How bad is getting a 26 on the MCAT the first time?

Med School Insiders
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
S

skyblue2000

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2009
Messages
451
Reaction score
6
Members do not see this ad.
I'm wondering, how bad is getting a 26 the first time doing the MCAT, even if you get like a 32 (my goal) on the second try?

The problem is, I want to apply in the first week of June to have everything verified and complete, and click the box that says I'm planning on re-writing the MCAT. I am going to re-write on June 17th.

Thus, any schools I apply to, would they automatically reject me by seeing the 26, or just not see my application at all until the June 17th MCAT score is released?

Thanks!
 
It's not great. But not that bad. I think that you should be aiming for a 45 always.
 
serenade said:
It's not great. But not that bad. I think that you should be aiming for a 45 always.
Click to expand...

LOL I'm just being realistic. Well I got 23 at the beginning when I finished content review (thats strictly just reading the material) without doing any practice questions or working on strategy, etc.

So I'm hoping with practice and working on the proper speed, I am pick it up much higher than the 26.
My actual goal is 34, but i'd be happy with a 32 and ecstatic with a 33.
 
Reality is what you make of it. If you hope and aspire for a 45, you might just get it 😉. But anyways good luck.
 
I made a 26 on my first try, but made a 31 on my second try and i was in a similar situation as you. I didnt receive any correspondence from the schools i applied to until after my second score was released. I self studied to increase my score, and during my interviews it scored me points and showed my determination.
 
skyblue2000 said:
I'm wondering, how bad is getting a 26 the first time doing the MCAT, even if you get like a 32 (my goal) on the second try?

The problem is, I want to apply in the first week of June to have everything verified and complete, and click the box that says I'm planning on re-writing the MCAT. I am going to re-write on June 17th.

Thus, any schools I apply to, would they automatically reject me by seeing the 26, or just not see my application at all until the June 17th MCAT score is released?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

So just wait to submit your primary application until you get back your score, which should be around a month later. You lose nothing by doing this as your application is not considered complete without an MCAT score (and you dont want to apply with a 26). Just make sure you have everything else like letters and transcripts in so when you get your score you can just hit send. Submitting in mid july is really not that late anyway. I submitted in mid july and had three interview invites by mid september.
 
It's bad considering people get 45's. but its all up to on your own personal scale.
 
I would wait. A 26 isn't too astonishing..

My first practice test was a 27, albeit a very early one, and I improved to a 33 so it's no impossible my friend.
 
my first practice test at TPR (i took the course) was a 18 or something. no studying. i completely bombed physics and my breakdown was atrocious (i think it was like P:5 V:7 W:O B:6). got mono...studied with mono....averaging around a 28 on my tests.

my first real test i took i was sick with mono....got a 27.

got healthy, studied again. retook it. got a 36.

you can totally up your score and it will be fine. they'll just ask you on your interviews to explain how you, Skyblue2000, jumped from a 26 to a 45!!! and you'll tell them, it's because you rock.

if you put down that you are retaking the mcat, basically your file will just "sit in the pile" until your new mcat scores are received. once received, your file will be processed. so take it again and rock it and you'll be golden! and do apply broadly.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys!

I am really hoping I can get a 34 (or more!) ....I have 55 days until I write it....and hoping with practice, I will be gold!

Stupid orgo and verbal are my weak points, I guess start there 😛
 
i got a 26 on my first attempt and 31 on my second-it's definitely not the end of the world. most schools didn't even mention it and one interviewer even told me that the improvement in mcat score was his favorite thing on my app (i was accepted there). that being said, make sure you don't take the test again until you're 100% ready and confident you'll get at least a 30.

as for your second question, if you indicate on amcas that you're taking a future mcat most schools will just ignore your application until the second set of scores are in. i would suggest submitting amcas sometime in june, then it should be processed by the time you get you scores back and you'll be good to go the middle of july-still on the early end of the timeline.
 
I got a 26 the first time. Then a 27 on the second. I was testing in the 37-38 range. I'm at an MD school. So, not the end of the world.
 
I would apply if the rest of your app is decent. I spoke to a resident at mayo clinic recently who applied with a 23 MCAT and a decent gpa (think it was a 3.6ish) and got accepted somewhere. It can happen. Just don't bank on it
 
Attempt 1: 27 Q

Attempt 2: 32 P

Knew the same amount of information before each exam (took only 2 months apart and just kept things "fresh"). Best of luck!
 
I also started around high 20's, and ended up in the 30's for my real score. So it's not a big deal.
 
On a side note, even applying with a 26/27 doesn't automatically kill your chances. You might have to differentiate yourself in other ways but people get in with those scores. So don't lose hope.
 
>30 is where it's at. 26 will get you into a MD school if you're an "underrepresented minority"
 
I got 26 and then 27 and am accepted at two schools + 1 wl that I care about. It won't kill you unless there is nothing else in your application to redeem it. Definitely re-take it and let them know that but don't worry about how its gonna make you look...unless you get a lower score the second time.
 
skyblue2000 said:
I'm wondering, how bad is getting a 26 the first time doing the MCAT, even if you get like a 32 (my goal) on the second try?

The problem is, I want to apply in the first week of June to have everything verified and complete, and click the box that says I'm planning on re-writing the MCAT. I am going to re-write on June 17th.

Thus, any schools I apply to, would they automatically reject me by seeing the 26, or just not see my application at all until the June 17th MCAT score is released?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

your goal should always be a 45...after you take a test go over every question and make sure u understand how and why you got it wrong. in my opinion this is the best attitude to go in with.

if you are confident that your second mcat will land in the 32+ range, i would actually wait to submit the primary until the score comes in. a july AMCAS submission will not kill you, i submitted in late july and got interviews at 75% of the places i applied. on the other hand, many schools will look at a 26 and throw your application in the garbage pile. the average applicant has an mcat score of 27, and 50% of those 27 mcat-ers do not get accepted to a single med school. again, my advice is wait for the new score.
 
I would like someone to answer the OP's original question of how bad a 26 would look when someone has a 32 on the second try.

I'll give it a shot to start things off: there are some schools that look at the average of all your MCAT scores. So looks like you'd score a 29 at those schools. That's not good, as compared to schools without such a policy.

Anyone have experience with previous low MCAT score coming up in an interview or having a significant effect on the application, despite a good score second time around?
 
futureIDdoc said:
Anyone have experience with previous low MCAT score coming up in an interview or having a significant effect on the application, despite a good score second time around?
Click to expand...

not sure about the averages. most of the schools i spoke with took the highest score (i called over 20). some others took the most recent.

as far as this coming up, yes.....all of my interviewers and one of the dean's, with whom i interviewed, asked how on earth i made a 9 point jump. they said they see 2 or 3 point jumps....but 9 was unheard of. then i explained to them i had mononucleosis when i studied/took the test, had my medical records/lab results confirming my illness handy, left it with them, and they said "oh. wow. well that explains it."....and none of them had a problem with it.

if you have a legit reason, it doesnt impact you i suppose. regardless, it likely won't impact you as much as you may think. however a person who got a 35 the first time may be viewed slightly higher than someone who gets a 28 then a 35....assuming all else is equal.
 
i got in with a 29Q

i'm not a URM so just keep working at it and you'll be fine
 
MossPoh said:
I got a 26 the first time. Then a 27 on the second. I was testing in the 37-38 range. I'm at an MD school. So, not the end of the world.
Click to expand...
You must've had one hell of a GPA to make up for those scores:claps:
 
fahimaz7 said:
>30 is where it's at. 26 will get you into a MD school if you're an "underrepresented minority"
Click to expand...

🙄🙄 Here we go again. You know that the MCAT score difference between URM's and ORM's is like, what, 1.5 points, right? LOL you're such a troll or dumb for not checking facts before posting blatant comments.
 
I made a 19 then a 31. I've been accepted to 2 schools. You'll be fine.

Edit: I'm also a white male if that matters.
 
I'm also Canadian, and from what I've read I should get at least a 32 to have some sort of a shot!
 
Electronegative said:
You must've had one hell of a GPA to make up for those scores:claps:
Click to expand...

Nope. I had a strong upward trend...kinda. Actually, my cum was around 3.3ish I think?

I was a rather different applicant going in though. I'm an upper-middle class white kid (which isn't different) but I grew up in a fairly rural area and my permanent address was in a very very rural area. I had degrees in Information Science and Technology and German Lit. I did two study abroad programs and more traveling on top of that. I tutored German and English. Raised lots of money for "THON" at PSU. Volunteered at the humane society. Was a teaching assistant in usability engineering. I mean, I had to combine lots of things to make stuff fit. I had multiple jobs ranging from food services in dining halls to hig-end athletic training. I had published poetry. Played in a few bands. Had research in PACS implementation and in Cognitive Psych type stuff in radiology......and I had somewhere around 200+ hours of shadowing along with a personal statement I worked on for 2 months or so.

Amongst other things.

You can have a "bad" gpa and mcat, but you have to make up for it in other areas. Pretty much all that stuff above except for shadowing was done BEFORE I wanted to go to med school as well.
 
Ischemic said:
On a side note, even applying with a 26/27 doesn't automatically kill your chances. You might have to differentiate yourself in other ways but people get in with those scores. So don't lose hope.
Click to expand...

This. It's below average, sure, but people get in with mid-high 20s every year. Improve it if you can, as much as you can, and make sure you've got a strong app otherwise.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

O
How bad is it? Academic IA
Replies
5
Views
1K
Goro
Goro
LMAGZ
How bad is a W on my transcript?
Replies
3
Views
2K
Goro
Goro
M
  • Locked
How bad is reapplying after being accepted?
Replies
33
Views
5K
chilly_md
chilly_md
E
SDN Article: The Time is Right: Prehealth Application Timelines
Replies
1
Views
992
AsclepiusAdvisingLLC
AsclepiusAdvisingLLC
N
Is the “holistic” review a load of nonsense?
Replies
17
Views
2K
LunaOri
LunaOri
Top