SO STRESSFUL!!!

[Forensic Chick]

Hey guys,

Well - I'm at the most stressful point of my academic career. Finals are quickly approaching (next week) and the MCAT is a little over a month away. I'll be graduating at the end of next quarter so I have to continue my full load of 30 units. I registered for the MCAT in April, but I just don't think I'll do that well on it with all of my other classes/work/stuff going on. I've read many success stories of people who took the MCAT in August, but my stats aren't quite as stellar (GPA: 3.42, 5000+ hrs of community service, EMT) so I figured that the sooner I got my complete application out - the better. Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks in advance!

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[Papa Smurf]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by You Think I'm Sexy:
•but my stats aren't quite as stellar (GPA: 3.42, 5000+ hrs of community service, EMT•••••5000 hours????? Tell me that's a typo. That's like 2 and a half years worth of full time volunteering(40hrs/wk)! Anyway, as for the MCAT, don't take it until you're ready. No point in getting bitchslapped by that test in April, only to have to take it again in August. Study over the summer, turn in all your secondaries early, and you'll be ok.

 

[hellokitty]

You should wait til August to take the MCAT if you don't feel that you are ready. That way you can keep up your grades and score high on the MCAT. Also adcoms look for trends of improvement when gpa is not above average.

I took my mcat in august too and have 3 interviews (no acceptance yet ). My gpa is same as yours and graduated last year, but do not have nearly as much extracurriculars.

Good luck

 

[SMW]

My situation was very similar to yours. I was planning on taking the April test just before graduating but was not ready. I'd been taking Kaplan, but had not taken enough practice tests nor just plain buckled down enough. I decided to devote 2 full months after graduation to studying for the August test. I signed up for Kaplan again (a nominal fee if you've been signed up within the year) and mainly used their study materials and took practice tests. I got a 30M (12V,8PS, 10BS). With that and a 3.5 GPA (3.4 science) I applied to 23 schools, got 14 interviews and have 4 acceptances and 3 waitlists thus far. With GPA's like ours, a decent showing on the MCAT is essential. ALso, your essays and LOR's should be terrific. If you apply early to enough appropriate schools, you should be all right. Just know that you won't be able to do anything else over the summer but study for the MCAT and complete secondaries. Make sure you have everything done the minute it's possible, and have your files complete at all schools so that the minute those August scores are available, your files are complete. It is a stressful time. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Forensic Chick]

I wanted to thank you all for your replies - they were extremely helpful to me!!

Papa Smurf - no, 5000 hrs is not a typo. I started counting from my high school days - but if you're just counting college - it's about 2800 hrs (~30 hrs/week).

SMW - I'm glad that someone else has gone through this to give me advice! Wow - what an inspiration - Congrats on all of your acceptances!! I'm just hoping for 1

I have decided to take my MCAT in August to ensure that I have the best score I can possibly attain. Thanks again for your input!

 

[mpp]

Be sure to have a well-written personal statement as well. I think this can have a bearing on the applicants schools will choose to interview. Best of luck!!

 

[THE instiGATOR]

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> I'm working on a paper that is due at 4:30!!! I've finished a little more than half of it (burned the midnight oil) and it is already 1:21!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

I feel the pain of stress also!

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