Should I retake the MCAT?

[dexter7788]

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[Lawpy]

Your adviser is a liar or flat out stupid. You have a balanced score roughly equal to a 34. Do not retake, since your MCAT is above the medians for most of the schools you listed (besides Hofstra which is right on the median).

GPA is on the low side yes, but combining with the good MCAT makes your app good for those schools (your LizzyM is roughly 69).

 

[NotASerialKiller]

Your advisor, unsurprisingly, is a *****. Don't retake it, don't withdraw.

 

[dexter7788]

@Lawper My adviser said that the Psych section will be looked at separately, so I actually have a score of ~32 on the chem/phys, bio, and verbal sections. Still think a retake isn't advisable considering the low gpa?

 

[Lawpy]

@Lawper My adviser said that the Psych section will be looked at separately, so I actually have a score of ~32 on the chem/phys, bio, and verbal sections. Still think a retake isn't advisable considering the low gpa?

Please don't listen to what your adviser is saying, since he is endangering you by lying and/or saying incorrect stuff. You are fine as it is. Good luck and have fun!

 

[iDOliveinMD]

.

 

[lmn]

@Lawper My adviser said that the Psych section will be looked at separately, so I actually have a score of ~32 on the chem/phys, bio, and verbal sections. Still think a retake isn't advisable considering the low gpa?

A 32 and 3.5 is perfectly capable of getting into a good number of schools if you have good EC's/LOR's, and you have a score higher than that. You don't need a 3.9+/35+ to get into schools, just check the MSAR to see if you are in a decent range of schools 10-90th percentiles and calculate if you think you have a fair shot.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Re-taking a 35 will do far more harm than good. Withdrawing your application now is about the stupidest thing you could do as well.

 

[johnnytest]

79th percentile and 87th percentile in the sciences is not low for Albany, Hofstra, SUNY Downstate, Drexel, Temple. In fact, it's probably close to their averages. I believe those percentiles convert into a 10 and 11, respectively or maybe a 9 and 10, if we are being harsh. A 95th percentile MCAT is no joke. Don't withdraw and don't listen to your advisor. When you get accepted to a school you are happy to attend you can politely remind him of what he said.

 

[GiveMeThatMD]

You better take that fat stack of acceptances, roll them into a bludgeoning device, and donk your adviser.

 

[Hitmann]

you're in at least the top 20% of the schools u listed. gl!!!!

 

[Ismet]

This is not really directed at the OP but what I hate most about SDN is people with 35+ MCAT scores wondering if they are in bad shape.

How can people intelligent enough to score that high on the exam be so neurotic and insecure about their credentials while at the same time demonstrating an inability to do a simple google search? The numbers never lie, you will be fine. While people like me that scored ~50% on VR not so much.

Just wait until the neuroticism that comes with residency application. Sept 15-17 was a ridiculous time with ridiculous questions.

 

[Spinach Dip]

You got a freaking PERFECT SCORE on one section.

Anyone who thinks you should retake that is crazy.

 

[dexter7788]

I talked to my adviser today and he was clearly unhappy about me not listening to his advice. He said he's going to delay submitting my committee letter so that I'll have more time to think it over.

 

[dexter7788]

You got a freaking PERFECT SCORE on one section.

Anyone who thinks you should retake that is crazy.

That's the psych section, I don't think it really counts. Schools would probably be happy with 50th percentile and up.

 

[GrapesofRath]

I talked to my adviser today and he was clearly unhappy about me not listening to his advice. He said he's going to delay submitting my committee letter so that I'll have more time to think it over.

What a clown






Referencing the advisor.

 

[dexter7788]

You better take that fat stack of acceptances, roll them into a bludgeoning device, and donk your adviser.

Lol I really want to. He's holding my LORs hostage.

 

[gyngyn]

Lol I really want to. He's holding my LORs hostage.

This is malpractice.

 

[dexter7788]

This is malpractice.

I can't do anything about it. He's well-protected by the school (years of complaints haven't ousted him) and closely attached to admissions people at the schools I'm interested in. I used to respect his opinion but during our conversation today, he suggested I apply to Caribbean schools. That tipped me off to him being malignant.

 

[Anomandaris]

A more general question, but why are so many pre-health advisors so *****ic? I feel like cases such as this one occur far more frequently than cases of good advisors (though this maybe due to reporting bias)...

But yeah, OP, don't retake that...

 

[gyngyn]

I can't do anything about it. He's well-protected by the school (years of complaints haven't ousted him) and closely attached to admissions people at the schools I'm interested in. I used to respect his opinion but during our conversation today, he suggested I apply to Caribbean schools. That tipped me off to him being malignant.

I'm so sorry. Let the trustees know about this when you are safely in med school.

 

[GiveMeThatMD]

I'm so sorry. Let the trustees know about this when you are safely in med school.

I really need to stress this. Once you're safely set in your med school spot, for the situation he put you in, and for the sake of future med students, please report this. His actions are absolutely unacceptable.

 

[BecauseTheInternet]

I'm just curious, but how did you prepare for the exam, specifically the psych portion?

 

[moisne]

This is not really directed at the OP but what I hate most about SDN is people with 35+ MCAT scores wondering if they are in bad shape.

How can people intelligent enough to score that high on the exam be so neurotic and insecure about their credentials while at the same time demonstrating an inability to do a simple google search? The numbers never lie, you will be fine. While people like me that scored ~50% on VR not so much.

If this makes you feel better... VR is the least associated with step 1 scores (at least at my school... they published data showing highest correlation with PS and BS) - I hope that's true because I failed VR

 

[Goro]

Whatever it takes, get a new advisor, complain to his Chair and whoever is the Chair of the committee, or get your LOR writers to submit via Interfolio and not through your committee. Your advisor is literally sabotaging your medical career.

I can't do anything about it. He's well-protected by the school (years of complaints haven't ousted him) and closely attached to admissions people at the schools I'm interested in. I used to respect his opinion but during our conversation today, he suggested I apply to Caribbean schools. That tipped me off to him being malignant.

 

[Lawpy]

Whatever it takes, get a new advisor, complain to his Chair and whoever is the Chair of the committee, or get your LOR writers to submit via Interfolio and not through your committee. Your advisor is literally sabotaging your medical career.

The tragedy in all this is that the Chair/university will pretend to sympathize with OP and try to take action, when in reality, they do nothing or even trash OP's complaints behind closed doors. Such university administrations must be severely censured.

Rather than trying to deal with the corrupt administration, it is better (as you pointed out) to shun the committee/advisor and stick with mailing the LORs via Interfolio.

 

[dexter7788]

I'm just curious, but how did you prepare for the exam, specifically the psych portion?

I used NextStep books. The psych part...I had an upper hand, being a psych major.

 

[dexter7788]

Whatever it takes, get a new advisor, complain to his Chair and whoever is the Chair of the committee, or get your LOR writers to submit via Interfolio and not through your committee. Your advisor is literally sabotaging your medical career.

He's been reported before and nothing's changed, but I was considering getting a petition going AFTER I get an acceptance somewhere. Maybe a whole bunch of us banding together will force our institution to take us more seriously.

 

[wasteofspace323]

A more general question, but why are so many pre-health advisors so *****ic? I feel like cases such as this one occur far more frequently than cases of good advisors (though this maybe due to reporting bias)...

But yeah, OP, don't retake that...

Becoming an adviser is not brain surgery. They're not paid highly. They often see people they dislike excelling and people they like failing, especially in a highly academic setting like medicine. They're rooted into their positions by years of established relationships with their supervisers. Complaints can be written off quite easily because the ones writing the complaints are students which come and go in about 4 years. Most people who would lodge complaints fear to do so because the adviser might find out. The people the adviser deals with are a dime a dozen individuals who are simultaneously neurotic and will do anything for their dream. They often receive credit for their students achievements when, as a pre-med, achievement is almost unavoidable and obligatory. With the advent of letter writing committees, the adviser often has more power than any ADCOM member does concerning an applicant's chances.