Already have MCAT score, want to take September MCAT for "extra" schools?

[onlyliving1000]

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Hi, so I took the May MCAT my junior year and got a 35. Based on my GPA and MCAT and stuff, talking with my premed advisor, she says my range for med schools is basically about 20-40, based on previous year's students.

I'm planning on submitting the primary around August 1-5 (I know kind of late but I had some personal issues) to about 10-15 schools.

Here's my question. I know after you submit the AMCAS primary you can change some sections, like future MCAT dates.

I want to study for the September MCAT and aiming for a 38 - 40. I know september is super late for the MCAT but I do know the good schools, like top ten at least, most of top 20, aren't necessarily rolling admissions, so it won't hurt too much, especially with a high MCAT score.

So I kind of want to submit my current MCAT score to the rank 20-40s schools, and then submit my new MCAT score to some top 20 schools, which I wouldn't have a shot at without a higher MCAT.

I do know that IF YOU DONT HAVE a mcat score at all, then schools won't review your application until the mcat comes in. However, for the schools I'm applying with my 35, should I indicate I plan to take September 12? Will they still review on time because I have a score already? Or will they wait until October regardless, until the new MCAT comes out?

Thanks for all your help!


EDIT: I've seen the replies below and thanks for the concern/advice. I wrote this above but my premedical advisor feels based on previous year's applicants I'm in the rank 20 to 40 range, and it might be snobby of me, but I really would prefer to go to a top 25 ranked medical school, which I feel I can have a very strong shot at with a 38 MCAT, but with a 35, a very low chance. My science GPA is a 3.62 from a top 5 ranked school (by US News, though their rankings don't really mean anything haha) and my advisor says even though medical schools will take into account where you went for undergrad, it's not like they'll give you a 0.2 GPA boost for going to a top 5 versus going to a top 40.

Anyway my GPA is dragging me down so I need a better MCAT.

Please just answer the question if anyone has any experience/knows.

 

[egressive]

At what top 20 school is a 35 not acceptable?...

 

[sh0rtstop34]

at what top 20 school is a 35 not acceptable?...

+1

 

[ericksonj15]

.

 

[Spinach Dip]

Do not retake. It would suck if you got a 34 this time.



A 35 is perfectly acceptable, and may even get you some consideration at some T5 schools (assuming your GPA is decent).



Good luck.👍

 

[LostinLift]

Retake a 35 only if you are scoring at least average of 38 on NEW practice tests. Even still it is extremely risky, many things can fluctuate and I can 100% recall LizzyM talking about this. She said that if an applicant retook a 35 and scored lower she would "spike him for not leaving well enough alone." Exact quote I remembered from several years ago, because I was prepared to retake a 35 also. "Luckily" I was able to retake a 33 and score higher and even though I felt confident I could get above 33, it was extremely nerve-racking to realize that if I score lower I could jeopardize my entire application cycle.

 

[onlyliving1000]

I made an edit to my above post, but can someone please answer the question if they 100% know/have had experience? Thanks!

 

[SN12357]

I made an edit to my above post, but can someone please answer the question if they 100% know/have had experience? Thanks!

Numbers at top-tier schools open doors. ECs put you through them.

Median MCATs at all the top schools hovers at 36. With a 35, you're well within range. It is extremely unlikely that a 38+ is really going to push you over the edge, and it's a very, very risky move to sit the MCAT again. I would say don't do it, but you seem pretty hung up on it, so I don't expect to convince you.

And you'd be applying late to the top-tiers if you wait for a new MCAT score. You're better off getting in all of your applications early.

 

[bigdogrob4284]

Definitely don't retake. Even if you improved, the gain would be minimal.

 

[BABSstudent]

Hi, so I took the May MCAT my junior year and got a 35. Based on my GPA and MCAT and stuff, talking with my premed advisor, she says my range for med schools is basically about 20-40, based on previous year's students.

I'm planning on submitting the primary around August 1-5 (I know kind of late but I had some personal issues) to about 10-15 schools.

Here's my question. I know after you submit the AMCAS primary you can change some sections, like future MCAT dates.

I want to study for the September MCAT and aiming for a 38 - 40. I know september is super late for the MCAT but I do know the good schools, like top ten at least, most of top 20, aren't necessarily rolling admissions, so it won't hurt too much, especially with a high MCAT score.

So I kind of want to submit my current MCAT score to the rank 20-40s schools, and then submit my new MCAT score to some top 20 schools, which I wouldn't have a shot at without a higher MCAT.

I do know that IF YOU DONT HAVE a mcat score at all, then schools won't review your application until the mcat comes in. However, for the schools I'm applying with my 35, should I indicate I plan to take September 12? Will they still review on time because I have a score already? Or will they wait until October regardless, until the new MCAT comes out?

Thanks for all your help!


EDIT: I've seen the replies below and thanks for the concern/advice. I wrote this above but my premedical advisor feels based on previous year's applicants I'm in the rank 20 to 40 range, and it might be snobby of me, but I really would prefer to go to a top 25 ranked medical school, which I feel I can have a very strong shot at with a 38 MCAT, but with a 35, a very low chance. My science GPA is a 3.62 from a top 5 ranked school (by US News, though their rankings don't really mean anything haha) and my advisor says even though medical schools will take into account where you went for undergrad, it's not like they'll give you a 0.2 GPA boost for going to a top 5 versus going to a top 40.

Anyway my GPA is dragging me down so I need a better MCAT.

Please just answer the question if anyone has any experience/knows.

3.6 and a 35, I say don't worry about it.

Schools won't look at your application if you are incomplete and a pending MCAT means you are incomplete. The GPA and MCAT are mostly for getting an interview and thus you would be judged on based on your previous numbers if schools did what you hoped. The schools will wait until mid October to look at your application.

Is that worth it? Probably not.

Also, make sure you apply to non top tier schools. Getting into medical school can seem like a lot of luck is involved. Truth be told, it is. Only a handful of people will be involved in making the decisions. Depending on who reads your application, you could get a rejection or an II.

 

[jk1006]

honestly i dont think you should retake because its a crapshoot unless youre a stellar MCAT taker who consistently hits 40s on practice tests.

youre applying pretty late. so your snobby-ness is going to kill you

i had a 3.61/34 last year and applied 08/02, didnt get verified until 09/15. so get ready for that wait.
hopefully you have all your secondaries done, so you can submit right away. The schools youre looking at your GPA will be in the 10th percentile which is not good. 35 isnt enough to carry your GPA, not for top 20 schools, but like these people have already said retaking it is a huge risk if you score lower.

check your ego and apply broadly. youre already holding yourself back by applying so late, so maximize your chances by applying to top 50 or top 75 or something

trust the words of a reapplicant, you dont want to be there, waiting a year sucks, do everything you can to get in this cycle

 

[ChemEngMD]

I always wondered who these kids were who had 3.6+ and 35+ and didn't manage to get into any schools...I think we found one . As previously stated, increasing your MCAT is NOT going to get you into these top 20 medical schools. Your numbers are there to get you an interview. Everyone who gets an interview is deemed to be academically qualified. It then comes down to your personality, ECs, and that intangible X factor that makes adcomms feel you will be an asset to their school. The top 20 is riddled with applicants who have the numbers and have amazing life stories or out of this world ECs. There's only so much room for college seniors with good stats.

Don't be such a gunner. What's more important: being a doctor or going to a top 20? If it's top 20 then you probably should have submitted back on June 10th with the other people shooting for those schools. There are only ~10 schools in the country that don't do rolling admission (yes they're all highly ranked, but they also garner the most attention from the WOW applicants).

 

[SN12357]

Don't be such a gunner. What's more important: being a doctor or going to a top 20? If it's top 20 then you probably should have submitted back on June 10th with the other people shooting for those schools. There are only ~10 schools in the country that don't do rolling admission (yes they're all highly ranked, but they also garner the most attention from the WOW applicants).

Don't even the schools with non-rolling admissions do rolling interview invites? There's still major advantage to being early.

With these threads I usually assume the advice is for the silent lurkers. The OPs aren't usually in a mindset to listen....

 

[bazinga14]

Hi, so I took the May MCAT my junior year and got a 35. Based on my GPA and MCAT and stuff, talking with my premed advisor, she says my range for med schools is basically about 20-40, based on previous year's students.

Will they still review on time because I have a score already? Or will they wait until October regardless, until the new MCAT comes out?

Please just answer the question if anyone has any experience/knows.

To answer your question, your file won't be complete until they receive your second MCAT score, so if you take the test in September you won't be complete until October. I don't know of any way that you can selectively tell schools (your reach schools) that you are retaking your MCAT but not tell your safety schools. And in my opinion, the late application will be the thing that holds you back the most.

 

[gyngyn]

The only thing you achieve by re-taking a 35 is hubris.

 

[chongli04us]

35 is good for columbia

 

[DokterMom]

Numbers at top-tier schools open doors. ECs put you through them.

Repeat

Numbers at top-tier schools open doors. ECs put you through them.

Repeat

Numbers at top-tier schools open doors. ECs put you through them.

Seriously - Don't 'fix' the only part of your application that isn't broken.

- You already have an excellent MCAT.
- Your GPA is OK
- Your timing is barely acceptable and getting worse every day you delay
- Your ECs are ????

If you want to improve your application, turn in your application already, leave the MCAT alone, and polish your GPA or ECs