Dear SDN,
This is my first ever post on forums and I wanted to get an opinion on my profile.
Before I go into my profile, I want to give you a brief history of this year-
I started Princeton Review MCAT course this January and was moving forward with it. In mid February, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and my world was turned upside down. I forgot about MCAT and neurotically searched survival statistics, surgical outcomes, and other related literature regarding my mother's diagnosis. I was very depressed, traumatized and feeling very unconditional this time so the MCAT was no longer on my mind. However, I continued with my studies at university, and what got me through was my interest in Biochemistry class :love:
I had originally planned to take the MCAT 5/23 this year but because of school and the family situation, I postponed it till 6/20. I just got my scores back yesterday for [6 VR/ 8 PS/ 10 BS] Pretty awful.
I have spoken to many of my friends and they all have suggested me to retake this test ASAP, so I have signed up for August 28th exam. Despite encouragement from family and friends, I am still in the "withdrawal" phase because I feel that despite my preparation, I let my family down, my friends down......I can still remember my mother's sunken face yesterday when I told her ..... :scared:
Please rate my retake strategy. After much deliberation, I realized that this is just a kick in the butt I needed to prepare for MCAT more intensely. The review strategy is below.
----My Profile----
non URM
GPA: 4.0
MCAT: 24 (6VR/8PS/10BS) retake Aug 28th, possibly sooner depending on how fast my new strategy goes
TMDSAS: Completed mid June- transmitted to schools 7/5. Health Professions Letter Packet also transmitted.
ECs: outstanding with participation in Summer Medical and Dental Education Program.
Research: 2 posters with 2.5 years of work.
Prep Materials used for 6/20 MCAT:
1. TPR Science Workbook
2. Course notes from my undergraduate classes.
3. Some Berkeley Review Practice Passages.
4. AAMC self assessments.
5. AAMC FLs (3.4.5.7.8.10.11)
My AAMC average was around a 29. AAMC 11 score was a 28 and my best AAMC was Test 8 (my last one taken before 6/20 MCAT) was a 31.
---------------
Some questions for you guys:
1) How will my application be looked at with a 24 MCAT combined with a 4.0 GPA?
2) My biggest hurdle is the Verbal section... I tried EK 101 but stopped midway because I felt AAMC verbal was much different from EK. I also gave Princeton a shot but I felt they were many detail oriented questions and I was NOT seeing them on the AAMCs. What should I use this time around?
3) Do I have a chance of receiving ANY interview at TX schools with a 24 MCAT and a pending Aug 28th retake? I was informed by a friend of mine that there are some cases where interviews are given to low MCATers who eventually get accepted based on a higher MCAT score later in the cycle. My concern is if I will receive any interviews before my MCAT retake score.
4) I have ordered BR FLs and I only have AAMC 9 left (along with TPR FLs but I only did one of them and found out they were incredibly difficult and not reflective of what I was seeing on the AAMCs)- What additional materials are there for me to look at to practice with FLs?
5) What, in your opinion, explains my very large deviation from my AAMC practice averages and the actual test? Here is what I think- I felt the PS section was incredibly easy, to the point that I internally felt that it was easier than all the AAMCs combined!! And I think this may have led to my false sense of security because the curve was harsh and any and all mistakes would've counted much more strongly. As for the VR, I personally felt that it was the section that was a toss-up. I wasn't able to completely focus on it as I was still having thoughts of how easy the PS was and this definitely impacted my concentration and focus.
6) This is a dumb question- but will I really be able to overcome the "defeated" attitude after the horrible score results I received yesterday? To the retakers out there, how long did it take for you to get reenergized for the MCAT again? What did you do during this time? I feel that I have all the content still lingering in my mind and I can delve right into practice but the feeling of failure as evident by the 6/20 score is psychologically depressing.
Lastly, I apologize for the long text. But I am appreciative of any one out there willing to look at my situation and offer me guidance moving forward.
Thank you for your time,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After thoughts:
I really believe that the cause of my low MCAT score was:
a) lack of practice - I only did 4 exams going into the MCAT (did 3 FLs before in the semester though).
b) TMDSAS work - In early June I was working hard to complete my application which included making several trips to campus for LORs and meeting with premed advisors for HPAC letter.
c) Personal Statement - took a lot of my time that I could have devoted to practice. I had to put the MCAT on "pause" for a week just for this.
Sincerely,
texan2414
This is my first ever post on forums and I wanted to get an opinion on my profile.
Before I go into my profile, I want to give you a brief history of this year-
I started Princeton Review MCAT course this January and was moving forward with it. In mid February, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and my world was turned upside down. I forgot about MCAT and neurotically searched survival statistics, surgical outcomes, and other related literature regarding my mother's diagnosis. I was very depressed, traumatized and feeling very unconditional this time so the MCAT was no longer on my mind. However, I continued with my studies at university, and what got me through was my interest in Biochemistry class :love:
I had originally planned to take the MCAT 5/23 this year but because of school and the family situation, I postponed it till 6/20. I just got my scores back yesterday for [6 VR/ 8 PS/ 10 BS] Pretty awful.
I have spoken to many of my friends and they all have suggested me to retake this test ASAP, so I have signed up for August 28th exam. Despite encouragement from family and friends, I am still in the "withdrawal" phase because I feel that despite my preparation, I let my family down, my friends down......I can still remember my mother's sunken face yesterday when I told her ..... :scared:
Please rate my retake strategy. After much deliberation, I realized that this is just a kick in the butt I needed to prepare for MCAT more intensely. The review strategy is below.
----My Profile----
non URM
GPA: 4.0
MCAT: 24 (6VR/8PS/10BS) retake Aug 28th, possibly sooner depending on how fast my new strategy goes
TMDSAS: Completed mid June- transmitted to schools 7/5. Health Professions Letter Packet also transmitted.
ECs: outstanding with participation in Summer Medical and Dental Education Program.
Research: 2 posters with 2.5 years of work.
Prep Materials used for 6/20 MCAT:
1. TPR Science Workbook
2. Course notes from my undergraduate classes.
3. Some Berkeley Review Practice Passages.
4. AAMC self assessments.
5. AAMC FLs (3.4.5.7.8.10.11)
My AAMC average was around a 29. AAMC 11 score was a 28 and my best AAMC was Test 8 (my last one taken before 6/20 MCAT) was a 31.
---------------
Some questions for you guys:
1) How will my application be looked at with a 24 MCAT combined with a 4.0 GPA?
2) My biggest hurdle is the Verbal section... I tried EK 101 but stopped midway because I felt AAMC verbal was much different from EK. I also gave Princeton a shot but I felt they were many detail oriented questions and I was NOT seeing them on the AAMCs. What should I use this time around?
3) Do I have a chance of receiving ANY interview at TX schools with a 24 MCAT and a pending Aug 28th retake? I was informed by a friend of mine that there are some cases where interviews are given to low MCATers who eventually get accepted based on a higher MCAT score later in the cycle. My concern is if I will receive any interviews before my MCAT retake score.
4) I have ordered BR FLs and I only have AAMC 9 left (along with TPR FLs but I only did one of them and found out they were incredibly difficult and not reflective of what I was seeing on the AAMCs)- What additional materials are there for me to look at to practice with FLs?
5) What, in your opinion, explains my very large deviation from my AAMC practice averages and the actual test? Here is what I think- I felt the PS section was incredibly easy, to the point that I internally felt that it was easier than all the AAMCs combined!! And I think this may have led to my false sense of security because the curve was harsh and any and all mistakes would've counted much more strongly. As for the VR, I personally felt that it was the section that was a toss-up. I wasn't able to completely focus on it as I was still having thoughts of how easy the PS was and this definitely impacted my concentration and focus.
6) This is a dumb question- but will I really be able to overcome the "defeated" attitude after the horrible score results I received yesterday? To the retakers out there, how long did it take for you to get reenergized for the MCAT again? What did you do during this time? I feel that I have all the content still lingering in my mind and I can delve right into practice but the feeling of failure as evident by the 6/20 score is psychologically depressing.
Lastly, I apologize for the long text. But I am appreciative of any one out there willing to look at my situation and offer me guidance moving forward.
Thank you for your time,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After thoughts:
I really believe that the cause of my low MCAT score was:
a) lack of practice - I only did 4 exams going into the MCAT (did 3 FLs before in the semester though).
b) TMDSAS work - In early June I was working hard to complete my application which included making several trips to campus for LORs and meeting with premed advisors for HPAC letter.
c) Personal Statement - took a lot of my time that I could have devoted to practice. I had to put the MCAT on "pause" for a week just for this.
Sincerely,
texan2414