Should I Just Withdraw All My Apps?

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[sdnstud]

I was in the same boat last year. I had a 3.8 gpa and was scoring consistently around 30 on all my practice tests. Submitted the AMCAS application to 18 schools before finding out I got a 25 on the real deal. at that point, I consulted numerous advisors and medical schools whether I should continue with my applications. basically, I had 4 MAIN choices.

1. Retake the MCAT...most people advised me to do this. The logic is, if i have a 3.8 gpa, i should have the brain to score a 30+ on the mcat. If I have the brain to score a 30+, then there must be something wrong with my testing skills. Testing skills are things you can learn, practice and become good at. Take a prep course if you haven't done so. When you study for the mcat, don't spend so much time on the content. Commit more time on the testing skills. For example, get into the habit of using process of elimination, make sure your timing is not way off...etc.

2. Apply to D.O. schools. D.O doctors do the same things as M.D. doctors. If you don't care about the two letters the follow your name, go shadow a D.O. and see if you like it.

3. Apply to carribean schools.

4. Post Bac is an option but it's not recommended. If you choose this route..you will still have to improve on your mcat

BTW...I did apply with my 25 MCAT and received one interview. I was eventually rejected by that school. I then studied my ass off for the aug 2004 mcat and it finally paid off. Bottom line: Unless you choose option 2 or 3 above, you will likely have to improve on your mcat

 

[DrYo12]

Its not unheard of for someone to get in with the scores you have, but I agree with sdnstud that you're best off taking the MCAT again.

As for this year's process, one way you can pare down your $$ spent is to send back the secondaries for the schools that you feel you have the best shot at. For example, we know that many schools are automatic secondaries, so from those schools, maybe you can pick and chose which to send back so that you give yourself the best chance. I'm not saying to sell yourself short, but to take a good hard look at the stats at any given school and give it a shot.

Just remember that between now and the time you potentially get any interivews for this year, you can still do other ECs and get some great experiences that can set you apart!

I'm sorry the MCAT didn't go as you would have liked, but its not uncommon at all for people to take it more than once. Yes, nobody likes the idea of torturing themselves AGAIN, but I think you can study smarter not harder and do much better. I talked to someone that was consistently scoring above 35 on the practice tests and was already being recruited to teach MCAT based on her practice scores and ended up scoring less than 30 on the real deal--don't worry, you're not alone!!

 

[TexPre-Med]

Yes, study more and retake the exam. Maybe it is just first time jitters! Good luck!

 

[kylahs]

clearly everything is solid except for your MCAT score. if you have a heavy courseload in the Spring, you should probably dedicate the summer to studying for the August ('05) MCAT. you'll have time to focus on your weaknesses in the MCAT and in standardized tests in general. the only tradeoff is that your applications will not be complete until mid October, but if what results is a high MCAT score (which I'm sure will be the case if you work hard in the summer), you'd have a very competitive application.

 

[Khenon]

I had almost your exact same dilemma, only I got a 23Q ( 😱 ). I was seriously thinking of pulling my apps, or at a minimum only pursue the ones I had already submitted secondaries for. But I ulitmately decided to continue with the application process. One, my application is really good, minus the MCAT score. Two, I learned that if you do get an interview and waitlisted, most schools will consider your April 2005 MCAT score (ie you have retake regardless, why not try to make it work for this year's application). Three, it's not completely unheard-of for someone to get in with such low scores. You do have to think realistically, that you may not get in and will have to reapply next year. I definitely understand that. But I've already invested quite a bit into this process, and I am a strong applicant. I'm just hoping one of the schools I applied to can see through the MCAT score and at least get me an interview. I'm definitely taking the MCAT next April (unless, of course, I get an acceptance before then . . . ; okay that was funny), so whether it works to get me in off of a watilist or whether I have to apply again, it's okay. I'm ahead of the game either way. I hope you can come up with a plan that works for you and makes you feel better. I know I feel alot better going into this with a plan of attack. Best of luck, and take care.

 

[docquaker]

i would also recommend that you take the mcat again. the mcat is not so much a knowledge test as it is a reading test. make sure you read the passage and the questions carefully...

for example, in a chem passage on equilibrium, at the end there might be a one sentence that says this rxn needs a catalyst to work. in the questions, they will ask you a question about le chatelier's principle (if i increase oxygen, which way does the rxn shift?) BUT they will also add the tiny words, i'm performing this rxn WITHOUT a catalyst. so the answer is the rxn doesn't proceed because there's no catalyst; hence, no shift.

it's little tricks like these that will help you get the score you want. good luck!

 

[cytotech27]

I was also in a similiar boat with a 26 the first time and pulled up the second time. I am no expert, but I would retake in April. You said your courseload is tough then, is there any way you could lighten it up so that you could take a prep course and concentrate more on the test? I found the prep course organizes the info and also offers you more practice tests that they write. If you don't think you will be able to lighten that tough course load, would it be that horrible to wait a year (or two)? That is pretty much what I did. I got that horrible score in 2001, waited, took again aug. 03 and did well enough that I used that score for this app cycle. Since everything was in so early I have an acceptance already!
Your study time sounds intense, so I wouldn't retake unless something really changes, like the prep course. The D.O. option mentioned above is also good. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[lakersfan]

I would honestly say take it again. You seem like you may be a fellow Cal student so I might suggest that if you alrady sent in those primaries, you might wanna just spend maybe 200-300 bucks and apply to schools like drexel, nymc, jefferson and albany just to see what happens. If you get in, you wont waste a year. If you dont get in, its only 4 schools for 300 bucks and you already spent so much money I don't think it would hurt that much to just try (but I would't keep my hopes up). From looking at your GPA, you seem to be pretty damn smart (your gpa is way better than mine and I got a decent score on the mcat) so i would just retake the mcat and maybe take princeton review classes (that's what i took and the kaplan mcat prep in berkeley i hear is not so great). Anyways, best of luck but over all I think perhaps applying to those 4 schools i listed may not hurt since they seem to take a lot of us berkeley students. Good luck.

 

[lakersfan]

oh yeah...one more thing...your ec's look so good that if you get a 30+ which seems plausible looking at ur gpa, you may be able to get into a UC next year so that's another incentive for waiting.

 

[vikaskoth]

i've heard the aamc tests are easier than the actual mcat, maybe this led you to into a false sense of security. Try taking a prep class, I took kaplan and their tests demand that you know the material inside and out to get above a thirty this way when you take the real mcat it might not be as intense, but you will have that ability and familiarity with doing consistent tough passages from your practice tests. They also provide detailed reports on what subject areas you are weak in so that you can focus on those. I'm sure princeton, berkley prep classes do this too, but basically I'm advocating taking a prep class, take a light load of school in the spring. The mcat is a test like none other most pre-meds have taken so it takes everyone a certain amount of time to get a grasp on it.

 

[tinnyfluffy]

i know that the 3R test from AAMC is definitely easier than the actual test. so, don't trust the scores you get on that one. 4R-6R are much more reliable to use as the actual score predictor.

i agree with the other people that retaking the exam is the best thing to do. if you opt to take a course, i also agree that princeton review is the best one. they have very good review materials that will elucidate major concepts. their exams are aso harder than the actual ones.

if you do plan to take the MCAT in April, I recommend that you lighten up your couse load significantly. study part-time if you can. afterall, if you are taking the April MCAT, you are aiming to enter med school one year later. it won't really hurt you to graduate one semester late. maybe you can even pick up a minor degree if there's something else that you are interested in. i wish you the best of luck on the april MCAT. you'll get into a stellar med school! 👍

 

[wisteria]

Retake the MCAT. Just put your old score behind and get psyched to do better. Especially bc you were scoring higher on practice tests. You can obviously do better, don't sell yourself short. I've heard exam krackers is really good for retakers.

You also need a better score if you want to five yourself a fair shot at acceptance. It's really, really tough to get in anywhere with an MCAT below 24 - med schools often use this as a cut off bc people who score under don't usualy pass the boards.

applying is expensive, emotionally and financially. I would save your resources and put your time and money towards improving your mcat score. unless you want to go to carib or OD medi school, which I wouldn't recommend since you seem capable of getting into a US one with a new mcat. start studying now, since verbal takes the longest to prepare for, and try to finagle a way to reduce your courseload. applying in august putsyou a huge disadvatage bc of rolling admissions.

or you may want ot do what i did, and take a year off of school to do research or work in a medical setting. it's a great way to build your resume and also find time to retake the mcat if you need to. taking time off can only help you.

good luck.

Hi,

I?m a CA resident. I submitted my AMCAS application 2 months ago, was processed, and received approximately 30 secondaries so far. To date, I have completed 15 of them (excluding sending LOR?s).

I was anticipating a 28 ? no less than 27 ? on this past August MCAT, but instead I received a 23R (7V, 8PS, 8BS). This was quite a shock to me as I had been scoring 10?s on the PS and BS portions of the AAMC practice exams consistently. I felt verbal was my only weakness at the time, but who knows ? everything pretty much blew over.

I prepped for about 6-7 hrs a day, sometimes more, for 1.5 months straight. My life was basically geared only on the MCAT during that time. I know 27 is not a great score considering all the time and effort I had been putting into it, but it is just inconceivable to me as to how I scored a 23 instead. I thought if I got a 27 at the very least, I could possibly get my foot in the door somewhere.

I knew this would be a problem in the beginning though, but maybe not to the same extent. I?ve always been a naturally bad standardized test taker. I know many of you won?t agree with this, but my lack of skills in test-taking ?tactics? and high anxiety has been a recurring theme contributing to my downfall in everything ranging from the Stanford 9 to the SAT II?s.

I have a pretty good GPA right now, so I don?t think a post-bacc will do me any good. I tried looking at some MPH programs, but most of them require the GRE; knowing my luck, I?ll probably screw up on that too.

I would opt to retake the test in April again, but I have a very heavy courseload until then. I?m afraid that I might do badly in both my classes and on the MCAT. Or, possibly worse, if I take it in August, I face the same 1.5 month situation ? if I don?t study it ?the right way,? I?d have wasted another year again.

Basically, I am just really lost right now. I don?t exactly know what to do. Looking at the statistics doesn?t seem to offer much hope, and I haven?t heard of too many people that have gotten in with a 23 or somewhere in that range (I am also a non-URM). I?d appreciate it if any of you could give me some advice onto whether I should just start searching for offshore schools now or maybe hang onto my last shred of confidence and believe there may be a chance for me somewhere in the next year?s entering class.

The following is a breakdown of my statistics:

Microbiology & Immunology (Tier 1 Univ)
Cum 3.77, Sci 3.69, Non-Sci 4.00 GPA

Hospital Volunteer, Surgery Wards
MD Shadowing, Nephrology Department (Ongoing)
President of an American Chemical Society Student Affiliates Chapter (2 Yrs)
Club Council Representative (2 Yrs)
Member of Institutional and Informational Resources Accreditation Committee for Renewal by Regional Accrediting Body (WASC)
Organic Synthesis Research Fellowship
Chemistry Dept. Scholarship/Award
Intern for State Board of Equalization

Other Minor Things:
CPR w/ AED Certification
FMR Certifications in Computer Administration/Networking/Security/Etc.

I know none of you have an obligation to respond, so I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this. I could really use all the support I can get right now. 🙁

 

[Surfer75]

Definitely retake. I was in the same situation with a very similar GPA yrs back when I applied from CA. I had 23 and retook to get 30. Best of luck, keep us posted!

S

 

[MrTee]

.....
Realistically though, do retakers improve much? I remember from reading before, the AAMC doesn't seem to think so. I just wonder how possible it is to jump from a 23 to a 30. My practice exam scores on the AAMC 6R & 7 were 27 because I had a lot of timing problems. I got rushed in the end and couldn't end up finishing at least 1 passage in VR and PS each. So, if I have to rework this entire thing, I wonder how I'll improve my timing (and picking the correct answers!).

Anyhow, thank you for all the responses. I definitely appreciate each and every one of them.

You can look on the AAMC website for statistics on retakers data--it's not too pretty from my recollection. Regardless, I agree with everyone else that you should retake to get a score that complements the rest of your great app. You should assess what your weaknesses are in the test taking process. Because you said you had timing issues, it sounds like you may not have done enough practice tests. Did you feel like you were as well prepared as you possibly could have been in August? If you feel like you weren't, then your plan of retaking in April sounds good.

 

[45408]

Realistically though, do retakers improve much? I remember from reading before, the AAMC doesn't seem to think so. I just wonder how possible it is to jump from a 23 to a 30. My practice exam scores on the AAMC 6R & 7 were 27 because I had a lot of timing problems.

I have a feeling that it's usually because most retakers don't try that much harder the second time around. If you look in the MCAT forum, you'll find some posts of people in a similar boat as you, but eventually hauled their scores all the way up to a 30+ score. If you study MUCH harder this time, given your performance on the practice exams, I don't see why you could improve on those scores, because you probably had a bad testing experience the day of the real thing. Take more full-lengths though!