xranger

I won't be finish with my premed courses until my junior yr, that means I only 1 shot at MCAT. When do you start studying for MCAT? freshman/sophomore yr? and what's the best book/guide to get(PR, kaplan, etc..)?

TrappedInVegas

God, I started college so horribly behind due to an awkward highschool situation that I explained in a thread a looong time ago. I'm starting my sophomore year and I'm just now taking my first biology class (fundamentals of life science) and the standard College algebra course. I got screwed both previous semesters due to the biology classes filling up before I could register, and I have to get that class out of the way before I can take anything higher. Needless to say, I'm quite a ways off from organic chem and physics. Am I completely screwed on the MCAT's?

xranger

another question:
if we take the MCAT in april of junior year and not satisfied with our score, can we retake it again in august? will the score be on time for med application/school?

bigndude

Maybe, thats why its not recommended to take it then if you are applying in the fall.

MTbigsis

xranger,
The way I understand it is, you have to wait to get your scores, so you would have to wait to turn in your applications. Some people still get in since it's rolling admissions, but it's not recommended to do anything that will delay your applications. Especially if you are borderline on grades/MCATs, you should apply ASAP. (which I will be doing no matter what :-)) One of my sorority sisters is currently applying; she had all of her applications in weeks ago, and already has gotten secondary applications and even a few interviews!! She took it spring of her junior year. Some of my other friends who are also upcoming seniors are doing what you were talking about-they also took it in April but wanted to improve their scores, so they are taking it this Saturday (PS Good Luck to everyone taking it this weekend!). But they will have to wait a few weeks to get their scores until they can start applying to med schools. And since every person I have talked to has stressed "APPLY EARLY!!!!" I guess this is not a totally ideal situation. :-)

So if you do decide to retake them, that's okay, and you can still apply to med schools--you just won't be able to apply as early as the people who used their spring MCAT scores.

Also, all of this will change next year because of the new testing format :-)

norcalguy

Really disappointed with the way I did. Probably scored in the low 30's. Hopefully, I scored even lower so my decision to retake will be easier

sakky

Uh, I happen to think that a score in the low 30's is pretty darn good. Obviously it's better to score higher. But still, it's like somebody complaining that they "only" got admitted to a lower Ivy. If you had scored in the low 20's, then OK, that might be disappointing. But in the low 30's? Come on, what are you complaining about?

killaerone

What were you scoring on practice exams?

Doogie311

ya seriously, top 50 med schools have their MCAT avg at around 30N

norcalguy

What's good for someone is relative. I realize many people score lower than 30 and that low 30's would be a great score for them. I scored 34-39 on all six AAMC practice tests so low 30's would be quite a disappointment. The worst that could happen is if I score something like a 33. I know I can do better but not low enough to make it worthwhile to retake for an extra 2-3 pts.

sakky

Well, I think that's the issue - like you said, it's all relative, and like you said, there are people out there that would love to have a score in the low 30's. So when you say that you're disappointed in getting such a score, do you realize how that sounds? It's like somebody complaining that they "only" got into a lower-Ivy.

norcalguy

I do realize how it sounds. But nevertheless I spent $1600 on a prep course, studied roughly 40-50 hours a week over the summer for the test, and scored well on all the practice tests so I feel I have a reason to be disappointed.

I have no problem with people complaining that they only got into a "lower-Ivy" or only scored a 1500 on the SAT's. The problem is that most of those people are NOT disappointed. It's just an excuse to brag about their accomplishments.

Rhas81

2 questions regarding MCATS:

1) Ive heard from various mid 30's is a decent score, what is the absolute highest score you can get? Also, whats the lowest u can get with enough hope that a med school will accept you? Not trying to set my standards low, just curious is all.

2) Most people take the MCATS their junior year, but what can they be taken during senior year as well?

thanks

CDN_dancer

The perfect score is 45. I'm guessing the lowest you could get and still get into a med school (obviously not a top one) would be mid 20s.

If you take the MCAT in your senior year, you won't get your scores back in time to apply and enter med school the following year. (This could change in the future, since they are switching to an electronic test) Also, most (all?) med schools use rolling admissions, so it's best to apply earlier.

norcalguy

Mid 30's is better than a "decent" score. 35 puts you roughly in the 95th percentile. All but 1-2 med schools have avg. MCAT's less than a 35.