MCAT Dilema

[Giovanotto]

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Cross post from another thread I created:

Lets say someone gets a bad MCAT score, i.e. a 24, 25 or 498, 500 and is worried about this application cycle.

Should he:

1)Send primaries with this score and wish for the best
2) Send primaries with this score and add a planned date, even though not sure about retake
3) Send primaries with no mcat and then later update with both this score and a retake score
4)????

 

[mathnerd88]

What's your GPA?

 

[Giovanotto]

What's your GPA?

I appreciate the question, but I'm not trying to get into too many details. I hope other people in my position can also use this as guidance about a good strategy to use.

To answer your question: c&s ~ 3.5 (if not 3.6, not sure yet)

 

[mathnerd88]

I would just sent primaries with your current scores. You can add a planned date later if you wish. Don't commit in writing something in your primaries that you are not sure about. That way, in case if you do decide to retake it, you can add it in and contact your schools later.

You can't hide your prior scores from AACOMAS anyways, as AAMC reports every single MCAT you have ever taken since 2003.

Your GPA is good enough, and your MCAT is slightly on the lower side, but you should be able to get some interviews if you have excellent EC's.

I saw you mentioned you were an international student. That really complicates things as you need really amazing stats and high MCAT with good EC's to be able to be considered. Schools hold a much higher standard for international students, as they favor US citizens. There are only very little spots designated for international students.

 

[Goro]

No, unless you're willing to go to the newest schools, and rule out the top ones.
1)Send primaries with this score and wish for the best

No
2) Send primaries with this score and add a planned date, even though not sure about retake

Yes
3) Send primaries with no mcat and then later update with both this score and a retake score

4)Apply only when s/he has the best possible app? YES!!!

 

[Giovanotto]

No, unless you're willing to go to the newest schools, and rule out the top ones.
1)Send primaries with this score and wish for the best

No
2) Send primaries with this score and add a planned date, even though not sure about retake

Yes
3) Send primaries with no mcat and then later update with both this score and a retake score

4)Apply only when s/he has the best possible app? YES!!!

Re option "4)" vs "1)":

My best possible app may very well be what I am submitting, even with my less than ideal MCAT score. It's going to be tough to make this call. The MCAT is a beast, and having certainty that I can do better on it is no easy thing, especially since I grew up in a country where standardized testing wasn't introduced and I have done very poorly on them all throughout since coming to the U.S.

Also, thank you very much for commenting on these options Goro. I was very curious about this.

 

[mathnerd88]

Re option "4)" vs "1)":

My best possible app may very well be what I am submitting, even with my less than ideal MCAT score. It's going to be tough to make this call. The MCAT is a beast, and having certainty that I can do better on it is no easy thing, especially since I grew up in a country where standardized testing wasn't introduced and I have done very poorly on them all throughout since coming to the U.S.

Also, thank you very much for ruling out options 2 and 3 for me Goro. I was very curious about this.

If you don't want to take that risk, then go with option 1.

 

[Giovanotto]

@mathnerd88, are you saying that even if I withhold my MCAT score from primaries, schools will still be able to see how I did?

If so, can anyone confirm this? Would schools actually go hunting for my unreported MCAT score? What's the deal here.

 

[Giovanotto]

If I am unsure about whether or not I can retake, should I omit my MCAT score from primaries and then if I decide not to retake around july then just send it? It won't really hold anything up will it? Apparently secondaries are sent out even without applicants reporting MCAT scores?

Is this a good way to buy myself more time before making the decision of whether or not to retake?

 

[mathnerd88]

@mathnerd88, are you saying that even if I withhold my MCAT score from primaries, schools will still be able to see how I did?

If so, can anyone confirm this? Would schools actually go hunting for my unreported MCAT score? What's the deal here.

Yes, schools will still be able to see how you do on EVERY MCAT exam you take. You are required to submit your MCAT from AAMC electronically to AACOMAS when you apply. AAMC releases EVERY SINGLE MCAT exam you've taken since 2003. Even AACOMAS rules state you have to report every single MCAT score you received.

AACOMAS has an unofficial and official MCAT report attached to your application to schools. If you attempt to hide any scores, you will be redflagged by medical schools because they will see all of them and see how you tried to hide some. They see the scores you originally reported and all the MCAT exams you have taken from AAMC.

I have my application verified and in hand with both MCAT and self-reported scores and GPAs. They're all on there. Schools won't need to hunt for an unreported MCAT score because AAMC already released them officially to AACOMAS.

This is directly from AAMC where you send your MCAT scores:
Please select the Institution(s) to receive your MCAT scores. You will be prompted to confirm or change your list of recipients before submitting your choices. Starting with the April 2003 test, the AAMC follows a full disclosure policy. This means all tests from April 2003 will be included in your report. All of your scores are automatically included in your AMCAS application.

 

[yes_sir_44]

Yes, schools will still be able to see how you do on EVERY MCAT exam you take. You are required to submit your MCAT from AAMC electronically to AACOMAS when you apply. AAMC releases EVERY SINGLE MCAT exam you've taken since 2003. Even AACOMAS rules state you have to report every single MCAT score you received.

AACOMAS has an unofficial and official MCAT report attached to your application to schools. If you attempt to hide any scores, you will be redflagged by medical schools because they will see all of them and see how you tried to hide some. They see the scores you originally reported and all the MCAT exams you have taken from AAMC.

I have my application verified and in hand with both MCAT and self-reported scores and GPAs. They're all on there. Schools won't need to hunt for an unreported MCAT score because AAMC already released them officially to AACOMAS.

This is directly from AAMC where you send your MCAT scores:
Please select the Institution(s) to receive your MCAT scores. You will be prompted to confirm or change your list of recipients before submitting your choices. Starting with the April 2003 test, the AAMC follows a full disclosure policy. This means all tests from April 2003 will be included in your report. All of your scores are automatically included in your AMCAS application.

I think OP means something else. i.e. Should the one MCAT score be released now or wait? Pretty sure that's what OP means.

 

[mathnerd88]

If the OP submitted his scores to AACOMAS electronically from AAMC, they will have all your scores.

The OP can always release the scores later, but I'm not sure if schools will consider until the scores have been verified.

 

[yes_sir_44]

If the OP submitted his scores to AACOMAS electronically from AAMC, they will have all your scores.

Yeah, I know. But OP doesn't have to release it to AACOMAS right now though.

 

[mathnerd88]

Yeah, I know. But OP doesn't have to release it to AACOMAS right now though.

Nope, but the schools won't consider unless they have verified MCAT scores, so it still doesn't make any sense. The OP has reservations taking it a second time in fear of doing worse, so my suggestion was to just apply with the one score the OP has.

 

[yes_sir_44]

Nope, but the schools won't consider unless they have verified MCAT scores, so it still doesn't make any sense.

Yeah, ofcourse. I think OP is contemplating whether to send with one score now and not marking a repeat MCAT as opposed to waiting to see if he/she will retake and then present best app possible at once.

 

[mathnerd88]

Yeah, ofcourse. I think OP is contemplating whether to send with one score now and not marking a repeat MCAT as opposed to waiting to see if he/she will retake and then present best app possible at once.

Yes, the OP should just send with the one score now and not marking a planned MCAT date later. If the OP does decide to retake the MCAT, I'm sure it could be added later into the application or the OP can call the schools and submit the new MCAT score.

 

[Giovanotto]

To summarize then: I can omit my MCAT score from primaries now, and I can then choose to add it after getting verified--yes?

 

[mathnerd88]

To summarize then: I can omit my MCAT score from primaries now, and I can then choose to add it after getting verified--yes?

This is what AACOMAS says:
Please provide information about the tests you have taken or plan to take. You may add or update this information at any time prior to submission. Once you have submitted, you will be able to add additional tests as well as update the ones marked "plan to take", but you will not be able to update or delete completed tests.

It looks like you are able to do that. The problem comes is what medical schools will think when they see your verified primary with no MCAT score whatsoever or even a plan to take any MCAT? I would suggest just submitting the primary with your old score and then add in the new score later if you decide to take the exam.

 

[Giovanotto]

Ta

This is what AACOMAS says:
Please provide information about the tests you have taken or plan to take. You may add or update this information at any time prior to submission. Once you have submitted, you will be able to add additional tests as well as update the ones marked "plan to take", but you will not be able to update or delete completed tests.

It looks like you are able to do that. The problem comes is what medical schools will think when they see your verified primary with no MCAT score whatsoever or even a plan to take any MCAT? I would suggest just submitting the primary with your old score and then add in the new score later if you decide to take the exam.

That makes sense mathnerd, thank you for helping me think this all the way through. Really appreciate it. If you need any help with something that I may be able to help you with, please let me know.