So to sum this all up, I applied this cycle, and since there is a decent chance I wont get in I'll be reapplying in June. This cycle I was pretty late and applied with a 3.7/34. During this year, my GPA dropped because of a semester where I got a B+, B, B- (o-chem 2), C+, and spring semester I'll probably get an A-,A-,B. This happened because I was burnt out, 3 yrs of straight classes, including winters and summers + studying for the MCAT for 7 months and then applying made me die lol.
When I re-apply, I'll have between a 3.62-3.65 with a 34N 13-9-12. Another interesting note is I came in from community college. So I applied with 2 years of course work from CC with a 3.72ish GPA and 1 yr at USC with a 3.8 GPA, however, reapplying will add in my senior year GPA which shows a major decrease (like a 3.3-3.4 gpa (over senior year) and a 3.5 overall at USC). I'm hoping this doesn't count as a trend/I can't handle university coursework. Another thing, I didn't do any EC's aside from intramurals and some research last semester, and the only ec I've been doing this semester is more research (I did get a grant 2 days ago!).
The reasons I want to retake my MCAT: to make up for: my 9 in verbal, grade decline, 2 yrs of community college coursework, and not too many EC's done during senior year. And just to make me more competitive in general.
Why I think I will improve on my MCAT:
The last materials I did for my MCAT study resulting in pretty good scores
AAMC 9- 37 14-10-13
AAMC 10 - 37 14-8-15
AAMC 11- 38 14-10-14
MCAT Survival Guide by AAMC- 90-95% in each category
Self Assessment Packages- 94% Ochem, Gchem, 88% Bio, 86% Physics
Also, my test was at 8 am in the morning, I am the absolute opposite of a morning person and never took any of my 20 FL's in the morning. I usually got up, at 11 am, ate, chilled, and took a FL anywhere between 2 pm and 8 pm. This may have significantly affected me during my test as I was not use to an 8 am test as well as I did not get great sleep the night before as my sleeping schedule had not been consistent (I got into bed at 10 pm but probably didnt fall asleep until 3 am).
My goal would be to simply get myself to my knowledge I had previously and just work on the external issues such as sleep, routine etc. My method would be to do a quick SN2 schedule again, and retake all my AAMC material (not for diagnosis purposes but rather, just to get use to the their style of material again, like I said, I don't need t learn more than before, but rather, get to the same point and just work on other things).
Additional pluses- I took my test without some classes, and since then I have taken Ochem 2, Biochem, Molecular Bio, Maybe this will help?
Also, though I would rather not do anything academically related vs just chilling out, I don't mind studying for the MCAT compared to other people. In other words, I kind of like it! (Though not as much fun as just chilling out with friends etc.)
I would probably spend about 1.5-2 months just reviewing all my notes etc.
Negatives: I scored my average for verbal (a 9) and can hope for a 10 at best but may drop to an 8 as well. Verbal is tough for me
-having to study again for the test, but like I said, I don't mind as much as other people
All in all, I hope to get a 36-37 and would be happy with a 35. I know I could still get in with a 3.63/34 but wouldn't a 3.64/36 make me much more competitive so long as I really work on my PS and improve that as well? What would you do?
When I re-apply, I'll have between a 3.62-3.65 with a 34N 13-9-12. Another interesting note is I came in from community college. So I applied with 2 years of course work from CC with a 3.72ish GPA and 1 yr at USC with a 3.8 GPA, however, reapplying will add in my senior year GPA which shows a major decrease (like a 3.3-3.4 gpa (over senior year) and a 3.5 overall at USC). I'm hoping this doesn't count as a trend/I can't handle university coursework. Another thing, I didn't do any EC's aside from intramurals and some research last semester, and the only ec I've been doing this semester is more research (I did get a grant 2 days ago!).
The reasons I want to retake my MCAT: to make up for: my 9 in verbal, grade decline, 2 yrs of community college coursework, and not too many EC's done during senior year. And just to make me more competitive in general.
Why I think I will improve on my MCAT:
The last materials I did for my MCAT study resulting in pretty good scores
AAMC 9- 37 14-10-13
AAMC 10 - 37 14-8-15
AAMC 11- 38 14-10-14
MCAT Survival Guide by AAMC- 90-95% in each category
Self Assessment Packages- 94% Ochem, Gchem, 88% Bio, 86% Physics
Also, my test was at 8 am in the morning, I am the absolute opposite of a morning person and never took any of my 20 FL's in the morning. I usually got up, at 11 am, ate, chilled, and took a FL anywhere between 2 pm and 8 pm. This may have significantly affected me during my test as I was not use to an 8 am test as well as I did not get great sleep the night before as my sleeping schedule had not been consistent (I got into bed at 10 pm but probably didnt fall asleep until 3 am).
My goal would be to simply get myself to my knowledge I had previously and just work on the external issues such as sleep, routine etc. My method would be to do a quick SN2 schedule again, and retake all my AAMC material (not for diagnosis purposes but rather, just to get use to the their style of material again, like I said, I don't need t learn more than before, but rather, get to the same point and just work on other things).
Additional pluses- I took my test without some classes, and since then I have taken Ochem 2, Biochem, Molecular Bio, Maybe this will help?
Also, though I would rather not do anything academically related vs just chilling out, I don't mind studying for the MCAT compared to other people. In other words, I kind of like it! (Though not as much fun as just chilling out with friends etc.)
I would probably spend about 1.5-2 months just reviewing all my notes etc.
Negatives: I scored my average for verbal (a 9) and can hope for a 10 at best but may drop to an 8 as well. Verbal is tough for me
-having to study again for the test, but like I said, I don't mind as much as other people
All in all, I hope to get a 36-37 and would be happy with a 35. I know I could still get in with a 3.63/34 but wouldn't a 3.64/36 make me much more competitive so long as I really work on my PS and improve that as well? What would you do?