Options Following A Low Mcat Score

By Felix Chesterfield

Getting into medical school is a very difficult endeavor. In fact, as applications flood in at an increasing rate for limited seats, it’s never been harder. New medical schools are being build all over the country, but they will never be able to keep up with the rate of applications. The blunt result is that qualified students will get left out in every class. So, what happens if a student is only partially qualified?

There are a number requirements involved with getting into medical school. The first is obviously a solid undergraduate education. A student can make this even more attractive to prospective medical schools by taking a number of core science classes along the way. A strong background in biology has never hurt a med school applicant. The ability to interview well and be involved in extracurricular activities helps applicants as well. Some students may question the relevance of these items with regards to becoming a doctor, but the fact of the matter is that most schools prefer well rounded students with some level of communication skills over those who are limited to academic achievements. An additional medical school requirement that is (at least) of equal importance to any other item is the MCAT score.

MCAT stands for Medical College Admission Test. This is a standardized test that is required by most institutions in the United States for prospective med school students. Getting a high score on this exam can make getting into one’s preferred medical school a much easier endeavor. Getting a low score can make things much more difficult. The MCAT consists of three multiple choice sections (scored between 1 and 15) that are combined for a composite score and a writing sample that is scored by a human judge (this score is converted to a letter that ranges from J to T). The average score for the MCAT is a 28P, but for students that get into medical school, it rises to a 31 P. Thousands of applicants take this exam each year – obviously about half do better than the average and about half score lower than the average. The latter half faces a significantly tougher road to medical school admission. For those who post a well below average score, what options remain?

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The first option is to retake the test. You can take the test up to three times on your own, but after that you will need to show a rejection letter from an institution to the committee (to show that you have not yet obtained a viable score). While this is the first option that anybody with a low score should look at, they should take note that multiple retakes can affect their standing with certain institutions as much as getting a low score did in the first place.

Another option is to expand the breadth of their preferred medical institutions. While a low score may end one’s hopes at getting into Harvard Med, he or she may find that the prospects are much brighter at many state schools or even city colleges with a medical program.

A third option is to look abroad. The Caribbean is not that far from the United States (in terms of distance or educational culture) and has institutions that will allow application with a low (or even no) MCAT score. Some of these schools even offer the ability to transfer back into the United States as part of their program.

Whatever route one takes, it is important to remember that the road to medical school is not supposed to be easy (although it may turn out that way for some) – hard work and persistence can pay off significantly. They also prove to be good practice for schooling and career that are to come.

About the Author: by Felix Chesterfield; For more information regarding those with a

Low MCAT

and looking for other options, please feel free to read more on

Caribbean Medical Schools

and whether or not one may be the right fit for you.

Source:

isnare.com

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