Multiple MCATs

[IowaDoc07]

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Whats everyones opinion on 2-3 MCAT tests taken?

 

[thechenster]

Whats everyones opinion on 2-3 MCAT tests taken?

2 [EDIT] okay 3 bad
You can have an excuse for messing up your first time (sickness, family death, whatever). If you took it 3 times, it just shows that you needed all 3 tries

 

[Ischemic]

2 [EDIT] okay 3 bad
You can have an excuse for messing up your first time (sickness, family death, whatever). If you took it 3 times, it just shows that you needed all 3 tries

Yep, took all 3 and still got in. Just shows you myths are just myths ... unless you retook a 36 and a 38 to get a 41 like one thread in here said. Now that's just stupid.

 

[anfleisch]

One thing that isn't always said, the exam is highly variable. But most of that variability is wiped out after taking the exam twice. So the GPA could maybe affect the overall appearance of an app more with a test taken once.

With a high GPA, maybe an ADCOM would consider a 30 okay for a single exam. But it seems lower if you scored it twice. With a lower GPA, scoring a 34 twice would have the opposite effect.

 

[thechenster]

Yep, took all 3 and still got in. Just shows you myths are just myths ... unless you retook a 36 and a 38 to get a 41 like one thread in here said. Now that's just stupid.

Myth or not, I don't think an adcom will look favorably at 3 attempts unless you went you significantly went up on your 3rd try as mentioned. You most likely had many other bright spots in your application MCAT aside

That doesn't mean taking it 3 times will doom you; I just think it looks bad. Why? Adcoms partially use the MCAT as an indicator of how you'll do on the USMLE's and they don't want a student needing 3 tries to score well on the steps b/c that reflects badly on the school.

 

[Ischemic]

Myth or not, I don't think an adcom will look favorably at 3 attempts unless you went you significantly went up on your 3rd try as mentioned. You most likely had many other bright spots in your application MCAT aside

That doesn't mean taking it 3 times will doom you; I just think it looks bad. Why? Adcoms partially use the MCAT as an indicator of how you'll do on the USMLE's and they don't want a student needing 3 tries to score well on the steps b/c that reflects badly on the school.

You may be right, but I've always been one to believe that the USMLE and MCAT are kinda different in their focus and materials tested just from practice questions I've done. MCAT material, however, somehow has little relevance to anything I studied in med school, while the USMLE material is relevant to what you'll actually see in the wards not to mention more interesting too. I'll let you know next year how I feel, maybe I'll change my mind after taking it myself. 😀

 

[thechenster]

You may be right, but I've always been one to believe that the USMLE and MCAT are kinda different in their focus and materials tested just from practice questions I've done. MCAT material, however, somehow has little relevance to anything I studied in med school, while the USMLE material is relevant to what you'll actually see in the wards not to mention more interesting too. I'll let you know next year how I feel, maybe I'll change my mind after taking it myself. 😀

Yea I wouldn't be surprised if the two tests turn out to be completely different. Hopefully they give you more time on the USMLE per question. The MCAT is straight reedikyuluss

 

[anfleisch]

MCAT = mostly reading comp even in the science sections (obv. some knowledge helps)
USMLE = seems to be a knowledge exam from what I have seen

Reading is required to learn the USMLE material, and some knowledge helps with the MCAT science sections. But I don't really see that the connection is that strong, and some of the correlation may be outright brains.

 

[jadealer]

Yep, took all 3 and still got in. Just shows you myths are just myths ... unless you retook a 36 and a 38 to get a 41 like one thread in here said. Now that's just stupid.

You give me hope.. I am preparing for my third MCAT. Its frustrating that I am struggling with this one element of my applicatino so much. I normally am a decent test taker. I took once and got 24p (august 2006) and 29P (September 2009). Hopefully third time will be the charm. ::fingers crossed:: I was starting to feel that I was ruining my chances for medical school by taking the MCAT three times.

 

[cdmarshbu]

Of course it always depends. If you take the test 3 times and score the same each time, you haven't made the strides necessary to be admitted. If you have taken it three times and haven't even applied yet it is difficult to tell just how an improved score even helps. For example, "declined with a 24p and a 29p means" something different than "decline with a 39p"...the reason for not getting in probably have very little to do with the MCAT score in the second example.

Without a GPA it is also very difficult to tell how multiple tests would be evaluated. If you have a 3.7 and take the test 3 times and make 24, 29, and 32 then you are in a good spot...but most likely just shifting the types of school you could be admitted to as opposed to just rejection vs. acceptance. If you have a 3.1 and make a 24, 29, and 32 then your application comes under a heightened level of scrutiny for obvious reason.

There are too many combinations of factors and not enough information from this thread to determine what taking a test multiple times would really mean. I have personally seen numerous applicants be admitted to medical and dental school with 2, 3, and even more test scores on the DAT and MCAT.

 

[jadealer]

Of course it always depends. If you take the test 3 times and score the same each time, you haven't made the strides necessary to be admitted. If you have taken it three times and haven't even applied yet it is difficult to tell just how an improved score even helps. For example, "declined with a 24p and a 29p means" something different than "decline with a 39p"...the reason for not getting in probably have very little to do with the MCAT score in the second example.

Without a GPA it is also very difficult to tell how multiple tests would be evaluated. If you have a 3.7 and take the test 3 times and make 24, 29, and 32 then you are in a good spot...but most likely just shifting the types of school you could be admitted to as opposed to just rejection vs. acceptance. If you have a 3.1 and make a 24, 29, and 32 then your application comes under a heightened level of scrutiny for obvious reason.

There are too many combinations of factors and not enough information from this thread to determine what taking a test multiple times would really mean. I have personally seen numerous applicants be admitted to medical and dental school with 2, 3, and even more test scores on the DAT and MCAT.

3.8 cGPA, 3.73 sGPA with two science majors from a respected public university, plus 3.5 years post-UG working in cardiology and cancer research at a nationally ranked hospital

 

[siliso]

About a third of entering students have taken MCAT more than once, according to the Matriculating Students Questionnaire. It must not be much of a killer.