“Q:A” I just got my MCAT score back, and I didn’t do as well as I expected. What Should i do?
You basically have two options: retake the exam, or apply with your current score.
If you want to re-take the exam, I would recommend that you start by doing some soul-searching about what went wrong. Keep in mind that two mediocre scores are worse than one, so don’t retake the MCAT without a clear idea of where you went wrong and a solid plan to improve your score. There are a number of things that could explain your discrepancy in performance, and you will have to figure out where you went wrong in order to fix that problem. I will list some possibilities here, but there may be others besides these, so don’t limit yourself to my list.
1. Timing: One possibility is that you may have run into trouble due to the timed nature of the test. For example, if you ran out of time on the real MCAT but not your practice tests, think about why that happened. Were you strict about observing the time limits on your practice tests? It’s essential to time yourself EXACTLY when you take practice tests and not give yourself any extra time on the sections or take extra breaks. Have someone else proctor you if necessary to keep you honest. Timing is a skill that must be practiced like everything else.
2. Test Anxiety. Another possibility if you did well on your practice tests but not on the real test is that you may have test anxiety. If that is the case, you need to work on controlling that. Try some meditation techniques until you find something that helps you. Positive visualization and breathing techniques help many people keep calm during exams. Knowing that you are prepared to do your best will also help you feel calmer.
3. Study Methods. Since you studied a ton for the last MCAT you took, you may need to change the way you are studying. What were you doing to prepare yourself for the MCAT? You might consider trying a different method like EK, or taking a commercial prep course if you tried going it alone. Two thing that a course does are to give you a study timetable with weekly assignments and to hold you accountable. It also provides you with people to support you. But courses are expensive and the quality can vary, so don’t sign up for one without doing your homework and really considering whether you have the time and motivation to get your money’s worth out of the course.
If you decide not to re-take the exam, you should research which schools do not have MCAT thresholds (minimum required scores below which they will automatically reject you). Do not waste your time or money applying to schools that you know put a lot of emphasis on MCAT scores unless you have a good extenuating reason to do so. You can also research other options outside of American allopathic medicine, including osteopathy (getting a DO degree), going to a foreign medical school, or going into other health-care related fields such as nursing or PA (physician’s assistant). Depending on your career goals, one of these options may allow you to achieve your goals without your MCAT score being a major problem.
One thing you should NOT do is just throw up your hands and give up. If you are serious about going to medical school, then look at this low test score as a learning experience, not as a definition of your worth as a human being or as the harbinger of your future ability as a physician. You are definitely not alone in having this problem, so focus on picking yourself up and doing better the next time.
