Maximum number of times to retake MCAT?

[Spartan2001]

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I'm reapplying to medical school for my second time in a row and took my advisor's advise to call the medical schools and see what was holding me back. Well, as it turns out, I'm in good shape in all areas except the MCAT. This April will be my 4th time to take it and I am starting to worry that I may get cut off if I have to ask for permission to retake it a whole bunch of times. I was wondering if any of you guys have heard of anyone retaking the MCAT like 6, 7, or more times?

 

[ShyRem]

Spartan, what was your MCAT? And yes, I've heard of someone taking it six times. They never did do any better than a 19. I think eventually they went to the Caribbean, and were never heard from again. No kidding.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

I'm reapplying to medical school for my second time in a row and took my advisor's advise to call the medical schools and see what was holding me back. Well, as it turns out, I'm in good shape in all areas except the MCAT. This April will be my 4th time to take it and I am starting to worry that I may get cut off if I have to ask for permission to retake it a whole bunch of times. I was wondering if any of you guys have heard of anyone retaking the MCAT like 6, 7, or more times?

Statistics show that the more times you take it the lower your odds are of increasing your score. Study your butt off to make the 4th time the last time. There is no reason to go into it planning on taking it again.

 

[Dr Trek 1]

You can retake the MCAT as many times as you would like. After the third time, you just have to provide a rejection letter or a letter from your advisor or something so they know you are actually applying to med schools. Trust me, AAMC will never turn away $210, so they will never "cut you off" from taking the exam.

Although statistically scores do not improve after taking it multiple times, I have read someone's post who took it 6 times, and it was the 6th time that he actually scored high enough. He now attends a US school. He had a great point when he said he would have taken it 60 times if that is what it took.

Study hard for the MCAT. Be sure to study DIFFERENTLY than you did for the past 3 exams. I suggest EK, but use whatever works for you.

Good luck!

 

[Junkster]

I've actually taken the MCAT 6 times... lowest being a 24 in college, high being 30 during my postbacc days. The rest fell in at 28 and 29. I did it to equate out my low undergrad GPA.

At CU med, the dean told me that, for them, it didn't matter how many times I took it. They just took the highest score. At another school, they seem to average it out.

Hope that helps

 

[Taurus]

You don't want to take the test just willy nilly. Schools will see all the times and scores when you took it. Even though some schools take the highest or average it out, it makes a bad impression when they see that you have taken it multiple times. It does go into their consideration thinking. The main thing that schools will wonder is, will this person be able to pass the boards? Ideally, they want you to pass the boards on first attempt AND do well. It's a reflection on the school. At my school, 98-99% of students pass on first attempt (typical of most good allo schools). You get a second try a few months later if you fail first attempt. If you fail third attempt, you get kicked out. In summary, be as prepared as you can be before taking the test again.

 

[happydays]

Don't take it again until you're really ready.

Also, apply to both MD and DO schools.

 

[reylting]

Don't take it again until you're really ready.

Also, apply to both MD and DO schools.

I agree. the first time I took it I scored really, really low. I then refused to take it agin until I felt that I was really ready...meaning I consistently scored well on practice exams. I more than double my score the second time.