August MCAT as a Junior?

[swifteagle43]

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Hey Guys and Gals

I was wondering if it would be smart to take the august MCAT in the early part of my Junior year? If I break 30 then to chill out otherwise retake the test in April and aim to score higher. However, I am wondering how the admissions committee will look at this. Will it look bad if i score really low(like mid to high 20s) but I had a big jump(high 30s)?

 

[DrHopeless]

Yeah I did the same, it turned out great. But yeah I am having the same question. How would they look at it? Might take it again, just because I have more advance courses, that would help. But the only problem is that what if I go down?

 

[avinash]

Hey Guys and Gals

I was wondering if it would be smart to take the august MCAT in the early part of my Junior year? If I break 30 then to chill out otherwise retake the test in April and aim to score higher. However, I am wondering how the admissions committee will look at this. Will it look bad if i score really low(like mid to high 20s) but I had a big jump?

umm as long as you do signifcantly better second time around i dont see why they would look down at it, i mean you re took it beacause you wanted a better score right?....

 

[medic170]

Hey Guys and Gals

I was wondering if it would be smart to take the august MCAT in the early part of my Junior year? If I break 30 then to chill out otherwise retake the test in April and aim to score higher. However, I am wondering how the admissions committee will look at this. Will it look bad if i score really low(like mid to high 20s) but I had a big jump(high 30s)?

Will you have all of the prerequisites done by then?

BTW, high 20's is not a "really low" score. The average for accepted students is 28-29.

 

[tinkerbelle]

I agree with avinash. As long as you do better, med schools don't care. I took the aug MCAT, got a crappy score, and then retook in April. Personally, I think the April MCAT is much easier. But anyways, only one or two med schools commented on me retaking the MCAT-- and all they did was congratulate me on the improvement.

 

[45408]

Hey Guys and Gals

I was wondering if it would be smart to take the august MCAT in the early part of my Junior year? If I break 30 then to chill out otherwise retake the test in April and aim to score higher. However, I am wondering how the admissions committee will look at this. Will it look bad if i score really low(like mid to high 20s) but I had a big jump(high 30s)?

Let's see....if you mean after your sophomore year is finished, then yes, I recommend this. It's what I did, and it worked out great.

If you score a 30+ and you're not planning on any MSTP programs, then I wouldn't retake it later - you won't want to, trust me!

If you do score lower than you think you're capable of and/or lower than what you need to get into the schools you want to attend, then definitely retake it.

 

[Zephyrus]

Let's see....if you mean after your sophomore year is finished, then yes, I recommend this. It's what I did, and it worked out great.

If you score a 30+ and you're not planning on any MSTP programs, then I wouldn't retake it later - you won't want to, trust me!

If you do score lower than you think you're capable of and/or lower than what you need to get into the schools you want to attend, then definitely retake it.

Yup. This is my plan too, in fact. I'm taking physics during the summer (had AP level C in high school but didn't take placement tests) while preparing for the MCAT. much easier to prepare *and* if you're taking prereq classes, there will be virtually no memory decay-- fire out of the gate from the final exam and into the test. a previous poster also stated that the april mcat seems easier than august, which I think is erroneous. perhaps during a particular year it was widely regarded that a particular form on one administration was harder than another, but in general the tests are designed to be equal and are curved identically. i would even argue that the curve is more generous in august because there are a large number of retakers who are struggling to make an acceptable mark (although there are also the OCD sophomores who have finished prereqs early and want to nail the thing in advance, plus retakers who have genuinely put forth a massive effort to succeed)-- so all in all, don't think about any administration being "harder" than another. just do what works best with your personal/academic schedule.

Z

 

[45408]

I'm taking physics during the summer (had AP level C in high school but didn't take placement tests) while preparing for the MCAT.

Placement tests for what? My school only places you into chemistry (and only then, I think you can only skip out on Chem 100), math, English, and foreign languages - nothing like bio or physics.

 

[dmhill99]

Placement tests for what? My school only places you into chemistry (and only then, I think you can only skip out on Chem 100), math, English, and foreign languages - nothing like bio or physics.

It sounded like he meant the AP test in high school, a kind of placement test.