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- Jul 9, 2012
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Hi everyone,
I am a nontraditional applicant whose been out of school for a few years. I graduated magna cum laude from an Ivy League college and then did postbacc work. I got one C my junior year in Orgo, but have gotten mostly A's in my postbacc work, including Orgo II.
I am about to submit my primary, but am debating whether to retake the MCAT in August (I would submit now so my scores would just arrive and automatically update). I got a 9PS, 10V, 12BS and wasn't planning to do so until my premed advisor suggested that I consider it because of the 9PS. I have been taking practice tests the past few weeks and have gone up significantly (last one was 12PS, 13V, 9BS), but I haven't had the time to study as much as I should.
My proposed test date is about 4.5 weeks away, and I am really busy at work - so I am wondering, is retaking worth it? A lot of people I know have still interviewed at great schools (Harvard, Duke, BU) with a 9 in a section and similar GPA to me. Furthermore, since I've been out of school awhile and have a strong upward trend in my grades, many people have been telling me I should just focus on getting my secondaries in as fast as I can (e.g. be complete by early Sept). My most notable ECs are:
1. Professional public health work experience in three developing countries with well-known NGOs
2. 6 conference abstracts, 1 journal pub, 2 journal pubs in progress
3. Currently doing epi research at a major hospital
4. Currently volunteer 1-2x/month for five hours at a free clinic (planning to increase to weekly once apps are done); also completed >80 hours shadowing at an ED several years ago
5. Musician (play in two community groups currently)
6. SAT teacher
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I am a nontraditional applicant whose been out of school for a few years. I graduated magna cum laude from an Ivy League college and then did postbacc work. I got one C my junior year in Orgo, but have gotten mostly A's in my postbacc work, including Orgo II.
I am about to submit my primary, but am debating whether to retake the MCAT in August (I would submit now so my scores would just arrive and automatically update). I got a 9PS, 10V, 12BS and wasn't planning to do so until my premed advisor suggested that I consider it because of the 9PS. I have been taking practice tests the past few weeks and have gone up significantly (last one was 12PS, 13V, 9BS), but I haven't had the time to study as much as I should.
My proposed test date is about 4.5 weeks away, and I am really busy at work - so I am wondering, is retaking worth it? A lot of people I know have still interviewed at great schools (Harvard, Duke, BU) with a 9 in a section and similar GPA to me. Furthermore, since I've been out of school awhile and have a strong upward trend in my grades, many people have been telling me I should just focus on getting my secondaries in as fast as I can (e.g. be complete by early Sept). My most notable ECs are:
1. Professional public health work experience in three developing countries with well-known NGOs
2. 6 conference abstracts, 1 journal pub, 2 journal pubs in progress
3. Currently doing epi research at a major hospital
4. Currently volunteer 1-2x/month for five hours at a free clinic (planning to increase to weekly once apps are done); also completed >80 hours shadowing at an ED several years ago
5. Musician (play in two community groups currently)
6. SAT teacher
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
