Situation, need help making the right decision

[Coracao]

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I am scheduled to take the MCAT in one week, and feel I should reschedule.

Here is a short version: I graduated 6 yrs ago, and was advised by different schools I met with, I should either take my pre-reqs again to improve u/g gpa and good review for MCAT, or do a smp. So considering I am no longer 22y/o and retaking pre-reqs seems backwards as oppose to getting a masters, I have decided to apply to the smp at the med school in my area,yes only applying to one school. Its 1 hour and the closest! This school requires my MCAT score by a specific date to make acceptance/or not decision. So this is the problem I am having. I am, for some awful reason not getting the MCAT scores I should be (actually decreasing !), but if I delay it, I won't make the smp deadline.
I have been thinking of my options, and discussed it w the spouse.
btw took MCAT twice in 2005, not so great scores.

Option 1: Retake later, forget about near SMP, and apply to a further away schools whose deadlines are during summer (which btw loved my application to med school)...3 hrs away will need to stay 2-3 days, then come home, can do f/t or p/t.

Option 2: Take the test as scheduled, get the scores in and hope for an acceptance to this smp (still not a sure thing). They also offer MCAT prep (TPRH) so have an option to re-take again. 1 hr away.

Option 3: Feel free to add...LOL! but be gentle, its been a rough day.

I am just at the point of desperation right now. My spouse feels I should apply everywhere and go where I get accepted including the Caribbean, and that everything will work out fine...I love that the support is there, but just not sure I'll be able to stay away and sacrifice me not being here for my kids (I have 4 of those😀). See the dilemma now!

I have put SO much into this, and so many around me have done the same...i just feel so disappointed I don't know what to do, to increase my scores! I just don't know what the problem is !
Sorry for the sob...I don't cry so this is me emotional!

Thank you, for all your support and suggestions!

 

[EdLongshanks]

I am scheduled to take the MCAT in one week, and feel I should reschedule.

Here is a short version: I graduated 6 yrs ago, and was advised by different schools I met with, I should either take my pre-reqs again to improve u/g gpa and good review for MCAT, or do a smp. So considering I am no longer 22y/o and retaking pre-reqs seems backwards as oppose to getting a masters, I have decided to apply to the smp at the med school in my area,yes only applying to one school. Its 1 hour and the closest! This school requires my MCAT score by a specific date to make acceptance/or not decision. So this is the problem I am having. I am, for some awful reason not getting the MCAT scores I should be (actually decreasing !), but if I delay it, I won't make the smp deadline.
I have been thinking of my options, and discussed it w the spouse.
btw took MCAT twice in 2005, not so great scores.

Option 1: Retake later, forget about near SMP, and apply to a further away schools whose deadlines are during summer (which btw loved my application to med school)...3 hrs away will need to stay 2-3 days, then come home, can do f/t or p/t.

Option 2: Take the test as scheduled, get the scores in and hope for an acceptance to this smp (still not a sure thing). They also offer MCAT prep (TPRH) so have an option to re-take again. 1 hr away.

Option 3: Feel free to add...LOL! but be gentle, its been a rough day.

I am just at the point of desperation right now. My spouse feels I should apply everywhere and go where I get accepted including the Caribbean, and that everything will work out fine...I love that the support is there, but just not sure I'll be able to stay away and sacrifice me not being here for my kids (I have 4 of those😀). See the dilemma now!

I have put SO much into this, and so many around me have done the same...i just feel so disappointed I don't know what to do, to increase my scores! I just don't know what the problem is !
Sorry for the sob...I don't cry so this is me emotional!

Thank you, for all your support and suggestions!

Have you taken the real MCAT tests from e-mcat.com, or are you talking about the tests from the prep schools. Those tests aren't truly representative of the mcat. If you are getting low scores on the real tests, then you will almost certainly score within 3 points of those tests.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I was just sent an email from AAMC that the latest date I can reschedule my MCAT is May 7th, and my MCAT date is May 21st. If you're within a week, how do you reschedule it? According to the email I received, it can't be any later than the last registration date for your test.... Just my two cents in addition to Eds...

 

[Coracao]

I was just sent an email from AAMC that the latest date I can reschedule my MCAT is May 7th, and my MCAT date is May 21st. If you're within a week, how do you reschedule it? According to the email I received, it can't be any later than the last registration date for your test.... Just my two cents in addition to Eds...

I can't reschedule, I will have to cancel, loose my $ and schedule/pay another...details I left out.

Ed, I actually been alternating between AAMC, BR, 1 GS and 1 TPR, so in total 7 fl. Did AAMC 3,4 and 5. Went from 22....to 27.... to yesterday's 20, that was AAMC 5!!!! don't know what happened there...going over it now...the verbal and PS killed me! Increasing and decreasing by 2s!

 

[Coracao]

After a night of thinking, I have been putting lots of stress on this test date due to this smp I want to get in. The truth of the matter I can get in a DO school, with a lot less stress (I was already told this by the Director of admissions at this DO school) I was just trying to stay close to home (the MD school), thats all....don't really care whether its an MD or DO. But it looks like I should just get in med school, where ever that may be.
My spouse thinks I should just go to where I know I will be accepted, and travel home on the w/e, and stop complicating things w a special masters program...not sure if this could be damaging to the kids and/or myself. Moving the whole family there is not an option, I believe this would really disrupt the kids lives, my spouse hold a great paying job towards the opposite side of the country and it is not the best area to live along w very bad school system.

Now I'm actually considering this...is this abandonment? How is everyone handling this? Are you moving your family along?

Thanks everyone for the support!

 

[EdLongshanks]

I can't reschedule, I will have to cancel, loose my $ and schedule/pay another...details I left out.

Ed, I actually been alternating between AAMC, BR, 1 GS and 1 TPR, so in total 7 fl. Did AAMC 3,4 and 5. Went from 22....to 27.... to yesterday's 20, that was AAMC 5!!!! don't know what happened there...going over it now...the verbal and PS killed me! Increasing and decreasing by 2s!

I don't think that I would take the MCAT with those scores. You are averaging a 23-24, which means you could score anywhere from 27 to 20. If your old scores can get you in anywhere, I'd stick with them.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I would just go for the D.O. program if I were you. You're a married, your spouse supports DO, and you know the SMP is a gamble and could create distress with your family. If your goal is being a physician, you will attain it through DO. At our age (assuming you're around 27 like me), we know that it's about doing what we love and not about a couple of letters after our name.

 

[Coracao]

I would just go for the D.O. program if I were you. You're a married, your spouse supports DO, and you know the SMP is a gamble and could create distress with your family. If your goal is being a physician, you will attain it through DO. At our age (assuming you're around 27 like me), we know that it's about doing what we love and not about a couple of letters after our name.

LOL 27....+ 10. althtough i feel 27!!!! ...i would like to think I look and feel 27! It really is about doing what we love. I have gone through many different careers, and have seriously tried to get this medical school thing out of my head...and for the last 10, while raising the kids, that is all I thought about.

Ed: It would be great to use my old scores but unfortunately they are 7 years old! When I made the decision some time last year I would go for it, I went around the schools in the area (3 hr radius) and found out what my chances were and what I needed to do for an acceptance. All told me the same: Need a recent MCAT, some said to re-do my pre-reqs, and others (the MD schools) a smp. One school, offered me a chance for acceptance before I complete the masters, and were very impressed my pre-application (due to life experiences and such). This is the school furthest away! Now I'm seriously considering this...just don't know. I do know I just cant mess up my MCAT, I'm going to continue reviewing, cancel, maybe even do SN2ed BR method for the next 3 months and....do what I need to when it comes.

Very frustrated right now...plus a wasted day😡

 

[TriagePreMed]

LOL 27....+ 10. althtough i feel 27!!!! ...i would like to think I look and feel 27! It really is about doing what we love. I have gone through many different careers, and have seriously tried to get this medical school thing out of my head...and for the last 10, while raising the kids, that is all I thought about.

Oops. Sorry about that! Since you said you graduated 6 years ago, I thought 27-30 range.

 

[Coracao]

Oops. Sorry about that! Since you said you graduated 6 years ago, I thought 27-30 range.

I still am 27! LOL I went for a second degree...

 

[SuperMomMD]

After a night of thinking, I have been putting lots of stress on this test date due to this smp I want to get in. The truth of the matter I can get in a DO school, with a lot less stress (I was already told this by the Director of admissions at this DO school) I was just trying to stay close to home (the MD school), thats all....don't really care whether its an MD or DO. But it looks like I should just get in med school, where ever that may be.
My spouse thinks I should just go to where I know I will be accepted, and travel home on the w/e, and stop complicating things w a special masters program...not sure if this could be damaging to the kids and/or myself. Moving the whole family there is not an option, I believe this would really disrupt the kids lives, my spouse hold a great paying job towards the opposite side of the country and it is not the best area to live along w very bad school system.

Now I'm actually considering this...is this abandonment? How is everyone handling this? Are you moving your family along?

Thanks everyone for the support!

Im in the same boat,My husband is finally getting his career off the ground and we are preparing to move out of state for my schooling. I was thinking of just getting a studio apartmentand flying home every chance I got but I really want to keep my family together. Decisions Decisions!!!

 

[Coracao]

Im in the same boat,My husband is finally getting his career off the ground and we are preparing to move out of state for my schooling. I was thinking of just getting a studio apartmentand flying home every chance I got but I really want to keep my family together. Decisions Decisions!!!

It really is so much tougher with family, there is so much more you have to take into consideration. I know we should all be together, not only for the children who need us but for us...the plus in our (non-trad w kids/family) lives is the stability of being in a relationship and support of the family. So how do you decide????
We have been talking and because our family is on the large side (4 kids, 2 dogs,2cats...lots of fish) the kids school is super awesome, my spouse's job couldn't be better (and we all know how tough it is out there w jobs) it just seems more logical to have me travel and do all the moving instead of the entire family...don't know how realistic this is, and how well I can handle this...or even if my absence will damage the kids, butthis is what we have right now.
Meanwhile I am still working on the MCAT, which I will still be taking (and voiding, sooooo not ready) This masters program will have to either wait for my next scores or drop my application. With this decision I will also be applying more broadly.

Oh ...the lives of parents with high expectations!

 

[ejw5075]

It really is so much tougher with family, there is so much more you have to take into consideration. I know we should all be together, not only for the children who need us but for us...the plus in our (non-trad w kids/family) lives is the stability of being in a relationship and support of the family. So how do you decide????
We have been talking and because our family is on the large side (4 kids, 2 dogs,2cats...lots of fish) the kids school is super awesome, my spouse's job couldn't be better (and we all know how tough it is out there w jobs) it just seems more logical to have me travel and do all the moving instead of the entire family...don't know how realistic this is, and how well I can handle this...or even if my absence will damage the kids, butthis is what we have right now.
Meanwhile I am still working on the MCAT, which I will still be taking (and voiding, sooooo not ready) This masters program will have to either wait for my next scores or drop my application. With this decision I will also be applying more broadly.

Oh ...the lives of parents with high expectations!

I'm pretty much in an identical situation. The school I'm going to has a program that is 2 years in Florida and 2 years in PA (right in my backyard actually), and I'm moving to Florida alone for those two years. It may work, it may not, but I can always move them down there if necessary. My fiance's job is irreplaceable here in PA, and the schools in our community are fantastic. This compared to uprooting the entire family and moving them to a bad area for such a short period of time just didn't make sense to us.

 

[Coracao]

I'm pretty much in an identical situation. The school I'm going to has a program that is 2 years in Florida and 2 years in PA (right in my backyard actually), and I'm moving to Florida alone for those two years. It may work, it may not, but I can always move them down there if necessary. My fiance's job is irreplaceable here in PA, and the schools in our community are fantastic. This compared to uprooting the entire family and moving them to a bad area for such a short period of time just didn't make sense to us.

Funny, I'm in PA too...Do you have young kids? How well are they taking this?

Congrats on your acceptance. I'm assuming you start this summer...keep in touch, I would love to know how you are doing!

Good luck...and have fun!

 

[Daenerys]

hey coracao,

did you decide what you're going to do for the test date tomorrow? i also reallllyy don't feel prepared, my test scores are all over the place. i've been thinking a lot about this, and since it's too late to cancel and get money back, i think i'm just going to take it and do the best i can, and see how i feel about it, and i most likely just void it. this way you get the experience of taking it so the next time you'll be calmer, but the bad score won't go on your record. either way i'm going to sign up for the july 7 test date asap. what do you think?