Edit: Thanks!
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Now I have seen previous threads like this, with clear indications from adcoms that retaking anything > 34-35 is pure foolishness and may likely count against me. I am an SMP student with a projected 3.56 SMP gpa at the end of my program. My current stats are: cGPA: 3.11 sGPA: 3.00 MCAT: 513 Retake: 516
I have already retaken the MCAT, as indicated above. This being the research year of my master's, I have little time or funds to engage in serious postbacc work. I will be taking ~12 credits postbacc to hopefully raise my cGPA and sGPA to 3.2 and 3.1, respectively.
My question is, after retaking important courses that I did poorly in previously (Orgo II, Cell Bio, Biochem) this year, will retaking the MCAT (only if the practice AAMC MCAT is +/- 1 point of 521) be useful for my application? The primary motivation is to do the best I can with the time/resources I have.
*commence unanimous announcements of craziness*
The idea to retake is based on experiences of others in my program. I have a strong interest in research (3000+ research hours, book chapter, etc.) and would like to develop an application for a research-oriented school. I have no expectation of receiving attention from the US News top 30, but would rather attend a school with strong research opportunities. Those successful in entering those schools from my SMP all had 38+ MCATs, even if retakes. I remember @LizzyM indicating students retaking 34s to aim for research schools.
And nope, I am not familiar with another thread like mine. Sorry for any redundancy. I was hoping for advice taking into account my academic details.