What now?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
J

jal06c

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2009
Messages
123
Reaction score
0
Members don't see this ad.
Okay so I got my MCAT score back and I did horrible (25N) so needless to say I'm withdrawing my application from this cycle and taking a year off. Now I just don't know where to go from here. What should I do with my year off ... SMP? more research? live at home and get a job while volunteering/shadowing?

Any advice from people who took a year off would be great. Thanks.
 
jal06c said:
Okay so I got my MCAT score back and I did horrible (25N) so needless to say I'm withdrawing my application from this cycle and taking a year off. Now I just don't know where to go from here. What should I do with my year off ... SMP? more research? live at home and get a job while volunteering/shadowing?

Any advice from people who took a year off would be great. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Get a job as an EMT.
 
Do NOT withdraw your application! That is a SURE way of getting nowhere, you still have a chance while it is there. Don't be humiliated in applying with that score because I happen to know people that got into med school with a 24.

Aside from that, you need to assess your strengths and weaknesses to improve upon your resume in case you do have to take a year off, but doing well on the MCAT retake should be your #1 priority! Study hard, there is no way a year of practice tests and review won't improve your score.

Also, fill up your entire app. on day 1 of next year.
 
Retake mcat and fill up your ec's for next cycle
 
You have a 48% probability of acceptance if you apply with an MCAT of 25 and a 3.9+ GPA. But it may not be the school of your choice. If that's okay with you, then continue with the application process and consider retaking the MCAT.
 
Like others said, it really depends on whether you want to go to a top-choice or any med school. If I were you, I'd take a year off. Retake the MCAT and then submit on the 1st day.
As for what to do for the year off, looking at your mdapps maybe do some clinical research/volunteering
 
Almost a 50/50 shot that you will get in. If you were not planing on going to Yale or Harvard to begin with then apply and see what happens.. It can't hurt IMO
 
Also try DO, if that's okay with you.
 
If you take a year off, make sure you spend now and until spring 2010 studying for the mcat and apply in the next cycle.
ANd b/w graduation and your first year of med school, you can always take 5th year classes and bump up your GPA or take any other classes that will be helpful in med school.
 
Your mdapp says you're Hispanic-American, are you applying as a URM?

I would not suggest withdrawling your app, but reconsider your schools. Apply to every in-state FL school, and perhaps stop there. I don't think you have a shot at places like Boston, Emory, Northwestern, Tufts with that MCAT (I could be wrong). Hope for some in-state love and have a plan B.

Plan B- SMP- if you're interested in one, do it. Otherwise, with your GPA, I don't think you need to prove you can take upper division course work. As for research/job - if you haven't done any research in the past, it's a nice thing to write down on your app. I would suggest finding a job that is at least scientifically or medically related.
 
shiftingmirage said:
Your mdapp says you're Hispanic-American, are you applying as a URM?

I would not suggest withdrawling your app, but reconsider your schools. Apply to every in-state FL school, and perhaps stop there. I don't think you have a shot at places like Boston, Emory, Northwestern, Tufts with that MCAT (I could be wrong). Hope for some in-state love and have a plan B.

Plan B- SMP- if you're interested in one, do it. Otherwise, with your GPA, I don't think you need to prove you can take upper division course work. As for research/job - if you haven't done any research in the past, it's a nice thing to write down on your app. I would suggest finding a job that is at least scientifically or medically related.
Click to expand...

Just because one is Hispanic doesn't mean that there are lower admissions standards.
 
UF has accepted people with an MCAT score as low as a 19. I know people that have gotten in the past two years with a 26. If you're fine going to any school in FL, I think you definitely have a shot.
 
Thanks guys ... I'm going to give it a go since I'm already so deep in the process. However, I have come to happily accept a Plan B. Any additional info will be helpful! 🙂
 
"plans are worthless, but planning is essential." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

If you've already submitted, you should have an idea of whether you'll get any interviews by october-ish. if i were you i'd try and retake the mcat in october/november, so that you still have enough time to take it a third time if you dont improve that much before next app cycle. or you could take it a second time only and hope for the best.

if you retake it, i think it's key to focus on the verbal and physical sciences section, becasuse your bio looks ok.

also i think you might want to consider, if you are fluent in spanish, doing something volunteerish specifically with spanish speaking populations. IANAACM*, but it might help show adcoms a reasonable explanation for your weakness in the verbal/essay area.

you also might want to do some DO-specific shadowing, and look at that as an option as well. just in case.

*I Am Not An Admissions Committee Member (or even a medical student)
 
BTW your MDAPPS gave away what school you go to...muahahahah I knowwww.
 
RevivedPreMed said:
UF has accepted people with an MCAT score as low as a 19. I know people that have gotten in the past two years with a 26. If you're fine going to any school in FL, I think you definitely have a shot.
Click to expand...

That's just what I needed to hear. I've been on UF's waitlist since May, and since it is now August...clearly I didn't get in.
 
Also - OP - continue with this year's cycle but I would put 90% of my focus on next year. You have a strong GPA - I do not think an SMP would help. You need to retake and as long as you improve, I think you will do fine. They are just looking to see what your max potential is, and if that happens to be around 28 or 29, that is okay - your GPA is good. If you are lacking in ECs, then focus on those as well, but otherwise I would just make sure to improve your MCAT score. Don't give up, the year off can suck. I'm just about to start mine and it is pretty scary.
 
Food said:
Know what? I made it pretty clear I went to UF.
Click to expand...

I clearly never pay attention to school attended. I always assume people have it anonymous because I'm so used to everyone being so paranoid.
 
RevivedPreMed said:
I clearly never pay attention to school attended. I always assume people have it anonymous because I'm so used to everyone being so paranoid.
Click to expand...

I'm reasonably careful. I only just reattached my MDapps profile. I don't think it matters anymore. Besides, if it was just Haven Hospice that gave it away, I'm not worried.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
Update letters now?
Replies
3
Views
557
AsclepiusAdvisingLLC
AsclepiusAdvisingLLC
T
Made a pretty apparent mistake on TMDSAS application I submitted. What to do now?
Replies
3
Views
1K
ecobio
ecobio
AveragePerson.Psych
ScribeAmerica Didn't Work Out, What Now?
Replies
15
Views
6K
eigen
eigen
lilybolt_32
Send Letter of Intent Now vs Post-Decision?
Replies
2
Views
589
AJS59
AJS59
S
Send Update Letter Now or Wait?
Replies
8
Views
963
snflst
S
Top