Trouble with MCAT but decent everything.

[cablackf]

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So, first I want to say that I have been using the forums for advice and ego boosting but now I want some serious feedback. I am a 25 old student with a B.S. in Microbiology. I graduated with a 3.63 GPA and I have tons of medical related extracurricular activities including hospital service, volunteer with with SWHIV in Phoenix, two internships in ERs and military first responder and search and rescue training. My concern is my inability to reduce the amount of test anxiety on the MCAT. My first go scored me a 16......yeah I know. I am planning to retake soon now that my Kaplan MCAT class is finished. I do well in bio sciences (9 or 10 on practice tests) but my PS score sux major as I panic and cannot grab the formulas I need. My VR score is erratic but its been getting better. I am concerned more about the age. Whats the age breakdown of applicants? I won't get in until I am 26 or 27, is that too late? Oh also to mention, I am trying for Midwestern University DO school, yes I prefer DO because I have family on the board. So after all the rambling here is the question. What MCAT score would midwestern or any other MD/DO school prefer with my GPA. Please let me know. Also any tricks on mastering the PS sections would help.I appreciate the feedback, harsh or not, you have helped me before. Thanks ahead of time.

 

[yellowperil]

Do: 28+ on mcat
md: 33+ on mcat.

 

[sotto voce]

DO: 26

MD: 30

Contrary to what you'll see on SDN, the median MCAT at many MD schools is around 30.

 

[drycorn3]

I don't know much about what scores you need as I'm in the same panicky boat... kind of (I'm 24 and worrying about not starting til 25 or 26). But what really helped me with my PS section was memorizing all the equations and then just being better able to recall them. I started with like a 6 and it improved to about a 9-10. It's all about manipulating those equations. Hope that helps somewhat. 🙂

 

[MedBound1]

Do: 28+ on mcat
md: 33+ on mcat.

Umm... no.

Someone on the DO track can speak for that but the avg applicant to MD has a 28 and the average accepted applicant has a 31.

28+ to enter consideration for low-tier MD.

33+ just to apply to MD?? how do people get these numbers....

 

[theseeker4]

So, first I want to say that I have been using the forums for advice and ego boosting but now I want some serious feedback. I am a 25 old student with a B.S. in Microbiology. I graduated with a 3.63 GPA and I have tons of medical related extracurricular activities including hospital service, volunteer with with SWHIV in Phoenix, two internships in ERs and military first responder and search and rescue training. My concern is my inability to reduce the amount of test anxiety on the MCAT. My first go scored me a 16......yeah I know. I am planning to retake soon now that my Kaplan MCAT class is finished. I do well in bio sciences (9 or 10 on practice tests) but my PS score sux major as I panic and cannot grab the formulas I need. My VR score is erratic but its been getting better. I am concerned more about the age. Whats the age breakdown of applicants? I won't get in until I am 26 or 27, is that too late? Oh also to mention, I am trying for Midwestern University DO school, yes I prefer DO because I have family on the board. So after all the rambling here is the question. What MCAT score would midwestern or any other MD/DO school prefer with my GPA. Please let me know. Also any tricks on mastering the PS sections would help.I appreciate the feedback, harsh or not, you have helped me before. Thanks ahead of time.

Go check out the "non-traditional" forum. There are people there who are entering med school in their 40s. You are not too old at 27. Maybe 50 years ago you would be for MD schools, but medicine is accepting more and more non-traditional applicants every year, especially the DO schools.

 

[flodhi1]

Do: 28+ on mcat
md: 33+ on mcat.

Are you talking about top 20 schools?

 

[cablackf]

No, my goal at this moment is just a cheaper instate school due to my large debt acquired with my first two degrees.

 

[coolingglasses]

Your experience, military in particular, will give you a boost. But not with a 16.

The age is a non-issue. Midwestern, particularly CCOM, has higher entrance stats, but as a legacy with family on the board, you might get some leeway.

But again, not with a 16.