What's my best course of action to take from here?

[billmaybe191]

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I am a 19 y/o male from NYC. My gpa is 3.6. ORM.
I work full time as a clinical research coordinator with about 20 trials under my belt
I also am a founder of a non-profit organization that builds schools for the blind. We have built a school in Africa and it was a experience of a lifetime.
I have over 1000 hours shadowing both MD and DO. Both pretty strong LOR
Everything is great but my MCAT

My first attempt was last year was a 485 (horrible) my grandmother had passed away and it caused my brother to attempt suicide cause she was very close to him (he already was going through depression treatment) and it was a **** of a situation. I knew I should have voided.

My second attempt was a 494 (crap again) this time in March of this year. I was working full time and had some other distractions and it really messed me up.
I have taken a leave of absence from work and focused on the exam. I have taken NS and am averaging around 502-503. I have taken AAMC for the other two attempts but when I retake them I am around 502-503 as well.

I am scheduled to take the exam next Saturday but am not sure if that's the best case as I have two bad scores and barely cracking 500's.
Keep in mind I am applying to both MD & DO. Idk why there is a stigma around DO but never made sense to me nor do I care.

But do you think it is a good idea to take it next week? Or postpone to August?

Also will an August MCAT be too late for this cycle?

Thank you

 

[DrStephenStrange]

Wait, 19 yo!!! What year of undergrad are you doing rn?

 

[billmaybe191]

I got my BS at 18. I entered college at 12. Took me 6 years cause I was working part time

 

[gyngyn]

Do not take the MCAT again until you are confident of a score consistent with success.
A string of weak scores is far more damaging than one.
The AAMC recommends that we average multiple scores...

 

[Dr panda]

Sorry man but I don't believe you

 

[billmaybe191]

Do not take the MCAT again until you are confident of a score consistent with success.
A string of weak scores is far more damaging than one.
The AAMC recommends that we average multiple scores...

Do you think an August MCAT will be too late?

 

[DrStephenStrange]

How exactly does someone go about starting College at 12 yo? Please enlighten me. When did you graduate high school then?

I got my BS at 18. I entered college at 12. Took me 6 years cause I was working part time

 

[billmaybe191]

Sorry man but I don't believe you
View attachment 271239

Man been a long week I don't have the energy to prove that I am not a troll. Came her for advice if you can't give it then please don't post on this thread.

 

[ciestar]

I’ll bite.

Given your age, you WILL be more heavily scrutinized as far as maturity/decision making goes. Your lack of insight thus far with your MCAT will raise eyebrows. You’re not ready to take it or apply this year.

 

[DrStephenStrange]

Do you think an August MCAT will be too late?

Too late for MD yes, but not for DO. Also scoring 502 on your FLs isn't good. Take the MCAT when you're consistently scoring above 510. Average MD MCAT is 512, average DO MCAT is 505.

 

[Moko]

How exactly does someone go about starting College at 12 yo? Please enlighten me. When did you graduate high school then?

Not unheard of at all, albeit rare.

Michael Kearney - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This person finished high school by age 6, college by age 10, two (!!) masters by age 18, and a PhD by age 22.

Given your age, you WILL be more heavily scrutinized as far as maturity/decision making goes.

This. Your application will need to display the same amount of maturity and insight expected from more traditional and successful applicants.

 

[billmaybe191]

How exactly does someone go about starting College at 12 yo? Please enlighten me. When did you graduate high school then?

Well my siblings and I went to school the normal route till we were getting bullied constantly. That is actually where my bro started getting depression. So our parents pulled us out.
We were homeschooled and I started doing a dual program of college and high school. Graduated high school at 11 and went to college full time.

There are definitely people who have gone faster but the end goal is to be a doctor so I just want to do it right tho. Idk where I am at right now and whether I should postpone my exam.

 

[billmaybe191]

Not unheard of at all, albeit rare.

Michael Kearney - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This person finished high school by age 6, college by age 10, two (!!) masters by age 18, and a PhD by age 22.


This. Your application will need to display the same amount of maturity and insight expected from more traditional and successful applicants.

Pretty cool!

 

[gyngyn]

Do you think an August MCAT will be too late?

It's far more likely to be too early.

 

[billmaybe191]

I’ll bite.

Given your age, you WILL be more heavily scrutinized as far as maturity/decision making goes. Your lack of insight thus far with your MCAT will raise eyebrows. You’re not ready to take it or apply this year.

I have above average EC and good GPA only thing is the MCAT (I will take it this year) but there are 19-20 y/o who are getting acceptances

 

[DrStephenStrange]

Well my siblings and I went to school the normal route till we were getting bullied constantly. That is actually where my bro started getting depression. So our parents pulled us out.
We were homeschooled and I started doing a dual program of college and high school. Graduated high school at 11 and went to college full time.

There are definitely people who have gone faster but the end goal is to be a doctor so I just want to do it right tho. Idk where I am at right now and whether I should postpone my exam.

You should definitely postpone your exam.

 

[billmaybe191]

It's far more likely to be too early.

For MD or DO?

 

[gyngyn]

For MD or DO?

For you.

 

[billmaybe191]

You should definitely postpone your exam.

In your opinion is 5 weeks left with doing 70 hours/week of prep enough to get a 510+?Attach files

 

[billmaybe191]

For you.

What do you mean?

 

[billmaybe191]

Not unheard of at all, albeit rare.

Michael Kearney - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This person finished high school by age 6, college by age 10, two (!!) masters by age 18, and a PhD by age 22.


This. Your application will need to display the same amount of maturity and insight expected from more traditional and successful applicants.

I do feel like I have that. I am very mature for my age and that has never been an issue. Only thing in my way is the MCAT and I am having trouble with that step.

 

[ciestar]

I have above average EC and good GPA only thing is the MCAT (I will take it this year) but there are 19-20 y/o who are getting acceptances

1000 shadowing hours is not above average for ECs. That is insanely excessive. What clinical experience do you have? (And clinical research is sometimes discounted.. fyi)

Either way, you made two bad judgement calls the first two times you took the MCAT. Rushing to take it again will reallllly call your judgement into play.

 

[DrStephenStrange]

The work to go from a 502 to a 510 requires far more than just 5 weeks. You probably should be thinking of applying next cycle instead. And study for at least 3 months for the MCAT.

In your opinion is 5 weeks left with doing 70 hours/week of prep enough to get a 510+?Attach files

 

[gyngyn]

What do you mean?

You have (by objective evidence) taken the MCAT twice before it was the right time, for you.
You are once again, pushing for a date rather than making the decision based on your own personal readiness.

 

[billmaybe191]

All of you make sense
I have been at this for a year and a half now and don't have anything to show. I feel a bit pathetic and just want to take the test already. But I know it will bit me in the ass.

 

[Moko]

I do feel like I have that. I am very mature for my age and that has never been an issue.

We don't care if you are very mature for your age. What we care about is that you are mature even when compared to other successful applicants who are 10 years older than you. You are compared to the entire cohort of applicants (and not just other 19 year olds).

If you are currently averaging 502 (a non-competitive score for MD schools, and within range for DO schools), what makes you think that your third attempt will net you a score higher than that? You may also get a score that is lower. Multiple retakes that are <500 will essentially remove all doubt and confirm that you are indeed a <500 candidate. It would also suggest that you are impatient and lack the insight to know when to pursue certain activities. None of these are things that you want associated with your application.

My advice would be to wait until you obtain the score that you want, while giving yourself some wiggle room in case you were to score a lower-than-expected score. If it happens to be this year, great. If not, then waiting and applying the next year would be the much wiser path to take. The path to becoming an independent physician is long. One extra year does not matter in the long run -- especially when you are so young.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

I do feel like I have that. I am very mature for my age and that has never been an issue. Only thing in my way is the MCAT and I am having trouble with that step.

Trying to power through at getting lackluster MCAT score after lackluster MCAT score is not the kind of maturity med schools want. You have two sub 500 scores already you will really need to nail the next one. Like it or not your age will put your maturity and decision making under the microscope. And from where I sit you seem to come up lacking

 

[billmaybe191]

We don't care if you are very mature for your age. What we care about is that you are mature even when compared to other successful applicants who are 10 years older than you. You are compared to the entire cohort of applicants (and not just other 19 year olds).

If you are currently averaging 502 (a non-competitive score for MD schools, and within range for DO schools), what makes you think that your third attempt will net you a score higher than that? You may also get a score that is lower. Multiple retakes that are <500 will essentially remove all doubt and confirm that you are indeed a <500 candidate. It would also suggest that you are impatient and lack the insight to know when to pursue certain activities. None of these are things that you want associated with your application.

My advice would be to wait until you obtain the score that you want, while giving yourself some wiggle room in case you were to score a lower-than-expected score. If it happens to be this year, great. If not, then waiting and applying the next year would be the much wiser path to take. The path to becoming an independent physician is long. One extra year does not matter in the long run -- especially when you are so young.

I understand and you make a lot of sense. But I have already taken a 1 gap year and now taking another one seems to not sit right with me. Don't have much of a question just a vent of how much downs I have faced in the last 2 years and in a ****ty situation.

 

[billmaybe191]

Trying to power through at getting lackluster MCAT score after lackluster MCAT score is not the kind of maturity med schools want. You have two sub 500 scores already you will really need to nail the next one. Like it or not your age will put your maturity and decision making under the microscope. And from where I sit you seem to come up lacking

True...

 

[Moko]

I understand and you make a lot of sense. But I have already taken a 1 gap year and now taking another one seems to not sit right with me. Don't have much of a question just a vent of how much downs I have faced in the last 2 years and in a ****ty situation.

No one is telling you to dedicate all of your time to MCAT studying. You can and should still pursue extracurricular activities on the side to demonstrate continued passion and interest in non-academic activities. Just remember your priorities and not to let these side activities interfere with your MCAT studying.

Ranting is fine. I agree that your situation right now is not great, but all the more reason to not dig yourself into a deeper hole by making the same mistakes. Good luck.

 

[billmaybe191]

No one is telling you to dedicate all of your time to MCAT studying. You can and should still pursue extracurricular activities on the side to demonstrate continued passion and interest in non-academic activities. Just remember your priorities and not to let these side activities interfere with your MCAT studying.

Ranting is fine. I agree that your situation right now is not great, but all the more reason to not dig yourself into a deeper hole by making the same mistakes. Good luck.

I understand but I am doing this full time and have been for months and still don't have anything to show but money being gone. Idk just in a tough spot

 

[DrStephenStrange]

I understand and you make a lot of sense. But I have already taken a 1 gap year and now taking another one seems to not sit right with me. Don't have much of a question just a vent of how much downs I have faced in the last 2 years and in a ****ty situation.

You're very young. Your application can wait a year or two. Some med school applicants are in their 30's or 40's. Med school isn't going anywhere.

 

[billmaybe191]

You're very young. Your application can wait a year or two. Some med school applicants are in their 30's or 40's. Med school isn't going anywhere.

You are right. But I just feel like I am in a race and wasting time. It's a very strange feeling but failure after failure has messed me up a bit

 

[ciestar]

I understand and you make a lot of sense. But I have already taken a 1 gap year and now taking another one seems to not sit right with me. Don't have much of a question just a vent of how much downs I have faced in the last 2 years and in a ****ty situation.

I was 25 when I started med school. You might feel like taking another gap year is the worst, but, you’re young. Quit making the MCAT a 24/7 thing and try to live a little. Get out of the classroom and develop some hobbies too. Med school isn’t going anywhere, your youth is. I don’t regret my time off at all. Travel, do things you’ll never get the chance to again.

 

[billmaybe191]

I was 25 when I started med school. You might feel like taking another gap year is the worst, but, you’re young. Quit making the MCAT a 24/7 thing and try to live a little. Get out of the classroom and develop some hobbies too. Med school isn’t going anywhere, your youth is. I don’t regret my time off at all. Travel, do things you’ll never get the chance to again.

I can't really go anywhere as I am pressed for time. Honestly I have been studying since Jan of last year and don't have much hobbies to enjoy or do anything as I have taken time off from work.
I feel like time is passing me up now and I don't have much to show for it

 

[gyngyn]

I feel like time is passing me up now and I don't have much to show for it

Feelings are real. We are not trying to deny that you feel this way. We are pointing out that feelings are not (in this case) based in fact and that these feelings are causing you to make poor decisions.

 

[billmaybe191]

Guess you are right. Just causing me a bit of sadness how I have been at it for over a year and not anywhere where I want. I can't sleep at night anymore and just not myself. Kinda want this whole process to end.

 

[Phoebus Apollo]

You are right. But I just feel like I am in a race and wasting time. It's a very strange feeling but failure after failure has messed me up a bit

Medicine and other competitive fields (also just living in NYC) will ALWAYS make you feel this way. You will always have voices telling you that you’re in a race, that you’re wasting time, and that you’re not good enough.

Part of gaining maturity is consciously registering that you feel this way, then convincing yourself that sometimes your thoughts are fake news and you need to flush them down the toilet.

You have time. You are worthy. Deep breaths. This isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.

 

[I'mJustCurious]

Guess you are right. Just causing me a bit of sadness how I have been at it for over a year and not anywhere where I want. I can't sleep at night anymore and just not myself. Kinda want this whole process to end.

I'm in a similar route as you, in that I'm taking another year off to get my application right.. so you're not alone. But you have to look on the bright side. You now have more time to 1. kill the MCAT 2. perfect your personal statement 3. continue/start volunteering + shadowing 4. heck even start pre-writing secondaries. As a result, you'll have a killer application to submit on the very first day, which should be satisfying.

 

[billmaybe191]

Y'all make a lot of sense
Just really embarassing telling people that I am retaking the MCAT. They think I am a duffer and I try not to care what people think about me but I have started to internalize it. And I feel like I am smartest person in the room but this test has just made me think twice about if I am.

 

[enchantments]

Y'all make a lot of sense
Just really embarassing telling people that I am retaking the MCAT. They think I am a duffer and I try not to care what people think about me but I have started to internalize it. And I feel like I am smartest person in the room but this test has just made me think twice about if I am.

Embarrassment of not getting into a single school at the end of an entire application cycle > Embarrassment of rescheduling your MCAT

 

[Engrailed]

Medicine and other competitive fields (also just living in NYC) will ALWAYS make you feel this way. You will always have voices telling you that you’re in a race, that you’re wasting time, and that you’re not good enough.

Part of gaining maturity is consciously registering that you feel this way, then convincing yourself that sometimes your thoughts are fake news and you need to flush them down the toilet.

You have time. You are worthy. Deep breaths. This isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.

Preach

 

[OneTwoThreeFour]

Y'all make a lot of sense
Just really embarassing telling people that I am retaking the MCAT. They think I am a duffer and I try not to care what people think about me but I have started to internalize it. And I feel like I am smartest person in the room but this test has just made me think twice about if I am.

If you have been at it for a year and your score has not improved I'd suggest that maybe you find a different method. Get a tutor or join a class. This is your entire future we're talking about.
Also, think about the last sentence you wrote: Thinking you're the smartest person in the room is how you fail to learn from mistakes. I'm sure you're smart, you did well in college and done some impressive things. But you also have a lot to learn.

 

[beattheprocess]

Best course of action is to tread lightly

 

[PA_dud3]

Sorry, but how do you have 1000 hours of shadowing?

 

[MyOdyssey]

Embarrassment of not getting into a single school at the end of an entire application cycle > Embarrassment of rescheduling your MCAT

Embarrassment of not getting a single interview at the end of an entire application cycle > Embarrassment of not getting into a single school at the end of an entire application cycle > Embarrassment of rescheduling your MCAT

 

[JustAUser]

I am a 19 y/o male from NYC. My gpa is 3.6. ORM.
I work full time as a clinical research coordinator with about 20 trials under my belt
I also am a founder of a non-profit organization that builds schools for the blind. We have built a school in Africa and it was a experience of a lifetime.
I have over 1000 hours shadowing both MD and DO. Both pretty strong LOR
Everything is great but my MCAT

My first attempt was last year was a 485 (horrible) my grandmother had passed away and it caused my brother to attempt suicide cause she was very close to him (he already was going through depression treatment) and it was a **** of a situation. I knew I should have voided.

My second attempt was a 494 (crap again) this time in March of this year. I was working full time and had some other distractions and it really messed me up.
I have taken a leave of absence from work and focused on the exam. I have taken NS and am averaging around 502-503. I have taken AAMC for the other two attempts but when I retake them I am around 502-503 as well.

I am scheduled to take the exam next Saturday but am not sure if that's the best case as I have two bad scores and barely cracking 500's.
Keep in mind I am applying to both MD & DO. Idk why there is a stigma around DO but never made sense to me nor do I care.

But do you think it is a good idea to take it next week? Or postpone to August?

Also will an August MCAT be too late for this cycle?

Thank you

I agree with everyone above. You definitely need to postpone your MCAT.
If you're averaging 502-503 on AAMC FL's that you've already taken, then there's not much guarantee that you'll score a 502-503 when you take the exam next week. Another subpar 500 MCAT score will not look good on your application and will only hurt your chances.

1. Do you have any clinical experience (Job-related or volunteering)?
2. Have you already submitted AMCAS and/or AACOMAS?
3. Do you have other LOR besides the shadowing? In general, there is not much weight given to shadowing letters

I completely understand that you just want to get the MCAT over with and proceed onwards. However, take another year, figure out what changes you need to make in your study habits. You might want to invest in UWorld, it's good practice and their explanations are good as well.

Take the MCAT when you're ready. You really don't want to do poorly on this attempt and then re-take it again and again. Remember, study smart, not hard.

 

[deleted804295]

All of you make sense
I have been at this for a year and a half now and don't have anything to show. I feel a bit pathetic and just want to take the test already. But I know it will bit me in the ass.

I understand where you're at. It's tough studying for the MCAT for so long and then having a stage of burnt out at a low score.

I seriously recommend taking at least a 3 month break from the MCAT so you get rid of this burn out. Then use only the techniques that helped improve your scores.

Sometimes we don't always follow our timelines and that's okay. I changed my MCAT date at least twice because I wasn't scoring where I wanted to be. I ended up making a blind decision due to burn out and taking the MCAT on the 3rd date I changed it to because I was so sick and tired of the exam. This was a stupid decision but thankfully it didn't end up too bad. The golden rule is you tend to score +/- 2 points on the real MCAT compared to your AAMC practice lengths. If you're scoring 502 on the practice lengths you're not going to magically jump to a 510+. Please take some time away from the MCAT for your mental health and do not schedule an exam until you're scoring where you want to be on practice exams.

 

[candbgirl]

I can't really go anywhere as I am pressed for time. Honestly I have been studying since Jan of last year and don't have much hobbies to enjoy or do anything as I have taken time off from work.
I feel like time is passing me up now and I don't have much to show for it

Sounds like you might be studying wrong. If you’ve been studying for 18 months and only scoring in the low 500s perhaps you should stop by your learning resource center and figure out what you are doing wrong. Maybe you can learn to study smarter. I know it’s frustrating to be in multiple gap years but to take the MCAT again and score poorly again will put you in a worse position. Take your time and do it right. You have lots of time.

 

[Goro]

All of you make sense
I have been at this for a year and a half now and don't have anything to show. I feel a bit pathetic and just want to take the test already. But I know it will bit me in the ass.

Yes, it' sure will. The exam is as much a test of judgement as it is of knowledge.

You are right. But I just feel like I am in a race and wasting time. It's a very strange feeling but failure after failure has messed me up a bit

There is no law that says you have matriculate med school at age 18, 21 25 or whatever.

Guess you are right. Just causing me a bit of sadness how I have been at it for over a year and not anywhere where I want. I can't sleep at night anymore and just not myself. Kinda want this whole process to end.

This is NOT medical advice, but you may want to talk to your family doctor about this.

Just really embarassing telling people that I am retaking the MCAT. They think I am a duffer and I try not to care what people think about me but I have started to internalize it. And I feel like I am smartest person in the room but this test has just made me think twice about if I am.

I can't sugar coat this, you may indeed be the smartest person in the room, but you're not the wisest.
Quoting the wise Homeskool: Taking the MCAT is like getting married: ideally you only do it once, and the more times you do it the worse you start looking to suitors with good judgment.

So to summarize, do NOT take a high stakes, career-deciding exam until you are 100% ready for it, even if it means skipping an app cycle. I have an Adcom colleague who would reject you outright for poor choice making, no matter how good your stats are.