Need basic advice, MCAT retake?

[Jdp00921]

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Hey all,

I just wanted to write and get an opinion on whether or not I should re-take the MCAT this upcoming spring/early summer just prior to my RE-application to medical school. I applied my first time in the 2015-2016 application cycle and managed 3 interviews (2 DO, 1 MD) and unfortunately, was waitlisted at all 3 institutions. Anyway, I'll give a comparison of what I was applying with in 2015 vs current (for the upcoming 2017-2018 application cycle).

2015-2016:
cGPA was only 3.2 with a post-baccGPA of 3.7 (and science ~3.5; also post-bacc was not an official program, essentially returned to school to take the pre-requisites to medical school). My bachelor's degree is in Business Administration.
MCAT 504
Volunteer experience was lacking with only ~80 hours in total.
Research experience (genetics, with a conference presentation) was ~500 hours.
Clinical experience included me JUST BEGINNING as an ER scribe; at that time, ~40 hours clinical experience.
Shadowing was ~100 hours with specialties including cardiothoracic surgery, ENT, oral surgery, oncology, surgical oncology, and radiation oncology.
Few clubs that I participated in during my post-bacc. studies, nothing too major.
The above covers most of what was on my application less past employment that I've had over my undergraduate/post-bacc. education (management, pharmacy tech, etc).

2017-2018:
Entered a graduate Masters of Biomedical Science program that is pretty rigorous. Full masters degree in 2 semesters total - GPA is currently 3.8, hoping to finish completely with ~3.9.
MCAT still 504.
Volunteer experience increased to ~200+ hours - additional hours consist of volunteering at a local organization w/ a few leadership responsibilities.
Research experience, as far as science, is basically the same, ~500 hours (genetics). However, I now have several hours (~150) of public health research which will end with another presentation this year.
Clinical experience ended at ~1500 hrs of ER scribing which concluded as I begun my masters program.
Shadowing and other categories remain the same.

Anyway, my basic question was should I retake the MCAT, and any other advice anyone has, feel free. I'm excited to apply this year and have high hopes (while also now understanding the realities of applying to medical school). Keep in mind I do wish to apply to both MD and DO schools, with no specific priority on which one I end up at; I just want a school that has a good reputation overall.

Sorry for the long read but for anyone who responds, thanks in advance! I appreciate the advice and help!

-J

 

[gamieg]

what's your mcat breakdown? any subsections below 125? for the MD school you interviewed at, was it a state school? did you garner any interview feedback after the waitlists or reflect on what could be improved?

 

[Jdp00921]

Yes unfortunately my Verbal Reasoning ended at 124, to which I was surprised. On practice tests that was my best section ironically. As far as interview feedback, I contacted 2 of 3 schools both of which stated they do not give formal feedback. Upon personal reflection, all interviews were certainly positive experiences. One went extremely well, another was certainly very comfortable (no awkward silence, no looks of disapproval, etc), and the last I'd rate as so-so (group interview, was kind of strange for me).

As far as my MCAT, the 124 does haunt me and I'm confident I can improve that score as well as my overall. I guess in all honestly, I know a re-take would certainly help me drastically. However, given the cost of retaking the exam (direct costs, additional study materials, and time given up studying and not working), I just want to be sure I'm making the correct decision (in deciding to retake or not) and figured it couldn't hurt to get some opinions from others going through the same process.

The 3 schools I interviewed at were all IS, however, I only applied to 8 schools total, only 2 being OOS.

 

[aprilfools]

I only applied to 8 schools total.

This was your biggest problem, far and away.

 

[byrdhouse]

I would retake it if you think you can realistically improve your score. Two scores that are similar isn't a good thing, and three that are similar may raise some red flags. Perhaps your study methods for the MCAT are out of sync. How you did you/will you study for the MCAT?

 

[Jdp00921]

This was your biggest problem, far and away.

Yes, I certainly agree that I should have applied much more broadly and to an overall larger amount of schools. Honestly I guess with the way the cycle worked out (getting 2 interviews really quick), I thought at the time I was safe. Lo and behold this obviously wasn't the case. My new cycle will probably include ~15 schools, those which I have now researched more and know that my stats match accordingly. My first cycle primarily included a lot of outsider advice and local institutions.

I would retake it if you think you can realistically improve your score. Two scores that are similar isn't a good thing, and three that are similar may raise some red flags. Perhaps your study methods for the MCAT are out of sync. How you did you/will you study for the MCAT?

With my first take, it's important to mention again that I had basically post-bacc. classes only as a means of science background. Now I understand that realistically, that's all you're supposed to require to take the MCAT but friends of mine who have had upper-levels and whatnot had a significantly easier time studying and taking the exam. Now, with graduate level classes/exams under my belt, I feel both more confident in my science knowledge and in my test taking and test preparation abilities. Overall, the first time I took the MCAT, it was a lot of learning the material itself. With this attempt, my plan is to refresh on the few things I need to refresh on (physics, gen-chem, psych) and to focus most of my studying on test prep (taking practice exams, working through many more passages, doing more practice questions overall). Additionally, it's worth mentioning that my critical reasoning section was my lowest which I wish I completed more practice passages prior to my first take.

I do have that concern, though, that if I come out with a 506, it won't look too good. This is the reason for why this decision has been difficult. Honestly, if I hadn't scored anything below 125 I probably wouldn't plan a retake. But given that score, I figure it'd be worth it to give it another try and hopefully, with better prep., knock it out of the park. I figure if I did increase to 507-508+, that would be pretty significant. I'm pretty sure I can do that, just makes me nervous because things do happen sometimes and I wouldn't want to score another 504 or a 505...

 

[aprilfools]

My new cycle will probably include ~15 schools, those which I have now researched more and know that my stats match accordingly. My first cycle primarily included a lot of outsider advice and local institutions.

This still isn't anywhere near enough. If you got interviews at 3/8 schools you applied to schools clearly aren't having a major problem with your MCAT. With your stats you need to be pushing the upper 20's-30 school range. Do this, and extrapolating on your previous cycle, I would say your odds are significantly higher.

 

[Jdp00921]

This still isn't anywhere near enough. If you got interviews at 3/8 schools you applied to schools clearly aren't having a major problem with your MCAT. With your stats you need to be pushing the upper 20's-30 school range. Do this, and extrapolating on your previous cycle, I would say your odds are significantly higher.

So just so I'm clear, you're saying you would not retake the MCAT and would reapply more broadly/to more schools overall (at least 25)? That's basically what I'm considering if I decide not to retake it. I never considered that many schools, however; lots more research to do in that case.

 

[aprilfools]

So just so I'm clear, you're saying you would not retake the MCAT and would reapply more broadly/to more schools overall (at least 25)? That's basically what I'm considering if I decide not to retake it. I never considered that many schools, however; lots more research to do in that case.

Here's what I'm saying: Getting 3 interviews means you did something right, especially considering you only applied to 8 schools. Obviously you would be MORE competitive if you had a higher MCAT score, but I'm questioning whether or not you actually need to do this.

If you applied to more schools that are similar to the schools you applied to last time, one could reasonably expect to see a similar trend in number of interviews vs number of applications. So if you applied to three times as many schools (24), I would think you would get somewhere in the neighborhood of three times as many interviews (9). Much better odds of converting one of 9 interviews to an acceptance than there is one of 3 interviews.

What this suggests to me is that you would have a better application cycle outcome simply by applying to more schools, and thus there is no need to retake your MCAT.


Take that how you will, however, as this is coming from someone who is in the midst of an application cycle right now (3.63/519) and applied too top-heavy. As a result I received 4/27 interviews, 3 of which resulted in waitlists. Still waiting to hear back from the final one.

 

[byrdhouse]

I don't think you can necessarily extrapolate in increase in interviews based on an increase of applications, particularly since the three interviews were in-state. Although, 8 schools is rather scant. When would you retake the MCAT? If you were to retake, I would suggest focusing heavily on the practice passages and questions, not necessarily on content review. Talk to the schools you interviewed with and ask them how you can improve your application. Maybe your PS or something. They also may just want to see you complete the post-bacc, given how low your uGPA is.