How much better can you really hope on the second round of MCAT?

[DrHopeless]

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Hi guys, I was wondering, how much better can you expect on the second round of MCAT?

If you have like 25 then how much better can you expect? VS if you have a 30, then how much better can you expect on the second round of the MCAT? Also would you guys even take it again if you have a 30?

 

[Code Brown]

Hi guys, I was wondering, how much better can you expect on the second round of MCAT?

If you have like 25 then how much better can you expect? VS if you have a 30, then how much better can you expect on the second round of the MCAT? Also would you guys even take it again if you have a 30?

The only way I would take it again with a 30 is if my GPA was lower than average (under 3.2), I scored a 6 or lower in one of the sections, or if I was dead set in trying to get into a top-10 school and wanted it to be easier. Remember, the average MCAT score for medical students actually in medical school (matriculants) is 29 for MD and ~25-26 for DO.

 

[drguy22]

Hi guys, I was wondering, how much better can you expect on the second round of MCAT?

If you have like 25 then how much better can you expect? VS if you have a 30, then how much better can you expect on the second round of the MCAT? Also would you guys even take it again if you have a 30?

well...i had a 25 my first time....and i got a 30 the 2nd time around.....5 pnt increase......dont look at the aamc stats....make up your own stats...ur free to improve as much as u want!!!!

 

[lane]

i've seen people backslide and i've seen improvements of up to 9 (yes, 9) points. it all depends on how much you prepared your first time around, how much more you're going to prepare your second time, and how much luck you have 😀

 

[wendywellesley]

Hi guys, I was wondering, how much better can you expect on the second round of MCAT?

If you have like 25 then how much better can you expect? VS if you have a 30, then how much better can you expect on the second round of the MCAT? Also would you guys even take it again if you have a 30?

i don't think you can make any generalizations. there are so many factors that come into play. someone could take it 3 times and get the same score, another person could go down the second time around. you should check out the theard about re-taking in the MCAT forum. when i took it the second time I went from PS 9 ---> 10 and BS 8 ---> 11 and went down a point on verbal because i was really really nervous during the exam. in between the first and second time i took the exam I took physics II and lots of upper level bios as a post-bacc. I studied a little less the second time around because i felt much more comfortable with the science than the first time. so it all depends. if you think you can do better and you were doing better on the practice exams, then yeah, if you have the energy, take it again (especially if you are somewhere in the mid to low 20s). but i agree with the above poster about taking it again with a 30.

 

[bigbassinbob]

There was a girl on one of my interviews who said she jumped 13 points the second time.

 

[Noj11]

The aamc has info on this (divded by each subsection)

http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/examineedata/tables.htm

 

[MDtoBe777]

I would take it again. Many people have improved on this board significantly (as some of the previous people have mentioned).

 

[leechy]

I tentatively offer the idea that your hope for improvement is better if you're mainly seeking to improve in physical sciences (or to a slightly lesser extent, in biological sciences). They seem easier to improve than verbal.

 

[UT-Lilly]

i went from a 24 to a 33. HOWEVER; i was getting 31's on my practice tests before the first one. i had a MISERABLE day, freaked out and had to deal with some girl's cell phone going of twice in the first test. but still, i was way more prepared for the second test--you'll only get better. you'll only cement your understanding of the concepts and get better at verbal strategy. i say go for it.

 

[skhichi]

I would say that if you studied a lot and took the test the score you get will probably represent something near the best you can hope for. If you study from now until april and make a 30 don't expect to study a lot more and make a 38.

 

[KatieOConnor]

I got a 27 the first time I took the MCAT. This was due not only to my lack of adequate preparation, but to my extreme nervousness. I couldn't find the test center, I forgot that the subways dont run as frequently on the weekends so I was almost late... I almost started crying during the exam too!

When I retook, I went up to a 38. I actually improved 5 points in VR (8-13). Basically, if you walk out of the test and feel that you were not well prepared or that you got nervous and didn't do your best, consider retaking.

But remember that this sort of improvement is really the exception and not the rule. It is not as though I studied x amount of time the second time around and therefore got a 38. Part of this was just luck that I got a test that highlighted my particular strengths.

Most importantly, if you're trying to improve your score, be confident, and don't classify yourself as a "bad test taker" or someone who "always freaks out during tests" even if these things have been true in the past.

 

[wisteria]

it depends on why you got the original score. if you maxed out of studying and were in the best possible preparation, then you prob wont' improve. however, if you were extra nervous and didnt prepare well, then you have great room for improvement.

it also depends on what sections were your weakest. in general, improving verbal is the hardest bc it takes years to improve reading comp. however, physical sciences and biological scieces can be improved within weeks

whatever you do, don't retake and do the same or worse - it just confirms that you got what you deserved.

good luck.

Hi guys, I was wondering, how much better can you expect on the second round of MCAT?

If you have like 25 then how much better can you expect? VS if you have a 30, then how much better can you expect on the second round of the MCAT? Also would you guys even take it again if you have a 30?

 

[iamgoaloriented]

It is possible to improve even if you studied a lot the first time.

There are two main reasons why people don't improve on mcat: they didnt make any significant effort to improve, or they used the same stategy they used the first time, which didnt work the first time so of course it will fail again.

A mistake a lot of people make is taking a prep course and using all of their test material without adequately reviewing science. You can tell me all you want that is about reasoning and applying knowlege, but you cant apply knowledge that you dont have, and if you use the material anyway and do crappy on it (getting wrong answer not because you cant solve problems, but you are lacking in info) you are wasting your time and will get discouraged.

Endurance/focus is also a problem. If you don't have enough of it I would suggest speding a lot of time reading. This will especially help for verbal because it is the time pressure that makes it hard, but focus is important for the whole test.

I went from (P11 V7 WN B10) to (P13 V11 WQ B11) and studied a lot the first time. The second time I just had a better approach.

A 30 is fine for most purposes though. If you have a good score, only retake if you really, really want to go to a certain top school (and you can conceivably get in with a 30 anyway).

 

[Mahi]

I have taken the MCATs three times. I got a 27 (8V 10B 10P) my first time, a 26 (6V 10B 10P) my second, and a 33 (9V 12B 12P) my third time. I was however, getting in the 30s during my practice tests which gave me some hope. I was just wondering, how would admissions committees perceive the inconsistencies in my scores. I want to go to a Texas school, so I think I can get in somewhere. I was just wondering where I would fit into maybe Southwestern or Baylor who have average MCATs of 32 and 34. Both these schools take the highest MCAT. Would it still be really hard for me to get into these schools? My GPA and ECs are strong. Thanks. And for those of you who didnt do as well as you wanted, know there is always hope

 

[iamgoaloriented]

I have taken the MCATs three times. I got a 27 (8V 10B 10P) my first time, a 26 (6V 10B 10P) my second, and a 33 (9V 12B 12P) my third time. I was however, getting in the 30s during my practice tests which gave me some hope. I was just wondering, how would admissions committees perceive the inconsistencies in my scores. I want to go to a Texas school, so I think I can get in somewhere. I was just wondering where I would fit into maybe Southwestern or Baylor who have average MCATs of 32 and 34. Both these schools take the highest MCAT. Would it still be really hard for me to get into these schools? My GPA and ECs are strong. Thanks. And for those of you who didnt do as well as you wanted, know there is always hope

I think it depends on the school. A lot of people say that taking the MCAT three times is a "red flag", but a professor of mine who know the dean of admissions at my school said that he heard from the dean himself that at U Pitt they take your best scores regardelss of how many times you took them.

Schools will vary in their beliefs and practices of course, and rumors go around (often spread by people who have strong opinion despite having no knowedge), so its hard to say. But whats done is done and if you really want to go to a school then apply there, cos you chances are zero otherwise. I think messing up a second time is conceivable and if youve improved and the rest of your application is very strong people will notice.

 

[TexPre-Med]

I did my internship at Baylor and met many of their students over the 3 months. They actually have very few students with low 30's MCATs. I know people may be upset about me saying what I am about to say, but it IS true. The average MCAT for a caucasian student at Baylor is probably around a 35 if not better. The average MCAT for the minorities is about a 29. Therefore, if you are a URM, you have a good chance of getting in with a 33. These averages together make the 33-34 that Baylor releases. Seriously the first day of my internship I met 3 girls and 1 guy. All were caucasian and not one of them had lower than a 36. I had to pick my jaw up off the ground. This is besides the fact that many of their students come from Ivy league schools.

I don't have enough experience with UTSW to say anything about them though.

 

[Wiggy73]

A friend of mine went from 25 to 37 between April and August.