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Saturday, July 14, 2012

MCAT study dilemma

My second attempt at the MCAT is just over a month away and again, I'm not at the stage of being really ready. I think I'll do better this time, but not well enough to get a great score or balanced score.

So I'm facing a bit of a dilemma - do I just give it my best and study like mad for all the sections to MAYBE (by some miracle) get a good enough score to apply to 3 universities that I'm eligible to apply to (based on my GPA, prerequisites and location) OR do I just skim over the sciences and really focus on the verbal reasoning section, to increase my chances at the one university that only looks at the verbal score (which I got average for on my first attempt without really studying)?

I'm starting to lean towards option #2 - why? Because this school is my first choice anyway, its the closest to where I live now and because I really like that its a 3 year program. Also, because I think that I really COULD nail the verbal with a lot of practice.

However, the idea of not studying the other sections makes me a bit uneasy...it just goes against my nature to completely abandon studying certain sections of the exam. I want to do well on it all! But realistically, for the other two universities, I have to do exceptionally well on the other sections too, since unfortunately, these two schools have high MCAT cut-offs.

Sigh.

5 comments:

  1. If I were in your shoes (I might be in a few years, who knows?) I'd probably pour most of my energy into studying for VR, and go for Mac. Maybe dedicate a bit of time to BS/PS, but focus mostly on VR and aim high. Good luck!

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    1. Yes, I think that is going to have to be my strategy. I have a much better shot at Mac than Queens or UWO (which have no pre-reqs)and it just makes sense to do my best for that. I'll likely not get in anywhere this year, so I'll have all of next year to get my remaining pre-reqs for schools like UofT and hopefully properly prepare for the MCAT. I doubt you'll be in that position though, since you'll have a good two years of science UG to get you prepared!

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  2. I wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket (Mac). Do you know how hard it is to get in...I think there were over 4200 applicants, 552 ppl offered interviews, only 203 get in. Lock yourself up till your MCAT date, study study study own the MCAT and apply broadly across teh nation

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    1. Oh, I'm totally aware of how competitive Mac is - but I'm also realistic to know that a score of of less than 10 in any section will automatically disqualify me from Western and Queens (I can't apply to Ottawa or Toronto because I don't have the pre-reqs) - so Mac is REALLY my ONLY chance this application cycle because so far, my MCAT scores in BS and PS have been 8 or lower - there is no way I'll be able to get them up to 10+ by my next write date. Plus I'm an Ontario resident, so I'll have that TINY advantage over some OOP applicants (who are in that 4000+ pool).

      As for other schools, my GPA is too low for out-of-province for Calgary and Dalhousie (JUST - like by 0.01, it sucks) and I don't have the pre-req courses for other Canadian schools. I think I might be able to apply to MUN as well (but given that they take like 2 people from OOP, the chances are even slimmer) and I'll apply to NOSM even though I KNOW I won't get in because I'm not from a rural background.

      This is my first application cycle so I'm going to do what I can and would rather give myself a fighting chance at Mac than no chance at a lot of schools. And with a kid, husband and part-time job, I don't have the luxury of locking myself up and JUST studying for 4 weeks. I wish I could!

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  3. Nice information. some useful stuff about MCAT Requirements

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