Thoughts on multiple MCAT attempts

[nontradstudpb]

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Hi all,

My question is regarding multiple MCAT attempts. I know there's already a lot on the internet about this topic, but with the new test, things have been a little more tricky for me to interpret.

I took the old MCAT twice before applying to medical school during the 2014-2015 cycle. I got a 26 (7/10/9) the first time I took the test in July of 2013 and then got a 28 (10/10/8) the second time I took the test in July of 2014. I applied broadly, taking into consideration an average of the two scores, my cGPA of 3.66 and my science GPA of 3.59. I received plenty of secondary applications but unfortunately did not receive any interview invites.

And that was that cycle for me.

Since then, I've been focusing on my research work and volunteering experiences while trying to boost my MCAT score. Everyone I spoke to about my previous scores suggested that I retake the exam after taking a review course, which I did. Unfortunately however, my score dropped to a 500 (which equates to about a 25 on the old exam). I'm honestly stumped as to what happened since I felt better about this exam in comparison to my previous two attempts - including preparation for this test - but it is what it is.

Anyway, I've searched around and asked for advice, and it looks like I'm going to have to retake the exam, which I'm not against if it means improving my chances of getting into a medical school. I just wanted to know if I'm shooting myself in the foot taking the exam a fourth time. I understand that this will be my second attempt on the new exam and that, for a lot of schools, my first attempt won't be considered at all. But will a fourth attempt be held against me more than a crappy score? I honestly don't know.

What do you all think? I'm willing to take any feedback at this point.

 

[CyrilFiggis]

In all honesty, you're chances of application success are very low and probably not worth sitting for the MCAT again. You've taken the MCAT three times in two years with lower than average results on all. Your GPA is middle of the pack, but not great.

I think you need to take a step back and evaluate your greater options in the healthcare field.

 

[gracie369]

My guess is that you had zero guidance on what med schools to apply to based on your stats?? My other guess is that you only applied to MD schools?? I don't know your entire application but your GPA and MCAT score of 28 should have gotten you into "a" DO school. If you didn't apply to almost every DO school that is the point where the foot shooting took place.

 

[nontradstudpb]

My guess is that you had zero guidance on what med schools to apply to based on your stats?? My other guess is that you only applied to MD schools?? I don't know your entire application but your GPA and MCAT score of 28 should have gotten you into "a" DO school. If you didn't apply to almost every DO school that is the point where the foot shooting took place.

Correct and correct. I didn't know much about DO schools and their curricula, and I applied a little later in the cycle, which is why I didn't bother applying once I did my research on DO schools. Totally not going to repeat that mistake when I reapply this cycle. From what others have told me, it looks like I still have a shot at DO schools with my current stats (and extracurricular activities, which I didn't bother listing up there), but I'd really like to give applying to MD schools a shot as well (which, I'm sure, might be a laughing matter for some people on here).

 

[gracie369]

I'm going to save you more time, money and stress. At this point MD is near 100% out. Start shadowing a few DOs so you can get a good letter. Learn about the degree and how it got started. Apply to almost every DO school. In residency nobody really cares what degree you have.

 

[DrMidlife]

Getting a med school to let you in after you do/don't retake is one concern.

Another concern is what it would be like to be in medical school, where tests that are as long and painful and hard-to-prepare-for come at you every 1-2 weeks or more. Everybody in med school worked their butts off to be a good student. Everybody in med school wants to be at the top of the class. Half of every med school class is in the bottom half of the class, regardless.

How it felt to get that 500, after all that work, is how it feels to barely pass, or not pass, a med school exam after working your fanny off to be ready. And you're expected to pull yourself together for the next exam, covering as much or more material, in a few days' time. For two years straight. Then the exams are just every 2 months. But the big exams, the USMLEs or COMLEXes, those start at 8 hours and go to multiple days. Exams exams exams exams exams.

My point is that there is misery in med school, great piles of it, if exam-taking isn't a solved problem before you start.

Best of luck to you.

 

[CyrilFiggis]

Getting a med school to let you in after you do/don't retake is one concern.

Another concern is what it would be like to be in medical school, where tests that are as long and painful and hard-to-prepare-for come at you every 1-2 weeks or more. Everybody in med school worked their butts off to be a good student. Everybody in med school wants to be at the top of the class. Half of every med school class is in the bottom half of the class, regardless.

How it felt to get that 500, after all that work, is how it feels to barely pass, or not pass, a med school exam after working your fanny off to be ready. And you're expected to pull yourself together for the next exam, covering as much or more material, in a few days' time. For two years straight. Then the exams are just every 2 months. But the big exams, the USMLEs or COMLEXes, those start at 8 hours and go to multiple days. Exams exams exams exams exams.

My point is that there is misery in med school, great piles of it, if exam-taking isn't a solved problem before you start.

Best of luck to you.

And now I'm remembering to cherish the next 5 months before classes start.

 

[Goro]

Your MCAT scores are fine for any DO school, except AZCOM. I can't recommend any more retakes because it seems like you've hit your plateau.

Do you have test taking anxiety? If so, that can be fixed.

Hi all,

My question is regarding multiple MCAT attempts. I know there's already a lot on the internet about this topic, but with the new test, things have been a little more tricky for me to interpret.

I took the old MCAT twice before applying to medical school during the 2014-2015 cycle. I got a 26 (7/10/9) the first time I took the test in July of 2013 and then got a 28 (10/10/8) the second time I took the test in July of 2014. I applied broadly, taking into consideration an average of the two scores, my cGPA of 3.66 and my science GPA of 3.59. I received plenty of secondary applications but unfortunately did not receive any interview invites.

And that was that cycle for me.

Since then, I've been focusing on my research work and volunteering experiences while trying to boost my MCAT score. Everyone I spoke to about my previous scores suggested that I retake the exam after taking a review course, which I did. Unfortunately however, my score dropped to a 500 (which equates to about a 25 on the old exam). I'm honestly stumped as to what happened since I felt better about this exam in comparison to my previous two attempts - including preparation for this test - but it is what it is.

Anyway, I've searched around and asked for advice, and it looks like I'm going to have to retake the exam, which I'm not against if it means improving my chances of getting into a medical school. I just wanted to know if I'm shooting myself in the foot taking the exam a fourth time. I understand that this will be my second attempt on the new exam and that, for a lot of schools, my first attempt won't be considered at all. But will a fourth attempt be held against me more than a crappy score? I honestly don't know.

What do you all think? I'm willing to take any feedback at this point.

 

[nontradstudpb]

Your MCAT scores are fine for any DO school, except AZCOM. I can't recommend any more retakes because it seems like you've hit your plateau.

Do you have test taking anxiety? If so, that can be fixed.

I do have some test taking anxiety, yes. It's something I've experienced and worked on in the past, but going into the test this time, it was something I didn't really experience, if I'm honest. The review course that I took really helped with that.

But, I will say that I also took into too much consideration everyone else's studying recommendations rather than focusing on my own, which, I'm thinking, is where my downfall was. I didn't branch out with my studying materials and stuck to one company for that. It's something I realized later on during my studying sessions, and I wanted to postpone to take more practice exams but I decided against it, assuming it was my nerves convincing me otherwise. In hindsight, I'm obviously thinking otherwise.