Most Times MCAT Taken Or Applied and Actually Got In

[medstu110]

We all know that the more times you take the MCAT or reapply the worse your chances are of getting in. So tell me what's the most number of times someone's applied to med school or taken the MCAT and actually got in. If you know what their MCAT scores were please post. It might be interesting to know and give some of us encouragement and hope.

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[mikedc813]

I think most people usually just take the MCAT twice, but I assume a small fraction will take it 3 or 4 times. I can't imagine taking it more than 3 times and still getting in. I scored a 22 the first time (was really sick that week) and retook it. Needless to say that I seriously boosted my score since I am now headed to med school...

 

[kathy80]

I know someone who took the MCAT 4 times before getting in, and is now in one of the best residencies in the country. There's always hope!

 

[premed]

We all know that the more times you take the MCAT or reapply the worse your chances are of getting in. So tell me what's the most number of times someone's applied to med school or taken the MCAT and actually got in. If you know what their MCAT scores were please post. It might be interesting to know and give some of us encouragement and hope.

I can see how taking the MCAT more than once would lower ur chances of getting in...unless ur consistently getting 45T and taking it to show off. But how does reapplying lower your chances? I would think each time you reapply you have a better chance unless you don't do anything in between the apps and send the same app.

 

[stinkycheese]

I can see how taking the MCAT more than once would lower ur chances of getting in...unless ur consistently getting 45T and taking it to show off. But how does reapplying lower your chances? I would think each time you reapply you have a better chance unless you don't do anything in between the apps and send the same app.

Schools don't like to get apps from people who have applied twice before.

 

[woolie]

I think cheesypoofs took it seven times and is now going to be attending LSU. She also worked there and has alot of research experience, and a good gpa, etc.

 

[balaA7180]

I can see how taking the MCAT more than once would lower ur chances of getting in...unless ur consistently getting 45T and taking it to show off. But how does reapplying lower your chances? I would think each time you reapply you have a better chance unless you don't do anything in between the apps and send the same app.

I agree with pre-med--you have an increasingly better chance to get in each time you re-apply and med schools generally only look at your latest MCAT score.

 

[PublicEnemy]

you can't make a blanket statment regarding reappliny or retaking the mcats. reapplying after tearing it up in a postbacc or masters program, with some new research/volunteering experineces, a new recc or 2, i find that hard to believe thats gonna hurt your chances. on the other hand, not doing anything at all in between application cycles, thats prolly gonna make it harder each time. with mcats, obviously a really bad score can be essentially made to go away with a significantly higher score, but if you look at aamc stats, the overwhelming majority of people do not see a significant increase in scores, but still if you can strengthen your credentials with a better score, thats not gonna hurt you in any way. if you can pull the same score and especially if you do better, i can't see how that will hurt you. it just might not be weighted as highly, but its not going to be what does you in. no blanket statements, it comes to what each individual does. and i think the OP wanted to hear some stories of what people did to keep themselves competitive, i'd be curious to hear some more of those too.

 

[Fermata]

I think cheesypoofs took it seven times and is now going to be attending LSU. She also worked there and has alot of research experience, and a good gpa, etc.

SEVEN TIMES?!?!!?

 

[lotanna]

Schools don't like to get apps from people who have applied twice before.

not true, schls like to see a student is determined, and works towards makin an improvement. I'm a reapplicant, and i got into same schl that i didnt even receive a secondary from in the past! 👍

 

[mikedc813]

I certainly think that taking the MCAT more than once hurts you to some degree. How can it not?? 😕 Consider the applicant A who takes the MCAT once and gets a good enough score to get in, say a 30, the first time. Ok so now pretend you're on an admissions committee and you're looking at applicant B who has taken the MCAT 3 times, and say the scores range from 20 to 30. Would you think: "Hmm so applicant B got a 20 the first time, but he worked really really hard and now got his score up 10 points after 2 more tries! He must be really dedicated because he put up with this crap for so long!"....I don't think so. 🙄 I would think the adcoms would be more included to think either: 1) this applicant B did not study hard the first two times and doesn't take med school seriously so he's out and/or 2) this person isn't as "sharp" as the first guy who only had to take the MCAT once to get a good score. Does this make sense?

I guess, in a nutshell, I don't understand how anyone can make the claim that each time you apply you have a better shot. Your chances are based on how everyone else who is applying with you looks, and if there are lots of others who needed only one try to get a good score, then how can you look good with 4 MCAT tries?!

 

[mikedc813]

Oh, and I'm totally not saying that you can't get into med school without doing well the first time on the MCAT, I just don't understand how taking it more than once gives you an advantage, which is how I read the above responses.... 😛

 

[Mr Reddly]

Schools don't like to get apps from people who have applied twice before.

not true, schls like to see a student is determined, and works towards makin an improvement. I'm a reapplicant, and i got into same schl that i didnt even receive a secondary from in the past! 👍

It is true for some schools. On UCLA's website, it says something along the lines of "we highly discourage anyone who has applied twice already to apply." This type of statement is on other schools' websites, but I remember it specifically on ucla's site.

Also, at one of the chicago (I think the jesuit one) schools, they require you two write them and ask for permission to apply after the second time, and to tell them why you think you deserve another shot. As an FYI, they said "no" to me after my letter. (took the mcat 2x... 31 the first time, and a 35 the second.)

 

[irishlaydi]

Hi all. i'm new to this, but wanted to get involved b/c i've been reading sdn posts for a while now. I am taking the MCAT for the 3rd and FINAL time this august. I have only applied to med schools once, last year. I took the mcat once in junior yr of college and got a 24. i was really into research then and thought i had no hope for med school so decided PhD route. I spent a year after grad. in 2001 working at NIH doing clinical research. Then I entered a PhD program I had deferred. I have been in the program 2 years and am not happy just doing research. i want to treat patients, take care of people, be a DOCTOR! SO, last spring I spent tons of time prepping for the august mcat. But as luck would have it I got terribly sick in July(thru winter)...I stuck it out and did the best i could on the mcat (i was in constant pain, lots of meds, etc...) as you can guess i did crappy on the test. 25. but not bad for being on tons of meds and in pain to sit i guess! So, I decided to apply anyway b/c my EC's, research, grades, etc... i am proud of. I got one interview and was turned down. I am healthy finally and off all meds and plan to take the MCAT in August.
Is there a way to flag the mcat on applications b/c i was in the midst of chronic illness and meds???
Also, this is my 3rd time!!! Do i have a shot at all???
I would appreciate any advice as I feel a little lost as to how to make sure schools know the circumstances under which I took the exam last year. also, i want to know if i'm really going to be hurt by all of this.
THANKS 😳

 

[MoosePilot]

Is there a way to flag the mcat on applications b/c i was in the midst of chronic illness and meds???
Also, this is my 3rd time!!! Do i have a shot at all???
I would appreciate any advice as I feel a little lost as to how to make sure schools know the circumstances under which I took the exam last year. also, i want to know if i'm really going to be hurt by all of this.
THANKS 😳

Mention it in your personal statement. If you had medical problems that are easily documentable and really improve the third time around, it shouldn't be too hard to explain the bad second score (if the school even cares, some only look at the most recent and some say they look at best).

 

[stinkycheese]

not true, schls like to see a student is determined, and works towards makin an improvement. I'm a reapplicant, and i got into same schl that i didnt even receive a secondary from in the past! 👍

Yes, but some schools specifically state that if you have applied twice in the past, you are discouraged from doing so again. If you make serious improvements in your app, then of course,apply again. But people who just keep applying without improving themselves won't do well, and even those who improve, but not "enough", may find that they get less consideration as a reapplicant.

 

[irishlaydi]

Mention it in your personal statement...]

thanks. i had someone tell me there was a way to red flag something on your application but i have no idea what they're talking about.

 

[Nebmuse]

It all depends on the school policy.

People get offered interviews and yes, they even get in, at schools they have applied to three times. In my expreience, the schools that I applied to a second time after not getting offered an interview offered me an interview and a place in the class very shortly thereafter the second time around. I've said this before here, but if you apply multiple years with the same application, you will get the same result. There has to be something different and something that shows that you are still determined and interested in medicine. My GPA didn't change, nor did my MCAT score, but I spend a significant amount of time on a similar yet different PS and changed my EC's a little bit.

If you want to know what schools I am talking about, PM me and I'll let you know.

 

[TheRussian]

Mention it in your personal statement. If you had medical problems that are easily documentable and really improve the third time around, it shouldn't be too hard to explain the bad second score (if the school even cares, some only look at the most recent and some say they look at best).

I wouldn't necessarily use your personal statement to make excuses for your poor performance whether the excuses are real or not. I'm not trying to be mean but I think you should use the space in the personal statement to talk about yourself not to make excuses for why you did poorly before.

Most secondaries state that if you have anything significant to add that is not elsewhere in your application to do so. This would be the ideal place to explain those scores. If you are applying to schools that selectively send out secondaries then you should probably contact them and ask what the best way to get them the explanation so they have it when they look at your application.

 

[biffbuddy]

I took the mcat 3 times and got in on my first shot, to two schools

Im beginning to sound like a broken record - this is my last time stating this fact!!! YOU CAN GET IN TAKING THE MCAT MULTIPLE TIMES, YOU CAN GET IN APPLYING MULTIPLE TIMES, YOU CAN GET IN WITH SUB-30 MCAT SCORES - THERE IS NO PERFECT FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

good luck

 

[premed]

I took the mcat 3 times and got in on my first shot, to two schools

Im beginning to sound like a broken record - this is my last time stating this fact!!! YOU CAN GET IN TAKING THE MCAT MULTIPLE TIMES, YOU CAN GET IN APPLYING MULTIPLE TIMES, YOU CAN GET IN WITH SUB-30 MCAT SCORES - THERE IS NO PERFECT FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

good luck

Congrats!