Forum Members Official "Should I Retake?" Thread

[QofQuimica]

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EDIT 12/21/18: This thread is being retired, as the majority of posts (>80 pages) pertain to the old MCAT that is no longer relevant to current applicants. You can find the current "Should I Retake" thread here: Forum Members - Should I Retake the MCAT?

For those of you who are trying to figure out whether you should re-take, this is the thread for you. Post your dilemma here if you want advice from other SDN folks. Please note that you should take the opinions you get from SDN as one source of advice; you would be wise to also consult your premed advisor before making this decision. Here is my personal advice for those considering whether to re-take:

Definitely DO retake:

-if you scored below a 24. Some allopathic schools will screen out students with scores lower than 24, which is about the mean score for all test-takers.
-if you had some kind of major problem during the test that affected your performance (ex. you started puking or running a 102 degree temperature)
-if you took the test without completing the four pre-reqs (one year each of biology, chemistry, physics, and organic) and/or without studying for it
-if you left large numbers of questions blank​

Definitely do NOT retake:

-if you scored a 30 or better, especially if all of your individual section scores were an 8 or better
-if your section subscores (the numerical ones) are all good, but you didn't perform well on the writing section (the letter score)

​

Gray area-it's not obvious what to do:

-if you scored 30+ but with one section below an 8
-if you had some minor nuisances (ex. a noisy test room) during the test and you're not sure if it affected your performance
-if you studied thoroughly for the test and you scored within the range of your practice exams, but your score is in the middle range (24-29)​

 

[recycledpaper]

I have good GPA and ECs, but my MCAT is holding me back. I've taken it three times and my highest score is 26N, which got me waitlisted second quartile at a small brand new DO school. I plan on applying to only DO schools during this next cycle if I don't get an acceptance. Should I retake? Do adcoms care a lot about how many tests it takes for you to get in or do they care more about how much you improve?

I would call the schools directly and ask them for the best info/advice.

If you don't mind me asking, what is your GPA?

 

[mp33]

MCAT 2010 Total Score 30Q
PS 12
VR 10
BS 8
Have applied the previous 2 years
BCPM 3.2
UG 3.4
GR 3.6
2 interviews in March 2011
0 interviews for 2012 application

Retook MCAT Total Score 29
PS 12
VR 8
BS 9

Should I retake the MCAT for the 2013 application? I'd really like to see all those sections have 2 digits. Will the drop from 30 to 29 hurt?

 

[Liirey]

Just got my MCAT scores back for the April test (my first time taking it).

13 BS, 8 PS (ARGH!), 13 VR. Total: 34.

My cGPA is 3.84 and my sGPA is 3.76. I'm applying to about sixteen different places, osteopathic and allopathic both - including some MD/PhD programs. 4-5 good LORs, variety of extracurriculars, departmental awards in literature and modern languages, a year volunteering weekly at a local hospital.

As far as I know, only one of them is a top 20. I'm not looking for a brand name or anything. I just want to go to a school where I can get a good medical education, engage in as much research as I like, and not go into massive, crippling debt.

ETA: I'm also a double-major, both science and humanities, and am getting my M.S. in biology concurrently.

 

[AureatEagle]

Just got my MCAT scores back for the April test (my first time taking it).

13 BS, 8 PS (ARGH!), 13 VR. Total: 34.

My cGPA is 3.84 and my sGPA is 3.76. I'm applying to about sixteen different places, osteopathic and allopathic both - including some MD/PhD programs. 4-5 good LORs, variety of extracurriculars, departmental awards in literature and modern languages, a year volunteering weekly at a local hospital.

As far as I know, only one of them is a top 20. I'm not looking for a brand name or anything. I just want to go to a school where I can get a good medical education, engage in as much research as I like, and not go into massive, crippling debt.

ETA: I'm also a double-major, both science and humanities, and am getting my M.S. in biology concurrently.

Definitely wouldn't retake a 34 if I had the rest of your stats. Your EC's sound awesome and your GPA is great. Especially since you're not applying top 20, I think you're quite competitive already 🙂 So not worth taking it again for a low verbal.. just be prepared to talk about it in interviews.

 

[Liirey]

Definitely wouldn't retake a 34 if I had the rest of your stats. Your EC's sound awesome and your GPA is great. Especially since you're not applying top 20, I think you're quite competitive already 🙂 So not worth taking it again for a low verbal.. just be prepared to talk about it in interviews.

It's a low PS, actually, and believe me, I'm ready to talk about it. Hypothetically: "I like chemistry, but physics is difficult for me and always has been." Honesty. It'll get me places...I hope!

Of course, that's assuming I even GET interviews. 😀

 

[VardamanBundren]

Just found out my score yesterday, and I could really use some advice.

MCAT: 29 (11PS / 9VR / 9BS)
cGPA: 3.77
sGPA: 3.65

EC highlights:
Medical volunteering: 100+ hours
Non-medical volunteering: 300+ hours
Clinical research: 300+ hours
President of two college clubs
Publication in law journal

Do I retake the MCAT (this would push my application to later this cycle, but possibly improve my score)?

 

[zipideedoodah]

I just got my score yesterday...31 (10 PS, 9 V, 12 BS). I was averaging 33-34 on FLs. I'm currently signed up for the June 20th date, should I go through with the retake? I'm applying to MD and DO schools.

My Stats:
- CA resident (applying to only CA schools). Non-URM
- Undergrad: 3.58 cGPA (upward trend), 3.54 sGPA... Grad school: 4.0 (although I know this won't help me out)
- Volunteer

• ~300 hrs volunteer (ER, OR, Urgent care, Hospice)....
• ~80 hrs peer health educator

- Teaching/Tutoring (Paid):

• 4 years high school teacher (2 yrs part-time, 2 yr full-time)
• 2 years tutoring kids with learning disabilities
• 1 quarter TA for undergrad bio class

- Research (Unpaid):

• 4 years clinical research
• 6 months basic science research
• International research (field work for 4 days, prep/post-analysis for 3 months)
• Master’s thesis + defense
• 1 publication (second author)
• 1 poster presentation at a major conference

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[RockDoc28]

I would call the schools directly and ask them for the best info/advice.

If you don't mind me asking, what is your GPA?

My cumulative was 3.52, i believe my science GPA was about 3.65

 

[weix11]

Asian, Male, 22 years old.
Graduated from UC Berkeley
Both my science and total GPA is around 3.65 - 3.70
My MCAT scores are 12 PS, 8 VR, 12 BS.
I am a California Resident, and I plan on applying to 40 schools.
I am willing to go wherever.

To explain my low verbal reasoning score, just to clarify, English is my native language, however I am an immigrant, but I came at a very young age and English is my first language. I'm just very bad at language comprehension.

My extracurriculars include my leadership experience in AMSA.
My shadowing isn't too heavy, I did one week of shadowing of a primary care doc, and 1 day of a OB/GYN.
My volunteering includes 2 years of work at a campus health clinic
I also taught a lot of asthma education to schoolchildren and also held a leadership role in that club.
Recommendations include 1 MD graduate student instructor cosigned with a lecturer who also is a doctor, 1 letter from my asthma teaching experience, 1 letter from a graduate student instructor who I worked with as an undergraduate student instructor, 1 letter from my Indonesian language teacher, and 1 upcoming letter from an instructor who I took a science course with.
In terms of employment, I worked for one summer at a theme park, 1 semester as a note-taker, and 1 year at a student dining hall.
My research isn't all that great either, I have only about a semester of research experience
Other experiences I have include being a spill.com responder, an undergraduate student instructor for a general biology lab course, a volunteer lead for a campus-wide bi-annual volunteering event, and a English conversational partner for visiting scholars.

Your help is greatly appreciated,
Thanks,
Wei

 

[hopefuluncdoc]

I am a NC resident, took the MCAT last September and got 9PS, 10VR, and 8BS (27P)
I have a cGPA of 3.424 and a sGPA of 3.211

I am planning on retaking in August to give myself enough time to study, but I am so nervous about retaking! I know I can get the bio score up because since the last test I have taken quite a few upper level bios and am much better at the subject. However, I am worried about replicating my (relatively) high physics score since I haven't taken physics in two years.

I have good ECs (lots of involvement in the Honors Program, volunteering, shadowing, and internships in both the trauma center and PICU). I am not picky about which school I go to and do like the idea of DO. Give me some advice please 🙂

 

[dasberk]

I just got my scores back from the April MCAT, and they were borderline - 30 total, 8 PS, 11 VR, 11 BS. It sounds stupid, but the only thing I can chalk my PS score up to was having to pee really badly the last 10 minutes of the section, which totally messed me up. I know the top of the thread says that one shouldn't retake with a 30 or higher and individual scores 8 and higher, but my GPA is borderline too. I have a 3.58c but a 3.28s (went through some bad personal times, bad school semester, ended up transferring schools).

I otherwise have good ECs and decent LORs...advice?

Also - female, non-URM, graduated from UC Berkeley, CA resident

 

[vcunanan]

asian male. 3.95 cumulative, 3.95 science. CA resident. phi beta kappa nomination, 2 medical book chapter manuscripts in progress, personally know a couple clinical instructors and professors at UCSF, among other decent ECs.

you know im applying to all the UC schools, plus a bunch of OOS... maybe 20-22 total

my problem is that my MCAT score is whack!!

11 PS (i thought i might have gotten a 12 but whatever) 🙂
13 BS (this i knew as soon as i clicked END) 😀
7 VR 😱

31 is halfway-decent (i hope), but that freakin 7 is killin me!! should i retake because of that?? or would my 3.95 and potentially strong LORs draw attention away from that, assuming im not automatically cut pre-secondary

any input would be wonderful!
cheers!

 

[AdrianScott]

I don't know if I agree here....s/he mentioned only studying for 2 weeks, so this score is obviously NOT a reflection of their true potential.

 

[ET5412]

URM Non-Traditional Applicant, Completed undergrad 1 year ago, NY Resident
I retook the MCAT this past April and I received my scores

BEFORE: 16 M (5PS 5VR 6BS) 8/23/2012
AFTER: 25 (9PS 9VR 7BS) 4/26/2013

I spent six months studying for the exam (SDN 4 Mth Schedule, Retaking all of the AAMC's except for 7, 8 + Kaplan, TPR FLs) and really tackling my weaknesses head on. I'm happy with the outcome, but I feel that I can do better. I'm enrolling in a 1 year MS Bio Program (w/ 1st yr med school courses - Gross Anatomy, Physiology, Neuroscience, and Biostatistics) (BCPM GPA: 2.854, Cum. GPA: 3.062), will retake the MCAT after completing the program, and apply for 2015 matriculation.
Right now, I'm participating in a medical observership (I'm shadowing an internal medical doctor) at a small medical office. I've learned how to take vitals (BP, Weight, Height, Pulse), schedule appointments. So far, it is very rewarding; I learn something new everyday. When I apply next year, then I will go w/ a letter packet from undergrad (2 science/1 non-science faculty), the doctor I'm shadowing, and letter packet from the master's program (In case they do not provide committee letter). Also, I don't want to risk scoring in the same range b/c my pre-health advisor informed me that medical schools do not want you to take the MCAT more than 3 times ever and the MCAT guide says < 1% took it 3 times.

How should I approach this dilemma?

 

[caericson]

Should I retake? I'm a GA resident.
cGPA: 3.62
sGPA: 3.55
My averages for AAMC and Kaplan were approx 31
Real MCAT: 28 (9/8/11)

I think I have good ECs. I'm focused on volunteering (200 hrs), shadowing (~100 hrs), and helping the hispanic community because I can speak Spanish

 

[ph7]

asian male. 3.95 cumulative, 3.95 science. CA resident. phi beta kappa nomination, 2 medical book chapter manuscripts in progress, personally know a couple clinical instructors and professors at UCSF, among other decent ECs.

you know im applying to all the UC schools, plus a bunch of OOS... maybe 20-22 total

my problem is that my MCAT score is whack!!

11 PS (i thought i might have gotten a 12 but whatever) 🙂
13 BS (this i knew as soon as i clicked END) 😀
7 VR 😱

31 is halfway-decent (i hope), but that freakin 7 is killin me!! should i retake because of that?? or would my 3.95 and potentially strong LORs draw attention away from that, assuming im not automatically cut pre-secondary

any input would be wonderful!
cheers!

Difficult to say, but I do know medical schools are puttting more and more weight on the VR and so it might be difficult to get through the initial stages, prior to your LORs. I would try applying to schools that look at the sciences more than VR and go from there. Your GPA is great so a mid-tier school should look at your app throughout with at least an ii

 

[ph7]

Should I retake? I'm a GA resident.
cGPA: 3.62
sGPA: 3.55
My averages for AAMC and Kaplan were approx 31
Real MCAT: 28 (9/8/11)

I think I have good ECs. I'm focused on volunteering (200 hrs), shadowing (~100 hrs), and helping the hispanic community because I can speak Spanish

depends if you are going MD then I would retake since your looking at going in with average/lower side than your comp. If DO then you should apply NOW and with your ECs look forward to medical school next year.

 

[caericson]

depends if you are going MD then I would retake since your looking at going in with average/lower side than your comp. If DO then you should apply NOW and with your ECs look forward to medical school next year.

Thanks man! I'm going to retake and see how I do, I really want that MD!

 

[longhorn41592]

Hi all so one of my friends just got his mcat score back he scored a 23 6PS9V8BS. he has a 3.86 overall g.p.a. and a 3.78 science g.p.a. He is okay with M.D. or D.O.
He is a URM (Honduran) and has over 300 shadowing hours including a medical volunteer trip to Nicaragua and a medical internship in Belize.

 

[zdbsy]

MCAT: 27 (11/6/10)
Undergrad GPA: Unknown, awaiting for verification by WES, foreign transcript, 3.4 I'd say
Postbac GPA: 3.76 (all science upper division classes)

I have good ECs (including 250+ hours volunteer in hospital, 1 year in hospice, 30+ hours shadowing MD. And outside US I've got 100 hours shadowing and 500 hours volunteering in China. Used to work as a masseur in Australia for 900+hours, part time employments; administrator in computer company for 600 hours, plus something else like tutor, carrier, waiter, volunteers in one-time events, etc)

Good PS, cLOR (got one from the doc I'm shadowing with, good. One from the professor, good; and one from volunteer coordinator in hospice, strong)

I know my identification (international student without GC, asian) directly blows me out of the MD schools. I'm thinking of retaking but not sure if I could improve in VR. But I could get higher scores in PS/BS definitely.

The 6 in VR kills me. I planned to retake this 07/02 but wondering if some DO schools gonna open to me. Advices?

 

[vijay100]

MCAT 1st take- PS 11, VR 5, BS 8 = 24R (August 2012) --- non-native speaker
MCAT 2nd take- PS 10, VR 7, BS 11 = 28 (May 2013)

Sociology major with a minor in Biology
cGPA= 3.92
sGPA= 3.90

EC= chem research for 4 years, shadowing physician, study abroad, leadership (president of a club), tutoring for 3 years, TA for 2 winter sessions, Phi Beta Kappa, ER experience for 1.5 years, EMT-B experience.

Should I retake because of verbal or do I have a shot at US MD schools? No preference when it comes to state or private or low tier/mid tier.

Any constructive advice appreciated 🙂

 

[vcunanan]

Difficult to say, but I do know medical schools are puttting more and more weight on the VR and so it might be difficult to get through the initial stages, prior to your LORs. I would try applying to schools that look at the sciences more than VR and go from there. Your GPA is great so a mid-tier school should look at your app throughout with at least an ii

thanks ph7 for the vote of confidence! coincidentally i just got an email from UC Davis admissions this morning saying that based on my stats, theyd probably send me a II. also applying to schools where my LizzyM score is at least 1.5 higher. lets see if i can get in somewhere the first try!!!

 

[ph7]

MCAT 1st take- PS 11, VR 5, BS 8 = 24R (August 2012) --- non-native speaker
MCAT 2nd take- PS 10, VR 7, BS 11 = 28 (May 2013)

Sociology major with a minor in Biology
cGPA= 3.92
sGPA= 3.90

EC= chem research for 4 years, shadowing physician, study abroad, leadership (president of a club), tutoring for 3 years, TA for 2 winter sessions, Phi Beta Kappa, ER experience for 1.5 years, EMT-B experience.

Should I retake because of verbal or do I have a shot at US MD schools? No preference when it comes to state or private or low tier/mid tier.

Any constructive advice appreciated 🙂

Retaking might raise that VR but I am not sure unless you saw a major issue in your last time studying when you retook it. Since some schools look at both scores you have an avg VR of 6, which is low for MD and I believe too low to get in. You have all the other aspects needed, its just that MCAT section and not to mention the overall lower score. Possibly find lower schools that do not care much about VR and try there if you want US MD..

 

[superq460]

So I took the MCAT last summer and got a 31Q (14 PS, 8 VR, 9 BS). Was averaging 33-34 on AAMC exams.

I was pretty disappointed with the score because I was averaging 11-12 BS (VR and PS were pretty standard according to my AAMC exams). I am fairly confident that I can improve my VR by 1-2 points and by BS by at least 2 points. Then again I only got a 14 PS twice on practice exams (average was a 13). Also one buddy of mine said that a good writing score can offset a bad VR score. How true is this?

I have fairly standard EC's - worked as an EMT for four years, summer research, peer advising and tutoring, and I am currently spending an year off doing research at the NIH through their Cancer Research Training Award (fairly selective research fellowship).

GPA is 3.605 and a science/math GPA of 3.726. My major was Biochemistry with a minor in Mathematics. Graduated from a Top 25 University.

I'm a NJ resident applying to MD programs. I am looking at RWJ, NJMS, and schools in Philly (Drexel, Jefferson, Temple) or New York (NYU, Stony Brook, Einstein, NYMC, Columbia - a reach I know but I did research there and got a sweet reference).

I already registered for July 25th but I am thinking about cancelling it. I have been steadily preparing for the exam for the past couple of months.

Sooo should I retake guys?

 

[sbhav]

So I took the MCAT last summer and got a 31Q (14 PS, 8 VR, 9 BS). Was averaging 33-34 on AAMC exams.

I was pretty disappointed with the score because I was averaging 11-12 BS (VR and PS were pretty standard according to my AAMC exams). I am fairly confident that I can improve my VR by 1-2 points and by BS by at least 2 points. Then again I only got a 14 PS twice on practice exams (average was a 13). Also one buddy of mine said that a good writing score can offset a bad VR score. How true is this?

I have fairly standard EC's - worked as an EMT for four years, summer research, peer advising and tutoring, and I am currently spending an year off doing research at the NIH through their Cancer Research Training Award (fairly selective research fellowship).

GPA is 3.605 and a science/math GPA of 3.726. My major was Biochemistry with a minor in Mathematics. Graduated from a Top 25 University.

I'm a NJ resident applying to MD programs. I am looking at RWJ, NJMS, and schools in Philly (Drexel, Jefferson, Temple) or New York (NYU, Stony Brook, Einstein, NYMC, Columbia - a reach I know but I did research there and got a sweet reference).

I already registered for July 25th but I am thinking about cancelling it. I have been steadily preparing for the exam for the past couple of months.

Sooo should I retake guys?

I think for Drexel, Jefferson, Temple, Stony Brook, and NYMC you have a competitive MCAT score. The other schools are top tiers, so I wouldn't say you have no chance. However, generally people who apply to this school have a high MCAT score. You have good EC's and a great GPA as well, so I would say do not retake. A 31 is good, and you did not score lower than 8 on any section. I wouldn't want to risk lowering the score, which does happen to a lot of people. I don't think a good writing score can offset a poor VR score. Especially since this year the writing section was completely eliminated. Therefore, I would say it is almost obsolete.

 

[sbhav]

Should I retake? I'm a GA resident.
cGPA: 3.62
sGPA: 3.55
My averages for AAMC and Kaplan were approx 31
Real MCAT: 28 (9/8/11)

I think I have good ECs. I'm focused on volunteering (200 hrs), shadowing (~100 hrs), and helping the hispanic community because I can speak Spanish

I'm also a GA resident with the same MCAT score (the same breakdown as well haha weird). I do not plan on retaking. I guess it depends on where you want to go. If you're applying to Mercer, I think you have a very good chance with your MCAT score, EC's, and GPA. MCG is getting increasingly harder to get into but my sister got in with similar stats to yours. Your 28 is not that unbalanced, but at this point, if you were to retake that would mean not applying until the next cycle. However, if you weren't planning on applying this cycle (and you are sure you can get improve significantly, which I would take to mean at least a 30 or higher), then retake.

 

[superq460]

Thanks for the feedback sbhav. I guess the only reason why I want to retake is because I know I can do better and I would like to have more options with a better score. That's my main motivation. How do you think I would measure up to the New Jersey schools?

 

[sbhav]

I don't know much about NJ schools except Rutgers (which I think you are competitive for) and Cooper is actually a new school on NJ so I think you would have a great shot there.

 

[titan1328]

OH resident
3.6-3.7 cGPA & sGPA

Got a 29 (11 P 7 V 11 B) but I know I can do much better. I scored as high as a 39 and as low as a 34 on the practice AAMC the same week as the real deal. I believe the reason I did so bad is because of anxiety on the real thing.

I can definitely do better on physical and bio but for verbal I am anywhere from 6-11 on the practice exams (yeah, i'm that inconsistent on verbal). My other problem is that I need to apply this cycle and I still haven't started my personal statement or the application. I'm also doing a full time job so the most I can study is about 3hrs per weekday and all day weekends. Should I retake and if so, when's the latest I can retake it such that the score release date doesn't negatively affect my chances?

 

[khrisskhoras]

CA resident

3.9 uGPA

3.2 grad GPA

I just got a 31 on mcat (12-9-10). Im not sure if I should retake because my average AAMC was a 31. But I know I can do better now that I have nothing else filling up my time.

Should I retake?

 

[QrtrLifeCrisis]

If you hit your average, chances are you're not going to improve very much and you run the risk of scoring lower the second time around. A 9 on verbal really isn't that bad. People recommend retaking if you score 8 or below on any section.

Great uGPA, but what happened during grad?

CA resident

3.9 uGPA

3.2 grad GPA

I just got a 31 on mcat (12-9-10). Im not sure if I should retake because my average AAMC was a 31. But I know I can do better now that I have nothing else filling up my time.

Should I retake?

 

[wadda]

.

 

[QrtrLifeCrisis]

Regardless of your potential on practice exams, this was your third attempt and it should most definitely be your final. A 32 is great, although it won't make up for your GPA. I suggest you spend your time elsewhere, such as perfecting your application, PS, and ECs. Also, apply BROADLY and consider DO since they do grade replacement for GPA purposes.

Just got a 32 on my MCAT, PS:10/VR:11/BS:11.

However, this is my THIRD time taking it and I have a low undergrad GPA

Previous MCAT scores: 25 (2009), 26 (2010)

Overall Undergraduate GPA: 3.11
BCPM GPA: 2.7
Total Undergraduate Credits: 159
I did very poorly during my first two years (~2.2-2.3 GPA). I did show an upward trend after that, but it was hard to bring up my GPA significantly.


Post Baccalaureate GPA: 4.0
Total Post Baccalaureate Credits: 18


It's really risky to retake with the 32, but I really needed to ace this exam because of my low GPA. I did get 35+ on my practice tests right before taking the real thing. I think my nerves really got to me. Should I retake?

 

[Shibbyboi182]

31 (10V, 9P, 12B)
3.625 cumulative GPA, 3.55 BCPM

huge positive trend:
1-- 3.4/3.00
2-- 3.41/3.28
3-- 3.5/3.36
4-- 3.87/3.87
Informal Post-bacc: 3.92/3.92/16 (3 upperdivs: 2 bio, 1 biochem)

strong EC's, CA resident

The distribution of the score is a little bothersome, especially since physical was my best section throughout all AAMCs. I was projecting a 10 11 11 thought, 33+ on my last couple AAMCs. Retake or keep?

 

[wadda]

Regardless of your potential on practice exams, this was your third attempt and it should most definitely be your final. A 32 is great, although it won't make up for your GPA. I suggest you spend your time elsewhere, such as perfecting your application, PS, and ECs. Also, apply BROADLY and consider DO since they do grade replacement for GPA purposes.

Thanks 🙂. You're right. I guess I'm still a bit disappointed from not doing as well as I had hoped =/. However, I am most definitely considering DO and some lower tier MD schools.

 

[deleted380953]

Got my score today, pretty devastated

MCAT: 28 (10PS/8VR/10BS)
cGPA: 3.61
sGPA: 3.55

not sure if ECs are enough:

100+ hours of hospital volunteering
100+ hours of gastroenterology shadowing
1.5 years research in physics
1 abstract, 1 conference proceeding, 1 publication (co-author on all)

If I did retake, would 8/16 or 8/22 be too late for this cycle to update for AMCAS?

 

[DamanTHFC]

I feel even worse after reading some comments here...

I got my score today. I did bad; I got a 21. I feel absolutely ruined and so upset.
I did not expect a score anywhere near it, and i felt good after the test.

I cant think straight and really need help.
This was my first time taking the official test. Any advice what to do next?
If it helps, here is some info:
Practiced with Kaplan on Demand
GPA: 3.75

THANKS

 

[WarDaddy]

I just got my MCAT score back today.

Total: 30 (10PS, 9VR, 11BS)
My AAMC Range: 32-36
AAMC Average: 34.4
I also took some Kaplans and scored ~33.5ish and never as low as a 30

Nonscience GPA: 3.8
Science GPA: 3.7
Total GPA: 3.75
EC's are mediocre and I also have completed my Bio degree.
I would prefer acceptance to any MD school (I live in PA which is unfortunate)

I just can't believe I scored to low compared to my range I'm really disappointed.
Advice is much appreciated, thanks!!

 

[Soulstice]

Is it worth registering for a retake with a 34 if my practice tests were all 38-42? I've got a 3.76 and want to be competitive at top schools, for which I'm unsure whether a 3.76 and a 34 will cut it ... Should I register for a retake and then void unless I feel very confident about an improved score?

 

[QrtrLifeCrisis]

Is it worth registering for a retake with a 34 if my practice tests were all 38-42? I've got a 3.76 and want to be competitive at top schools, for which I'm unsure whether a 3.76 and a 34 will cut it ... Should I register for a retake and then void unless I feel very confident about an improved score?

You probably know as well as I do that a good or bad feeling after the exam is not at all indicative of how you actually did.

There's a chance that you could go up based on your practice scores, but I wouldn't discount the chance that you'd go down either. 34 is above the 90 percentile. I would be happy with the score. Apply broadly. MCAT scores aren't the thing that top schools look at.

 

[MARK009]

hi................
my name is mark..............
3.42 GPA

First attempt: 29S
PS 11, V 9, BS 9, S

Second attempt: 26S
PS 10, V 8, BS 8, S

I dropped 1 point in each section. I have no idea why. I was scoring about 30-34 during diags. Recommendations? Don't know if a third time will help..
ATI RADEON HD 5670 – SERIES GRAPHICS CARDS FROM AMD

 

[miketheghost19]

Hello everyone, thanks you in advance to anyone who can help me out here. I just got back my scores for the May 18th exam

9 PS
9 VR
10 BS

3.5 cumulative GPA and 3.3 science GPA at the University of Michigan. My AMCAS application is completely filled out and I wanted to submit early (now). I'm applying to about 20 schools (6 in-state). So is retaking the exam worth having my application not complete for another 2 months since the schools will have to wait for my second score or should I just apply now with my score as it is. The BS score was right in line with my AAMC practice exams but I was getting 10-11 on PS and 9-10 on VR. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Moo2]

Hello everyone, thanks you in advance to anyone who can help me out here. I just got back my scores for the May 18th exam

9 PS
9 VR
10 BS

3.5 cumulative GPA and 3.3 science GPA at the University of Michigan. My AMCAS application is completely filled out and I wanted to submit early (now). I'm applying to about 20 schools (6 in-state). So is retaking the exam worth having my application not complete for another 2 months since the schools will have to wait for my second score or should I just apply now with my score as it is. The BS score was right in line with my AAMC practice exams but I was getting 10-11 on PS and 9-10 on VR. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I would definitely go ahead, especially with 6 in-state schools. Keep in mind the medical schools only need 1 MCAT score to begin looking at your application. So if you feel you are otherwise qualified, and think that you can still perhaps take the MCAT a second time in the upcoming months, then you have a great addition to your credentials to talk about in your secondary applications. If, however, you are too worried that you might not pass certain cutoffs at some schools early on in the process, then it would be best to hold off until you feel confident with you application. Early is good, but early and unflattering (if that is what you feel about your score) is obviously not.

Short answer, you can still go ahead and have your application "complete", and add your second score later!

 

[miketheghost19]

I would definitely go ahead, especially with 6 in-state schools. Keep in mind the medical schools only need 1 MCAT score to begin looking at your application. So if you feel you are otherwise qualified, and think that you can still perhaps take the MCAT a second time in the upcoming months, then you have a great addition to your credentials to talk about in your secondary applications. If, however, you are too worried that you might not pass certain cutoffs at some schools early on in the process, then it would be best to hold off until you feel confident with you application. Early is good, but early and unflattering (if that is what you feel about your score) is obviously not.

Short answer, you can still go ahead and have your application "complete", and add your second score later!

Thanks a lot for the advice! I think I will pass every school's cutoffs (not applying to any top schools). Is retaking the exam to get a 30 or 31 worth delaying my app? I will still submit it now but since I would be retaking the exam, the schools would wait for my second score to fully review my app. Is the retake worth the delay?

 

[WarDaddy]

I just got my MCAT score back today.

Total: 30 (10PS, 9VR, 11BS)
My AAMC Range: 32-36
AAMC Average: 34.4
I also took some Kaplans and scored ~33.5ish and never as low as a 30

Nonscience GPA: 3.8
Science GPA: 3.7
Total GPA: 3.75
EC's are mediocre and I also have completed my Bio degree.
I would prefer acceptance to any MD school (I live in PA which is unfortunate)

I just can't believe I scored to low compared to my range I'm really disappointed.
Advice is much appreciated, thanks!!

Can anybody speak to a similar experience? Did you retake it and do better or did you go fourth with your lower than expected score?


Thanks!!!

 

[gocanes1990]

33 mcat (14 10 9)

Microbio major
3.7 gpa
Fl resident

Looking for low to mid tier
Should I retake bc of the 9 in bio? Bc I am a bio major will they think I should have done better. My microbio gpa is like 3.7. Does the 14 in ps compensate?

 

[ilikeponies]

Hey, everyone! So I took the August 2012 test and got the following breakdown:

PS - 9
VR - 8
BS - 12

Prior to that, I had taken 6 (I think) practice tests and my scores ranged from 30-33. My PS was always a 10 or 11, VR started at 11 then dropped to 8 by the end, and BS was always 11 or 12 (with one 13). I think the Kaplan method really screwed me up for VR (I was taking a Kaplan class at the time) and ultimately I probably took too many tests in a short period of time (and also got dealt hard PS/VR passages), hence why I struggled on test day.

In April I took two more practice tests (AAMC 3 and AAMC 11) and got a 31 and 30, respectively. However, for those I only focused on my verbal and essentially ignored PS and BS - my verbal was back in the 10-11 range for these.

So, I'm registered for the July 2nd test and I'm feeling apprehensive - I've done lots of practice problems and will be taking a full-length tonight. Despite my VR instability last time, I felt really good about the material. So I was surprised especially at my PS score. And because I felt confident last time and didn't do as well as I expected, I'm not quite sure what to think this time around. I'm so on the fence because I know I have the mental capacity to be in the low-to-mid-30s (at least), though the test doesn't really reflect that, so getting a 29Q was especially frustrating. And I'm terrified of the possibility of doing worse this next time around.

Also, I have already submitted my AMCAS application and listed the July 2nd test in the "future test dates" section. I have solid ECs and LoRs - the rest of my stats (including GPA) can be found in this post.

Thanks in advance for the help/motivation!

 

[docdoolittle]

33 mcat (14 10 9)

Microbio major
3.7 gpa
Fl resident

Looking for low to mid tier
Should I retake bc of the 9 in bio? Bc I am a bio major will they think I should have done better. My microbio gpa is like 3.7. Does the 14 in ps compensate?

No need to retake with your stats, a 33 is great! Especially with a 14 in PS, since that is an awesome score and there's a good chance it could go down on a retake.

 

[candyreign]

As someone combating a low GPA, I really need a 30+ on the MCAT to have a decent shot. Unfortunately, I got my test scores back today and fell short of that mark. I've already submitted AMCAS and gotten verified, so I am applying this cycle regardless. I'm just wondering if it would be more wise to retake it in late July and be complete late August with a better MCAT or apply as is?

Also this would be my 3rd time taking the MCAT, so it's pretty high risk (especially with the low GPA, "not early" app). BUT I am pretty confident in my ability to raise my score since my test results were 3pts lower than my AAMC FL average and I would have a month to raise it even more.

Should I sign up to retake or just continue on as a low stat, but super early applicant?

Any advice or shared experience(s) will be much appreciated!

 

[idk321]

Well to start off my background is in biology with a math/science gpa of 3.67 and I took my mcats about a week ago. I studied a great deal for it, however I crammed and was burned out when I took the test. Right now the problem is that if I do not get into medical school I am going to change majors to engineering(only two jobs I would want to do), however the way it works at my school is I would have to start my fall semester off taking the courses (so basically can't start it in the spring).

Unfortunately I wouldn't know my mcat scores from my first test till the 25th and the next test I would not be able to get my scores back in time to see if I should change my course load to engineering. I can however, schedule another test in about 20 days and get my scores 2-3 days before the deadline of scheduling. This presents another problem since if somehow I do good on my first test and my second one is worse how badly will that hurt my chances of getting into a DO school.

I am not used to taking test where if you miss more than one problem you can get good scores so I do not know if I should retake. At the end physical/biological I had like 4-6 that I had to narrow down make an educated guess.

Do you guys think I should take the risk of doing worse and schedule for an mcat in 20 days, or just hope for the best. Also with my GPA what would be a good competitive mcat score to get into a DO school.