MCAT retake?

[KLane]

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I took the MCAT mid-June and just got my scores back. My score was not where I wanted it to be and I want to retake it in September. One of the schools I am wanting to apply to does not do rolling admissions and the other school has a rural medicine program I want to apply to and applications are not due until December 1st. Should I take the chance and retake the MCAT or wait until next cycle? I have strong reasons why I want to apply for this cycle but do not want to ruin my future chances of getting accepted if I do not get in this cycle. I have an above average GPA and strong ECs.

 

[PapaGuava]

Do you feel confident that your score can give you a chance to gain interviews at medical schools in general (MD or DO)? Even if it wasn't the two you are talking about.

 

[KLane]

Do you feel confident that your score can give you a chance to gain interviews at medical schools in general (MD or DO)? Even if it wasn't the two you are talking about.

I am not confident at all with the score that I just received. However, I am really motivated to buckle down and try to improve my score over the next few weeks. I have already found a tutor for the chem/physics portion and really want to try. However, my score was way lower than I anticipated and I want to give myself the best chance possible to get in.

 

[Seihai]

Deadlines are exactly what their name is. DEAD-lines. The closer you are to the deadline, the closer you are to being DOA at that school. Interviews are offered starting in July and August, and by October when you'd have your new score in, you'd be fighting for only something like 30% of the remaining slots.

Are you absolutely certain that you're capable of improving your MCAT score in such a short time? Have you identified exactly what went wrong AND how to fix it?

My suggestion would be to take the MCAT in January-March of 2020 after having reevaluated your study strategy, and apply next cycle instead. Being a reapplicant is something to be avoided if possible, notwithstanding the costs of going through an entire cycle.

 

[AMCASTuesdays]

I took the MCAT mid-June and just got my scores back. My score was not where I wanted it to be and I want to retake it in September. One of the schools I am wanting to apply to does not do rolling admissions and the other school has a rural medicine program I want to apply to and applications are not due until December 1st. Should I take the chance and retake the MCAT or wait until next cycle? I have strong reasons why I want to apply for this cycle but do not want to ruin my future chances of getting accepted if I do not get in this cycle. I have an above average GPA and strong ECs.

Hard to say- what kind of score did you get and how does that compare to the tier of the schools you’re looking at. This is important bc if you’re score is competitive but just not the elusive “520+” or is even just within the upper 510’s DNR. You tun the chance of scoring lower and that will for sure look bad.

In addition, how important is it that you apply for these programs specifically? Is your score good enough to get in at other places, or is it make or break that you be able to get into these places?