How did Multiple MCATs affect you?

[scz211]

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Hi,

My question is mainly for MCAT retakers or adcoms. Is it very common to be brought up during interviews? Do you think you *didn't* receive interviews because of your multiple MCAT's?

I am personally going to have taken it 3 times after May. My first two were within a few weeks of each other, two years ago, and I never opened a book. They were both low 20's. But my current AAMC FL's are 35-37, I knew if I applied myself this time, I'd be able to do it. But I'm a bit discouraged because I hear some schools don't even field apps from students who have taken it more than 2x.

I took the MCAT 3x and recently was accepted to one of my top choices. Looking back, my retakes were misguided and the score jumps were small (33 - 34 - 36) but I've heard my school gives the most weight to the most recent score. 3 times is definitely not optimal but it's not the end of the world.

 

[samac]

I took the MCAT 3x and recently was accepted to one of my top choices. Looking back, my retakes were misguided and the score jumps were small (33 - 34 - 36) but I've heard my school gives the most weight to the most recent score. 3 times is definitely not optimal but it's not the end of the world.

Sometimes I don't understand people . . .
Retaking a 33. Then a 34. Blows my mind.

 

[j306c954]

Multiple MCATs are affecting me by making me slowly lose my mind 🙂

 

[mbeus]

Had your old score expired?

Nope. They were only 6 months apart

 

[piii]

What is asked of candidates that retake a score in the 32-34 range?

Well I'd bet that 99% of the time they'll think you are arrogant and a poor decision maker, unless you get 4 points above.

 

[piii]

Right, but if you're aiming for Top 20 research schools and your MCAT score is in the range of 31-33 and you retake for obvious reasons (because you probably won't get an acceptance let alone an interview with a <10th percentile stat for their school) and you score in the high 30s then it's probably fine right?

Sure but regardless of what schools you are aiming for, if you don't have any indication that you can score high 30s based on practice tests, then you shouldn't retake it. Even if you want to go top 20, if you aren't getting high 30s on practice exams, then you have no reason to think retaking a 32 would fair better. If you were consistently getting 37s on practice exams, then you can retake a 32.