Didn't score well on the Mcat, which option to choose from here

[JHawk5]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm a nontrad student, that decided to go back to school 2 years ago to repair my gpa and apply to med school. I have earned a's in all classes taken and also retakes. Just received my Mcat scores and didn't do as well as I hoped, 8-5-9 for a 22.

My options from here would be to go ahead and apply indicating I plan on retaking or hold off on applying until I retake. To score where I want to I think I'm going to need to study at least 2 more months which puts me taking the test on sept 1st. Also if I held out I could beef up my app with more vol. work.

The rest of my app is very strong with 60hrs+ of shadowing, alot of vol work including a trip to Joplin mo. to help with tornado clean up. I have also worked as a phlebotomist in a hospital for 3 years. Only thing I'm missing is a long term vol. Experience (I would have this if I waited to apply) My gpa is only a 3.3 both cumulative and science, and I just don't see my self even getting considered if I apply now with a 22 Mcat.

 

[Dr.Ray]

Hi there,

I am sorry that you did not do as well as you hoped.

I think it all comes down to how much you think you can improve in that two months left. If you were doing better in practice exams and just choked on the real thing, I would say go for it this cycle and retake it.Just make sure that you indicate you will be taking the mcat again in the future.I believe most of the med schools will probably set it aside until the updated score comes in. Your application will probably be delayed for review but not too late at all.

On the other hand, if you do not think you can make a significant improvement in next two months, I would say take your time and apply next cycle. you do not want to reapply. Being a reapplicant puts you in disadvantage.

I am not an expert, but that's just my take on it.

Hope you found it helpful 😛

HT.

 

[fiznat]

I took my MCAT Sept 1st of last year, and while it was definitely late I still feel like I got a pretty fair shake at most schools. Just make sure the rest of your AACOMAS is ready and be on the ball with those secondaries. It is still definitely doable!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Retake it and apply next year.

 

[YiSheng]

You should be aware that there are people getting in with 22, but only a few. I am guessing the 5 is your verbal score? What's your practice test like? If you have consistently score a 7 or higher then I would say to mark a plan to retake and submit your application now. 3.3 cum and sci GPA is slightly below the average, but still gives you a chance if you can up the verbal to at least a 7 or 8, in my opinion.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

You should be aware that there are people getting in with 22, but only a few. I am guessing the 5 is your verbal score? What's your practice test like? If you have consistently score a 7 or higher then I would say to mark a plan to retake and submit your application now. 3.3 cum and sci GPA is slightly below the average, but still gives you a chance if you can up the verbal to at least a 7 or 8, in my opinion.

A 3.3/22 is probably 2 standard deviations from the average accepted student.

 

[JHawk5]

I took 5 timed aamc practice tests and my lowest score of the 5 was a 22 (first one I took), my highest was a 30, ave prob 27, verbal was always my lowest score, I've scored as high as 12 in both science sections on practice tests but not consistently. I guess I just feel like I would need 2 mo to score consistently above a 10 in both science sections, and also to improve my verbal. The rest of my app was ready to go, I have 5 solid letters of recommendation and also what I stated in my first post.

I would love to take a shot at applying this cycle, just not sure if applying now vs waiting till I get my second set of scores would have any advantages.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I took 5 timed aamc practice tests and my lowest score of the 5 was a 22 (first one I took), my highest was a 30, ave prob 27, verbal was always my lowest score, I've scored as high as 12 in both science sections on practice tests but not consistently. I guess I just feel like I would need 2 mo to score consistently above a 10 in both science sections, and also to improve my verbal. The rest of my app was ready to go, I have 5 solid letters of recommendation and also what I stated in my first post.

How many months did you spend studying? What material did you use? Did you use different practice tests?

 

[JHawk5]

How many months did you spend studying? What material did you use? Did you use different practice tests?

I studied for about 2 months, used berkley review for gen chem, organic, and physics, ek for bio, I also used the 1001 ek books and ek verbal 101. I took 5 of the aamc practice test but in the older, written, longer form and I think this hurt me. I really think the problem was that I took some of those classes so long ago I was learning material and not reviewing material. I tried to follow the 30+ Mcat study plan on here but because I work full time was not able to follow it all. I really put off verbal till I was taking practice tests. I also feel like the actual Mcat I took really really hit all my weaknesses in the ps section.

 

[YiSheng]

Sometimes the MCAT is a crapshoot. If you are lucky, you can get some passages on your strong points, but more likely the opposite. The best you can do is to focus on your weakness...was it the material that you didn't understand? Was it because of test taking strategy? Make sure you simulate as close to the real test as possible ie. take the CBT timed in a quiet room. And of course, between now and your retake, read, read, READ! Grab a bunch of magazines. Hit up the boring articles and stay focused. Good luck!

 

[Goro]

With a 22, you wouldn't get an interview at our school. I STRONGLY suggest retaking after figuring out what your weaknesses are, and apply only after you get a score >25.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

RVU won't even send a secondary as you don't make the minimumu of 24, and you have less than a 6 in a section. Retake it...

 

[Easy C]

RVU won't even send a secondary as you don't make the minimumu of 24, and you have less than a 6 in a section. Retake it...

Not true, about the Minimum 24 score, or at least from previous years.

Best bet is to apply to Dental school or retake it. Some 22 to 24s get interviewed but its a long shot depending on background and what you have done job wise and activity wise.

 

[FuturePharm21]

you need to retake, I called most schools and unless your an URM or disadvanaged in some major reason then you will not get an interview...I'm not being mean, it's the sad truth...

many of these schools auto-screen for scores/gpa...and most require 24 minimum and 7 subsection scores and 3.0 GPA

Just try your best, study hard, and do well on your next MCAT😀 Don't do dentistry or change your dreams just because of the MCAT....you can do it just work hard.

 

[JHawk5]

Im not thinking at all about changing my plans or picking another career, and I know I won't get an interview with a 22 and need to retake. I just wasn't sure if I should go ahead and apply indicating I'm retaking. Or apply in let's say middle of august or around sept 1st. Because this would allow me to have more vol work on my app.

 

[MongrelDr]

I'm sorry you didn't get what you were looking for... I was in your same shoes last year. Actually, almost exactly... non-trad, well-rounded experience, etc etc but I got a 23. Granted I sat the MCAT late in the game, so that factored in my choice but I opted to wait and apply this year instead. I had longer to study for MCAT, more time to do vol stuff and more time to do all these never-ending essays! But like I said it was late in the game too and I was overloaded with app stuff and couldn't find enough time to properly study for MCAT for one last retake and do the rest, you still have time tho... It's hard cause youre so close - I definitely feel your pain!!

Good Luck which ever path you go!

 

[newton4]

Dont count yourself out too soon. I got a 23, applied to around 10 schools, got interviews at two school (both were top tier DO schools),and got into both. I took the mcat really late (Aug?) and applied late (December) as well. retake the mcat if you think you can improve your score and good luck when you apply.

 

[AutumnChild]

I think this could go either way for you. You could just wait to take the MCAT again and then apply in Sept. It's later in the season, but if you rock that MCAT then you'd be in decent shape for this cycle and have a shot at an acceptance. However, if you're not desperate to get in ASAP, then you can take a little more time to prepare for the MCAT, get some more volunteering in and then apply next cycle. It's really up to you, but like everyone else said...retake is a must.

 

[FuturePharm21]

wow all these people that get a 23.... how are you getting accepted or interviews??

the schools I called said you should have 26 or higher and majority said 28 to be competitive....

 

[newton4]

To be honest if your mcat is really low (mine was 23) the rest of your application must be solid to even be considered. If your grades, EC, volunteer hours, doc shadowing hours, letters of recommendations, etc are average or below average AND your mcat is low, you dont have a chance. In my case the rest of my app was solid with 3.7 gpa (science and non-science), worked full-time through undergrad, roughly 10,000 hours service (including 2 year full-time service), lots of doc shadowing experience, published paper, research, had a family, awesome letters from teachers/docs, etc. I think adcoms know that some people simply struggle with standardized testing and the MCAT may or may not be a good indicator of that applicants full potential. You have to take an honest look at your complete application and determine if spending money to apply is wise or not this cycle. heck i have a friend that got into our MD state school with a 23 (he had taken the mcat 3 times).

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

wow all these people that get a 23.... how are you getting accepted or interviews??

the schools I called said you should have 26 or higher and majority said 28 to be competitive....

It's not surprising really, a lot of lower tier/new DO schools have mcat averages in the 24-26 range, its the older schools like CCOM & NYCOM, which are pushing the bar up with averages easily between 28-30.

 

[newton4]

It's not surprising really, a lot of lower tier/new DO schools have mcat averages in the 24-26 range, its the older schools like CCOM & NYCOM, which are pushing the bar up with averages easily between 28-30.

right, the overall averages, but that doesnt mean someone with a low mcat cant get into decent older schools. I got into KCUMB and AT Still.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

meh, not necessarily true. I got into KCUMB and AT Still.

I'm not saying it's impossible, because it is not, there is always some statistical chance you'll get in with any score combination. But to put it into perspective, with a 23 you're likely somewhere in the bottom 25% of all accepted students.

 

[newton4]

I'm not saying it's impossible, because it is not, there is always some statistical chance you'll get in with any score combination. But to put it into perspective, with a 23 you're likely somewhere in the bottom 25% of all accepted students.

your right...I edited my post...except I would say bottom 10%.

 

[drgioiadds]

I scored a 25 ( 7P, 9V, 9B) on the mcat last january and received 2 interviews - wait listed at both (3.77 gpa). I agree with the above poster that if the rest of your application is solid then you can still get a chance to interview. I do know someone who interviewed this past cycle with a 21. I would still retake the 22 though.

 

[Druggernaut]

To score where I want to I think I'm going to need to study at least 2 more months which puts me taking the test on sept 1st. Also if I held out I could beef up my app with more vol. work.

I'd hold off until next year. I graduated with someone who had a score in the low 20's, and she was accepted, but had close to a 4.0 GPA, significant leadership experience, and all that. If you take the test in September, you won't get your scores back until October. And then you're counting on doing much better than you have thus far. I wouldn't hang an application on such a big question mark, especially since I think you'd be wise to apply broadly, which is expensive.

Take your time, make sure you're going to nail the MCAT, and even leave yourself some time for a little more volunteering, and if you have any classes with C's or worse, maybe even retake one or two of them. I weighed my options about applying when I didn't yet know my MCAT score and I had a slightly lower GPA than you did, and I decided to wait. A few retakes, a new clinical volunteer leadership position, and a solid test score later, I applied to 13 DO schools, was offered interviews at 5, attended 3, accepted at 2, and was waitlisted at one. Get it done the first time through.

 

[Temperature101]

22 mcat warrants a retake...period. No matter how high is your GPA with stellar ECs, 22 mcat is almost automatic rejection.

 

[MaximusD]

I'm a nontrad student, that decided to go back to school 2 years ago to repair my gpa and apply to med school. I have earned a's in all classes taken and also retakes. Just received my Mcat scores and didn't do as well as I hoped, 8-5-9 for a 22.

My options from here would be to go ahead and apply indicating I plan on retaking or hold off on applying until I retake. To score where I want to I think I'm going to need to study at least 2 more months which puts me taking the test on sept 1st. Also if I held out I could beef up my app with more vol. work.

The rest of my app is very strong with 60hrs+ of shadowing, alot of vol work including a trip to Joplin mo. to help with tornado clean up. I have also worked as a phlebotomist in a hospital for 3 years. Only thing I'm missing is a long term vol. Experience (I would have this if I waited to apply) My gpa is only a 3.3 both cumulative and science, and I just don't see my self even getting considered if I apply now with a 22 Mcat.

Retake the MCAT. 22 is an abysmal score. Keep the faith, but you need to bring that 5 up, period.