Faith, Failure, and the MCAT: What I Wish I Knew

I was so sure I’d crush the MCAT the first time I took it.

I even submitted my medical school applications before I got my score back. I was confident that everything I worked for would pay off. But when the score finally came in… I was devastated. I sat in bed and cried, overwhelmed with disappointment and uncertainty. The number on that screen didn’t just feel like a score, it felt like a full stop to my dreams.

Still, I hoped the rest of my application; my GPA, experiences, and personal statement, might earn me at least one interview. Just one. But the cycle ended with silence. No interviews. No roadmap. Just a biology degree and no clear direction.

So I did the only thing I could think of in my mess of emotions: I prayed, packed up, and moved to a new city to pursue a Master of Public Health. I didn’t know exactly what God was doing, but I hoped it would turn out okay.

Round two of the MCAT was different. I was nervous, but this time I had a better study plan, fewer distractions, and a community of Christian friends praying and cheering me on. I wasn’t aiming for a perfect score. I just needed one that God could use. That was my prayer: “God, just give me the score I need to get in.””

And He did.

It wasn’t a dramatic 20-point jump (LOL, would’ve been nice). But it was enough. That score opened doors to multiple interviews and, eventually, multiple acceptances.

Looking back, I realize my failure wasn’t a detour. It was part of the journey. It grew my faith. It taught me to ask for help. It reminded me to trust God more than my own timing, efforts, or plans.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says it best:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

If you're in a similar place; facing failure, uncertainty, or waiting on your "yes”, know this: God is not finished with your story. Sometimes the score you think ruined your plans is the very thing He uses to redirect you toward something even better.