u/ExoC0n

Hi all, I just recently took my mcat (5/2) and I got a 509. I am a little disappointed as most of my practice exams were in the 515 range but the real test felt a little different than the practices. I feel like it’s a weird spot as it’s good and not good at the same time. I was interested in if other in a similar situation have retaken/if it would really help. I am not planning on applying until next cycle so I would have some time to study, but I am in a PhD program so that takes a lot of my time. I know the rest of the application matters a lot too so:

23M, ORM

I have a 3.84 cGPA (3.88 sGPA)as a neuroscience major at my state school and have been an EMT since my sophomore year of undergrad accumulating nearly 1600 hours across three firehouses/ambulance services. (400 volunteer out of the 1600)

Currently, I am on my second gap year in which I have been working on a PhD in organic chemistry and have produced four papers (one of which is first author) and am working on two more papers (both first author). My current research focuses on generating a new class of organic semiconductors with special electronic properties and I am in the process of finishing the research and making two patents for the molecules I have made.
Between the two labs I was in for undergrad and my PhD lab, I have roughly 7,500 hours of research.

In undergrad, I was a PLTL group leader (like an undergraduate TA) for calculus 1 and 2, physics 1 and 2, and Biology 1 and 2. I was also a TA for anatomy 1 and 2 and biochemistry. In my PhD program, I have worked as a TA for general chemistry 1 and 2 and organic chemistry 1 and 2, even teaching my own organic lab each semester.

My professors have said that I have a strong personal statement and will offer strong LORs

During undergrad, I was also part of my schools neuroscience honors society and volunteered with the “doggies and dopamine” event in which our honors society worked with the local SPCA to find dogs homes and recruit new members for our society.

Outside of school, I enjoy beekeeping, gardening, hiking, volunteering at my local SPCA, rocketry designing (I have a level 3 certification from the NAR), and game development (I am working on a project for a game that will be released on steam in the upcoming year with some friends).

Thank you in advance to everyone who took the time to read all this and offer advice!

I have a 3.84 cGPA, 3.88 sGPA, 8500 research hours (working on a PhD), 1600 EMT hours (400 volunteer), 400 non-clinical volunteer, 80 hours of shadowing across three specialties, 4 publications (1 first author) with two more on the way (both first author), have done 2 oral presentations (at MRS and ACS), 9 posters, and 2 patents in processing.

I would really like my MCAT to be on par with the rest of my stats (averaging a 517 for the FLs) for the best chance at top schools though I’m worried from the recent posts regarding the difficulty dropping my score so I feel the need to ask which (if any) of the FLs was most like your actual test? Are the FLs still representative of the test or are people just stressing because they don’t know their scores yet?