How many MCAT retakes is too many for DO school?

[ManBroDude]

---

Members don't see this ad.

A little about me: I just realized the PA route might not fit me as well as I thought it would, and I may now have to drop the GRE (tricky math questions and verbal) for the MCAT. I'm a biology major with a 2.98 cGPA and 2.9 sGPA (3.065 cum after I retake a miserable D in Biochem during senioritis). I volunteer with refugee families new to the area with ESL classes (I'm trilingual) and with their medical cases scheduling. I just began work as a scribe in the busiest ER in the state, but I have yet to shadow any DOs. Since it's been 3 years since I've taken O-chem and physics (and even longer for calc!), I feel like if I tried rushing the MCAT this year I'd get a miserable score (taking a May MCAT would give me 2 months max study time along with a regular course load and maybe even the GRE for kicks and giggles).

After a search, it looks like most DO schools look favorably upon an upward trend in MCAT scores, and they'll ask you what you did to earn it, etc. If I score horrendously low (remember, it's been years and I only have 2 months to brush up), and I take an early MCAT later this year and a third one maybe next April/May, will it hurt me? Obviously the only trend possible will be upward, since I can't possibly do that well on the first one.

I realize I NEED a high 29 or higher to give me that edge. Would a 3rd MCAT hurt me or help me?

Also, what's the process of applying if I can't take that biochem class till Fall?

(thanks ahead of time!)

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Consider enrolling in a prep course ( Non-Kaplan). Buying Exam Crackers books.. audio osmosis..
Go to the mcat prep section of the board and look at the 3 month method. If you can strongly work it you might be able to hit a decent score. Otherwise I would recommend on top of that.. consider retaking some classes to boost your gpa. A borderline 3.0 is very low and will hurt you and even retaking a few courses might provide a .2 boost.
Also if you're an URM. That will help as well..

Otherwise.. if you score low again ( Below 24) I would highly recommend you look towards alternatives and maybe Podiatry in which the average scores are around 3.2/22 for accepted students. Podiatry is a healthcare field and considered by most to be a quick way of being a leg and foot orthopedic surgeon. So if ortho is interesting to you consider that as well.


Point being.. study hard.. retake a few courses and try to get your gpa up as far is it can go and score high on the mcat.

 

[SLC]

1 retake is more than you want so just do what you can to make sure you kill it the first time. Then proceed from there if need be. I really think that going in assuming you may have to re-take is a terrible idea. I think you're going to do awesome, you need to believe it yourself!

Retake the class(es) you can but don't let it delay your applications and don't let it interfere with rocking the MCAT.

Edit: I'm confused, did I miss somewhere you mentioning having taken the exam twice already? It was sorta implied at the end of your post, but it was sorta implied that you haven't yet near the beginning.

 

[Rob C]

.

 

[Torr]

3 retakes are acceptable especially if there is an uptrend. 4 gets a little weird but still not unacceptable.

+1 , but make the 3rd your last! Good luck

 

[Goro]

Even with a 45, you wouldn't get an interview at our school...all that would prove is you're a goo d standardized test taker. My AdCom would have grade doubts about your ability to handle med school with that GPA.

You need to get the GPA up to the mid 3 range, AND do well on the MCAT. Simple as that.

We also look at the average of all of the mCAT scores together.

A little about me: I just realized the PA route might not fit me as well as I thought it would, and I may now have to drop the GRE (tricky math questions and verbal) for the MCAT. I'm a biology major with a 2.98 cGPA and 2.9 sGPA (3.065 cum after I retake a miserable D in Biochem during senioritis). I volunteer with refugee families new to the area with ESL classes (I'm trilingual) and with their medical cases scheduling. I just began work as a scribe in the busiest ER in the state, but I have yet to shadow any DOs. Since it's been 3 years since I've taken O-chem and physics (and even longer for calc!), I feel like if I tried rushing the MCAT this year I'd get a miserable score (taking a May MCAT would give me 2 months max study time along with a regular course load and maybe even the GRE for kicks and giggles).

After a search, it looks like most DO schools look favorably upon an upward trend in MCAT scores, and they'll ask you what you did to earn it, etc. If I score horrendously low (remember, it's been years and I only have 2 months to brush up), and I take an early MCAT later this year and a third one maybe next April/May, will it hurt me? Obviously the only trend possible will be upward, since I can't possibly do that well on the first one.

I realize I NEED a high 29 or higher to give me that edge. Would a 3rd MCAT hurt me or help me?

Also, what's the process of applying if I can't take that biochem class till Fall?

(thanks ahead of time!)

 

[shushumiga]

Even with a 45, you wouldn't get an interview at our school...all that would prove is you're a goo d standardized test taker. My AdCom would have grade doubts about your ability to handle med school with that GPA.

You need to get the GPA up to the mid 3 range, AND do well on the MCAT. Simple as that.

We also look at the average of all of the mCAT scores together.

What is the name of your school? I would love to apply there😍

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Goro with a 45 of even a score in the 40s he'd be able to with some decent chance get accepted to a MD school or with almost 100% certainty into his choice of an SMP. Secondly there are people on this board who have been accepted to DO schools with 3.0/30s and in good frequency.

 

[nlax30]

If you don't think you will do good well on this upcoming MCAT then don't. Heck, you're already planning on having to take it later on, so why would you take it now?

Of course an upward trend is good, but if you want more practice with it take some practice exams, not the real thing.

Unless you kill this one, which is unlikely according to you, I just don't see anyway this will help you versus waiting a little and going into it as prepared as you can be.

 

[JapaneseSakura]

Consider enrolling in a prep course ( Non-Kaplan). Buying Exam Crackers books.. audio osmosis..
Go to the mcat prep section of the board and look at the 3 month method. If you can strongly work it you might be able to hit a decent score. Otherwise I would recommend on top of that.. consider retaking some classes to boost your gpa. A borderline 3.0 is very low and will hurt you and even retaking a few courses might provide a .2 boost.
Also if you're an URM. That will help as well..

Otherwise.. if you score low again ( Below 24) I would highly recommend you look towards alternatives and maybe Podiatry in which the average scores are around 3.2/22 for accepted students. Podiatry is a healthcare field and considered by most to be a quick way of being a leg and foot orthopedic surgeon. So if ortho is interesting to you consider that as well.


Point being.. study hard.. retake a few courses and try to get your gpa up as far is it can go and score high on the mcat.

This is just me but, I don't think anyone should go into a field just because someone were to think a 3.2/22 is no good. My sister was told by her own advisor that she wasn't worthy to get into medical school and she had a 3.9 GPA. I thought that was pretty messed up on what she said. She was an advisor, to advise on her degree not what she should do in life, that's wrong. She was able to get into medical school anyways and is doing highly well! If you have a love for medicine, reach for it and not settle into a career on which you think you can just get accepted into it. You know? I am not going to go into Podiatry and I am not interested anyways. Don't let anyone put limits on you and see you as a lost cost.

But I agree, study hard way in advance for the MCAT and retake a few courses over or take upper division courses. You can take the Kaplan if you want or bid on really cheap books on ebay for MCAT Study material (^*^).

Originally Posted by Goro
Even with a 45, you wouldn't get an interview at our school...all that would prove is you're a goo d standardized test taker. My AdCom would have grade doubts about your ability to handle med school with that GPA.

You need to get the GPA up to the mid 3 range, AND do well on the MCAT. Simple as that.

We also look at the average of all of the mCAT scores together.

Yeah, what school is that??? (^*^)

 

[TILalot]

Consider enrolling in a prep course ( Non-Kaplan)....


Point being.. study hard.. retake a few courses and try to get your gpa up as far is it can go and score high on the mcat.

Totally with this advice. DO NOT TAKE KAPLAN. I took em' and scored a 24. Then I retook it & studied by myself and scored a 30.

But for sure enroll in some type of prep course -- it'll give you some type of format and direction for studying.

 

[JapaneseSakura]

Totally with this advice. DO NOT TAKE KAPLAN. I took em' and scored a 24. Then I retook it & studied by myself and scored a 30.

But for sure enroll in some type of prep course -- it'll give you some type of format and direction for studying.

Oh yeah, excuse my last post. Do not take Kraplan! If you can clearly study on your own and go by your own schedule, then don't take it.

 

[Eobrien]

Just an FYI for encouragement. I took the MCAT 4 times.
I took Kaplan, and the first MCAT i voided.
The second MCAT I got a 24, third a 26, and fourth a 28. (did crappy on verbal every time)

I studied on my own for the last time and used the kaplan books and practice tests.

Now after taking a year off I was accepted at KCOM,CCOM,LECOM, and NSUCOM and had an interview at NYCOM which I declined.

Never give up on your dreams. IF you want it, take the MCAT again, but make sure you are ready. PM me if you want

 

[chrisoc13]

Totally with this advice. DO NOT TAKE KAPLAN. I took em' and scored a 24. Then I retook it & studied by myself and scored a 30.

But for sure enroll in some type of prep course -- it'll give you some type of format and direction for studying.

Yeah I disagree. I took Kaplan and scored very very well. It depends on who you are, any course is what you put into it. Don't go into it expecting it to give you a score, you still have to work your tail off for it.

As for a 45 and sub 3.0, someone said that would get you into some MD schools... that GPA will be below the cutoff for several schools to even look at the application, barring something awesome that won't fly MD.

 

[ManBroDude]

OP here, thanks again for everyone's advice! To clarify: I have not taken the MCAT yet. My original line of thinking was, "hey, it's March, I've seen a couple of people on this board get by with a 3.0/30, so why not apply this cycle? Crap, that means I have to take the MCAT in May/June and I haven't studied yet, shadowed any DOs, or spent enough time with them to garner solid LORs."

I want just go for it anyway, study my ass off for the MCAT with what I got, and gain the valuable experience of going through the application process as a sort of dry run. Who knows, I might even get an interview! Then for next year I'll be armed with solid experience and higher grades and a better MCAT.

Based on my stats, would July/August be too late to take the MCAT?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

This is just me but, I don't think anyone should go into a field just because someone were to think a 3.2/22 is no good. My sister was told by her own advisor that she wasn't worthy to get into medical school and she had a 3.9 GPA. I thought that was pretty messed up on what she said. She was an advisor, to advise on her degree not what she should do in life, that's wrong. She was able to get into medical school anyways and is doing highly well! If you have a love for medicine, reach for it and not settle into a career on which you think you can just get accepted into it. You know? I am not going to go into Podiatry and I am not interested anyways. Don't let anyone put limits on you and see you as a lost cost.

Yes, forgive me for being a bit rude. But I was just bluntly putting out an alternative just and telling the OP that in the situation he score low again after taking a long time to study. Because thing is mcat score is indicative of USMLE/COMLEX outcomes to a moderate degree, so being unable to do well on a standardized test might mean medicine isn't the best choice of a career.

 

[SLC]

Based on my stats, would July/August be too late to take the MCAT?

No, it's not too late IMO. Some schools get the admissions season wrapped up earlier than others, but I took it in September and applied this cycle. I got in, so it can be done.

But that being said, you don't want to go through the application process more than once if you can help it. It's not fun, and it induces massive amounts of stress. Also, a lot of schools are going to ask you what you did to improve your application the second time around. Bringing up your GPA a few 10ths via retakes may not cut it. Applying is also very expensive!

I'd advise you to apply when you feel confident you are ready. Don't just do it for the sake of doing it.

And to say that you've seen a few get in with 3.0/30 so you want to "give it a shot" is a little naieve. You must know that there is a lot more to getting into Med-school than GPA/MCAT right? I'm in that category you describe, but I'd be willing to bet that my EC's beat just about anyone on here (not bragging or trying to "pecker measure" with anyone, but I'd be surprised if anyone has a more interesting/impressive EC list.) It wasn't easy for me to build up my EC's, it's took me years. I could have applied a long time ago but I took my time and took as many opportunities as possible to "feel out" what I was trying to do so I'd know if it was right for me. The ONLY weak spot of my application was my sGPA. I didn't just walz in with substandard stats and a smile on my face, I had to bust my butt in every other way and it was HARD!

I just don't want you to get the impression that this process is easy when it's anything but!

 

[DbDan]

You need to get the GPA up to the mid 3 range, AND do well on the MCAT. Simple as that.

Journey over to the underdog thread.... there are plenty of people (myself included) who have gotten in with 3.0 (I'm below that in cumulative) and a 30 or higher MCAT.

 

[DbDan]

I want just go for it anyway, study my ass off for the MCAT with what I got, and gain the valuable experience of going through the application process as a sort of dry run. Who knows, I might even get an interview! Then for next year I'll be armed with solid experience and higher grades and a better MCAT.

Based on my stats, would July/August be too late to take the MCAT?

Apply once with your best application. DO NOT "do a dry run". July/August IMO would put you at a severe disadvantage with a GPA that is borderline at best. Not to say you have no chance but you are limiting yourself. At that point, you won't have your score back until August/Sept, won't have your secondaries for another week or two after that and then have to turn them in. At best you would see an October interview invite, likely for some time in December/January. (My first cycle I got invited for 2 interviews at the end of October, LECOM in mid December and Touro-NV in early Feb)

Study your ass off and rock the MCAT. Take the year and apply with a complete and stronger application, retake a couple of classes if needed to help with that GPA. You will have a much better chance.

Also, Kaplan is largely dependent on your teachers. I took Kaplan, I got a 33. I had great teachers and the study schedule forced me to stay on top of my work. My practice tests were even higher too. Kaplan isn't meant to teach you everything from scratch, its a brief review and a study plan more than anything. Don't be scared off by a few bad reviews if you feel they would be helpful.

Just my $0.02

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

As for a 45 and sub 3.0, someone said that would get you into some MD schools... that GPA will be below the cutoff for several schools to even look at the application, barring something awesome that won't fly MD.

The standard cutoff for MD schools is around 2.75. With a 2.9/40+ you'll have roughly a 60% chance of getting into a MD school in the US. Not to mention you'd be a great candidate for any SMP of your choosing.
https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/

But I mean.. aim for a 40+ but..don't rely on it.