Advice on MCAT Retake

[sylvester500]

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Hey all. First time post. Quick Q — got 518, 519, and then a 512 on AAMC FL 1-3. Did well on q-packs (upper 80s - low 90s) and SBs (mid 70s). So, when I got my 513 MCAT from 8/17, I was kind of surprised (really felt the 512 was an outlier, just was not focused at all when taking it).

I'm not aiming for Harvard, but my GPA isn't great (3.55, with last 3 semesters straight 4.0). Also, I'd like to go straight MD admissions; otherwise I'm not picky.

Anybody think a retake is warranted? My only reasoning is because I was a little disappointed I wasn't closer to 520.

 

[Dr panda]

Don't do it.

 

[Engrailed]

Hey all. First time post. Quick Q — got 518, 519, and then a 512 on AAMC FL 1-3. Did well on q-packs (upper 80s - low 90s) and SBs (mid 70s). So, when I got my 513 MCAT from 8/17, I was kind of surprised (really felt the 512 was an outlier, just was not focused at all when taking it).

I'm not aiming for Harvard, but my GPA isn't great (3.55, with last 3 semesters straight 4.0). Also, I'd like to go straight MD admissions; otherwise I'm not picky.

Anybody think a retake is warranted? My only reasoning is because I was a little disappointed I wasn't closer to 520.

If you're not dead set gunning for a god tier school/T10s etc, 513 is more than enough for MD schools, granted that you have a well rounded application (doesn't have to be spectacular but just a decent amount of ECs/clinical + non clinical volunteering/good LORs/ and well written secondaries-for the basics you can just peruse sdn for what those "checkboxes" are). I wouldn't go through the trouble of retaking a 513.

 

[Med Ed]

Hey all. First time post. Quick Q — got 518, 519, and then a 512 on AAMC FL 1-3. Did well on q-packs (upper 80s - low 90s) and SBs (mid 70s). So, when I got my 513 MCAT from 8/17, I was kind of surprised (really felt the 512 was an outlier, just was not focused at all when taking it).

I'm not aiming for Harvard, but my GPA isn't great (3.55, with last 3 semesters straight 4.0). Also, I'd like to go straight MD admissions; otherwise I'm not picky.

Anybody think a retake is warranted? My only reasoning is because I was a little disappointed I wasn't closer to 520.

You've got an 88th percentile score that is above the national average for matriculants. This combined with your upward GPA trend show you are academically prepared for medical school. Your success will not depend on bumping your MCAT score over the 90th percentile. It will depend on the rest of your application, your school list, and your interview performance.

 

[sylvester500]

Don't do it.

Noted. Thanks.

 

[sylvester500]

You've got an 88th percentile score that is above the national average for matriculants. This combined with your upward GPA trend show you are academically prepared for medical school. Your success will not depend on bumping your MCAT score over the 90th percentile. It will depend on the rest of your application, your school list, and your interview performance.

Thank you for the advice.

 

[sylvester500]

If you're not dead set gunning for a god tier school/T10s etc, 513 is more than enough for MD schools, granted that you have a well rounded application (doesn't have to be spectacular but just a decent amount of ECs/clinical + non clinical volunteering/good LORs/ and well written secondaries-for the basics you can just peruse sdn for what those "checkboxes" are). I wouldn't go through the trouble of retaking a 513.

Ya — really just wanted a shot at Emory / SLU / Georgetown. So not too top, but definitely want the opportunity to explore research in med school.

 

[deleted1009115]

I’m in a similar situation, was doing a lot better on practice and ended up with a 51*. Frustrating, but not worth a retake. A well rounded app with good ECs should give you a shot at the schools you mentioned imo! I’m applying next cycle, happy to connect if you want to chat more!

 

[sylvester500]

I’m in a similar situation, was doing a lot better on practice and ended up with a 513. Frustrating, but not worth a retake. A well rounded app with good ECs should give you a shot at the schools you mentioned imo! I’m applying next cycle, happy to connect if you want to chat more!

Sure! Is there a direct messaging feature on this site?

 

[deleted1009115]

Sure! Is there a direct messaging feature on this site?

Messaged you!

 

[Gull81]

I retook a 515 and improved to a 518. I had an outlier section that I knew I could do better on. My advice; if you know you can do better and are comfortable with the prospect of doing worse possibly, shoot your shot. I was fully aware I could get unlucky and slide down a couple of points, but I felt if I got lucky I could have bumped up 4-6 points as well.

 

[Bonne Nuit]

Ya — really just wanted a shot at Emory / SLU / Georgetown. So not too top, but definitely want the opportunity to explore research in med school.

Your MCAT puts you in range of those schools. Remember that at the Jesuit institutions (SLU, Georgetown), a strong track record of community service is going to be critical for your application.

 

[Goro]

Hey all. First time post. Quick Q — got 518, 519, and then a 512 on AAMC FL 1-3. Did well on q-packs (upper 80s - low 90s) and SBs (mid 70s). So, when I got my 513 MCAT from 8/17, I was kind of surprised (really felt the 512 was an outlier, just was not focused at all when taking it).

I'm not aiming for Harvard, but my GPA isn't great (3.55, with last 3 semesters straight 4.0). Also, I'd like to go straight MD admissions; otherwise I'm not picky.

Anybody think a retake is warranted? My only reasoning is because I was a little disappointed I wasn't closer to 520.

Do NOT retake!!!
Target:
BU (maybe)
Hofstra
U Toledo
U VM
Pitt
Miami
St. Louis
Albany
Rochester
Rush
Rosy Franklin
Wayne State
MCW
NYMC
VCU
EVMS
Wake Forest
Jefferson
Temple
Tufts
Drexel
Creighton
George Washington
Georgetown
Emory
Tulane
Dartmouth
Loyola
Netter
Oakland-B
Western MI
Seton Hall
Your state school(s).
Nova MD
CUSM IF you're from CA
Kaiser if you’re from CA
TCU/UNT
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)

 

[bluepeony]

Do NOT retake!!!
Target:
BU (maybe)
Hofstra
U Toledo
U VM
Pitt
Miami
St. Louis
Albany
Rochester
Rush
Rosy Franklin
Wayne State
MCW
NYMC
VCU
EVMS
Wake Forest
Jefferson
Temple
Tufts
Drexel
Creighton
George Washington
Georgetown
Emory
Tulane
Dartmouth
Loyola
Netter
Oakland-B
Western MI
Seton Hall
Your state school(s).
Nova MD
CUSM IF you're from CA
Kaiser if you’re from CA
TCU/UNT
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)

Are all of these schools besides the CA ones OOS-friendly?

 

[Goro]

Are all of these schools besides the CA ones OOS-friendly?

Yup. I only advise on OOS friendly schools.

 

[sylvester500]

Do NOT retake!!!
Target:
BU (maybe)
Hofstra
U Toledo
U VM
Pitt
Miami
St. Louis
Albany
Rochester
Rush
Rosy Franklin
Wayne State
MCW
NYMC
VCU
EVMS
Wake Forest
Jefferson
Temple
Tufts
Drexel
Creighton
George Washington
Georgetown
Emory
Tulane
Dartmouth
Loyola
Netter
Oakland-B
Western MI
Seton Hall
Your state school(s).
Nova MD
CUSM IF you're from CA
Kaiser if you’re from CA
TCU/UNT
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)

Righteous. Thanks.

 

[iris314]

I retook a 512 and did significantly better, but I would not recommend it to others. I personally would only recommend it if either a) your score is going to expire or b) there was some external factor that significantly impacted your preparation/performance the first time that you are 100% sure would not be present the second time around.