LizzyM score is only a 68

[emkayveedee]

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Should I retake the MCAT to try and reach a LizzyM score of at least 70 or would it probably not even matter since I got a 33 to begin with?

 

[milkandcereal]

Should I retake the MCAT to try and reach a LizzyM score of at least 70 or would it probably not even matter since I got a 33 to begin with?

I personally would not advise anyone to retake a 33. There is a chance that you score higher, but I don't think the risk of likely getting a lower score is worth it; a retake certainly has the potential to do more harm than good. A 33 will be competitive enough if you are able to build a strong application around it.

 

[justAstudent]

Should I retake the MCAT to try and reach a LizzyM score of at least 70 or would it probably not even matter since I got a 33 to begin with?

I think most people will tell you not to retake that score and spend time on other aspects of your application.

 

[kyamh]

I think most people will tell you not to retake that score and spend time on other aspects of your application.

Very true, almost everyone on SDN will tell you to not retake. There is a good reason for that: most student will score worse the second time with a 33. Then again, OP, you know yourself better than we do. When you saw that score, were you very disappointed because you expected better? Were you happy with your score? If you were happy or got a score around what you expected, then chances are that you won't do too much better the next time. If you saw the 33 and wondered what went wrong, then maybe you should think about retaking......

I retook a score >30 and I'm glad I did, but that was a very personal choice that was based on my experience with practice tests and not based on a quest for a certain number (MCAT or LizzyM).

Frankly, you need to assess yourself as a candidate overall. If your LizzyM score is a 68 and your MCAT is a 33, that puts your GPA around a 3.5. With a 3.5 you are not likely to be very competitive at the top programs (unless the rest of your application shines in a particularly special way). You will likely be looking to gain acceptance to mid-tier medical schools. For mid-tier schools, your 33 MCAT is a very solid score.

 

[emkayveedee]

Very true, almost everyone on SDN will tell you to not retake. There is a good reason for that: most student will score worse the second time with a 33. Then again, OP, you know yourself better than we do. When you saw that score, were you very disappointed because you expected better? Were you happy with your score? If you were happy or got a score around what you expected, then chances are that you won't do too much better the next time. If you saw the 33 and wondered what went wrong, then maybe you should think about retaking......

I retook a score >30 and I'm glad I did, but that was a very personal choice that was based on my experience with practice tests and not based on a quest for a certain number (MCAT or LizzyM).

Frankly, you need to assess yourself as a candidate overall. If your LizzyM score is a 68 and your MCAT is a 33, that puts your GPA around a 3.5. With a 3.5 you are not likely to be very competitive at the top programs (unless the rest of your application shines in a particularly special way). You will likely be looking to gain acceptance to mid-tier medical schools. For mid-tier schools, your 33 MCAT is a very solid score.

Thanks! I just wonder about retaking because now I am actually employed as an MCAT course instructor. Since I hadn't taken a prep course prior to taking the MCAT, I was thinking that I might do slightly better since I've gone through the process of a prep course (even if it is from the perspective of the instructor)

 

[MedWonk]

Should I retake the MCAT to try and reach a LizzyM score of at least 70 or would it probably not even matter since I got a 33 to begin with?

Short answer: No.
Long answer: Noooooooooooooo.

If your LizzyM is 68 with a 33 MCAT, then you've got a 3.5 GPA, correct? This isn't really considered all that low, and in fact you can be competitive with a 3.5; but if you want to improve your numbers, the GPA would be more likely to viewed as "below average". Your MCAT is average to above average at quite a few schools. I still think you'd be competitive as is, if we assume solid ECs, solid PS and secondaries, and good interview skills, and that you are smart with the schools to which you apply. If you're URM, then you've got yourself an even better shot. At the end of the day, though, there are no guarantees. If you're looking to shore up weaknesses in your app, your MCAT score isn't one of them unless your score is something like 15PS/15BS/3VR.

 

[compstomper]

Most definitely not! I had a LizzyM score of 65.5 (ORM), got 16 MD II, attended 11 II, got 8 acceptances and 3 WL. A 33 is nothing to sneeze at by any measure. Your time would be better spent bolstering your EC to make sure you're a well rounded, strong candidate, and also crafting great secondary applications (an often overlooked part of med school apps).

 

[kyamh]

Thanks! I just wonder about retaking because now I am actually employed as an MCAT course instructor. Since I hadn't taken a prep course prior to taking the MCAT, I was thinking that I might do slightly better since I've gone through the process of a prep course (even if it is from the perspective of the instructor)

Take practice tests and see. Also, as others have pointed out in similar threads, "slightly" better isn't worth it. If you retook and got a 34/35, you will probably do more harm than good to your application. Can you get above a 36? Nothing wrong with taking some practice tests to feel things out...just don't commit yourself to re-studying and then blindly charge forward even in the face of minimal improvement.

 

[nemo123]

^ Agreeing with kyamh here. I would only retake if your practice test average comes out to at least a 36/37 (and you are certain you can do it).

 

[TeddyBoomBoom]

Good god no. Spend the time you would be studying for the mcat and improve otherwise weak areas in your app.

 

[emkayveedee]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Heplayer92]

Most definitely not! I had a LizzyM score of 65.5 (ORM), got 16 MD II, attended 11 II, got 8 acceptances and 3 WL. A 33 is nothing to sneeze at by any measure. Your time would be better spent bolstering your EC to make sure you're a well rounded, strong candidate, and also crafting great secondary applications (an often overlooked part of med school apps).

Could you elaborate a bit on your stats theercster? Sorry to hijack this thread. Just curious! Feel free to send me a PM. I'd find that advice helpful! My LizzyM score is around there too.

 

[swolebrah]

whats a LizzyM? srs

 

[ThisCouldBeYou]

The LizzyM score is based on gpa x 10 + MCAT score. LizzyM is a poster here, a very wise and helpful poster.OP, I would not normally suggest you pass on the retake idea, but given that you're an MCAT instructor (how did that happen?) you probably have gained a lot of knowledge and skills pertinent to the test and most likely could score higher. I say try a few tests in a test setting and see how you do.

 

[swolebrah]

The LizzyM score is based on gpa x 10 + MCAT score. LizzyM is a poster here, a very wise and helpful poster.OP, I would not normally suggest you pass on the retake idea, but given that you're an MCAT instructor (how did that happen?) you probably have gained a lot of knowledge and skills pertinent to the test and most likely could score higher. I say try a few tests in a test setting and see how you do.

Thanks.

 

[knv2u]

Very true, almost everyone on SDN will tell you to not retake. There is a good reason for that: most student will score worse the second time with a 33. Then again, OP, you know yourself better than we do. When you saw that score, were you very disappointed because you expected better? Were you happy with your score? If you were happy or got a score around what you expected, then chances are that you won't do too much better the next time. If you saw the 33 and wondered what went wrong, then maybe you should think about retaking......

I retook a score >30 and I'm glad I did, but that was a very personal choice that was based on my experience with practice tests and not based on a quest for a certain number (MCAT or LizzyM).

Frankly, you need to assess yourself as a candidate overall. If your LizzyM score is a 68 and your MCAT is a 33, that puts your GPA around a 3.5. With a 3.5 you are not likely to be very competitive at the top programs (unless the rest of your application shines in a particularly special way). You will likely be looking to gain acceptance to mid-tier medical schools. For mid-tier schools, your 33 MCAT is a very solid score.

I agree.

 

[emkayveedee]

The LizzyM score is based on gpa x 10 + MCAT score. LizzyM is a poster here, a very wise and helpful poster.OP, I would not normally suggest you pass on the retake idea, but given that you're an MCAT instructor (how did that happen?) you probably have gained a lot of knowledge and skills pertinent to the test and most likely could score higher. I say try a few tests in a test setting and see how you do.

I applied for the job. I scored in the 90th+ percentile on my score and then had a major in biology/psychology with a minor in chemistry. Plus I had done especially well on the P/C portion of the MCAT (12) so I teach that part of the course.