Considering Retaking the MCAT(your input wanted)

[TheFeint]

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Yo! I just found this website today, and I think this place will the best area to get some input on my situation.

I got a 31 on the MCAT however my scores are not homogenous, meaning I got a 12V 11P and 08B. It is this 8 in biological science that is killing me, for I did a total of 1days studying for that section. I plan on applying to my state school(UT-Memphis and ETSU) so I feel that my 31 is adequate for those, but I know that I will do better next time because I will study for the biological sciences section.

So my question to anyone who reads this is ,(1) Is it worth retaking (2) why/why not?

Thanks

 

[Psycho Doctor]

Are you happy going to your home state school? If so, I wouldn't retake. A 31 is a very good score, yea i know the 8 isn't great, but...you need to weigh which is more important: going to a specific school inwhich you don't feel you'd get in with a 31 or going tomed school in 2005. Only you can answer that. And if your other qulifications are great you'd still stand a decent chance getting into other schools with a 31:12/11/8 . I'd still apply and depending on the outcome when it appraoches the deadline to apply i'd make the decision.l Good luck.

 

[bella_dottoressa]

If you don't think you can do 2 points or so better I would keep it. There is a probably pretty good chance that verbal will go down on retake, isn't there? Your bio def. would go up but unless you were consistently scoring 12+ on verbal on your practice tests and 11s on physical I wouldn't just because those scores are so good they're liable to go down. I think you have a good shot at state schools assuming a decent GPA...and you'd be a shoo in at D.O schools.

 

[TheFeint]

Thanks for the reply!

I forgot to mention that I am taking a year off(Hopfully going to Japan and doing research!) So taking the MCAT again will not put me off to the next cycle. My cumulative gpa is 3.2 and my science gpa is 3.35. The main reason why I am going for the state schools is I didn't think I would stand a chance at most private institutions, but now I feel that with a little studying I can stand a chance.

The main drawback I have is the potential to do worse. I will study, but the possibility is always there that I will do worse the second time.
So what it looks like to me is just a battle of nerves and confidence.

Also I hear people saying it's a really good score, but most of the people at Vanderbilt that I know(CO 2005) got 33-36. This makes me feel that I need to retake it to get up to that level. When you come down to it, I feel that getting into medical school is a competition amongst your peers so that is also one of my reasons for wanting to retake it.

 

[bella_dottoressa]

I see what you're saying. I'm actually in a very similar position so I can relate (30 : 8 PS, 10 VR, 12 BS), with a 3.5 GPA. I know that schools like Vandy won't probably be in the cards for me. For me and for you, I think the best plan is to apply to a good number of schools - all your state schools first, and then look at the low-mid tier private schools (with avg mcats around 29-30). You by no means need a 33-36 to get into med school; the avg for matriculants is around a 29-30. I'll also be applying to several D.O. schools. Cool experiences like your trip to Japan will work in your favor.

So what I would do is apply with your MCAT and if you have no interviews by January consider what your options are. I almost want to say that your GPA might be more of a liability than your MCAT, but really what do I know. So whether to do post-bacc work, a 1 year masters, or retake, I don't know. But yeah, I think I would apply and then if it didn't look good in Jan., I'd see what I could do to improve the app.

Good luck - You did awesome on the MCAT, you should be proud 🙂

 

[woohaa]

Necroing this thread, cant login to old account
I did retake the MCAT got a 33 must have taken it like 2007?
Didnt get into US med school
Went to UCD Dublin
Matched IM
Matched Rheum fellowship
Been attending for several years now

 

[ClashRoyaleKing]

So cool to see an update to a thread this old. Congrats!!

 

[woohaa]

Thanks I dont think they even score the MCAT the same way or even test the same things now lol!

 

[ophthoaspirant]

Necroing this thread, cant login to old account
I did retake the MCAT got a 33 must have taken it like 2007?
Didnt get into US med school
Went to UCD Dublin
Matched IM
Matched Rheum fellowship
Been attending for several years now

It is definitely inspiring news to lower MCAT scorers but we are 15+ years removed from your cycle. Nowadays FMGs have a really hard time matching and it is going to get worse with the coming avalanche of DOs who will apply for residency in the coming years.

 

[woohaa]

It is definitely inspiring news to lower MCAT scorers but we are 15+ years removed from your cycle. Nowadays FMGs have a really hard time matching and it is going to get worse with the coming avalanche of DOs who will apply for residency in the coming years.

man i thought 33 was a good score, found it so hard to get higher than a 12 on any section