Feel Hopeless

[Pineapple13579]

Hi, 

 

I think I need some serious suggestions over here. I finished my first MCAT exam this August, and I only got 502 (127/121/127/127). As you can see my CARS is terrible, but to be honest, this is the section I spent the most time on and practiced the most. I have exhausted all the CARS practice tests on market. I am in forth year right now, and I know I won't get a chance this year in any of the Canadian med school due to my terrible CARS. My friend has suggested dentistry to be since the reading comprehension section of DAT is easier than the CARS in MCAT. Well, it may be true, but I am not sure if I want to run my own business in future. 

I want to try MCAT again next summer, but that means I will be taking a gap year. And I am really anxious about what I will do in that gap year, and what I will do if can't do well on MCAT again. Should I just get a master/PhD degree instead for my major? 

 

Thanx!

[BernieMac]

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[Pineapple13579]

2 minutes ago, YesIcan55 said:

You received a 121 CARS which is the 14th percentile. I have also heard that the DAT RC is a bit easier but no disrespect with a 14th percentile, even if it is a bit easier what can we predict from you have already scored. Getting into dentistry is hard as well. They care about GPA more, have less weighting/drops in GPA, and also highly consider the DAT and the MMI. Choosing to try and pursue dentistry because you can't/don't think you can get into med is like trying to make it in the NFL if you can't make it in the NBA. Both incredibly competitive, and one is not a "backup" to the other. Only pursue further education (second undergrad, graduate work, etc) IF you genuinely have an interest in the field AND the field has good job prospects. Many people complete a BSc and fail to get into med/don't attempt because of the difficulty/etc and jump into an MSc as the next logical step without a big interest in research. A MSc in bio does NOT have good long term job prospects, and getting into research is very difficult as a career for various reasons. I would recommend a second UG in an employable field like engg, nursing, education, business etc if you want to do further education.  

Thanx for this. I am just considering Dentistry recently, and I know it is not easy to get in and it won't be easy after you have graduated. Don't even consider the specialist in Dentistry right now (ex: orthodontist, endo, oral med, or oral path). They are all hard. I get that. 

And thanx for your suggestions in switching my fields or objectives. I have considered this option as well. I am in pharmacology right now, so I have been thinking about switching into pharmacy. They are related. And pharmacy gives better career options. At least, this is what I think 

[BernieMac]

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[Pineapple13579]

yep. Thank you very much. 

[LiconC]

The bright side of your MCAT is that you only really need to work on a single section. That being said, it is a hard section to increase quickly. Therefore, hope is not lost, simply take time to work on it. My gut feeling after hearing what you have to say is that you don't need to be focusing on strategy right now. Rather, you need to work on your basic reading comp. Once you have increased that, move on to strategy. 

Look at ways to increase reading comp. Although the advice of reading "the economist" is cliche, I think it would benefit you a lot in your case. If you can be patient, then I have no doubt that you can bring your score up to 125-126. And just think, u can work on ur other sections a bit too. An extra point in each section, plus a 125 CARS will give u a sexy score of 509. Its gunna take time tho.

[Pineapple13579]

1 hour ago, LiconC said:

The bright side of your MCAT is that you only really need to work on a single section. That being said, it is a hard section to increase quickly. Therefore, hope is not lost, simply take time to work on it. My gut feeling after hearing what you have to say is that you don't need to be focusing on strategy right now. Rather, you need to work on your basic reading comp. Once you have increased that, move on to strategy. 

Look at ways to increase reading comp. Although the advice of reading "the economist" is cliche, I think it would benefit you a lot in your case. If you can be patient, then I have no doubt that you can bring your score up to 125-126. And just think, u can work on ur other sections a bit too. An extra point in each section, plus a 125 CARS will give u a sexy score of 509. Its gunna take time tho.

what is this reading "the economist" ? 

[GH0ST]

26 minutes ago, Pineapple13579 said:

what is this reading "the economist" ? 

The economist is a magazine based newspaper that typically have more in depth analysis of critical issues across the globe in many topics. 

- G

[LiconC]

1 hour ago, Pineapple13579 said:

what is this reading "the economist" ? 

Another good one is the New Yorker and the Walrus. My favourite is the New York Review of Books, but it is a subscription.The reason I am recommending these is because they are very difficult to read while at the same time being very engaging. Thus good practice for CARS

[Pineapple13579]

I see. Thanx guys! 

[imgee]

On 10/11/2019 at 7:50 PM, Pineapple13579 said:

I see. Thanx guys! 

I really think you should write it again! I have a feeling you'll get a much better score and you got 127 all across which is nice and equal; its just cars; maybe now that you're more familiar with the actual section it will also help a lot maybe practice a couple of passages a day? I really think you should continue if this is what you want to do; you're really close tbh, if you decide it isnt what you want anymore for other reasons I get that; but if its because of cars I think you should do it at least one more time 

[Pineapple13579]

On 10/14/2019 at 4:50 PM, imgee said:

I really think you should write it again! I have a feeling you'll get a much better score and you got 127 all across which is nice and equal; its just cars; maybe now that you're more familiar with the actual section it will also help a lot maybe practice a couple of passages a day? I really think you should continue if this is what you want to do; you're really close tbh, if you decide it isnt what you want anymore for other reasons I get that; but if its because of cars I think you should do it at least one more time 

Thanx for letting me know this. I will definitely try it again, but at the same time, I will do DAT, just in case. 

[chkchkchickens]

Hey, to work on reading comp, if you're still interested, maybe try AP/IB exams for high school students.  I found that the practice I had done and types of questions on those exams were actually pretty similar to the MCAT.  There may be better advice on coaching what types of questions you are struggling with, and methods to improve general reading comp.  Obviously take this with a grain of salt, as the AP/IB exams are different than the MCAT, but if you feel like you are running out of resources, this might help you work on your skills.

Also, a gap year is super daunting, but things do work out even if you don't feel like it's the way you had in mind!  Do a master's only if you want to/are interested in the work, otherwise it is a waste of your time and resources.  If pharmacy interests you, that's a great option too!  And you can always pick a path and come back to medicine later if you decide this is really where you want to go.

 

Good luck!