MCAT retake question

[smcin001]

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I am a CA resident with 3.65 cGPA and 3.53 sGPA from a UC. I took the MCAT last year and got a 30 with 10's in all three sections and am wondering if I should retake. I have pretty good EC's with years of significant patient contact and clinical work. I also have been doing research for some time and have been offered a job for next year, during which my PI said the priority is to get me some publications (including a 1st author). I am not really concerned with staying in CA and don't really have any aspirations to go to a top-tier school. I have attempted to start studying for the 5/2 date, but the motivation is really not there, plus it is really taking away significant time from other school work, research, and leisure time. Any advice is welcome, thanks.

 

[Mobius1985]

Your GPA is at the mean for accepted allopathic students and your MCAT is slightly low. You might be fine if you have very good ECs, but certainly your chances would improve with a higher MCAT score. Unless you're planning to include DO schools among those you apply to, or don't mind a potential second application season, I think retaking is a reasonable idea.

 

[HrryUpNwait]

By the numbers you have roughly a 77% chance of getting into a school with your numbers (http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2008/mcatgpa-grid-3yrs-app-accpt.htm). If you apply broadly that will increase your numbers greatly- if I were you I would not re-take it and take that extra money and put it towards more applications. If you are realistic in picking your schools and apply to 18-25 I would be really shocked if you didn't get more than two interviews.

 

[Malakite]

I am in a very similar situation. I even have the same MCAT score. You definitely have a chance of getting into medical school, but if you were trying to apply to a top tier, then you would have to retake it. Thats what I am doing :-/ unfortunately.

Just remember to apply broadly and to build your application in other ways.

 

[Shawnpremed]

Try to retake it if you have time, but make sure you practice and get a better score on those first before you retake the real thing.
You don't want to score worse, or even the same. Good luck.

 

[Mace1370]

I would not advise retaking the MCAT for a variety of reasons.

1) 30 is the magic #. This is the number schools want to see, and the fact that you have a very well rounded score makes it even better.

2) The average change for people who retake the MCAT is 2 points in EITHER direction. You stand a very good chance of scoring the same or worse if you retake. Scoring worse would significantly hurt your application, while retaking it and getting a 32 won't significantly improve it.

 

[WannaBePreMed]

I would not advise retaking the MCAT for a variety of reasons.

1) 30 is the magic #. This is the number schools want to see, and the fact that you have a very well rounded score makes it even better.

2) The average change for people who retake the MCAT is 2 points in EITHER direction. You stand a very good chance of scoring the same or worse if you retake. Scoring worse would significantly hurt your application, while retaking it and getting a 32 won't significantly improve it.

If you're not interested in a top tier school then you shouldn't worry about retaking especially since you're well rounded. If I were you though I'd retake and apply to top tier schools. Don't cheat yourself, you really never know.

 

[202781]

I am a CA resident with 3.65 cGPA and 3.53 sGPA from a UC. I took the MCAT last year and got a 30 with 10's in all three sections and am wondering if I should retake. I have pretty good EC's with years of significant patient contact and clinical work. I also have been doing research for some time and have been offered a job for next year, during which my PI said the priority is to get me some publications (including a 1st author). I am not really concerned with staying in CA and don't really have any aspirations to go to a top-tier school. I have attempted to start studying for the 5/2 date, but the motivation is really not there, plus it is really taking away significant time from other school work, research, and leisure time. Any advice is welcome, thanks.

I think you will be fine for mid to low tier schools...

Don't fool yourself though, I think it would be VERY hard to stay in Cali given your stats.