K
kareniw
Hi all,
Since the rejections started to pile up, I have decided to retake the MCAT, in order to compensate for my mediocre GPA and to show that I *do* have the academic stuff. Honestly, I felt I could have studied a lot more the first time around (probably relied more on my prep course than I should have -- though I'm not saying I just let them spoonfeed me).
Here's how my 2001 application looked: applied in Oct., 3.4 GPA at UC Berkeley, 10V-10P-12S-Q, volunteering with kids & in a homeless clinic, clinical research, etc. Applied to 10 schools, no interviews yet, 7 rejections. (Apologies to those who read this on another thread.)
Now some are suggesting that I shouldn't take the MCAT in case my scores actually go *down*, and this makes me nervous (i.e. "How could my scores go down?"), especially when I realize that this has happened to people before. Of course, some people's scores have gone *up* the second time as well, but are these in the minority? If you personally retook the MCAT, can you please share your experience?
My plan is to
1) really bust my butt for this summer's MCAT, in hopes that
2) I will get a score high enough to
3) compensate for my 3.4 GPA/spotty academic record and
4) convince Adcoms that I really can handle the academic rigors of med school. I would much rather not take a post-bac program to boost my GPA... I would prefer not to be in school this next year if I can help it.
Can you please comment on whether these premises are sound or questionable?
thanks,
Karen
[This message has been edited by kareniw (edited March 28, 2001).]
Since the rejections started to pile up, I have decided to retake the MCAT, in order to compensate for my mediocre GPA and to show that I *do* have the academic stuff. Honestly, I felt I could have studied a lot more the first time around (probably relied more on my prep course than I should have -- though I'm not saying I just let them spoonfeed me).
Here's how my 2001 application looked: applied in Oct., 3.4 GPA at UC Berkeley, 10V-10P-12S-Q, volunteering with kids & in a homeless clinic, clinical research, etc. Applied to 10 schools, no interviews yet, 7 rejections. (Apologies to those who read this on another thread.)
Now some are suggesting that I shouldn't take the MCAT in case my scores actually go *down*, and this makes me nervous (i.e. "How could my scores go down?"), especially when I realize that this has happened to people before. Of course, some people's scores have gone *up* the second time as well, but are these in the minority? If you personally retook the MCAT, can you please share your experience?
My plan is to
1) really bust my butt for this summer's MCAT, in hopes that
2) I will get a score high enough to
3) compensate for my 3.4 GPA/spotty academic record and
4) convince Adcoms that I really can handle the academic rigors of med school. I would much rather not take a post-bac program to boost my GPA... I would prefer not to be in school this next year if I can help it.
Can you please comment on whether these premises are sound or questionable?
thanks,
Karen
[This message has been edited by kareniw (edited March 28, 2001).]