High MCAT retake.

Showcase Professionalism with the PREview® Exam
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
MedPR

MedPR

Membership Revoked
Removed
10+ Year Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2011
Messages
18,577
Reaction score
57
Points
4,641
  1. Pre-Podiatry
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
If you had a 4.00/35 you'd be pretty much guaranteed to matriculate. However would you consider retaking it mid-cycle in hopes of getting a higher score and possibly more scholarship money?

A comment in that UCLA thread got me thinking about it.. Not me personally, but those of you in this position.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
MedPR said:
If you had a 4.00/35 you'd be pretty much guaranteed to matriculate. However would you consider retaking it mid-cycle in hopes of getting a higher score and possibly more scholarship money?

A comment in that UCLA thread got me thinking about it.. Not me personally, but those of you in this position.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
Click to expand...


Not applying right now, but I'd retake it if I got that score. Personal preference though.
 
ElCapone said:
Not applying right now, but I'd retake it if I got that score. Personal preference though.
Click to expand...

Yea I mean you could retake it in January or something.. At which point you've probably already been accepted. You still run the risk of a lower score, though probably not lower than a 32 and even then I doubt a school would rescind an acceptance for that.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
Won't they be able to see through that?
 
TheShaker said:
Won't they be able to see through that?
Click to expand...

I guess.. But wouldn't they all try to compete for you even more? I'd assume each school would figure all the other schools would want you more so they'd ultimately all end up throwing more money at you.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
I'd only retake it if the 35 was a disappointment relative to my practice AAMCs.
 
It also depends on how they decide to consider multiple scores for scholarships. They may average them, making it extremely difficult to reach a level high enough to be considered for an award.
 
red doctober said:
It also depends on how they decide to consider multiple scores for scholarships. They may average them, making it extremely difficult to reach a level high enough to be considered for an award.
Click to expand...

Do most schools share that kind of info with applicants?

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
Nah, a 35 is a bit above the median scores at many top 10. Also I am lazy. However if all my practice tests were above 39 then maybe.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
MedPR said:
If you had a 4.00/35 you'd be pretty much guaranteed to matriculate. However would you consider retaking it mid-cycle in hopes of getting a higher score and possibly more scholarship money?

A comment in that UCLA thread got me thinking about it.. Not me personally, but those of you in this position.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
Click to expand...

Only when.a subscore is less.than 10. Ex. 13/13/9...
 
One of my friends took the MCAT and got a 34 or 35 the first time (don't remember the exact breakdown).

He wanted to retake because his VR score was a bit low, I think it was a 10. I told him to weigh the benefits vs. the risk of getting a lower score.

Well, he spent a couple of months studying, retook it, and...got a 32 the second time around.

He's applying this cycle and so far only has a single interview invite.

So no, I would not recommend retaking a 35 unless you are highly confident that you can do at least 2 points better on the second try.


Agent B said:
Only when.a subscore is less.than 10. Ex. 13/13/9...
Click to expand...

I think this really depends on the subscore that is low. A 9 in VR? Yes, I'd say retake, but a 9 in PS is a lot less detrimental than a 9 in VR.
 
slambarscrushprs said:
One of my friends took the MCAT and got a 34 or 35 the first time (don't remember the exact breakdown).

He wanted to retake because his VR score was a bit low, I think it was a 10. I told him to weigh the benefits vs. the risk of getting a lower score.

Well, he spent a couple of months studying, retook it, and...got a 32 the second time around.

He's applying this cycle and so far only has a single interview invite.

So no, I would not recommend retaking a 35 unless you are highly confident that you can do at least 2 points better on the second try.

I think this really depends on the subscore that is low. A 9 in VR? Yes, I'd say retake, but a 9 in PS is a lot less detrimental than a 9 in VR.
Click to expand...

Ouch! That has got to hurt really badly! Regarding the subscore matter, I just follow the general rule of getting a double-digit subscore on all the sections.
 
Agent B said:
Ouch! That has got to hurt really badly! Regarding the subscore matter, I just follow the general rule of getting a double-digit subscore on all the sections.
Click to expand...

agreed. retaking a 35 is never a good idea unless you can guarantee a 40+, which is something no one can guarantee.
 
ElCapone said:
Not applying right now, but I'd retake it if I got that score. Personal preference though.
Click to expand...

You'd retake a 35? And score what? It is not worth risking. Besides, many people get a lot of money and financial assistance from said scores.
 
slambarscrushprs said:
One of my friends took the MCAT and got a 34 or 35 the first time (don't remember the exact breakdown).

He wanted to retake because his VR score was a bit low, I think it was a 10. I told him to weigh the benefits vs. the risk of getting a lower score.

Well, he spent a couple of months studying, retook it, and...got a 32 the second time around.

He's applying this cycle and so far only has a single interview invite.

So no, I would not recommend retaking a 35 unless you are highly confident that you can do at least 2 points better on the second try.




I think this really depends on the subscore that is low. A 9 in VR? Yes, I'd say retake, but a 9 in PS is a lot less detrimental than a 9 in VR.
Click to expand...

That's why I said retake later in the cycle after you've already been accepted.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
I would only retake a 35 if:

A) I did not get in first cycle, or....

B) Some school specifically told me "we'd give you a larger scholarship if you scored higher". (But I don't imagine any school saying that directly.)



But I would consider retaking a 33 or 34 if my practice tests were somewhat higher.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
There is no way in hell you'd make me retake the MCAT even for a 35+. It sounds nice, but the chances are just all over the place.
 
I think the highest score i would consider retaking is a 33. However, i got a 33 and still didn't retake. It just seemed like to much extra work for a score that was already ~90%tile...
 
Spinach Dip said:
I would only retake a 35 if:

A) I did not get in first cycle, or....

B) Some school specifically told me "we'd give you a larger scholarship if you scored higher". (But I don't imagine any school saying that directly.)



But I would consider retaking a 33 or 34 if my practice tests were somewhat higher.
Click to expand...

As someone who was in these shoes (Avg AAMC = 37, Actual MCAT = 34) I can tell you that it took me less than an hour before I decided not to retake. After I got over the initial disappointment (AAMC 10/11 were 38 and 39 respectively and I still felt like I had more in the tank) I simply thought, "Would retaking benefit my app?"

The answer was only if I scored at least a 37 and even then the improvement was somewhat marginal because a 34 and a 37 is still not as good as just scoring a 37 and both scores are high at almost every school (or about avg for a top 20). To really improve I felt like somewhere around a 40 would be worth it, but after taking the real deal it was not something I could come close to guaranteeing. Plus there was the risk of "only scoring a 34-36" or even the slight possibility of scoring lower. Add in the cost of the exam and the opportunity cost of another large chunk of time spent studying and it was obvious that it could all be better spent improving in other ways.

Additionally, there was the X-factor: I will be applying to a wide range of MD/DO schools, many with averages well below mid 30s, the last thing I would want to do is disqualify myself from interviewing at one of them based on how I may be perceived for retaking a great score.

The only way I would ever retake a 90%+ score is if one sub section was well below my averages and single digits, if I was averaging 5+ pts higher, or if the score expired. Here's something most won't understand (just like all those med students we can't understand who are happy just to pass with a 75) until they've gone through the MCAT...

IF YOU SCORE A 33+ TAKE IT AND RUN 😀 It is a great score
 
90% chance would retake 34
50% chance would retake 35
 
LOL at SDNers considering retaking the MCAT after getting an effing 35.
 
Just robbed a bank and got a million, go back in and go for more?
 
I was considering retaking a 37. Sometimes I laugh thinking about my past self.
 
MedPR said:
Do most schools share that kind of info with applicants?

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
Click to expand...

Most schools don't talk about criteria/policy for scholarships aside from calling them "merit-based." If I had to guess, the reason is because there is a degree of subjectivity that goes into it. The whole point is to recruit some of the highest qualified applicants, which is inherently subjective. I have been to an interview where they were pretty candid about scholarships. Anyone else who interviewed there would know exactly which school I'm referring to. They basically said that when making admissions decisions they roughly ranked interviewed applicants. The top-tier ranking applicants received scholarship offers, simple as that. Ranking was dependent on all factors, not just GPA/MCAT.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Does anyone have any insight/anecdotal evidence as to how this works out in terms of how the Adcom sees it?
 
I'm still debating retaking my 34 (13-9-12) (If I don't get in. Honestly it has been eating up at me and its been like 4-5 months since I got my score back. It hurts to get this score because of my situation studying for the MCAT).

My AAMC9 was 37 14-10-13, AAMC 10 was 37 14-8-15, AAMC 11 was 38 14-10-14

I was averaging 34 ish when I first planned to take my MCAT May 31st, decided to postpone to July 14th for a better score (was making A LOT of errors but I knew the material). Took like 20+ FL tests!

and the late date made my app. late as I was burnt out after studying 7 months during school!

ALL this and I got my initial average lol
 
retaking the MCAT at a 34 will likely have zero bearing on scholarship award. Not worth the time or effort.
 
Nabilesmail, looking at your breakdown, the only room for much improvement is VR. Unfortunately, this is the toughest to improve upon. You've reached the point of extreme diminishing returns for studying for PS/BS. Months of hardcore studying for those sections might garner you an extra point two. For these reasons, I'd say stick with your 34, which is already an awesome score.
 
nabilesmail said:
I'm still debating retaking my 34 (13-9-12) (If I don't get in. Honestly it has been eating up at me and its been like 4-5 months since I got my score back. It hurts to get this score because of my situation studying for the MCAT).

My AAMC9 was 37 14-10-13, AAMC 10 was 37 14-8-15, AAMC 11 was 38 14-10-14

I was averaging 34 ish when I first planned to take my MCAT May 31st, decided to postpone to July 14th for a better score (was making A LOT of errors but I knew the material). Took like 20+ FL tests!

and the late date made my app. late as I was burnt out after studying 7 months during school!

ALL this and I got my initial average lol
Click to expand...

You applied late. That's why you're having a bad cycle.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
From his MD apps, I think he may be underestimating the importance of LORs as well.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
red doctober said:
From his MD apps, I think he may be underestimating the importance of LORs as well.
Click to expand...

Yea and he applied very top heavy.. Didn't know that until now

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
red doctober said:
From his MD apps, I think he may be underestimating the importance of LORs as well.
Click to expand...

This. Common sense would kind of inform you that LORs are incredibly valuable if written well, as they could help set you apart in a good way. Otherwise they just kind of fade into the background, which doesn't help when you want to make the Adcoms remember you.

Point being, nabile - your MCAT isn't what's lacking. I also had a 9 in VR.
 
I would never retake if I got a 35...

I wouldn't even retake a balanced 31-34...
 
Plot twist: You got a 5/15/15 because you're absolutely dreadful at math. Do you retake?

Or: You became violently ill during VR and scored a 15/5/15 because you didn't void (or something). Do you retake?
 
gettheleadout said:
Plot twist: You got a 5/15/15 because you're absolutely dreadful at math. Do you retake?

Or: You became violently ill during VR and scored a 15/5/15 because you didn't void (or something). Do you retake?
Click to expand...

:prof:

I got a 44R on my first try, but was disappointed with the WR score.+pity+

So I took the MCAT again. This time I got a 27T. I couldn't be happier!:soexcited:

:prof:
 
Sdn bias is absurd. There's not much incetive to retake anything above a 30 unless you dont get in the first cycle. 34 is an amazing score - you're in the top 10% for crying outloud. If you already got in, leave well enough alone.

Not to mention the psychology behind trying to get motivated after knowing you're in.
 
FSU2013 said:
Sdn bias is absurd. There's not much incetive to retake anything above a 30 unless you dont get in the first cycle. 34 is an amazing score - you're in the top 10% for crying outloud. If you already got in, leave well enough alone.

Not to mention the psychology behind trying to get motivated after knowing you're in.
Click to expand...

SDN bias exists because users here overrepresent the top 1% of students in terms of academic ability. When you have people who know they have the potential to score in the 99th percentile on the MCAT and ask them if they'd retake a 90th percentile score (34-35) what do you expect them to say? Especially when the difference is being average (average accepted MCAT for the Top 20 is 34.98) vs being a top applicant at the most competitive schools.

For most people, such decisions seem crazy, but it's important to recognize the context of SDN.
 
gettheleadout said:
SDN bias exists because users here overrepresent the top 1% of students in terms of academic ability. When you have people who know they have the potential to score in the 99th percentile on the MCAT and ask them if they'd retake a 90th percentile score (34-35) what do you expect them to say? Especially when the difference is being average (average accepted MCAT for the Top 20 is 34.98) vs being a top applicant at the most competitive schools.

For most people, such decisions seem crazy, but it's important to recognize the context of SDN.
Click to expand...

Thanks for explaining that....
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

janedoe32
Low GPA, High MCAT
Replies
9
Views
708
saltykiosk
saltykiosk
L
mcat: to retake or not to retake
Replies
11
Views
2K
LizzyM
LizzyM
O
Unbalanced MCAT High Overall
Replies
9
Views
523
LizzyM
LizzyM
T
When to submit primary after MCAT retake?
Replies
5
Views
2K
NativegirlMD
N
N
To retake or not to retake the MCAT
Replies
15
Views
2K
HuskyMD Emeritus
H
Top Bottom