mcat retake advice

[OPH4Life]

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hi. I have a 3.66cgpa and sgpa. I have a 24O from aug 2011. I am thinking to retake the mcat in september and registered on Friday. I was verified from AACOMAS past tuesday and have been working on secondaries.

Am I being dishonest by not telling them about my retake just yet? I registered to secure a seat in case my score goes up. Right now, it hasn't 🙁 If my score doesn't go up then I am not retaking. I dont want to tell schools that I am retaking until I actually make a 100% decision that I will retake in September.

I am not trying to be dishonest, just trying not to shoot myself in the foot by alarming schools of a retake and then not going through with it. By end of aug i should know of a potential retake.

 

[DrMaximus]

hi. I have a 3.66cgpa and sgpa. I have a 24O from aug 2011. I am thinking to retake the mcat in september and registered on Friday. I was verified from AACOMAS past tuesday and have been working on secondaries.

Am I being dishonest by not telling them about my retake just yet? I registered to secure a seat in case my score goes up. Right now, it hasn't 🙁 If my score doesn't go up then I am not retaking. I dont want to tell schools that I am retaking until I actually make a 100% decision that I will retake in September.

I am not trying to be dishonest, just trying not to shoot myself in the foot by alarming schools of a retake and then not going through with it. By end of aug i should know of a potential retake.

I feel like that could be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you could decide not to take it because your scores don't improve like you want. On the other, some schools might flat out cut you because of your low MCAT unless you're applying to only schools that don't screen. Regardless, I almost think it would be better to tell them that you're retaking if you're pretty sure you're going to. That way schools that might screen you post-secondary for your MCAT might wait until they see the new score to cut you.

 

[OPH4Life]

I feel like that could be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you could decide not to take it because your scores don't improve like you want. On the other, some schools might flat out cut you because of your low MCAT unless you're applying to only schools that don't screen. Regardless, I almost think it would be better to tell them that you're retaking if you're pretty sure you're going to. That way schools that might screen you post-secondary for your MCAT might wait until they see the new score to cut you.

Thanks for the advice. I was told that no school will flat out cut until after september when most will start interviewing and rejecting. In that case, I feel like I might be okay to wait until August to tell them? You are right though, it could hurt either way.

I have my eyes set on LMU. Any advice? I know they are friendly with lower MCAT score.

 

[ResearchRetMD]

Thanks for the advice. I was told that no school will flat out cut until after september when most will start interviewing and rejecting. In that case, I feel like I might be okay to wait until August to tell them? You are right though, it could hurt either way.

I have my eyes set on LMU. Any advice? I know they are friendly with lower MCAT score.

If you signed up for an MCAT date, then you must report it. If not, you are being dishonest in your application.

 

[DrMaximus]

If you signed up for an MCAT date, then you must report it. If not, you are being dishonest in your application.

And, yes, honestly this is true.

I got in with your exact MCAT score. My cGPA was a 3.68 but my sGPA was a 3.92 so I think that helped. At this point it's going to rest on how much you've done in extracurriculars.

The safe route would be to retake, though.

 

[OPH4Life]

If you signed up for an MCAT date, then you must report it. If not, you are being dishonest in your application.

Isn't it only dishonest if I dont tell them after retaking? technically, I can still cancel my registration. My intention is not to be dishonest. I do plan on telling them within a few weeks when my decision will be 100%. I only registered early so I can have a seat in the city I live in.

 

[MedPR]

Isn't it only dishonest if I dont tell them after retaking? technically, I can still cancel my registration. My intention is not to be dishonest. I do plan on telling them within a few weeks when my decision will be 100%. I only registered early so I can have a seat in the city I live in.

It's being dishonest. Whether or not you should tell them now or later is another story.

 

[HalfListic]

hi. I have a 3.66cgpa and sgpa. I have a 24O from aug 2011. I am thinking to retake the mcat in september and registered on Friday. I was verified from AACOMAS past tuesday and have been working on secondaries.

Am I being dishonest by not telling them about my retake just yet? I registered to secure a seat in case my score goes up. Right now, it hasn't 🙁 If my score doesn't go up then I am not retaking. I dont want to tell schools that I am retaking until I actually make a 100% decision that I will retake in September.

I am not trying to be dishonest, just trying not to shoot myself in the foot by alarming schools of a retake and then not going through with it. By end of aug i should know of a potential retake.

Well, Oprah4life, Id say, if you intend to take it...put it. Otherwise, it is dishonest.

Also, I don't think it will hurt your chances for interviewing, if they like your first score, interview. If they don't like your first score, no interview anyway

 

[OPH4Life]

It's being dishonest. Whether or not you should tell them now or later is another story.

Hey MedPR. If I decide to sit in on the exam, i will tell them for sure! so in that case, I'm planning on waiting to tell schools until I know for sure I am retaking. I think this decision will be made by middle of august and I do plan to notify schools then. I just need some time to see where practice exams put me.