what is max # of mcats to take? when to call it quits?

[baylor1989]

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hey guys, need some advice. This isn't for me, I am already in med school, but I do teach mcat over the summer. A student of mines I am really close to got a 26.

i never shared my story on here. but i had a high gpa (close to 4.0), really wasn't sure about med school. put 3 weeks into mcat prep, had ~27 practice mcat average. just remember the night before praying for a sign. anyways, long story short, got a really good score, well into the 30s. i am currently at a top10 med school and AOA (top 10-15% of my class). so i guess it worked out for me.

anyways, i really don't know what to tell her. taking it 4 times is just bad, even if she gets a good score 33+, just seems like luck a bit. good thing is she goes to a southern school who's mcat avg is 27-28 and their gpa is 3.6. she said her gpa is lower than that, and mcat is lower, plus late app. but her scores isn't too far off, so might have a shot. bad thing is, i think there is only 1 school in her state. i had the luxury of applying to 8 backups.

i was with her last year, when she got a 24 her second time and she was very motivated to do better, but i think she is just tried of the mcat now, don't blame her. and when i was applying, i remember a lot of low gpa (under 3.5) and high mcats (35+) who barely got in.

anyways, how should I advise her? just wanted to get others opinions, I don't know how to address it without having an emotional attachment since it's someone i got close to over the past few months.

 

[gmcguitar4]

I suggest beginning with getting rid of any pity you have for her. If she really wants to get into medical school and is taking the test a 4th time then she needs all of the encouragement she can get! If she gets a 33+ that is not a result of luck but of true dedication. If she can get at most 30 she would have a great shot at a DO program.

 

[alexandertg6]

I suggest beginning with getting rid of any pity you have for her. If she really wants to get into medical school and is taking the test a 4th time then she needs all of the encouragement she can get! If she gets a 33+ that is not a result of luck but of true dedication. If she can get at most 30 she would have a great shot at a DO program.

yeah, DO all the way. DOs are doctors.... they just can run into issues if they want to practice abroad. If she has good ECs, tell her to shadow a DO, get a LOR from said DO and apply DO.

 

[ppfizenm]

I wasn't aware one of the top 10 med schools accepted people who have such a shallow grip on the English language. Get her a new tutor. It's obvious she is failing the verbal section

 

[centrigeugle]

I wasn't aware one of the top 10 med schools accepted people who have such a shallow grip on the English language. Get her a new tutor. It's obvious she is failing the verbal section

I was going to say it, but I'm trying to be nicer these days.

 

[ppfizenm]

I was going to say it, but I'm trying to be nicer these days.

Please, the only that is missing from this post is the link to the Asian girl in the slutty Halloween costume.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Yup its time for some tough love, perspective and change of expectations.

If she's taken the test 4 times and cannot get above a 26 then there is a problem somewhere. Either she is a terrible test taker (yes I believe they exist), a terrible studier or has a severe issue with the material. Whatever the issue is its 4 takes later (and a review course) and she still isn't there.
1) If she has an issue with test taking then she needs to find out what that issue is and fix it. If she's a bad test taker then its likely she'll have trouble in med school and on the Steps/shelves as well - would be terrible to luck her way into med school just to fail out.
2) If she cannot focus and study then she has the same issue, and its harder to fix. If she is unable to study and remember material then she will struggle in med school.
3) If she has an issue with the material, that may be fixable. She needs to take a step back and make sure she really understands the basics. However, if she has a problem with the basics because of #2 thats a problem.

As far as perspective, she needs to realize that <26 four times is not bad luck - its a problem. And it is a sign she will struggle in med school, which is why she will have a hard time getting an admissions committee to accept her. If she gets any interviews this year she needs to face this head-on with ideas and solutions. No excuses.

For change of expectations - she needs to apply DO. Thats her best shot and even that will run into a lot of the barriers listed above.

 

[NH14]

I wasn't aware one of the top 10 med schools accepted people who have such a shallow grip on the English language. Get her a new tutor. It's obvious she is failing the verbal section

My thoughts exactly...

Plus 3 MCATs is the max in my opinion. After that, it's time for a career change. Especially since MCAT scores are predictive of USLME STEP scores...

 

[baylor1989]

sorry, i am implying too much without actually stating what I am trying to get across.

I really do believe things happen for a reason. I had 27 practice mcat avgs, got high 30s on my test, took a hint to go the med school route. and i am doing well - so it worked out for me. if i would of got a bad mcat, i wouldn't of bothered with it again

back to this. she really doesn't want to do DO. so considering MDs.
- she took mcat 3 times, got 26 last time. personally i think taking the mcat 4 times just looks really bad. you won't have 4 times for the step in med school.
- second, i seen applicants with sub 3.5 GPAs like her with incredible mcats 36/37, who apply to 20 schools and get into only 1 or 2, and those being their local public in state schools.

the goods:
- she probably wants to be in med school more than anyone else I know, including kids at my med school
- i know she'd do really well in med school. just needs to get by admissions.


ok what i was asking is, i have a really biased opinion. which is, give it up, it's not for you, find something else. is my viewpoint ok, or do you guys she should give it another shot if she doesn't get in this cycle?

 

[Stumpyman]

She's taken the MCAT 4 times and refuses to consider DO? It might be possible we are dealing with a mentally impaired person.
Also, I couldn't understand half the stuff in your post, please freshen up on your grammar.

 

[Ronronpatel]

OP, what do you mean by "close"? Maybe your relationship with her is more than just her tutor, and this is distracting her from the studying she really needs.

 

[RavishingB]

I wish &#822;you your student good luck.

 

[gmcguitar4]

I feel DO is the only realistic thing for this person. If she won't do DO and just wants MD then that is pretty ignorant in my opinion. She was probably brainwashed to think that DO's are not doctors and are subpar to MD's. She might be going into medicine for the wrong reasons.

 

[centrigeugle]

Could there be a deeper, more fundamental reason why she has a bad GPA and bad MCAT scores?

Just sayin'.

 

[golgiapparatus88]

I unfortunately took it 4 times - 21, 21, 24, 31R (10,10,11). I'm sure it's affecting my chances at some schools but I've been accepted to NOVA (osteopathic) and I just was awarded an interview at Drexel so yea, four times is definitely not the end of the world.

 

[Stumpyman]

I unfortunately took it 4 times - 21, 21, 24, 31R (10,10,11). I'm sure it's affecting my chances at some schools but I've been accepted to NOVA (osteopathic) and I just was awarded an interview at Drexel so yea, four times is definitely not the end of the world.

At least you considered DO.


And congrats on acceptance!

 

[45408]

got a really good score, well into the 30s. i am currently at a top10 med school and AOA (top 10-15% of my class). so i guess it worked out for me.

Good thing you included this. Your post wouldn't have made any sense otherwise!

 

[YH5]

"i am currently at a top10 med school and AOA (top 10-15% of my class). so i guess it worked out for me."

You started med school this semester!

 

[alexandertg6]

I agree with all these posts... learn to communicate DIRECTLY for your sake and your patients. Also grammar can be important. Ive never seen "could of" anywhere in my life before. Most importantly I think what youre trying to say is:

My friend really wants to get into medical school but with her 3.5 gpa and 3 consistently sub 27 MCATs this seems unlikely... Has anyone had any success with 4+ MCAT attempts?


...so just say what you are trying to say in a way that makes sense.