Do SMPs make you retake the mcat?

[golgiapparatus88]

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If I get into an SMP program with an MCAT score of 28 or 29, is it smart to retake the MCAT or will schools focus more on your SMP grades?

Thanks!

 

[DrMidlife]

The SMP doesn't own your competitiveness as a med school applicant...you own this.

Do everything you possibly can to max out your competitiveness. If you can score better on the MCAT, by all means do.

If you're at an SMP like EVMS or Tulane ACP or Temple, and you just want to stay there for med school, then you don't need to retake. These programs aren't going to let you in unless they view you as competitive for the host med school. But even at these schools, what are you going to do if you are on the cusp, maybe you get a low grade or two? A stronger MCAT retake would help your story.

With SMPs that don't put a high percentage into the host med school, you are on your own to sell your story to other med schools. They'll look at your undergrad GPA and frown. Then they'll look at your SMP performance, and hopefully forgive your GPA. Then they'll look at your MCAT score and the rest of your app - how will you compare to the other 5000+ applicants?

See DrJD's story for inspiration: he retook the MCAT and got a 37 or 38 during the Gtown SMP, and got buried in acceptances.

Best of luck to you.

 

[chibrown01]

Smps don't make you retake the MCAT. But in most cases it's 'generally' a good idea to retake.

Someone that has a 40 shouldn't retake but if you have a 20 then you should retake. Depends on your entire application.

 

[Compass]

The SMP grades won't replace a bad MCAT. If you need to retake it, retake it. I'm not retaking mine.

 

[golgiapparatus88]

Thanks guys. I'm just trying to feel out what I think I should do for the upcoming year or two. I just retook the MCAT and sent in my AMCAS primaries so hopefully my new scores are good enough where I won't have to worry. If I unfortunately get around a 27, I'll start deeply looking into these SMP programs. Thanks again.

 

[ygree001]

The SMP doesn't own your competitiveness as a med school applicant...you own this.

Do everything you possibly can to max out your competitiveness. If you can score better on the MCAT, by all means do.

If you're at an SMP like EVMS or Tulane ACP or Temple, and you just want to stay there for med school, then you don't need to retake. These programs aren't going to let you in unless they view you as competitive for the host med school. But even at these schools, what are you going to do if you are on the cusp, maybe you get a low grade or two? A stronger MCAT retake would help your story.

With SMPs that don't put a high percentage into the host med school, you are on your own to sell your story to other med schools. They'll look at your undergrad GPA and frown. Then they'll look at your SMP performance, and hopefully forgive your GPA. Then they'll look at your MCAT score and the rest of your app - how will you compare to the other 5000+ applicants?

See DrJD's story for inspiration: he retook the MCAT and got a 37 or 38 during the Gtown SMP, and got buried in acceptances.

Best of luck to you.

At Temple, you will need to retake it. You need a 30 with no section less than 8. But, there is MCAT prep built in to the curriculum, so you don't need to worry about retaking on your own. I don't know if any other programs have this.

 

[mommy2three]

the smp will not make you retake the mcat

however it is generally a good idea especially if you have a lower score.

plus there is the timing issue.....sometimes due to the lengths of programs your score may expire before you reapply