path for me!
 
RRT95 said:
Thank you for being honest! I figured this would be the feedback I would be getting. I guess PA is the right path for me!
Click to expand...
That certainly is a long time to study for the mcat for those scores. I had a very similar story switching careers and originally going pre-PA and can acknowledge it’s hard to go from career to student mode especially so far out from school.

I used wikipremed to teach myself the fundamentals I just never got from my weak undergrad. I followed along on its curriculum and brought my score up about 10 points on this scale. It was work though.

If you can break 500 you’d have a decent shot at bcom, especially if you speak Spanish.

Its too late in the cycle to apply to either at this point so I’d give it one more go for a few more months. Take it. Then start studying for the gre. If you get a decent mcat back, then you can apply DO. If not, take the gre—>apply PA (gre for PA school isn’t super high at most places iirc and some PA schools even require mcat scores). Good luck!
 
If you are interested in anesthesia, have you looked into anesthesiology assistant schools? It’s basically being a CRNA but not going the nursing route. I would research that a bit more and see if you’d enjoy that
 
RRT95 said:
I am in need of some advice. I graduated with my degree in biomedical sciences in 2017, original goal was to become a PA which led me to receive my respiratory therapy license to gain some patient experience. I currently work in a level 1 trauma center where I work in ER and Trauma and have really contemplated on switching career paths to possibly applying to medical school instead of PA programs.
I unfortunately can’t score well on the mcat, first time I took the exam I studied for 3 months and scored a 487. Second time I studied for 5 months and scored a 492. Would it look bad if I took a third time? Or should I just give up my dream and go the PA route.
I am interested in Anesthesiology due to the relation of my current field.
I am a URM Male (Mexican)
GPA:3.7
SGPA: 3.5
Patient care experience: 2700 hrs
Volunteer: 1500 hrs
Click to expand...
I think your EC’s and story are there. I went from a 488 ——> 506. It’s all about how you study, not so much how MUCH. If you want to be a doctor, don’t give up until the goal is reached. Best of luck.
 
Let me just say that I first took the MCAT and received the same score as you, a 487. I retook it and got a 499. Although I had 2 sub-500 scores, I received 7 interviews and 4 acceptances. People on here can write some really discouraging things. Many telling me I didn't have a chance and I'm so glad I stopped listening because no one knows me and my journey. The worst thing you could do is stop working towards your goal because some random person on SDN told you that you weren't good enough. That being said, you do need to improve your MCAT score and would agree with not taking the test until you are getting scores over 500. Keep focus and don't worry about what other people think, it's not important.
 
Last edited:
DOCMom84 said:
Let me just say that I first took the MCAT and received the same score as you, a 487. I retook it and got a 499. Although I had 2 sub-500 scores, I received 7 interviews and 4 acceptances. People on here can write some really discouraging things. Many telling me I didn't have a chance and I'm so glad I stopped listening because no one knows me and my journey. The worst thing you could do is stop working towards your goal because some random person on SDN told you that you weren't good enough. That being said, you do need to improve your MCAT score and would agree with not taking the test until you are getting scores over 500. Keep focus and don't worry about what other people think, it's not important.
Click to expand...

Do you mind if I ask what is your final MCAT score?
 
What are your study habits like? Did you take any practice exams before your actual test? I would definitely re-take if you really think this your dream, especially considering the rest of your app. The last time I took a prep course because I knew I needed the structure, but I know this isn't possible/necessary for a lot of people.
 
Last edited:
ShibaTrump said:
Do you mind if I ask what is your final MCAT score?
Click to expand...
499 was my final MCAT score and I was accepted to 4 medical schools so it’s possible but the rest of the application needs to be stellar.
 
RRT95 said:
I am in need of some advice. I graduated with my degree in biomedical sciences in 2017, original goal was to become a PA which led me to receive my respiratory therapy license to gain some patient experience. I currently work in a level 1 trauma center where I work in ER and Trauma and have really contemplated on switching career paths to possibly applying to medical school instead of PA programs.
I unfortunately can’t score well on the mcat, first time I took the exam I studied for 3 months and scored a 487. Second time I studied for 5 months and scored a 492. Would it look bad if I took a third time? Or should I just give up my dream and go the PA route.
I am interested in Anesthesiology due to the relation of my current field.
I am a URM Male (Mexican)
GPA:3.7
SGPA: 3.5
Patient care experience: 2700 hrs
Volunteer: 1500 hrs
Click to expand...

Follow Faha's advice....Don't take it again unless you scoring above 500.
Depending on the new score and being URM, I'd also add those MD schools in Puerto Rico!
GL
 
DexterMorganSK said:
Follow Faha's advice....Don't take it again unless you scoring above 500.
Depending on the new score and being URM, I'd also add those MD schools in Puerto Rico!
GL
Click to expand...

Are those schools in PR classified as Caribbean schools?
 
Most committees will look positively at the multiple MCAT score as long as there is an upward trend but three times should be the max. You can get into PA school without a test score but in no way should you consider this as easier to get into because you do not need the score. PA school is very competitive and you will have to take the PANCE to get licensed.
 
Multiple MCATs are not a positive.
 
Study differently, give it all you got, take it again, and apply regardless of what you get. You dont want to be wondering for the rest of your life “what if”
 
I think you're borderline for needing to find a new career path.

You've got another shot, maybe two, to blow this exam out of the water. @DOCMom84 has an encouraging story, but the difference between your highest and her highest score - while both still sub-500, mind you - is almost an entire standard deviation. You've scored once in the teens percentiles and once in the twenties percentiles. And that puts aside the fact that DOCMom may have had an otherwise stellar application which, in the cases of DO schools who pride themselves on holistic review, could work miracles.

I want to be clear that I'm not saying you should give up, but if you really want to get into medical school, you need to hunker down and give another retake everything you have because there may not be any slack for another do-over. You are precipitously close to the point of no return.

Good luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Meli001
Do I need to disclose an expunged institutional action on AACOMAS application?
Replies
1
Views
347
Goro
Goro
S
I need advice/help
Replies
9
Views
2K
chilly_md
chilly_md
lemondrop_63
Advice and guidance needed: 3 Retakes, downward trend.
Replies
10
Views
1K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
V
School Advice
Replies
4
Views
461
Ho0v-man
Ho0v-man
K
  • Question Question
Advice on extracurricular activity to do.
Replies
6
Views
1K
AlbinoHawk DO
AlbinoHawk DO
Top