The Official 8/13/10 MCAT Club

[TKYL]

Hey Guys,
I didn't see a post for 8/13 mcat date, so decided to create one. Anyone taking on this day? I hope everyone studying is going well. Good luck 🙂

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[ShoaibS15]

Okay... I'm not sure what to feel exactly. Got a 30R... Not sure yet what my AMCAS GPA is, because they have yet to complete my application review, but my GPA in school has been an overall 3.9+... any words of advice? My AAMC average was tremendous (for me), ranging from 35 to a 40, so I guess you all can understand my sentiments at this time... Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks...

 

[35 year old PhD]

Took the MCAT on 8/13/2010, here is the results:

VR 6 (too low, I know😳)
BS 14 (OK)
PS 14 (OK again)
WS: M (I boomed it and hope the writing part won't kill me🙁).

Total: 34M (prepared for the test in less than 3 months, hope the scores were distributed more evenly)

Will the rest matters🙁?)

PhD in Biochemistry, 2 post-doctoral trainings in Molecular and Cell Biology (all 3 schools are top in the field), first or co-author of 12 scientific publications.

Have spent 2 and half years in Biotech. industry, currently a senior scientist in a major company and an adjunct faculty of a decent university.

My real dream and passion is to become a surgeon. But do I have a chance if apply for the medical school this year?

Thank you. Your opinion highly appreciated.

 

[ArkAngel]

Took the MCAT on 8/13/2010, here is the results:

VR 6 (too low, I know😳)
BS 14 (OK)
PS 14 (OK again)
WS: M (I boomed it and hope the writing part won't kill me🙁).

Total: 34M (prepared for the test in less than 3 months, hope the scores were distributed more evenly)

Will the rest matters🙁?)

PhD in Biochemistry, 2 post-doctoral trainings in Molecular and Cell Biology (all 3 schools are top in the field), first or co-author of 12 scientific publications.

Have spent 2 and half years in Biotech. industry, currently a senior scientist in a major company and an adjunct faculty of a decent university.

My real dream and passion is to become a surgeon. But do I have a chance if apply for the medical school this year?

Thank you. Your opinion highly appreciated.

Damn you are highly qualified for med school. However, just that 6. If it was an 8, I would've said you have a pretty good shot given your highly impressive record but a 6 just seems too low. I feel that some schools might be willing to overlook that due to your educational level but that is what is really killing you at this point as it is clear that you know your PS and BS very well. I would say do it. Apply but apply broadly and good luck👍

 

[deleted74029]

Still in a state of shock over my 8 in verbal. My PS and BS were exactly where I thought they'd be. I just knew I had at least a 10 in verbal, and with an 11 I would've broken 30. Never in a million years would I have thought it was even possible for me to recieve an 8.

 

[Dharma]

I was getting pretty anxious earlier so i went to the gym... then i thought i would share this video of arnold at the gym. hopefully this can bring a little laugh to everyone in here waiting lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drioQ137NhA&feature=related

That's one of the funniest and strangest documentaries ever made. "Put on more weight... I wanna beat him!"

 

[Laplace]

Still in a state of shock over my 8 in verbal. My PS and BS were exactly where I thought they'd be. I just knew I had at least a 10 in verbal, and with an 11 I would've broken 30. Never in a million years would I have thought it was even possible for me to recieve an 8.

I think the verbal curve was really harsh or the answers were different from what we would normally assume them to be. I also thought I did extremely well on verbal, averaged 12 on AAMCs and this was the EASIEST one I did so I was sure I got anywhere between 13-15. I ended up with an 11 so yeah, the verbal's just weird.

I'm still thinking about retaking because even though 35 is decent, there's no possible way I can get an 11 in physical again, it's always been my best section since I'm an engineering major.

 

[35 year old PhD]

Thanks man. Too late to retake the test anyway if I want to apply this year. Maybe I can try to write a better personal statement to compensate for the disastrous verbal score. After all, I spent years developing instruments to diagnose infectious diseases. Hope that will be taken as a positive thing!

Damn you are highly qualified for med school. However, just that 6. If it was an 8, I would've said you have a pretty good shot given your highly impressive record but a 6 just seems too low. I feel that some schools might be willing to overlook that due to your educational level but that is what is really killing you at this point as it is clear that you know your PS and BS very well. I would say do it. Apply but apply broadly and good luck👍

 

[GRod18]

Thanks man. Too late to retake the test anyway if I want to apply this year. Maybe I can try to write a better personal statement to compensate for the disastrous verbal score. After all, I spent years developing instruments to diagnose infectious diseases. Hope that will be taken as a positive thing!

So unfortunate to get a verbal like that man, but apply broadly I'm sure you have a decent chance, many med schools like older more mature applicants. Plus your other scores are outstanding.. did you not take very many verbal practices?

 

[35 year old PhD]

have a full-time job, a house and family to take care of, plus being a non-native English speaker. Did not have much practice on the verbal and writing parts, that's something I regret. Sigh.

Still will give it a try. Thank you so much for the encouragement.

So unfortunate to get a verbal like that man, but apply broadly I'm sure you have a decent chance, many med schools like older more mature applicants. Plus your other scores are outstanding.. did you not take very many verbal practices?

 

[lawdoc]

have a full-time job, a house and family to take care of, plus being a non-native English speaker. Did not have much practice on the verbal and writing parts, that's something I regret. Sigh.

Still will give it a try. Thank you so much for the encouragement.

It is obvious from your posts that English is not your first language... that being said your message is communicated well. As you have a PHd, I assume you have some kind of scores for English competency for teaching those classes. I would make sure that those scores get passed along to the schools that you apply too.

It is obvious that you have the science background... what have you done for clinical experience? This may be very important if it can demonstrate you mastery of English. If you have been able to volunteer effectively in a clinical setting with your language limitations, I would think that would help.

Good luck in any case. You obviously have the science ability and intelligence for the career... you only limit is the language. I wish I had your science scores!

 

[Mcatz1188]

AAMC practice test Avg. - 27....real thing- 31Q

 

[OhCanada]

I'm guessing you retook due to Canada's strict cutoff system? Glad it worked out 🙂

Yeah that's pretty much the only reason I retook the MCAT. I actually spent the bulk of my studying on VR alone, trying to figure out what I was doing wrong. I'm really glad I retook the test. 🙂

 

[mindsg]

I agree with that the verbal curve was unexpectedly harsh. For BS they definitely wrote off one or two of those "experimental" ochem passages that doesn't feel to fall within the MCAT syllabus. I feel some sympathy for future takers for whom those passages will no longer be experimental, its kinda unfair.

But congrats to those who has finally beaten this beast! 🙂

 

[foxfur]

Hi everyone! I'm new to the site.

I just wrote my first mcat on 8/13/10 and bombed it!
6-6-6-N
I am an artist with a Bachelors in Fine Art. I wrote the exam without university physics or org 2. I studied most of the summer, but mainly focused on bio and chem review.( and took org. chem 1 all july)
Has anyone had really low scores their first time around?
I am feeling so low right now and would really appreciate reading any experiences/advice.

thanks!

 

[GRod18]

Hi everyone! I'm new to the site.

I just wrote my first mcat on 8/13/10 and bombed it!
6-6-6-N
I am an artist with a Bachelors in Fine Art. I wrote the exam without university physics or org 2. I studied most of the summer, but mainly focused on bio and chem review.( and took org. chem 1 all july)
Has anyone had really low scores their first time around?
I am feeling so low right now and would really appreciate reading any experiences/advice.

thanks!

You shouldn't have taken it.. thats a unnecessary risk that you took, only thing now to do is to make it up if your still interested in medicine.

 

[QueenTut]

Hi everyone! I'm new to the site.

I just wrote my first mcat on 8/13/10 and bombed it!
6-6-6-N
I am an artist with a Bachelors in Fine Art. I wrote the exam without university physics or org 2. I studied most of the summer, but mainly focused on bio and chem review.( and took org. chem 1 all july)
Has anyone had really low scores their first time around?
I am feeling so low right now and would really appreciate reading any experiences/advice.

thanks!

First-gujudoc, when you call someone "stupid", you are being mean. Own it.

Foxfur- I think you know that you can't get into any school with that score, but then, you can't get in with out taking all of your prerequisites either.

My story- my first time taking the MCAT, I scored a 21L. Breakdown: PS9 VR8 BS4. Yeah. Worse yet, I am a science major (chemistry), but I did absolutely NO preparation (studying, course, etc.) for the exam; I basically just showed up.

This time, I took a TPR course, which I highly recommend. My first diagnostic, I scored a 17M, I don't remember the breakdown (does it really matter🙄). My second diagnostic, I scored a 22O. On my 4th diagnostic, I scored a 30O (you can see why I recommend the course). Yesterday, I got my MCAT scores and got a 31Q. The breakdown was
PS9 VR11 BS11. I definitely think that I'm capable of doing better, but I'm very happy with the score.

I would encourage you to wait until you have finished your prerequisites and take a course before you retake the exam. Not only do I think that it's possible for you to improve tremendously, I think it is highly likely that you will after completing your prerequisites. At the moment, you at least know what to expect when you take the exam. I also recommend prayer- it's very easy to get overwhelmed by the process, and prayer helps to calm your thoughts so you can remind yourself of what you are capable of achieving.

Even if you have to put off applying for another year, it will be well worth it.

Good luck to you!

 

[ModerateMouse]

I was so nervous when I saw you guys talking about scores and some of you being angry at the verbal.

I began to panic, and then checked my scores.

After I saw them I became ecstatic -- very, very happy and satisfied.

I thought I did badly on verbal, and I missed some things on the physical sciences.

But, here is how the scores broke down:

AAMC3 39
AAMC5 39
AAMC7 37
AAMC8 38
AAMC9 40
AAMC10 40

Real deal:

Physical/Verabl/Bio/WS
14/11/15/R
40R

*very satisfied*

Thanks a lot to all of you who have answered my questions and participated in discussions with me as I was practising and learning all the material!!

Good luck with your applications!

P.S. This is very important as well I think: I did my first practice test in 2008. I knew no biology or physiology as an engineer. This was the 3rd year of my undergraduate degree.

I scored:

8/9/8
25

I made a plan and went through all the material slowly but steadily. I don't know if this will give hope to some people...

 

[Pons Asinorum]

First-gujudoc, when you call someone "stupid", you are being mean. Own it.

He said what they did was stupid, not that they were a stupid person. You did the same thing, it was a stupid thing you did too. It's not mean, it's truth.

 

[QueenTut]

He said what they did was stupid, not that they were a stupid person. You did the same thing, it was a stupid thing you did too. It's not mean, it's truth.

Thing is, another poster managed to get the same point across without calling the action or the person stupid. You know once you throw "stupid" in, someone is going to get pissed, so why do it? Not to mention that the question asked in the post wasn't even addressed so what was the point?

It probably isn't too early for any of us to learn the difference between being direct and being callous before we become doctors and our bedside manners are called into question.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Thing is, another poster managed to get the same point across without calling the action or the person stupid. You know once you throw "stupid" in, someone is going to get pissed, so why do it? Not to mention that the question asked in the post wasn't even addressed so what was the point?

It probably isn't too early for any of us to learn the difference between being direct and being callous before we become doctors and our bedside manners are called into question.

Why not do it, if said thing is in fact stupid? This is SDN, an internet forum relatively well known for it's "callousness." Nobody's on here to learn the most compassionate way to tell a family that their Nana just passed away. You'll find a lot more people practicing how to be an attending on IM rounds getting their pimp on than a palliative care doc around here.

 

[QueenTut]

Why not do it, if said thing is in fact stupid? This is SDN, an internet forum relatively well known for it's "callousness." Nobody's on here to learn the most compassionate way to tell a family that their Nana just passed away. You'll find a lot more people practicing how to be an attending on IM rounds getting their pimp on than a palliative care doc around here.

I just don't see the point in responding that way to someone who says that they are feeling really low.

 

[QueenTut]

Thank you. Someone who knows how to read.

Sorry you find it harsh and normally I can be a very compassionate person. My friends will all vouch for it as I was their support system or a huge part of it when they were applying for med school and through their med school training.

However, I hate when people come on here whining why they didn't get such and such when they didn't even do what was required of them. People cannot expect a perfect score or even reasonable score on the MCAT when they can't take it seriously enough to realize you actually have to finish and learn the prereqs to be able to take the MCAT and do well.

Mmmhmm. Well, I didn't say you were mean person- I'm sure you're all cuddles and giggles in real life. I said you were being mean in your post and you seem to agree.

It just stands to reason that if you're responding to something you hate, you wouldn't care if you're being mean or not.

 

[QueenTut]

Someone clearly has reading and verbal issues.

Yeah, based on the verbal score comparison, that person CLEARLY isn't me

Yeah I know that was effed up. Guess I've been infected with that SDN callousness😀

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Yeah, based on the verbal score comparison, that person CLEARLY isn't me

Didn't take long to catch that ad hominem bug. Good for you. Now run off.

 

[LostInStudy]

Uh oh, another flame war starting. Just calm down guys, we're not here to fight. As a word of advice though, one thing I've learned is that people shouldn't get too involved when someone says something to another person. The only time I personally would say it's appropriate is if the other person were offended. Otherwise you just get unnecessary and unhealthy arguments.

Hope this helps,

-LIS

 

[ShoaibS15]

Okay... I'm not sure what to feel exactly. Got a 30R... Not sure yet what my AMCAS GPA is, because they have yet to complete my application review, but my GPA in school has been an overall 3.9+... any words of advice? My AAMC average was tremendous (for me), ranging from 35 to a 40, so I guess you all can understand my sentiments at this time... Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks...

I think this whole "you were mean" stuff needs a rest... this thread isn't for that... Well either way, I'm surprised that nobody bothered to respond to my post. I'm including it as a quote so that someone might take the time to do so. Either way, thanks.

 

[ShoaibS15]

Thanks! I appreciate your reply. Your friend's experience obviously worked out in his or her favor. I already sent in my primary, and am waiting for it to be reviewed, but that was before I received the score. Like I said, I have a very high GPA and decent ECs/Activities, so of which are fairly unique, so a high MCAT would have really motivated me to apply to upper tier schools... now I'm not so sure. Living in Chicago all my life, I want to stay around here, but our schools are mid-tier (I think), and that may warrant a higher score, though I'm not sure.

I guess I'll take my best shot and see if I hit! Many of the schools here are ones I know I would enjoy going to, so I hope I have a chance. If anyone has any more advice (including you, GujuDoc), chime in...

 

[OhCanada]

Just replying to ShoaibS15's post

In my own experience, I think rewriting is a good idea, but it's also very important to know why you did "poorly" on the real MCAT. Are you rewriting simply to stroke your ego or do you have a valid reason (ie you have to make a certain cutoff, you have to improve a specific section of your score)?

I was in a similar situation as you. I was averaging around 35ish on my AAMC's he first time I wrote the MCAT. I wrote the test last year july 31, 2009 and ended up with a 31Q 12PS 11BS 8VR. The 8 in VR is a huge flag in Canada so I really had no choice but to rewrite.

I found that when I was studying and doing practice tests the second time around, my scores were significantly better just because I had a better feel for the test. Although, I suppose it may also be possible that I just remembered answers from a year ago. My scores for the AAMC tests from 3 through 10 where 37, 36, 36, 35, 40, 37, 39, 37. I rewrote on Aug 13 and ended up with a 34S 11VR 11PS 12BS. Obviously, my score wasn't close to my AAMC practice tests but I think that happens to everyone.

Where am I going with this... i'm not entirely sure anymore, but if you were in fact averaging 35+ on your practice tests, you should definitely go for the rewrite. It may be easier to improve your score if your 30 was due to one specific section but I think if you studying efficiently and rewrite, you'll be much happier with your new MCAT scores.

 

[ShoaibS15]

Just replying to ShoaibS15's post

In my own experience, I think rewriting is a good idea, but it's also very important to know why you did "poorly" on the real MCAT. Are you rewriting simply to stroke your ego or do you have a valid reason (ie you have to make a certain cutoff, you have to improve a specific section of your score)?

I was in a similar situation as you. I was averaging around 35ish on my AAMC's he first time I wrote the MCAT. I wrote the test last year july 31, 2009 and ended up with a 31Q 12PS 11BS 8VR. The 8 in VR is a huge flag in Canada so I really had no choice but to rewrite.

I found that when I was studying and doing practice tests the second time around, my scores were significantly better just because I had a better feel for the test. Although, I suppose it may also be possible that I just remembered answers from a year ago. My scores for the AAMC tests from 3 through 10 where 37, 36, 36, 35, 40, 37, 39, 37. I rewrote on Aug 13 and ended up with a 34S 11VR 11PS 12BS. Obviously, my score wasn't close to my AAMC practice tests but I think that happens to everyone.

Where am I going with this... i'm not entirely sure anymore, but if you were in fact averaging 35+ on your practice tests, you should definitely go for the rewrite. It may be easier to improve your score if your 30 was due to one specific section but I think if you studying efficiently and rewrite, you'll be much happier with your new MCAT scores.

Sorry for the late response... I've been quite busy this week. Thanks for the advice to both of you (OhCanada and GujuDoc). Well, the issue is two-fold... My average for the AAMC was what I consider to be very high (37), and my GPA is very high... I feel that the score does not represent my abilities well... but again, I've heard from numerous people that the score is definitely "workable" for Allopathic schools. I hope that my GPA balances out the barely par MCAT score, and earns me some interviews in the area.

Thanks again guys... oh, and again, if you have further advice, send it my way... I'm STILL waiting on the AMCAS to get verified! I guess this means that any hope at U of C Pritzker and Feinberg are out the window... I'll have to maintain my aim at the other 4-5 schools... I would actually really like attending Rush or Rosalind Franklin... great schools in my opinion. Any opinions out there?

 

[zachjm2]

Thing is, another poster managed to get the same point across without calling the action or the person stupid. You know once you throw "stupid" in, someone is going to get pissed, so why do it? Not to mention that the question asked in the post wasn't even addressed so what was the point?

It probably isn't too early for any of us to learn the difference between being direct and being callous before we become doctors and our bedside manners are called into question.

These are both great points. I've run across some bitter and hostile people on here and the truth is that online behavior actually translates over well to offline behavior. I wouldn't want someone with an attitude problem being responsible for anyone's health. Admissions will filter them out - that's the opposite of what they're looking for.

 

[zachjm2]

Again, 1. you clearly don't know me.

2. He states I called the person stupid. I did not. I called their actions stupid and almsot everyone on here who posted in response to such agreed with me. And sadly I don't sugar coat things. I'm not going to tell someone that they should've expected higher when they didn't do what was required before the test.

Calling someone's actions stupid is going to be taken as an insult - after all, if you decide to do something, then that is representative of your thoughts and choices. You're confusing "being honest" with being rude. There are plenty of considerate and thoughtful ways to express yourself, without putting a negative label on someone's actions.

For example, you could have said:

The MCAT covers material from all of the prereqs. Before you take it next time, make sure you know all the prereq material well and get plenty of practice with it.

Notice the difference? The message is the same but there are no negative comments. If a patient falls down the stairs and comes to see you, are you going to say what they did was stupid? The thought of a doctor like that being responsible for patients' health is scary and medical school admissions will pick up on it. So I hope you can learn to put a filter on your mouth pretty soon.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

So I hope you can learn to put a filter on your mouth pretty soon.

And I would recommend that a lot of people on here grow thicker skin.

 

[LostInStudy]

And I would recommend that a lot of people on here grow thicker skin.

So true. This goes for like 99% of the people on this forum. The funny thing is that the OP who she was talking about hasn't said anything so all of you don't know if he was offended or not. Either way, chill out and move on and quit wasting your time.

-LIS

 

[zachjm2]

And I would recommend that a lot of people on here grow thicker skin.

I'm not sure what you mean by this... being 'thick skinned' basically means that you are unaware or oblivious to your surroundings and are therefore unaffected by them. Plenty of "stupid people" are thick skinned. After all, how can you notice something or care if your capacity for accurate perception doesn't allow it? The reverse is true for people of high intelligence - sensitivity to the world (aka awareness) is correlated with IQ. Being aware of yourself and how you relate to others leads you to being successful in all careers, but I can't think of hardly any places where it's more important than healthcare. Do you want to go to a doctor who will insult you and not understand what you're saying? GujuDoc didn't give a response that showed any understanding of my post or the other person's. On the other hand, wouldn't you want to go to a doctor with an open-mind (not judgmental) who actually listens and understands? I think we know the answer.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

I'm not sure what you mean by this... being 'thick skinned' basically means that you are unaware or oblivious to your surroundings and are therefore unaffected by them. Plenty of "stupid people" are thick skinned. After all, how can you notice something or care if your capacity for accurate perception doesn't allow it? The reverse is true for people of high intelligence - sensitivity to the world (aka awareness) is correlated with IQ. Being aware of yourself and how you relate to others leads you to being successful in all careers, but I can't think of hardly any places where it's more important than healthcare. Do you want to go to a doctor who will insult you and not understand what you're saying? GujuDoc didn't give a response that showed any understanding of my post or the other person's. On the other hand, wouldn't you want to go to a doctor with an open-mind (not judgmental) who actually listens and understands? I think we know the answer.

No, I'd just like you to not come across this thin-skinned the first time an attending tells you that you just gave the stupidest answer she's heard in her 15 years in medicine. Because they will, and you'll do well to take it like an adult, and not like some of the replies on here and countless other threads where "meanness" becomes an issue for posters. People are mean; deal with it in a way other than saying "you hurt my/their feelings! You should be ashamed!" That response goes over like a fart in church in the real world, which everyone must someday come to grips with. Feel free to take your sensitivity forward with you; you'll be disabused of it at some point after the "mean" people eat your lunch one too many times.

 

[zachjm2]

No, I'd just like you to not come across this thin-skinned the first time an attending tells you that you just gave the stupidest answer she's heard in her 15 years in medicine. Because they will, and you'll do well to take it like an adult, and not like some of the replies on here and countless other threads where "meanness" becomes an issue for posters. People are mean; deal with it in a way other than saying "you hurt my/their feelings! You should be ashamed!" That response goes over like a fart in church in the real world, which everyone must someday come to grips with. Feel free to take your sensitivity forward with you; you'll be disabused of it at some point after the "mean" people eat your lunch one too many times.

I doubt I'd hear anything like that from an attending, but if I do, I would have to wonder what was wrong with them too. Everyone has their own perception of the world and people. Maybe you've run across a bunch of jerks, but I haven't. I don't see people overall as "mean"; I see a small minority of abrasive people who go out of their way to harm others. Notice that people like this who insult others, ignore how they affect people, don't care about what happens, etc... tend to have no friends. When I come across someone like that, I usually just put them in their place and then cut them out, as they are a waste of time.

To translate it into your language... rude people are stupid.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

To translate it into your language... rude people are stupid.

And I'll translate it into your language...naive people say stupid things and get their naive little hearts handed to them by rude people who are, shockingly, more talented than them the real world.

We just see the world differently; you'll feel more like I do soon enough.

 

[zachjm2]

I don't think you guys are actually reading my posts, so I'm done.

If rotations or residency are tough, then I'll deal with whoever I have to. But it still doesn't make any sense why they would make it brutal. What's the point? That just interferes with learning and I see no purpose. To see if we can handle it? Obviously we can if we got that far and besides, you won't have to deal with someone riding you when you're a doctor. It's not logical at all.