I am pretty happy too! I think it's just that some of the schools I was hoping for usually prefer applicants with a slightly higher score, so I'm uncertain whether to go for it with the 30 or to try again. The worry is that I might score worse the second time!
I prepared for the MCAT by taking a Kaplan prep course, which I found really helpful. I also took a lot of practice exams, both Kaplan and AAMC.
Congrats! I know that the pre-med advisors at my undergrad rarely recommended retaking if you score "above 30", so you are right on the cusp It depends on your breakdown though, also - if you got all 10s, or a 9 and an 11, that's a great score. But if there's a 7 somewhere in there, it might be a different story.
My advice would be to know that you've done really well, to apply early and broadly, and to focus on getting accepted - a huge accomplishment in and of itself - rather than focusing too much on specific schools.
Unless you really are dead-set on Ivy -- in that case, you might need to give yourself a couple years and focus on that goal in a totally single-minded way. If that is really the life you want, then with enough resources and determination, I'm sure you could do it. But if what you want is to become a doctor and get on with your life, you're already doing fine.
Thank you so much for your advice! I thought about it for a few days, and to be perfectly honest, it's more important to me to get through with medical school and go onto working than to go to a very, very prestigious school. I think I need to take time and feel good about being done with the exam too!
Thank you very much! I'm thinking I might just try to beef up my application in other ways (volunteering, etc.) instead of taking the exam again, but I'm still waffling a little bit.
Congrats! Don't retake the exam unless you got a below a 7 on a particular section. Before you know it, you might be studying for the USMLE, and the less of your life you spend studying for standardized tests the better. :) My suggestion is do something you enjoy. If you have extra time volunteer, shadow, spend time on your hobbies. I think med schools use the MCAT just to check that you are competent enough to pass classes and the boards. After you hit 30, personal qualities matter a lot more than the numbers. Good luck!
Thank you! Oh goodness, the USMLE! I have to admit that these big tests make me a little nervous! I'm thinking I'll probably try to beef up my application in other ways-- like you suggested, volunteering and shadowing, etc.-- instead of trying to take the exam again to gain a few points.
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May I also ask you how you prepared for the MCAT? I'm thinking of taking it in the Spring... aaak!
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I prepared for the MCAT by taking a Kaplan prep course, which I found really helpful. I also took a lot of practice exams, both Kaplan and AAMC.
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My advice would be to know that you've done really well, to apply early and broadly, and to focus on getting accepted - a huge accomplishment in and of itself - rather than focusing too much on specific schools.
Unless you really are dead-set on Ivy -- in that case, you might need to give yourself a couple years and focus on that goal in a totally single-minded way. If that is really the life you want, then with enough resources and determination, I'm sure you could do it. But if what you want is to become a doctor and get on with your life, you're already doing fine.
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So, thank you very much!
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Thank you for the advice!
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