Will schools view me negatively due to this setback?

[sehnsucht93]

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[gyngyn]

A second weak MCAT will be a lot more damaging than any delay in application.
Take all the time you need to get a score consistent with success.

 

[Goro]

please do not quote

I graduated undergrad early in Dec 2015 with plans to take the MCAT afterwards and apply in 2016. That didn't go as planned. I then decided to take my time to do well, got a part-time job, continued with my ECs and wrote the MCAT this spring so I could apply in 2017. unfortunately, my score was much lower than I anticipated and now, I am worried that rushing the retake and applying in Sept is a bad plan. I know the ideal course is to retake the MCAT in January and apply on Day 1 next year. I will do this if my practice scores are not where I want them to be for September's test.

But will medical schools wonder why it took me so long to apply? Will they see it as a sign of weakness that even though I graduated long back, it took me so long to study and do well on the MCAT? How can I overcome this?

This is a pre-med delusion. stop it.

 

[Troll-like receptor 4]

^^^^
I know a few people who took the MCAT when not ready and are reapplying this cycle. Please don't do it. As @gyngyn and @Goro have said, apply with as strong of an application as possible, no matter how long it takes. Give yourself a few months to retake and only sit for the exam if you are consistently hitting your target score. I have 30 and 40 year olds in my MS1 class, so time is definitely not an issue.

 

[Pharaoh95]

I was in a similar situation, got my score back in June after having my primary prepared and submitted (not verified though) and was very disappointed in the outcome. My first instinct was to pack my books and run to the library to start studying for a retake. I get it, waiting an entire year to apply is unfavorable, but you have the luxury and potential to improve your application now. Think about it this way, your application isn't dead from a single bad MCAT score, you can improve greatly, but if you rush to take the MCAT again and so soon, you can potentially sink your entire application and chances at medical school. Why risk it? Statistically, your score improvement (if any) will be marginal.

Please, for your sake, don't impulsively take the MCAT in September. Take a step back and reformulate a long-term study plan, and when you're ready, go kill it. Best of luck!

 

[sehnsucht93]

A second weak MCAT will be a lot more damaging than any delay in application.
Take all the time you need to get a score consistent with success.

Okay, that is what I thought. I won't take the September test if my scores are not where I want them to be. Based on your post, it seems there is a disadvantage to the delay in app? How do you suggest I explain this?

 

[sehnsucht93]

I was in a similar situation, got my score back in June after having my primary prepared and submitted (not verified though) and was very disappointed in the outcome. My first instinct was to pack my books and run to the library to start studying for a retake. I get it, waiting an entire year to apply is unfavorable, but you have the luxury and potential to improve your application now. Think about it this way, your application isn't dead from a single bad MCAT score, you can improve greatly, but if you rush to take the MCAT again and so soon, you can potentially sink your entire application and chances at medical school. Why risk it? Statistically, your score improvement (if any) will be marginal.

Please, for your sake, don't impulsively take the MCAT in September. Take a step back and reformulate a long-term study plan, and when you're ready, go kill it. Best of luck!

Thanks for the advice. Did you do better on your MCAT the second time and did any schools question your first score?

 

[Pharaoh95]

Thanks for the advice. Did you do better on your MCAT the second time and did any schools question your first score?

I ended up doing 4 points better total, with none of my subsections dropping. I was hoping for a few more points but it is what it is, I'm just happy I improved because it is pretty common for people to score the same or worse.

I'm currently applying this cycle so we'll see how schools interpret my scores.

 

[sehnsucht93]

I ended up doing 4 points better total, with none of my subsections dropping. I was hoping for a few more points but it is what it is, I'm just happy I improved because it is pretty common for people to score the same or worse.

I'm currently applying right now so we'll see how schools interpret my scores.

Yes, any improvement is good! How long did you study in between the two exams for your retake?

 

[Pharaoh95]

Yes, any improvement is good! How long did you study in between the two exams for your retake?

First MCAT was 5/2016, second MCAT was 6/2017. I didn't use all of that time to study though, I spaced out my studying over the course of 5 months and intensely studied for the last month. After the initial disappointment from my first score subsided, I decided it was best to not rush into a retake.

 

[gyngyn]

Okay, that is what I thought. I won't take the September test if my scores are not where I want them to be. Based on your post, it seems there is a disadvantage to the delay in app? How do you suggest I explain this?

There is no disadvantage to a delay.
There is a disadvantage to a second weak score.

 

[coldspring]

Okay, that is what I thought. I won't take the September test if my scores are not where I want them to be. Based on your post, it seems there is a disadvantage to the delay in app? How do you suggest I explain this?

I would think, if it ever came up at all, you would just be forthright and explain that after a less than satisfactory 1st MCAT attempt, you realized significant additional effort, and time, was needed to ensure a more representative outcome.

 

[IlDestriero]

Your bad mcat score is your problem. Fortunately you can fix it.


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Il Destriero