Is taking the MCAT a fourth time too much?

[BillyGoatGruff]

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I took two on paper, and scored a 27 and 28. Then took it on computer and scored a 29 (despite being much better prepared for the exam, I had a hell of a time dealing with the computer format). All of these scores I obtained by studying on my own--and doing a marginal job at preparing.

So, now I'm taking the Kaplan course this time around, and it really seems as though people easily improve their scores by 3 or 4 points with the course.

Are there any consequences to taking it a 4th time? That is, assuming I get a better score.

Do schools look down on applicants who have taken the exam that many times? Even if their score keeps improving?

 

[MossPoh]

From a personal perspective I think it is too much. I admire your perseverance, but 4 times is a lot of chances. I think most schools accept doing poorly the first time. The second time a potential applicant usually shows it was just a fluke. The 4th just stinks of desperation though. A 29 isn't abysmal. I'd try to roll with it if I could.

Kaplan will most likely not say anything awe inspiring. I took the kaplan course and feel it is best for preparing those who never took the exam before (eases nerves). At your current phase if you are DEAD SET on retaking it then I would purchase all of the online practice mcats and review books and crank away with those. By the fourth time you should recognize patterns and formats.

 

[wutwinb]

what was your breakdown for the first 3 exams? is there one section where you are consistently scoring very low in? if that's the case, I would see no problem in taking the exam again if you can really focus on your weak spot. but, if you are getting pretty even numbers across sections, then 4 times might be pushing it if you keep getting around the same total score.

 

[Vihsadas]

what was your breakdown for the first 3 exams? is there one section where you are consistently scoring very low in? if that's the case, I would see no problem in taking the exam again if you can really focus on your weak spot. but, if you are getting pretty even numbers across sections, then 4 times might be pushing it if you keep getting around the same total score.

I pretty much agree with this. Taking it a fourth time is a 'do or die' kind of maneuver. No matter what the result you are going to have some explaining to do. You've got to kill it this time if you are going to take it again. Shoot for the 35...it's attainable! Even then, you may get asked at interviews why you had to take it so many times, and why you didn't do well the first few times.

 

[sandler743]

eg...use this extra time beefing up other parts of the application instead.

 

[Mandek]

I took it twice (1 paper, 1 pc) and had the same issue with the pc but all that aside I did get asked about taking the MCAT twice at my interviews. My scores are very similar to yours so it is possible to get into MD schools with a 29! Unless you are aiming really high with your school choice I think you should consider applying...use this extra time beefing up other parts of the application instead.

A 29 (which is a decent score) got you an interview at Jefferson? Thats awesome!

You got waitlisted there?

 

[BillyGoatGruff]

I pretty much agree with this. Taking it a fourth time is a 'do or die' kind of maneuver. No matter what the result you are going to have some explaining to do. You've got to kill it this time if you are going to take it again. Shoot for the 35...it's attainable! Even then, you may get asked at interviews why you had to take it so many times, and why you didn't do well the first few times.

Breakdown of scores:

1st time: 7, 9, 11
2nd time. 9, 9, 10
3rd time 9, 10, 10

Forgive me if I don't specify which sections went with those scores.

Basically, each one of those exams was separated by a year, and each time I just sorta studied the 2" Kaplan book, which put me back in the same level of preparation as the year before...except when I took it on computer. But I truly believe my score was hurt by taking it on computer, as I was better prepared the third time.

This time around, I really want to prepare for this thing and get at minimum a 33.

 

[45408]

Take the 29 and go with it. Just my opinion.

 

[bodonid]

agree with last post, but

"you gotta do what you gotta do"

that seems to be the philosophy of alot of med students. Perserverance is big, esp. in the eyes of state schools.

 

[bodonid]

also, a 27 isn't "low"- isn't 8x3=24 the average anyway? Improving from the 60th percentile to the 75th doesn't require that much explanation. that said, you have a much better chance in the 85th, which equates with a ~31, I think.

 

[Vihsadas]

also, a 27 isn't "low"- isn't 8x3=24 the average anyway? Improving from the 60th percentile to the 75th doesn't require that much explanation. that said, you have a much better chance in the 85th, which equates with a ~31, I think.

Well that, and the fact that the 80th - 84th percentile is the average for matriculants (~ 31). I think that a large number of pre-meds fail to realize how significant the difference is between a 28 and a 31 (depending on the section scores). The jump in percentile point per scaled score point in the range of a 31 +/- 2 MCAT can be 10-20 precentile points. At the higher ranges (36+) it becomes much less meaningful (3-5 percentile points).

The difference between a 29 and a 31 is far greater (11 percentile points) than the difference between a 36 and a 40 (3 percentile points). So an increase from 29 to 33 would be a very large increase in score.

 

[Mandek]

Well that, and the fact that the 85th percentile is the average for matriculants.

geez, what percentile is a 40? 😀

 

[Vihsadas]

geez, what percentile is a 40? 😀

99.7 this year. 😛

 

[TheRealMD]

also, a 27 isn't "low"- isn't 8x3=24 the average anyway? Improving from the 60th percentile to the 75th doesn't require that much explanation. that said, you have a much better chance in the 85th, which equates with a ~31, I think.

Average for a section is not an overall average (especially when you consider people don't apply with the scores that they get). And when you have people with lopsided scores (especially verbal compared to BS and PS), you can't really bet on that.

 

[docmode]

I think it just totally depends on your GPA and your activities. With decent GPA and a 29 you will get interviews.

 

[BillyGoatGruff]

I think it just totally depends on your GPA and your activities. With decent GPA and a 29 you will get interviews.

Nope. GPA isn't "decent". It's low. And I've already done the grad-school thing (and did well, but it's not going to erase four years of lousy undergrad grades). I've also done virtually everything else one can do to strengthen their application outside of the "numbers". Nowhere to go from here but to drastically raise my MCAT as far as I'm concerned.

It never really occurred to me, all those times I took the exam before, that schools might frown on people who take the MCAT too many times.

 

[fisko82]

Nope. GPA isn't "decent". It's low. And I've already done the grad-school thing (and did well, but it's not going to erase four years of lousy undergrad grades). I've also done virtually everything else one can do to strengthen their application outside of the "numbers". Nowhere to go from here but to drastically raise my MCAT as far as I'm concerned.

It never really occurred to me, all those times I took the exam before, that schools might frown on people who take the MCAT too many times.

How low is low? If you don't want to say specifically, can you provide a range? (e.g. 3.3-3.5). If your gpa is 3.5+, it's not low and you've just been browsing SDN for too long. If your gpa is tinkering around a 3.0, you're going to have some trouble getting into US MD schools with a third try mcat that resulted in a 29. On the other hand, even if you take the mcat a 4th time and get a 33+, schools are going to look at it with skepticism because you took the test 4 times before achieving that score.

I think you're in a tough situation. Whatever you decide, if you don't get in to a US MD school and you still really want to be a physician, I'd recommend looking at DO schools, where a 29 will be very competitive. GL

 

[nervousNJpremed]

I just realized something... If you said you took it 3 times, each time separated by a year, by the time you take the 4th exam, your first one will be invalid (MCAT scores only good for 3 years, right?).

Someone correct me on this if I am wrong.

 

[Cataract]

I got in with a 28 and at least gettng interviews with a 29 is definitely possible. But since you're already enrolled in the course, might as well take the MCAT and explain later why you took it so many times.

 

[rochagurl89]

personally, I wouldn't take it another time. Since a 29 isn't really that bad, you could try applying and see how that works out (of course, apply very widely) and if you still don't get in during that cycle, then try a fourth time. From what i've read, taking it even 3 times isn't great...so I wouldnt take it again unless necessary...

good luck!

 

[DrBowtie]

Invalid doesn't really matter. They can still see it and take it into account.

 

[deuce924]

I think the fact that his 1st test is invalid doesn't matter. The schools should still be able to see he took the test 4 times. IMO, 4 times is too much. I would take the 29 and with it.

 

[Dayne]

Just wanted to provide an example of someone that I know that wrote the MCAT four times. In fact, on his fourth try, he got a 34. That particular application cycle, he ended up getting 10 interviews. I don't know if he was questioned about his 4 different MCAT's during his interviews, but it clearly didn't stop him from getting accepted into some mid-tier schools.

 

[axlaxl1]

From a personal perspective I think it is too much. I admire your perseverance, but 4 times is a lot of chances. I think most schools accept doing poorly the first time. The second time a potential applicant usually shows it was just a fluke. The 4th just stinks of desperation though. A 29 isn't abysmal. I'd try to roll with it if I could.

Kaplan will most likely not say anything awe inspiring. I took the kaplan course and feel it is best for preparing those who never took the exam before (eases nerves). At your current phase if you are DEAD SET on retaking it then I would purchase all of the online practice mcats and review books and crank away with those. By the fourth time you should recognize patterns and formats.

Agreed, don't be a ****. Apply and be happy to get in. Some people don't realize that a 10 in a section is very damned good. I think luck brings you a lot higher i.e. 14's 15's. We all remember the Guess to percentage of Guessed right or wrong, sometimes you're on sometimes you're not.

 

[BigRedder]

Agreed, don't be a ****. Apply and be happy to get in. Some people don't realize that a 10 in a section is very damned good. I think luck brings you a lot higher i.e. 14's 15's. We all remember the Guess to percentage of Guessed right or wrong, sometimes you're on sometimes you're not.

Good luck gets you 1 point per section. You can't get a 14 or 15 with luck. There are only two kinds of luck that make a difference: What you studied being on the test, and your raw score being just above the converted score cutoff. Guessing more than a few times will average out, and frankly I think people guess wrong more often since the MCAT has many attractive yet wrong answers.

 

[Vihsadas]

Agreed, don't be a ****. Apply and be happy to get in. Some people don't realize that a 10 in a section is very damned good. I think luck brings you a lot higher i.e. 14's 15's. We all remember the Guess to percentage of Guessed right or wrong, sometimes you're on sometimes you're not.

Luck only plays a part 13 or higher on each section. In other test takers who scored very high, most of us consistently scored between 39-43 on our last 3-4 practice exams.
I scored:

39,41,43,40.

 

[xeulee]

If I were in that situation, I wouldn't take it again. I would just apply broadly and apply to DO schools. Taking it a 4th time seems like it will look bad because I remember (when they only had the paper test) that you had to get special permission to take the test more than 3 times.

 

[DoctorPhud]

Yeah... don't take it again unless you have good grounds to believe that you'll get a significantly higher score. If you are having trouble with the style of the exam itself, only retake if your practice exams are ~35 or above consistently, so that if the exam drops a few points, you'll be in 32 territory. Honestly, though, if you're getting 27-29 every time with a year between attempts, it's almost certain that you'll get 28-30 max this time, and that will be through sheer repetition, which is what the admissions folks will see.

My recommendation... Apply to a broad range of schools, and definitely try DO schools.

I'm going to cheerlead DO schools to you for a minute...

At the end of the day, DO's have reasonable prospects when matching, they do almost all the same medicine, and the process of the course itself will probably work better with the way that you learn. They are very good at teaching people with your score range and you'll have a better time and be a better physician at the end of it if you try a DO school instead of potentially struggling at an MD school and beating yourself up. I'm not saying that you definitely will have a hard time at an MD school and I'm not putting you down, but just saying that it's probably a more effective path for you, which will be an easier and more positive process. It'll certainly be a less tricky application process (cheaper and with fewer depressing rejections).

 

[metalmd06]

Better grades and better MCATs do not necessarily make better MDs, and lower grades and lower MCATs do not necessarily make better DOs. Yes, you may have a better chance because DO academic standards are slightly looser, however, you shouldn't just jump into DO without looking into it first. Find out what Osteopathic medicine is all about. These kinds of comments kill me because I know I can hack it at an MD school, and I know I will be an excellent physician, but to most MD schools it's not about that. It's about getting superstars and pumping up averages.