Does reapplying look bad?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

LoveandhopefulMD

Full Member
2+ Year Member
7+ Year Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2016
Messages
17
Reaction score
5
I am trying to decide if I should apply this cycle with a lower than average MCAT score but with all other aspects of my application pretty good? Does it look bad to reapply if I don't get in this year?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Members don't see this ad.
 
I am trying to decide if I should apply this cycle with a lower than average MCAT score but with all other aspects of my application pretty good? Does it look bad to reapply if I don't get in this year?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Your best chance is a strong first application. Don't apply MD with a score less than 500. There are exceptions but you didn't post any of them.
State? Score? gpa?
 
My state is Texas. What qualities exactly? Do you mean my willingness to work as in now that I have graduated I should now have better work experiences than when I applied right before graduation?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
Members don't see this ad :)
My state is Texas. What qualities exactly? Do you mean my willingness to work as in now that I have graduated I should now have better work experiences than when I applied right before graduation?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Puerto Rican schools love PR applicants, Mission-based schools love those who fit their mission (LLU/Adventists).

TX loves high gpa's and they don't like low MCAT's. They matriculate 33% of their IS applicants. Applying with a weak application equals a big chance (2/3) of failure, at least for MD.

On the bright side, they are one the more tolerant states for re-applications. I still can't recommend an application with a very low MCAT. Take all the time you need to get at least a 511. Two weak score are a lot worse than one.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Colleague, did you have a typo? TX loves IS !
Puerto Rican schools love PR applicants, Mission-based schools love those who fit their mission (LLU/Adventists).
TX loves high gpa's and they don't like low MCAT's. They only matriculate 33% of their IS applicants. Applying with a weak application equals a big chance (2/3) of failure, at least for MD.

On the bright side, they are one the more tolerant states for re-applications. I still can't recommend an application with a very low MCAT. Take all the time you need to get at least a 511. Two weak score are a lot worse than one.
 
would they even look at an MCAT of 495? GPA 4.0 with about 500-600 hours clinical experience? And 200 research hours, 1 poster no publications?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
would they even look at an MCAT of 495? GPA 4.0 with about 500-600 hours clinical experience? And 200 research hours, 1 poster no publications?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
I can't recommend an MD application.
 
Nope. You're in a danger zone for failing out of med school and/or failing Boards. You'd be autoreject at my school and at least 10 other DO schools that I could think of offhand. Even LUCOM has standards.

The disparity between your GPA and your MCAT score is a red flag as well.

would they even look at an MCAT of 495? GPA 4.0 with about 500-600 hours clinical experience? And 200 research hours, 1 poster no publications?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
I feel I have studied hours and hours for MCAT despite my GPA being so high and still haven't gotten above a 507 on practice tests.. Any study help or any help about anything


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
I feel I have studied hours and hours for MCAT despite my GPA being so high and still haven't gotten above a 507 on practice tests.. Any study help or any help about anything


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Step back. Get a learning assessment. Figure out what it would take to get a score consistent with success.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
I think the assessment of failing out of med school/boards due to that MCAT is way too extreme. A 4.0 GPA shows you are capable of studying and doing well (sure an argument can be made about rigor of major/university but a 4.0 is still a 4.0). A 495 with a 4.0 GPA could sneak you in a DO school like WVSOM or the newer ones that are opening up for admissions soon. But that will absolutely not cut it for MD (unless you are a URM or have MAJOR connections to a certain school). The good news is that you live in a great state for med school admissions. So if you're really gunning for MD, I'd suggest a MCAT retake and try to get a 507+ as a TX resident coupled with that 4.0 for significantly better odds at MD. If you want broader DO options, you'd have to break 500. If you find you are really struggling for the MCAT and can't figure out why, you may have to invest in a tutor. Unfortunately it would be expensive going that route but it would be an investment towards your future
 
Spoken like a true pre-med who has never once had to deal with as failing medical student. No med school does an applicant any favors by admitting them if they are at risk of failing out.

OP, strongly suggest that you see a learning specialist or counselor to rule out test taking anxiety.



I think the assessment of failing out of med school/boards due to that MCAT is way too extreme. A 4.0 GPA shows you are capable of studying and doing well (sure an argument can be made about rigor of major/university but a 4.0 is still a 4.0). A 495 with a 4.0 GPA could sneak you in a DO school like WVSOM or the newer ones that are opening up for admissions soon. But that will absolutely not cut it for MD (unless you are a URM or have MAJOR connections to a certain school). The good news is that you live in a great state for med school admissions. So if you're really gunning for MD, I'd suggest a MCAT retake and try to get a 507+ as a TX resident coupled with that 4.0 for significantly better odds at MD. If you want broader DO options, you'd have to break 500. If you find you are really struggling for the MCAT and can't figure out why, you may have to invest in a tutor. Unfortunately it would be expensive going that route but it would be an investment towards your future
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
Spoken like a true pre-med who has never once had to deal with as failing medical student. No med school does an applicant any favors by admitting them if they are at risk of failing out.

OP, strongly suggest that you see a learning specialist or counselor to rule out test taking anxiety.

I'm actually not pre-med anymore as I'm heading to med school this Fall. Regardless that shouldn't matter at all as I like to help out here whenever I come with info I've gained. You're right, I've never been in a position of teaching where I've had to deal with failing med students. However, there is no cause and effect relationship b/t a low MCAT score and poor performance in medical school. Is there a correlation? Maybe. But correlation does not imply causation. I personally know a non-urm guy who had a 20 MCAT, a 3.7 gpa and got in 3 DO schools 4 years ago. He's off to a university residency for internal medicine and did just fine. Yea it's n=1 or whatever but still, I firmly stand by the belief that a poor MCAT score does not indicate med school performance. There are definitely a few DO schools out there who could give OP a chance with a 4.0 & 495. But chances are non-existent for MD
 
A classic example of why Biostats should be mandatory for med school.

Multiple studies from different med schools (including our won) show that a low MCAT score is a risk factor for doing poorly in med school, and/or on Boards.

I know Lotto winners too. But I'm not going to put my retirement money into it.


I'm actually not pre-med anymore as I'm heading to med school this Fall. Regardless that shouldn't matter at all as I like to help out here whenever I come with info I've gained. You're right, I've never been in a position of teaching where I've had to deal with failing med students. However, there is no cause and effect relationship b/t a low MCAT score and poor performance in medical school. Is there a correlation? Maybe. But correlation does not imply causation. I personally know a non-urm guy who had a 20 MCAT, a 3.7 gpa and got in 3 DO schools 4 years ago. He's off to a university residency for internal medicine and did just fine. Yea it's n=1 or whatever but still, I firmly stand by the belief that a poor MCAT score does not indicate med school performance. There are definitely a few DO schools out there who could give OP a chance with a 4.0 & 495. But chances are non-existent for MD
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
I feel I have studied hours and hours for MCAT despite my GPA being so high and still haven't gotten above a 507 on practice tests.. Any study help or any help about anything


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
If you have a 4.0 including all hard science prereqs for med school, you are doing yourself a disservice if you don't take the MCAT again and apply once, as the wise gonnif says, apply once with your best app. Something in your MCAT approach is not right - not enough time, not the right approach, not the right topics. You may need a tutor or a class to change your mindset/approach. Take the next six months to do it right. You say hours and hours of studying but you may need 8 hours a day for 2-3 months. How much did you study and was your score a balanced score?
 
Really though the MCAT is beatable. So much of it is fact recall and being able to put together a simple cause and effect or read a graph. I'm sure everyone has different potentials they can reach, but it lies in the 510+ vs. 520+ range. Without doing well though you can't really show medical schools your potential to be successful, sure you can say "yeah I got a 4.0 GPA," which shows an ability to do well on the MCAT PROBABLY. Without doing well though, they have to take it at face value that you are in the category of risky applicants that your score says you are.
 
Top