Talking about MCAT in personal statement

[DrJurassic]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I've heard that you shouldn't mention your mcat attempts in your personal statement because it can come across as making excuses. If I'm not trying to excuse my failed attempts but trying to highlight how badly I want to be a doctor, would it be alright to mention my mcat attempts in my ps? The way my ps is currently written, the first few paragraphs explore my growing interest in medicine through volunteering/shadowing while the last one about the mcat describes how it made me fight for my dream.

 

[Tabiyou]

If you feel that passionate about it, why wouldn't you mention it in a secondary or during an interview? I don't think it is a good idea to bring extra attention to it.

 

[coralista]

While subjecting yourself to taking the MCAT multiple times is somewhat admirable from the tenacity standpoint, I would caution against saying that a test is driving you to pursue your dream or even mentioning the MCAT at all in your PS. Mentioning the surrounding factors and obstacles that influenced those re-takes and strengthened your resolve to become a physician may be a better approach.

If you feel like drawing attention to the multiple attempts, there are better places to address it, namely the "additional information" or "do you think there is anything the adcom will be concerned about" or "is there anything you'd like to explain" section in your secondaries.

 

[Professional Student]

I don't think the PS is meant for you to talk about how much you want to be a doctor. How badly you want to be a doctor really doesn't matter to anyone. The PS is for you to talk about why you want to be a doctor, and how those experiences and reasons are wholesome and will contribute to the profession etc. Also, I don't think taking the MCAT multiple times will come across as unique dedication. Lots of people have to take the test multiple times. I think it will just come across as not being able to get the job done the first time.

 

[DrJurassic]

Thank you everyone! I won't mention it in my ps then.

 

[Goro]

I've heard that you shouldn't mention your mcat attempts in your personal statement because it can come across as making excuses. If I'm not trying to excuse my failed attempts but trying to highlight how badly I want to be a doctor, would it be alright to mention my mcat attempts in my ps? The way my ps is currently written, the first few paragraphs explore my growing interest in medicine through volunteering/shadowing while the last one about the mcat describes how it made me fight for my dream.

Straight to reject land you will go.

Determination does not make up for poor results, or even worse choicemaking.

 

[Kingsmen2018]

Adcoms reading the list of excuses for poor GPA and/or MCAT

 

[PreMedMissteps]

If you feel that passionate about it, why wouldn't you mention it in a secondary or during an interview?.

I wouldn't mention it either, particularly not in an interview. Many interviews are blind, so the interviewer doesn't even know your MCAT scores or attempts. Why possibly hurt your perception by mentioning this?