Multiple MCAT scores consideration for schools in New York

[science789]

So when I first took the MCAT I received a score of 484, and then I retook it and received a score of 520. Will medical schools like SUNY Upstate, downstate, stony brook, albany consider the upward trend or will they downright just average the two scores? If they average the scores, then the score becomes lower. So I was wondering if they will even consider the upward trend. Also have you ever called the schools to find out such as Stony brook, upstate, downstate etc? Thanks for the help!

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[Luka75]

I think they'd be too impressed by a 36 point jump to be worried about your avg score...

 

[gonnif]

So when I first took the MCAT I received a score of 484, and then I retook it and received a score of 520. Will medical schools like SUNY Upstate, downstate, stony brook, albany consider the upward trend or will they downright just average the two scores? If they average the scores, then the score becomes lower. So I was wondering if they will even consider the upward trend. Also have you ever called the schools to find out such as Stony brook, upstate, downstate etc? Thanks for the help!

I think they'd be too impressed by a 36 point jump to be worried about your avg score...

A few thoughts:
1) It doesnt matter. These are the scores you have and they will be the scores the schools see. This isnt something you can change or control, so worrying, speculating, even with confirmed information from the schools, will not matter. so move on.
2) AAMC recommends that schools average multiple MCAT .

http://www.med.wisc.edu/education/md/admissions/frequently-asked-questions-faqs/108
Data from the AAMC suggest that applicants who took the MCAT more than once perform in medical school most like applicants who only took the MCAT once and had the average of the multiple scores. In other words, someone who took the MCAT twice and had total scores of 505 and 509 is most likely to perform in medical school like someone who took the MCAT once and had a score of 507.

3) Since schools use MCAT score at multiple points in the process, it is hard to know how they use them at initial screening, though I suspect it is the high score.
4) Lastly, as @Luka75 stated, they will be impressed with the 36 point jump. Just be prepared to discuss in secondary and/or interview why that occurred. And no, you do not mention it in your primary

 

[Goro]

A 520 Score is nothing to sneeze at!

 

[Azete]

Did you have a stroke during your first test? How the hell does somebody go from an 8th percentile score to a 98th percentile score....

You'll get interview invites just so people can hear your story, so don't give it away in your personal statement.

 

[gonnif]

A 520 Score is nothing to sneeze at!

Did you have a stroke during your first test? How the hell does somebody go from an 8th percentile score to a 98th percentile score....

You'll get interview invites just so people can hear your story, so don't give it away in your personal statement.

This is possibly what could be called a "double elimination projectile event" (DEPE). That is where an overly confident student goes into the MCAT with little preparation, gets the score back and upon reading the "484" screams "holy ****!" and has a projectile elimination event, requiring immediate showering and laundering. The applicant then prepares fully, completely, and totally, gets the score back and upon reading the "520" screams "holy ****" and has has a projectile elimination event, requiring immediate showering and laundering. Hence a DEPE.

BTW, I didnt make this up. A biochem PhD was applying to medical school was the one who created this idea as it happened to her. She went from an 18 with no prep to a 36.

 

[Fortyfive]

This is possibly what could be called a "double elimination projectile event" (DEPE). That is where an overly confident student goes into the MCAT with little preparation, gets the score back and upon reading the "484" screams "holy ****!" and has a projectile elimination event, requiring immediate showering and laundering. The applicant then prepares fully, completely, and totally, gets the score back and upon reading the "520" screams "holy ****" and has has a projectile elimination event, requiring immediate showering and laundering. Hence a DEPE.

BTW, I didnt make this up. A biochem PhD was applying to medical school was the one who created this idea as it happened to her. She went from an 18 with no prep to a 36.

lmaooo @ "projectile elimination"

 

[Pusheen]

Just to confirm, you already took the test and got a 520? This isn't a prediction?

 

[caffeinemia]

So when I first took the MCAT I received a score of 484, and then I retook it and received a score of 520. Will medical schools like SUNY Upstate, downstate, stony brook, albany consider the upward trend or will they downright just average the two scores? If they average the scores, then the score becomes lower. So I was wondering if they will even consider the upward trend. Also have you ever called the schools to find out such as Stony brook, upstate, downstate etc? Thanks for the help!

1) if you call and ask about that, they may just simply laugh at you. or make up an answer on the fly, with no guarantee that they will follow it.
2) congrats on a 520, if your grades, activities, and personality are of similar quality, you should have no problem with these middle tier places.

 

[Goro]

I have an Adcom colleague who likes to reject such applicants, because he feels that their judgment is at major issue. The rest of the committee has to drag him back to reality.

This is possibly what could be called a "double elimination projectile event" (DEPE). That is where an overly confident student goes into the MCAT with little preparation, gets the score back and upon reading the "484" screams "holy ****!" and has a projectile elimination event, requiring immediate showering and laundering. The applicant then prepares fully, completely, and totally, gets the score back and upon reading the "520" screams "holy ****" and has has a projectile elimination event, requiring immediate showering and laundering. Hence a DEPE.

BTW, I didnt make this up. A biochem PhD was applying to medical school was the one who created this idea as it happened to her. She went from an 18 with no prep to a 36.

 

[science789]

Thanks so much for the help guys. I truly appreciate it. And no this is not a prediction. I actually have those scores that's why I asked. I was very ill when I first took it. Felt nauseous and I don't know I just wasn't feeling myself. Then I retook it again after studying thoroughly everyday and received 520. You guys are right there is no point in worrying if they will average or not. Whatever happen will happen.

 

[mw18]

Thanks so much for the help guys. I truly appreciate it. And no this is not a prediction. I actually have those scores that's why I asked. I was very ill when I first took it. Felt nauseous and I don't know I just wasn't feeling myself. Then I retook it again after studying thoroughly everyday and received 520. You guys are right there is no point in worrying if they will average or not. Whatever happen will happen.

Averaging those scores, though they may, would be silly to me. The odds of a 484 being the result of spectacularly bad luck is much more likely than a score of 520 being from spectacularly good luck. I would treat you as closer to a 520 as long as your grades were concordant and you had a solid explanation for the first one (of course, in retrospect, you should have voided. But everyone feels like trash after so I could see how you may have thought it was par for the course). That may be too strong, but a 502 misses the boat in my opinion. If it's a school that interviews people with 508+, they should interview you.

 

[science789]

Hmm, I see. My cGPA is 3.69..will that affect the process somehow? Just wondering?

 

[mw18]

Hmm, I see. My cGPA is 3.69..will that affect the process somehow? Just wondering?

Middle of the pack, average MD matriculation GPA. Probably doesn't push the needle either way, but at least it's not a GPA that falls in line with a 484.