Should I Retake the MCAT or wait it out?

[deerws]

I have applied to several Med Schools this cycle but I am afraid that I will not be accepted into any of my top choices, specifically UNC or ECU (I am in-state). I have interviewed at both but haven't heard back. I have a 3.7 GPA with a double major in Chemistry and Biology. I made a 32 on the MCAT. I am debating whether I should go ahead and sign up for a prep course and MCAT test date. To be honest I probably studied a total of 20 hours and did 1 practice test for my first MCAT and I feel that I should be able to improve if I put in the time. I hate to waste the money but I really don't want to have wait, find out I don't get into a school I want to go to and already be behind in the next cycle forcing me to take another year off. Should I play it safe and sign up for a prep course or just wait it out?

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[MilMD01]

I'd wait it out.

Have you been accepted anywhere else? When did you submit?

 

[Midifelder10]

If you are applying to state schools MCAT is not your problem. I personally think you get in somewhere.

 

[Catalystik]

I have applied to several Med Schools this cycle but I am afraid that I will not be accepted into any of my top choices, specifically UNC or ECU (I am in-state). I have interviewed at both but haven't heard back. I have a 3.7 GPA with a double major in Chemistry and Biology. I made a 32 on the MCAT. I am debating whether I should go ahead and sign up for a prep course and MCAT test date. To be honest I probably studied a total of 20 hours and did 1 practice test for my first MCAT and I feel that I should be able to improve if I put in the time. I hate to waste the money but I really don't want to have wait, find out I don't get into a school I want to go to and already be behind in the next cycle forcing me to take another year off. Should I play it safe and sign up for a prep course or just wait it out?

If you are not accepted to either school, I doubt it will be due to your stats.

 

[bigdogrob4284]

Definitely wait it out. If you feel absolutely compelled to improve your application in the meantime, focus on your ECs and not your mcat score

 

[gyngyn]

I have applied to several Med Schools this cycle but I am afraid that I will not be accepted into any of my top choices, specifically UNC or ECU (I am in-state). I have interviewed at both but haven't heard back. I have a 3.7 GPA with a double major in Chemistry and Biology. I made a 32 on the MCAT. I am debating whether I should go ahead and sign up for a prep course and MCAT test date. To be honest I probably studied a total of 20 hours and did 1 practice test for my first MCAT and I feel that I should be able to improve if I put in the time. I hate to waste the money but I really don't want to have wait, find out I don't get into a school I want to go to and already be behind in the next cycle forcing me to take another year off. Should I play it safe and sign up for a prep course or just wait it out?

Re-taking a 32 is a bad idea. There are only 3 potential outcomes: two of them hurt you and the third doesn't help much.

 

[deerws]

I submitted secondaries in early september and interviewed in late september/early october at ECU and UNC. I haven't been accepted anywhere and currently have one other interview scheduled. Thanks for the feedback. I feel that my ECs are solid but not outstanding (have significant volunteer experience abroad, at the hospital and in a local school along with a few club activities).

 

[Catalystik]

If you are not from a rural area, did you get in any rural doc shadowing? I've seen ECU suggest a week of this to a candidate whose application was on indefinite hold. And it worked after a suitable LOR was sent in.

 

[Goro]

Concur strongly.

I'd wait it out.

Have you been accepted anywhere else? When did you submit?