Where to apply, what strategy...?

[drtinycat]

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Basic rundown of stats: Undergrad GPA of 3.82 (biology major, science GPA 3.75). Master's degree in pathobiology (HIV vaccine design research, couple middle-author and will have one first-author publication.) Not much clinical experience until this past year when I started working as an EMT--I also have some shadowing, some volunteering (will shortly add more). I took the MCAT as an undergrad (August 2003, summer before my junior year) and got a 43.

My story is that I was basically pre-med as an undergrad in a vague, non-committal sort of way, then senior year decided I just wasn't confident about medical school or about making the commitment to it. I decided to go to grad school because I hoped that would satisfy the intellectual reasons why I wanted to go to medical school, without the components I wasn't so sure about (social skills mostly).

This did not prove to be the case (I left last summer after 3 years, with a master's instead of a PhD), and I am now confident I want to go to medical school. I'm just muddled about what my strengths are. I didn't have a lot of clinical experience as an undergrad, and I had none in grad school because well, I was busy with grad school.

I have to retake the MCAT because my score is so old, and I'm worried about how bad it will look if/when it goes down considerably (not that there's much basis for comparison, as I'm sure everyone else who got a 43 in 2003 is now finishing their intern year, not retaking the MCAT...) I registered for the May 2 test but I don't feel ready and want to postpone, but the only test date I can get at a reasonable location is July 30 and I'm afraid that's too late.

I am unfortunate to live in a state with only one medical school (it's the only medical school for five states, actually--the University of Washington) so I don't have a lot of state schools to hedge my bets with. I guess the MCAT is a huge wildcard as I obviously have the ability to do incredibly well but now that it's been six years since organic chemistry, seven since physics and nine since general chemistry, I'm afraid it's going to be a lot harder (and afraid that a, say, 35 will actually look BAD since it represents an 8-point drop). I'd appreciate any advice as I'm a little panicky right now (so be gentle if you could...) and have to decide about rescheduling the test by tomorrow.

 

[Stratego]

Don't take the MCAT until you are ready and repeatedly scoring in your target range on practice tests. During the time while you are preparing, continue to add to your clinical experience, shadowing, and community service. If you don't want to take the risk of applying a little late, well, another year of experience on your application can only help you. If you get an MCAT score over 35, applying in August probably won't keep you from getting an acceptance anyway if you apply broadly.

 

[drtinycat]

Thanks for the response. In terms of when to take the test--what would you say is the cutoff at which the test date becomes "late"? I could take it June 18 if I drive halfway across the state, or July 2 2 hours away at 8 am, or July 30 at an actually reasonable time and location. I really don't want to have to stay in a hotel the night before the test but I will have to if I pick the June 18 or July 2 date. I know the May 2 date would be best but I just don't feel ready, and I have work (12-hour shifts) like 8 days of the next 9. How much worse is July 2 than June 18? How much worse is July 30 than July 2?

I really don't want to take an extra year. I'm only 25, so I have no excuse to be freaking out about one year (though I am anyway)--but knowing what I want to do it's just hard to see putting it off.

 

[longhorn09]

OP, just be confident.... If you could score 43 in the past, I think you can score a 40+ right now with ease...All you need is a little revision.

 

[drtinycat]

Seriously, I can't. The last time I took it was right after I finished orgo and a year after physics. It's now been six and seven years respectively since both of those and nine since general chemistry, I haven't used any of it since then (my biology is a little less rusty but that's only 25% of the sciences) and two weeks is just not enough time to get from where I am right now to where I need to be. I have no excuse for not being ready right now, but I'm not.

Also getting a 43 vs. say a 37 is pure luck. I never got near a 43 on practice tests the last time. There's little chance I'll do that well again, and I really think it's going to look bad to go from a 43 to, say, a 30.

 

[Stratego]

Also getting a 43 vs. say a 37 is pure luck. I never got near a 43 on practice tests the last time. There's little chance I'll do that well again, and I really think it's going to look bad to go from a 43 to, say, a 30.

I'm glad you understand how much luck factors into the score you achieve on any given day, with any set of questions.

My next choice would be the June 18 date. Can't you take time off work to get in some more solid study time? You could moderate the "lateness" by submitting your application at the beginning of the season so your transcripts get certified, without waiting for the score to come back. You could list just one school at first, adding more when you know how competitive the score is. The complete primary application would get to the new schools within one business day. You could also prewrite your secondary essays from the prompts you'll find here on SDN, so that when you get the official secondary, you can return it within a few days and be complete very quickly.

 

[ApoK]

This post seems unbelievable to me as best. To not be confident with a 43 on the MCAT borders on lunacy, and I simply believe this post is meaningless due to that fact.

 

[slight365]

Review day and night for one month, put away a weekend to do practice exams and then another weekend to do another, and I really can't see how you won't make another high score. Luck or not, you gotta put some faith in your baseline knowledge and if you're in the mid to high 30's, then you have a lot going for you.

 

[longhorn09]

Also getting a 43 vs. say a 37 is pure luck. I never got near a 43 on practice tests the last time. There's little chance I'll do that well again, and I really think it's going to look bad to go from a 43 to, say, a 30.

That's so true! The highest score I got in my practice tests is 38, and I scored a 40 in the real test. That's just simply luck...But even a 37 is very very decent, and as said in another thread, a higher score in the 37+ region can only give you very minimal advantage, if any.