.

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

Should I retake the MCAT?

  • Total voters
    70
My friend had a near exact replica of your score breakdown and GPA, but he had a pretty bad-mediocre cycle. definitely retake
 
You have to retake that unfortunately. Even if you get interviews you have a higher chance of just being waitlisted rather than accepted. If you had a 124 you could have gotten away with it. Aim for at least a 125.
 
1) Only one USMD school has a 122 CARS at the 10 percentile mark (Meharry)

2) A 512 total is not strong enough is absorb the damage of a 122 CARS

3) The strength of the 512 is further weakened because of the fact that the P/S score is what is making it so high (others may disagree on this last point)

On the brighter side of things, going from a 122-127 is very doable because you will be bridging a gap of medium level questions (and some on the lower end of the higher level). Going from a 127-132 (same point difference as a 122->127 jump) on the other hand, requires going to the pit of hell and back. So if you can spend 3-4 months raising CARS and keep everything else on maintenance level, you are looking at a balanced score in the 515-517 range.
 
Last edited:
I think an ADCOM suggested other people in your situation to just try out a cycle. If it does not work out then retake the MCAT.

Some schools have a 125 cutoff for each section though. I think Creighton is one. So I would just call all the schools you are applying to.
 
Immuno999 said:
I think an ADCOM suggested other people in your situation to just try out a cycle. If it does not work out then retake the MCAT.
Click to expand...

OP also has the option of retaking the MCAT in August/September and still applying this cycle since OP's GPA and EC's seem to be strong
 
Immuno999 said:
I think an ADCOM suggested other people in your situation to just try out a cycle. If it does not work out then retake the MCAT.

Some schools have a 125 cutoff for each section though. I think Creighton is one. So I would just call all the schools you are applying to.
Click to expand...

I think adcoms would recommend trying a cycle if he had a 124-125 in CARS. 122 is risky and could waste all your time/money/effort if you get less interviews.
 
MareNostrummm said:
I think adcoms would recommend trying a cycle if he had a 124-125 in CARS. 122 is risky and could waste all your time/money/effort if you get less interviews.
Click to expand...
I guess what I'm worried about most is retaking and not improving substantially given my overall score is decent.
 
Zen Arcade said:
I guess what I'm worried about most is retaking and not improving substantially given my overall score is decent.
Click to expand...

Your overall score is very good but 122 is going to sink you if you apply MD. You could get away with it for DO schools. You are going to have to bite the bullet and risk it. Even if you score a 512-513 again but your CARS jumps to 127 it will be worth it. This is a really unforgiving process.
 
Last edited:
Immuno999 said:
I think an ADCOM suggested other people in your situation to just try out a cycle. If it does not work out then retake the MCAT.

Some schools have a 125 cutoff for each section though. I think Creighton is one. So I would just call all the schools you are applying to.
Click to expand...

My friend got into Creighton with a 124 CARS (on his retake - first CARS was 123) so I don't think that's the school
 
I had the same question just like your last cycle!
I had 509 with 123 cars, I believe the response I got from adcom was to not re-take or only re-take if I know I am going to improve.
I took the summer to study for it and worked my ass off
Now here I am verified with a 514 with 125 cars. Finger cross for me.
Maybe this info also help: ESL, SES Disadvantaged, and first-gen
 
also got a 512, but with a 124 CARS. Definitely retake a 122. I think that will be too much to overlook. Shoot for a 124
 
I have a friend who got into a top 10 school with a 124 cars but a 516 overall. The trouble with a 122 is that some schools might screen you out. (see emory). Otherwise I am almost sure that schools care very little about the score breakdown.
 
If you decide to retake, make sure you invest time in your other sections, which are awesome as is, so they don't drop noticeably as well. That 132 looks especially unstable lol.
 
I'm glad I'm done with this horrible process.

A 512 is a fantastic score. A 122 in CARS is very low. That is is what...20th percentile?

However, low tier MD schools and DO schools would probably be fine with such a score though. If I were you, I'd apply.

retake if you want a mid-high tier MD, which you could probably do with a retake.
 
the good news is that CARS is more skill based than knowledge based, so it is something you can practice and eventually improve over time with enough effort... a 122 is too low and several schools will screen you out based on this score... some schools have a minimum score that you need to achieve on each section and I don't think 122 meets that threshold... definitely a situation in which you retake it...
 
Robin-jay said:
Does a 509 look better than a 512 if all sections are 125+, where the 512 has a CARS 122?
Click to expand...

I think it depends on the school... some schools will screen the 122 out and not even consider the 512, so a yea, a 509 is better than a score that is not even being registered. At schools that do not screen out low sections, I would probably take the 512 though.
 
Robin-jay said:
Does a 509 look better than a 512 if all sections are 125+, where the 512 has a CARS 122?
Click to expand...

Different scenarios entirely. A balanced 509 might be peak performance for someone and retaking would be a really bad decision. An unbalanced 512 when you’re scoring significantly better on practice tests in the low section can be greatly improved by a retake. Similarly if you don’t study at all and take the exam for some reason and get a 509, you should prepare well and retake.
 
PostMed2018 said:
I have a friend who got into a top 10 school with a 124 cars but a 516 overall. The trouble with a 122 is that some schools might screen you out. (see emory). Otherwise I am almost sure that schools care very little about the score breakdown.
Click to expand...
Subsection screens except for maybe bio don't make a lot of sense, especially when the overall is good. Someone with a 130 average on the non-CARS sections like OP would probably do fine in medical school. And I don't think the failure to appraise a dull Van Gogh passage at 10 in the morning will hold them back.
 
altblue said:
Subsection screens except for maybe bio don't make a lot of sense, especially when the overall is good. Someone with a 130 average on the non-CARS sections like OP would probably do fine in medical school. And I don't think the failure to appraise a dull Van Gogh passage at 10 in the morning will hold them back.
Click to expand...
I agree, I think they don't make much sense but alas they are the reality. So I would just advice to look up the policies of the individual schools that you are interested in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top