Should I apply this cycle?

[positiveenergy]

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Hi everyone,

I have been really stressed out about what to do. I debated whether to post on SDN. I think I already know the answer, but I would really like your advices anyways. I know my odds aren't very good, so please try to be gentle. It's really intimidating posting here and I don't need more negativities than necessary. However, please be completely honest with me.

I recently received my MCAT score back and suddenly, I am between a rock and a hard place. I honestly don't know what to do next. But here are my stats:

MCAT: 29 (12/6/11)
GPA: 3.87
School: 3rd year at UCLA
Aiming: MD schools in CA or NY (or anywhere really).

English is my second language (moved here in 2004), but that is still no excuse for my VR score. I was scoring between 6-9 on my practices and was hoping for the higher end, but of course, I got the lower one. I have been considering retaking the old MCAT in January, but there are literally no spot opened and I can't honestly say that I will do better. I am planning change up my studying strategies and really drill verbal, but that is the hardest section to raise up and especially with school, I just don't know.

I can take the new MCAT, but I am worried that is just going to be triple the verbal section and there are zero materials to practice with. My counselor told me to try applying this year and see what happens. If I get rejected then I would know what to do. However, I am from an underserved community and finance is a major issue for me. Should I apply (possibly wasting large amount of money and get rejected everywhere) with such low odds?

Thank you. Your advices are greatly appreciated.

 

[Afford]

I think most of the schools' deadlines for this year have already passed, so I don't think you can apply this cycle unless the schools you want have December deadlines. Even if they do, you'll be better off waiting for next year because it's really late.

 

[DiracDelta]

I believe it's too late to apply this cycle, most schools are past their deadline.

Also, I am sorry, but you need to retake the MCAT. Schools generally have a cutoff of 7 or 8 on each section so you might be automatically screened. Don't waste that awesome GPA!

 

[Catalystik]

Hi everyone,

I have been really stressed out about what to do. I debated whether to post on SDN. I think I already know the answer, but I would really like your advices anyways. I know my odds aren't very good, so please try to be gentle. It's really intimidating posting here and I don't need more negativities than necessary. However, please be completely honest with me.

I recently received my MCAT score back and suddenly, I am between a rock and a hard place. I honestly don't know what to do next. But here are my stats:

MCAT: 29 (12/6/11)
GPA: 3.87
School: 3rd year at UCLA
Aiming: MD schools in CA or NY (or anywhere really).

English is my second language (moved here in 2004), but that is still no excuse for my VR score. I was scoring between 6-9 on my practices and was hoping for the higher end, but of course, I got the lower one. I have been considering retaking the old MCAT in January, but there are literally no spot opened and I can't honestly say that I will do better. I am planning change up my studying strategies and really drill verbal, but that is the hardest section to raise up and especially with school, I just don't know.

I can take the new MCAT, but I am worried that is just going to be triple the verbal section and there are zero materials to practice with. My counselor told me to try applying this year and see what happens. If I get rejected then I would know what to do. However, I am from an underserved community and finance is a major issue for me. Should I apply (possibly wasting large amount of money and get rejected everywhere) with such low odds?

Thank you. Your advices are greatly appreciated.

Don't waste your money by applying at this time.

 

[AspiringERMD]

If you think you'd be better off with the old MCAT than the new one, you can still take it (provided you improve really quickly at this point, and that you can find a seat) and apply next cycle with that score. Most schools will still take the old MCAT next year. It's way too late to apply this cycle, though.

 

[SnakeOilForSale]

No.

 

[tofuuu]

I do not recommend applying this cycle. It's already too far along in the cycle and having a low verbal score puts you at an even more disadvantage. Not to mention, Californian MD schools are particularly competitive.

You need to improve your MCAT score, especially verbal. I've been told many times that verbal is the most important section out of the 3 and that you should be aiming to score at least a 9 or above. You have my empathy. I understand that it's really disheartening when you don't get the results you want after working your a** off. But if medicine is really your calling, you just can't afford to give up. You have to pick yourself back up and make yourself work even harder. I agree that verbal is the hardest section to improve on but it's definitely doable. I know because I've done it. So my suggestion to you is to take the time to improve your MCAT score before applying. Good luck!

 

[Boolean]

No.

 

[butternutsquash]

You should definitely change up your game plan for verbal and retake the MCAT. Apply next year! It may seem like an eternity, but trust me, that time flies by much sooner than you'd think.

Also, you're a 3rd year right now? If you apply next year and get in, you still won't need to take a gap year. Unless you're planning on graduating early....

 

[Violet456]

Hi everyone,

I have been really stressed out about what to do. I debated whether to post on SDN. I think I already know the answer, but I would really like your advices anyways. I know my odds aren't very good, so please try to be gentle. It's really intimidating posting here and I don't need more negativities than necessary. However, please be completely honest with me.

I recently received my MCAT score back and suddenly, I am between a rock and a hard place. I honestly don't know what to do next. But here are my stats:

MCAT: 29 (12/6/11)
GPA: 3.87
School: 3rd year at UCLA
Aiming: MD schools in CA or NY (or anywhere really).

English is my second language (moved here in 2004), but that is still no excuse for my VR score. I was scoring between 6-9 on my practices and was hoping for the higher end, but of course, I got the lower one. I have been considering retaking the old MCAT in January, but there are literally no spot opened and I can't honestly say that I will do better. I am planning change up my studying strategies and really drill verbal, but that is the hardest section to raise up and especially with school, I just don't know.

I can take the new MCAT, but I am worried that is just going to be triple the verbal section and there are zero materials to practice with. My counselor told me to try applying this year and see what happens. If I get rejected then I would know what to do. However, I am from an underserved community and finance is a major issue for me. Should I apply (possibly wasting large amount of money and get rejected everywhere) with such low odds?

Thank you. Your advices are greatly appreciated.

I think people assumed you meant apply for entry in August 2015 but since you are a 3rd year (junior), you were talking about entry in August 2016 correct? If so, you could take the new mcat in the spring and be able to apply in june 2015. I don't think this should be a problem but only if you revamp your verbal studying.

 

[johnnytest]

If you did not submit the AMCAS primary application then you cannot apply for this cycle. Even if you did and all you have left are secondaries for schools, a 29 MCAT with a 6 in verbal for CA and NY schools this late in the cycle is an app killer. If you want to apply this year then maybe apply DO or go for schools who accept VR scores on the lower end.

 

[Lamel]

OP you should apply for the cycle that starts June 2015.

Also, are you URM?

 

[knv2u]

Hi everyone,

I have been really stressed out about what to do. I debated whether to post on SDN. I think I already know the answer, but I would really like your advices anyways. I know my odds aren't very good, so please try to be gentle. It's really intimidating posting here and I don't need more negativities than necessary. However, please be completely honest with me.

I recently received my MCAT score back and suddenly, I am between a rock and a hard place. I honestly don't know what to do next. But here are my stats:

MCAT: 29 (12/6/11)
GPA: 3.87
School: 3rd year at UCLA
Aiming: MD schools in CA or NY (or anywhere really).

English is my second language (moved here in 2004), but that is still no excuse for my VR score. I was scoring between 6-9 on my practices and was hoping for the higher end, but of course, I got the lower one. I have been considering retaking the old MCAT in January, but there are literally no spot opened and I can't honestly say that I will do better. I am planning change up my studying strategies and really drill verbal, but that is the hardest section to raise up and especially with school, I just don't know.

I can take the new MCAT, but I am worried that is just going to be triple the verbal section and there are zero materials to practice with. My counselor told me to try applying this year and see what happens. If I get rejected then I would know what to do. However, I am from an underserved community and finance is a major issue for me. Should I apply (possibly wasting large amount of money and get rejected everywhere) with such low odds?

Thank you. Your advices are greatly appreciated.

My advice would be to apply this coming June. Regardless of your numbers, applicants submitting this late in the game will have their backs against the wall the entire time. The odds of rejection and no acceptances are very high. Why waste the money applying this cycle?

If you apply this coming cycle and apply early, I think you will have a good shot if you can bring up your verbal score.