Stigma/Taboo Subject: No one can give me a direct answer

[EMG53xyt1M3]

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As much as this is difficult for me to discuss, I need a straight answer.

So I have spent the past (nearly) two years as a research assistant at a big name academic hospital, getting publications, lots of shadowing time, gpa 3.67, and I have tons of enthusiasm to go into medicine for what I believe to be the right reasons.

HOWEVER: family issues surrounding the time I was studying/took the MCAT had a very negative effect on me emotionally (obviously) and I made the poor judgment call to take the test when I was: 1-not emotionally ready at the time, 2-not ready due to inefficient studying but I felt like if I didn't do it then I would never get another chance. Took two administrations very close to each other and got respectively 23/25. This was almost 2 years ago.

I applied to schools (MD) last year and got one interview invite. (Not URM, but am from underserved area) Did not get in. While I'm grateful to have gotten that interview last year, I don't know what to do this year. I will submit my primary for DO tomorrow, MD this week, and have been studying AGAIN for the MCAT since April. But I've already moved the test twice b/c I felt I wasn't ready. Honestly, I feel like I've ruined my chances at MD because of the scores before even if I manage to do very well august 10th. So I don't know if I should even bother applying again for MD. And now it's getting to be late August...

Also, studying for this is painful for everyone, I know. But I almost feel like I've created a self induced block by somehow associating this test with my dad's suicide. I'm in counseling and have been for some time now, it's helped, I feel better. However, I can't shake the feeling that I'm now handicapped in some way by letting grief cloud my judgment at the time.

So if anyone with sensitivity and some knowledge of the process can give me some insight into what the *wisest* course of action would be, I would be grateful.

I'm open to DO, in fact I really like the philosophy, what I don't want is to feel like it's something I had to do because I couldn't get into MD. The DO approach is equal if not better than MD in my opinion, and I hate how some people use it as a fall back plan. As an example, I was advised not to apply DO last year, but to apply MD and if I didn't get in, reapply with added DO schools this year. It shouldn't be that way. Both schools should be grateful and enthusiastic about the opportunity to be a physician.

 

[Bforn]

Your GPA is solid and your ECs look good. Have you taken any AAMC practice tests yet? I'd say if you can score upper 20s then apply DO and you'll have a great shot. If you can score 30+ then you also have a decent shot at MD. Use those practice tests as predictors. If you aren't able to obtain that yet, apply next year and during the next several months study for this beast of a test. Take an early test date (jan, or April) and apply as soon as AMCAS opens.

 

[EMG53xyt1M3]

I'm pretty consistently getting 29's on the AAMC tests, although today my VR score shot up to 12 from the usual 10, and my PS is FINALLY around a 10. (It was a 7 on my last actual test). The problem is that I saw them 2 years ago, but I don't think I really remember them. Anyway, I bought some Berkley Review CBT's based on what my friends have said about how helpful they are. Hopefully they won't kill my spirit.

I agree though, if I don't think I'm going to kill it (30+) I'll push it back, this is just not a process you can rush. And then I would just apply next year. Would I have to do a lot of things drastically different as far as EC's go if I were to take another year? My personal statement is new this time, I now have publications, 2 new letters, more volunteering, other than that, not much has really changed.

 

[Bforn]

Sounds like you should just keep up with your involvement in your EC. Do you have anything you'd designate as "leadership"?