MCAT twice but 29 both times. Want to take it again...

[MCATNeverEnds]

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Hi all I want to hear some opinions on this..

I took the MCAT twice. 1st time I got a 12 PS/8BS/9Verbal, 2nd time after few month studying with tons of verbal practice I got a 8PS/10BS/11 verbal.. yes, I improved in verbal/BS but my PS dropped by 4 points nullifying any improvement in my overall score. ... I don't know what happened. Oh ya, my writing was P both times.. not like it matters lol.. on the 2nd bio test, there were at least 5 questions that I know I missed not because I didn't know the info, but I just didn't' think through the questions. I don't know what happend to my PS score, which kinda scares me.. but the overall test was probably very different from my first test which was very physics heavy vs the 2nd test which was more Gen Chem heavy. I used berkeley review gen chem for the first round, and reviewed it again for the 2nd round.. I'm just dumbfounded about that 8.

I've applied this year, but because of my lower than average GPA 3.64/3.4 on AMCAS 3.54/3.3 on TMDSAS I'm considering to retake this again mainly because I am still not satisfied with this score. I know I could do better, and I admit that I probably over focused on verbal/bio the 2nd time around. I did EK1001 physics/Gen chem from cover to cover the 2nd time around, but I don't know how that proved to be more disastrous than before.


Just in case I don't get in with these average scores do you guys think it would be wise for me to take it one more time? I plan on purchasing around 20 diags from Gold standard/Berkeley review and do them all as well as redoing the AAMC tests. I'm not one of those people that would easily give up on something. If there were no limitations on taking the MCAT, I would probably take it 10 times. lol... I'm just wondering if there can be any room for improvement in my situation or have I peaked out at 29..

Thanks all.

 

[Jstone123]

i believe some schools take your best score on each section and combine them. in this case you have a 33 which is solid. others take your most recent score.

 

[MCATNeverEnds]

ya I applied to GW, and MCW, but I think BU also takes the combo scores, but due to my GPA and So little OOS to BU I didn't apply there. My main goal would be a TX school, too bad they don't take these combo scores 🙁

 

[Remuneration]

there's no reason to think you'd do any better a third time around

even if you could take it ten times, do you think finally lucking upon a 32-33 would be impressive after complete failure to improve in the first nine attempts?

unless you have some radical new approach (mcat class, practice tests, actually studying worth a damn), it's not going to get better. your bs/vs improvements are completely overshadowed by the precipitous decline in your ps

 

[MCATNeverEnds]

there's no reason to think you'd do any better a third time around

even if you could take it ten times, do you think finally lucking upon a 32-33 would be impressive after complete failure to improve in the first nine attempts?

unless you have some radical new approach (mcat class, practice tests, actually studying worth a damn), it's not going to get better. your bs/vs improvements are completely overshadowed by the precipitous decline in your ps

I just don't know if my PS was a fluke, I have been scoring 11+ on all the AAMC tests 12 on AAMC 9 missing around 5-7 questions per test.

 

[gravitywave]

what were your practice scores like? close to your actuals? if you can't score at least five points higher (ie, 34) on your practice exams, then your chances of doing any better the next time are pretty poor.

or, maybe you do need a new approach. the mistake most people make on MCAT prep is to spend too much time on content review, and not enough on learning to take the test. the MCAT doesn't test your readiness or aptitude for medical school. it tests... your ability to take the MCAT.

 

[MCATNeverEnds]

my practice scores ranged from 28-34. I don't know what happend I don't usually get PS scores that low. I went into this test and was pretty calm for the most part, wrote out all my formulas before the test started etc.. I don't remember marking that many on the PS, and there were only 2 passages I thought to be a bit more difficult than others, but I still thought I handled it ok.

That is really what scares me about retaking for the 3rd time is that I didn't really feel that much different on the PS from the time I got a 12 to this time where I got a 8.

 

[frescoengano]

if you were ranging 28-34, you could probably get higher than a 29 on the real deal...

 

[MCATNeverEnds]

For me to be competitive MD wise I believe I will have to have at least a 33+ so I don't really think there is an option for me lol.

 

[deleted197541]

There was someone on mdapps that got a 27 twice and then a 35. I don't know really how 2nd and 3rd test scores vary overall, however. Also, I don't know how he studied either. You can see how his admissions process went, though.

http://mdapplicants.com/profile.php...epted,search_school:137,psr:0,orderby:,order:

 

[MCATNeverEnds]

I appreciate that sr6622. I'm going to see if I can contact this guy.

Thanks

 

[orion333]

Are you applying to any of the schools that only consider your highest score in each section, such as George Washington? That would raise your score to the magic number 33.

Personally, I would just focus on everything else in your application. I am not saying that you can't raise your score, but is the payback really worth it? People do get into med school with your stats (they're not bad at all).

 

[TriagePreMed]

I wouldn't take it a 3rd time. You risk too much. Be happy with what you got and apply broadly.

 

[randomb]

http://mdapplicants.com/profile.php...epted,search_school:137,psr:0,orderby:,order:

Hmm.. here's someone with the similar stats and (worse?) EC's from Princeton:
http://mdapplicants.com/profile.php...on,search_areaofstudy:0,psr:0,orderby:,order:

Princeton's grades were somewhat inflated back in '04, yet the that person still got into multiple top 10 schools. Why? Name recognition matter that much?

 

[ucsfstudents]

I would leave it alone and spend that time bolstering other aspects of your application.

 

[gravitywave]

Hmm.. here's someone with the similar stats and (worse?) EC's from Princeton:
http://mdapplicants.com/profile.php...on,search_areaofstudy:0,psr:0,orderby:,order:

Princeton's grades were somewhat inflated back in '04, yet the that person still got into multiple top 10 schools. Why? Name recognition matter that much?

troll? this link is to someone who had 95th percentile MCAT, graduating in the top 1 percent of his/her class from one of the best universities in the world. I don't think grade inflation or name recognition had much to do with it. 🙄

 

[BaronVonZ]

How are you taking the AAMC practice exams? Are you taking it in a quiet environment, out of your home, under timed conditions, at an appropriate time of day, without any outside distractions?

There is little benefit to repeating the same material twice. Stop doing the EK series over again and go invest in a review course, such things are designed for students in your position.