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[1996-]

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Thanks!

 

[aprilfools]

Do not retake a 513.

 

[1996-]

Do not retake a 513.

This is what I figured.

Just thought it was kind of odd that my pre-health advisor seemed to suggest that a retake would not be a bad idea, which seems to go against just about all resounding evidence against it. Thanks!

 

[aprilfools]

I think it is very odd advice from a premed counselor, but that unfortunately isn't uncommon. You're in a good spot with a 513. Congrats!

 

[Doctor Dream]

Hi all! (Sorry if this is in the wrong thread, I wasn't sure!) I scored a 513 127/129/128/129 (~32) on the MCAT last September, and while I scored lower in chem/phys and bio than in practice tests, I was relieved that I would be finished – thought I wouldn't have to take it again. GPA is ~3.8, nice spread of EC's both pre-health-related and arts-related.

Speaking to my school's pre-health advisor, he says that 513 is below average for applicants at my school - I go to a Top 10 school. Average applicant stats for my school were 34, now trending around ~517 (35) with the new MCAT. He has also mentioned a different time that the competition tends to be within individual undergraduate institutions.

I know 513 is a very good score to have to get me into an MD program, but I'm worried that it looks significantly worse comparatively within my undergraduate institution (as in, a 513 from a competitive undergrad looks questionable), and I am aware that retaking is obviously high-risk, low-yield. However, the promise of a better score (based on practice tests) looks like it my best bet would be a 517-520, which may or may not be looked upon unfavorably.

Thoughts? Any insight into the situation would be very much appreciated!

Yea, don't retake. A 513 is a great score, and many schools will be happy with that. As long as you don't apply too top heavy, you'll be fine.

 

[Dr.Kat]

when I got my score (lower than yours), I jumped for joy! Please do not retake, most applicants would kill for a 513. You're gonna do awesome! Congrats on a great MCAT, too😀

 

[gonnif]

Just thought it was kind of odd that my pre-health advisor seemed to suggest that a retake would not be a bad idea, which seems to go against just about all resounding evidence against it. Thanks!

I think it is very odd advice from a premed counselor, but that unfortunately isn't uncommon. You're in a good spot with a 513. Congrats!

Prehealth advisors are very institution centric and only really know the process of applying to medical school from their experience and from their own students. That can limit their view of how it all works in the bigger picture.

Dont retake a 513

 

[efle]

He might be right that the most elite med schools tend to pick from the strongest apps out of their common feeder undergrads, e.g. taking the giant stack of Duke applicants and picking their favorite 10% to interview. I think I've seen mention of stratifying by alma mater before.

But, with a 32 those are not the schools to be targeting with your list anyways. I don't think the places you're aiming for will be so inundated with apps from Ivy type undergrads that you will be compared to the others and held back by it. Unless you had reason to expect a big jump, like if you were scoring 520s on practice exams, I'd keep that 513!

 

[Ampharos]

A 513 is a 32/33 score. I think it also depends on the type of schools that you are aiming for.

 

[markovchn123]

Never retake a great score unless one section (especially CARS) is horrendous. You're fine, congrats on a great score!

 

[Goro]

Adcoms don't think like your advisor, who is certifiably insane.

A 513 won't get you into Harvard or U Penn, but WILL get you into lots of med schools. Invest in MSAR to see where your score is at median, or close to same.

And retaking a perfectly fine score like will get you rejected at the wise @gyngyn's school.

Hi all! (Sorry if this is in the wrong thread, I wasn't sure!) I scored a 513 127/129/128/129 (~32) on the MCAT last September, and while I scored lower in chem/phys and bio than in practice tests, I was happy with my score and relieved that I would be finished – thought I wouldn't have to take it again. GPA is ~3.8, nice spread of EC's both pre-health-related and arts-related.

Speaking to my school's pre-health advisor, he says that 513 is below average for applicants at my school - I go to a Top 10 school. Average applicant stats for my school were 34, now trending around ~517 (35) with the new MCAT. He has also mentioned a different time that the competition tends to be within individual undergraduate institutions.

I know 513 is a very good score to have to get me into an MD program, but I'm worried that it looks significantly worse comparatively within my undergraduate institution (as in, a 513 from a competitive undergrad looks questionable), and I am aware that retaking is obviously high-risk, low-yield. However, the promise of a better score (based on practice tests) looks like it my best bet would be a 517-520, which may or may not be looked upon unfavorably - since retaking in general can call into question my sense of judgment etc.

Thoughts? Any insight into the situation would be very much appreciated!

 

[gonnif]

Adcoms don't think like your advisor, who is certifiably insane.

A 513 won't get you into Harvard or U Penn, but WILL get you into lots of med schools. Invest in MSAR to see where your score is at median, or close to same.

And retaking a perfectly fine score like will get you rejected at the wise @gyngyn's school.

I will take umbrage at the comment, the Honorable Gentleman from West of Louis is making. With our current presidential administration, what passes as certifiably insane is a rather high bar indeed. Second, the possible narrow and institutional centric view of the advisor, the possible lack of nuanced understanding of the relatively recent shift in MCAT averaging being more widely used, and our lack of knowledge of the UG and its specifics, doesnt rise to accuse the advisor of being certifiably insane.

And now Madam Speaker, I yield the floor

 

[Lord Kek]

Hi all! (Sorry if this is in the wrong thread, I wasn't sure!) I scored a 513 127/129/128/129 (~32) on the MCAT last September, and while I scored lower in chem/phys and bio than in practice tests, I was happy with my score and relieved that I would be finished – thought I wouldn't have to take it again. GPA is ~3.8, nice spread of EC's both pre-health-related and arts-related.

Speaking to my school's pre-health advisor, he says that 513 is below average for applicants at my school - I go to a Top 10 school. Average applicant stats for my school were 34, now trending around ~517 (35) with the new MCAT. He has also mentioned a different time that the competition tends to be within individual undergraduate institutions.

I know 513 is a very good score to have to get me into an MD program, but I'm worried that it looks significantly worse comparatively within my undergraduate institution (as in, a 513 from a competitive undergrad looks questionable), and I am aware that retaking is obviously high-risk, low-yield. However, the promise of a better score (based on practice tests) looks like it my best bet would be a 517-520, which may or may not be looked upon unfavorably - since retaking in general can call into question my sense of judgment etc.

Thoughts? Any insight into the situation would be very much appreciated!

You really need MSAR OP.

Your MCAT is at or above the median at 110 out of the 147 medical schools in the United States, that's roughly 75% of allopathic medical schools. It might look worse at your institution, but you also go to a highly competitive institution, so compared to the average applicant it's a very good score. Don't expect to get into any T-20 schools, but with an otherwise strong app you shouldn't have any difficulty getting into medical school.

 

[1996-]

Unless you had reason to expect a big jump, like if you were scoring 520s on practice exams, I'd keep that 513!

Thanks for providing an "unless" perspective! Always good to see those theoretical limits. Aiming for the 520s almost seems tempting, you know, if I ever had reason to believe i could get my Chem/Phys score that high (no thanks!)

You really need MSAR OP. Your MCAT is at or above the median at 110 out of the 147 medical schools in the United States, that's roughly 75% of allopathic medical schools. It might look worse at your institution, but you also go to a highly competitive institution, so compared to the average applicant it's a very good score.

Oh yeah, I have MSAR! So I'm well-aware that I'm in a good place. I've just seen much less on the ~internet~ about specifically intra-university competition, and the first I heard about it was from my pre-health advisor, so I wasn't sure how big of a deal it is. I've realized after some other feedback here that its pretty give-and-take. (Also, in hindsight, top undergraduate health careers offices are notorious for discouraging students from medical school with perfectly decent but not "Top-20 Medical School" scores just to artificially raise the average stats of their "pre-meds"). Thank you for kicking it back into perspective!

 

[efle]

Thanks for providing an "unless" perspective! Always good to see those theoretical limits. Aiming for the 520s almost seems tempting, you know, if I ever had reason to believe i could get my Chem/Phys score that high (no thanks!)

A friend's gf retook a 514 to score a 522. It does happen. And though SDN often cautions against retaking a decent score, she ended up with some phenomenal interviews and multiple admits! But you have to have practice scores predicting this kind of jump for it to be a good idea.