Taking MCAT in 1 week; NOT happy with my scores... postpone?

[AdmAckbar]

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Hi all- I am in need of some major advice and I would appreciate your input. I am signed up to take the MCAT next Thursday on 6/20. I will not be applying until June 2014. I am not happy with my scores at all and after taking AAMC #8 today, I think I want to postpone my test (or more likely, take the test but void it).

The thing is that I am going abroad for all of July and August, so I would postpone until January. That way I could work on content review/problems during fall semester and slam during winter break. I would then also still have the opportunity to retake before applying, as a last resort.

I did the AAMC self assessments just 2 weeks ago and the same thing happened as on my FL's... I hover around 75-80% correct on each topic. I have largely avoided studying for ochem as well. I really think I need more content review and more practice problems.

Outside of the FL's I think I may have not done enough problems. I've been pretty good about doing verbal passages but not others. I have the kaplan material, EK books/30m tests, and TPRH sciences and verbal workbooks. Lots of problems I can do still.

Here at my FL scores:

Kaplan FL #7: 29 (8/12/9)
Kaplan FL #8: 31 (8/14/9)
Kaplan FL #9: 27 (8/11/8)
Kaplan FL#1: 26 (7/11/8)
AAMC #3: 28 (10/9/9)
AAMC #4: 31 (10/10/11)
AAMC #5: 32( 10/12/10)
AAMC #7: 29 (10/10/9)
AAMC #8: 29 (10/10/9)

Honestly, I just don't see the point is scoring my test next thursday. I will likely score 29-31 and be in a spot where I can do a risky retake or focus more on DO. Since I am not applying until June 2014 I just think postponing might be best... any insight is appreciated.

edit: just looked back at my aamc self-assessments. They were more like 61-71% excluding verbal (78%)

 

[kmp0410]

If your not applying this year, don't mind losing the money and will have more time to study....then its a no brainer. Postpone.

 

[AdmAckbar]

If your not applying this year, don't mind losing the money and will have more time to study....then its a no brainer. Postpone.

That's what I am thinking too. Thanks for the input.

As far as ample time to study... while I'll be gone this summer, I am actually doing microbio/ochem research so I'll be staying fresh on my sciences. I am going to be doing a post-bac year next year, taking 2 upper level sciences and doing research in the fall. I will realistically have time to put in 2 hours a day on average, and all of winter break free.

 

[gettheleadout]

While it sucks that you've used up so much of the available AAMC material, I also agree that given your dissatisfaction with your expected score and your available time to study for a future test date, postponing would probably be best.

 

[AdmAckbar]

While it sucks that you've used up so much of the available AAMC material, I also agree that given your dissatisfaction with your expected score and your available time to study for a future test date, postponing would probably be best.

Thank you for the input!

 

[khrisskhoras]

Hi all- I am in need of some major advice and I would appreciate your input. I am signed up to take the MCAT next Thursday on 6/20. I will not be applying until June 2014. I am not happy with my scores at all and after taking AAMC #8 today, I think I want to postpone my test (or more likely, take the test but void it).

The thing is that I am going abroad for all of July and August, so I would postpone until January. That way I could work on content review/problems during fall semester and slam during winter break. I would then also still have the opportunity to retake before applying, as a last resort.

I did the AAMC self assessments just 2 weeks ago and the same thing happened as on my FL's... I hover around 75-80% correct on each topic. I have largely avoided studying for ochem as well. I really think I need more content review and more practice problems.

Outside of the FL's I think I may have not done enough problems. I've been pretty good about doing verbal passages but not others. I have the kaplan material, EK books/30m tests, and TPRH sciences and verbal workbooks. Lots of problems I can do still.

Here at my FL scores:

Kaplan FL #7: 29 (8/12/9)
Kaplan FL #8: 31 (8/14/9)
Kaplan FL #9: 27 (8/11/8)
Kaplan FL#1: 26 (7/11/8)
AAMC #3: 28 (10/9/9)
AAMC #4: 31 (10/10/11)
AAMC #5: 32( 10/12/10)
AAMC #7: 29 (10/10/9)
AAMC #8: 29 (10/10/9)

Honestly, I just don't see the point is scoring my test next thursday. I will likely score 29-31 and be in a spot where I can do a risky retake or focus more on DO. Since I am not applying until June 2014 I just think postponing might be best... any insight is appreciated.

edit: just looked back at my aamc self-assessments. They were more like 61-71% excluding verbal (78%)

take it and void. Believe me, taking the real deal as a trial run will help alleviate anxiety when you take the real thing for a score. plus u havent used aamc 9 10 or 11, the three best tests imo, which gives you some stuff to work with.

 

[inycepoo]

If you're not happy, void it. WRT keeping up the studying over the next couple of months, the consensus on SDN (someone correct me if I'm wrong) is that there's diminishing returns in studying for more than a couple of months straight. Perhaps putting it aside for a bit and returning with a fresh pair of eyes would do you well to catch weaknesses and things that you just can't see right now.

Also, since you've used up most of the AAMC FLs, consider buying TBR or GS FLs so you can have more study materials for your resurrection. :thumbsup

 

[AdmAckbar]

If you're not happy, void it. WRT keeping up the studying over the next couple of months, the consensus on SDN (someone correct me if I'm wrong) is that there's diminishing returns in studying for more than a couple of months straight. Perhaps putting it aside for a bit and returning with a fresh pair of eyes would do you well to catch weaknesses and things that you just can't see right now.

Also, since you've used up most of the AAMC FLs, consider buying TBR or GS FLs so you can have more study materials for your resurrection. :thumbsup

take it and void. Believe me, taking the real deal as a trial run will help alleviate anxiety when you take the real thing for a score. plus u havent used aamc 9 10 or 11, the three best tests imo, which gives you some stuff to work with.

Thanks for the advice. I am going to take it and void it. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) bc of my summer plans I cannot study much, so I'll be taking it in January.

The past few days have been the most relaxation I've had in months 🙂