32 - Should I retake mcat?

[shtumpa]

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i got a 32 on my mcat (11,11,10). If I plan on applying to DO and "lower tier" MD this summer do I need to take the new MCAT? Will decent new MCAT scores trump decent old ones?

 

[RedPhys]

32 should be fine.

 

[jurisburger]

Nope you're golden

 

[jqueb29]

NO

 

[songl4a]

.

 

[Omppu27]

i got a 32 on my mcat (11,11,10). If I plan on applying to DO and "lower tier" MD this summer do I need to take the new MCAT? Will decent new MCAT scores trump decent old ones?

Most DO schools have a average MCAT in the mid to high 20s for their accepted students. A 32 even places you in competition for a seat at mid tier MD medical schools.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Congrats on that balanced score, OP. You'll be fine.

 

[Dr Stephen T Colbert DFA]

Your MCAT is fine. DO NOT RETAKE.

 

[Doug Underhill]

The national average amongst matriculants last year was 31. The median was 33.

 

[Sandmeezy]

The national average amongst matriculants last year was 31. The median was 33.

No Doug, no.

 

[MrLogan13]

Hell no.

 

[Goro]

If you retake that perfectly good score, so help me I'll reach into your computer screen and smack you upside the head!

i got a 32 on my mcat (11,11,10). If I plan on applying to DO and "lower tier" MD this summer do I need to take the new MCAT? Will decent new MCAT scores trump decent old ones?

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

If you retake that perfectly good score, so help me I'll reach into your computer screen and smack you upside the head!

Ah, I was waiting for this!

 

[baxt1412]

fml

 

[Omppu27]

No Doug, no.

I don't think he's wrong. Is he?

 

[M12B]

Ah, I was waiting for this!

As was I Cyberdyne!

 

[A7X]

I don't think he's wrong. Is he?

33 is the median duplicated score according MSAR. 31 is the unduplicated number.

 

[pbjbanana]

I'm going to go against popular opinion here and say that it depends on your situation. If you're fine with just going to any medical school then sure, don't retake the MCAT. If you're trying to gun for a top school and you scored much lower than what you were scoring on your practice exams/what you know you can do, then give it some serious thought. I know the vast majority of my peers at my school would not have been happy with a 32 (it is of course a fine score with respect to the national average). Many of them even reconsidered retaking a 35. I also know a few very bright individuals who retook a 36+ and ended up with a 40+ score because they knew what they were doing and did not feel that the first score represented their potential. These people ended up gaining acceptances at Harvard, UCSF, UPenn, WASHU, etc. I believe that while objectively speaking, a 32 is a fantastic score to gain admission to a US MD, retaking the MCAT is also highly influenced by individual situations. In the end, these are all anecdotal experiences. I just believe that it would be naive to blindly say never retake a 30+ score no matter what without taking a look at the alternative.

If I plan on applying to DO and "lower tier" MD this summer do I need to take the new MCAT?

edit: unfortunately I can't read... OP don't retake the MCAT

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Lol

 

[Eppur Si Muove]

No and your good for both Md and DO

 

[Sandmeezy]

I don't think he's wrong. Is he?

Read his sig.

 

[ridethecliche]

No Doug, no.

DAMMIT. Beaten to the punch.

Though I'm glad people are picking up the slack when I'm busy.

 

[Sandmeezy]

DAMMIT. Beaten to the punch.

Though I'm glad people are picking up the slack when I'm busy.

I gotchu son.

 

[razzmatazz87]

Only if you enjoying studying in your free time, taking standardized tests, and wasting $300 for the test

no, OP. do not do it.

 

[shtumpa]

Thanks for the feedback

 

[helm222]

I know I'm going to get flamed but I'm worried about my BS section score and I'm from a relatively competitive state. I was scoring 13+ in practice.
Total 35
PS 13 VR 11 BS 11

 

[xffan624]

I know I'm going to get flamed but I'm worried about my BS section score and I'm from a relatively competitive state. I was scoring 13+ in practice.
Total 35
PS 13 VR 11 BS 11

What are we starting a "Funny things overly paranoid pre-med students say" Thread?

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Sorry, @helm222 you are officially

with that score.

 

[gyngyn]

33 is the median duplicated score according MSAR. 31 is the unduplicated number.

MSAR is going to publish unduplicated medians this year!

 

[SkipJunior]

Nope you're golden

Your profile pic is an angry version of my profile pic lol. @Sandmeezy and I both have good taste lol! 😉

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

I know I'm going to get flamed but I'm worried about my BS section score and I'm from a relatively competitive state. I was scoring 13+ in practice.
Total 35
PS 13 VR 11 BS 11

Median MCAT according to last year's US News:
UCSF 35
Hopkins 35
UCLA 35
Duke 35
Vanderbilt 35
NYU 35
Baylor 35
Pitt 35
UCSD 34
Emory 34
UVA 34
Michigan 34

 

[FutureMDiA]

32 is pretty good score.

 

[SkipJunior]

32 is pretty good score.

32 is an amazing score considering the national average is 25 and plenty of people get accepted to med school with a 29-30.

 

[helm222]

sdn is hte land of everyone scoring 36 and above so it's hard to not get discouraged.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

sdn is hte land of everyone scoring 36 and above so it's hard to not get discouraged.

That's not true. Plenty of successful people with non-stratospheric MCAT scores post here. But for some reason, SDNers have a tendency to overemphasize the super high scores.

Face it, there are legions of pre-meds who would be thrilled with your score. You did really well!

 

[workethic712]

MSAR is going to publish unduplicated medians this year!

sorry if this is a dumb q but what does duplicated and unduplicated mean?

 

[gyngyn]

sorry if this is a dumb q but what does duplicated and unduplicated mean?

MSAR previously included an applicant's MCAT in calculations for every school into which that applicant was accepted. This tends to inflate the true median since high scorers often had multiple acceptances.