Forum Members Official "Should I Retake?" Thread

[QofQuimica]

---

Members don't see this ad.

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)​

 

[SN2ed]

gator13doc & drdude21: Retaking is a waste of time unless your dead set on upper tier schools. Apply broadly.

gogirl: You might be able to get into some lower-mid ranked schools. You have very good ECs and a solid GPA which could push your application through. Your choices really come down to money. If you're willing to spend the money on applying this year, do so. You might get in. If you would rather give yourself a better shot, then a retake is in order.

 

[chief illiniwek]

Not sure what I should do here...

31R (9PS / 11 VR / 11 BS)

Overall GPA 3.77
BCPM 3.81 (respectable undergrad liberal arts school)

Research: currently an NIH IRTA (will be for 2 yrs); one winter break, one summer at lab at JHU

Active in college student life (worked 3 years as band booker/promoter/managing bartender, super unique position)

Volunteering: 2 yrs with free clinic (syringe exchange, lab tech); Currently volunteering with Health Dept (syringe exchange, education; will have logged ~100 hrs by app time)

English major/pre-med; Completed English honors thesis, received honors at graduation, plus English departmental award

Around 50 hours shadowing (more soon)

Other stuff: traveled abroad to Peru, worked one summer on Wall Street

SO...
I'm already registered for the 4/18 MCAT, should I retake? I was averaging 31-33 on AAMC tests. I'm from Georgia and will definitely be applying to MCG & Emory. I'm not expecting to go to any top tier schools, but want to have at least a few out of state options. I'm thinking I probably need a few points higher than 31 for that?

Thanks!!

see above ^^^. this reminds me of gatordoc.

 

[tengteng88]

V10 P13 B11 -> 34O

I'm aiming to go to a UC med school (UCSD = dream🙂

GPA 3.9

EC: shadowing 6 months, working industry and lab (1+ years), leadership, volunteer hospital (6+ months)

undergrad = UC

with all this, is this considered competitive enough for a good UC med school? should I consider retaking?

THANKS SO MUCH!!

 

[SN2ed]

V10 P13 B11 -> 34O

I'm aiming to go to a UC med school (UCSD = dream🙂

GPA 3.9

EC: shadowing 6 months, working industry and lab (1+ years), leadership, volunteer hospital (6+ months)

undergrad = UC

with all this, is this considered competitive enough for a good UC med school? should I consider retaking?

THANKS SO MUCH!!

Absolutely not. You should pick up some community service.

 

[swamprat]

Figured I'd ask..

GPA: 3.65
Pre-Req Science GPA: 3.72
Overall science GPA: 3.76
MCAT: V:8 P:10 B:10 = 28Q

Lots of clinical experience and TAing, research etc.

I really want to go to NYCOM, thats my dream school. What do yo u think?

 

[Ibn Rushd]

I've been tinkering with the idea of retaking, input is appreciated!

Cumulative GPA: 3.60
Science GPA: 3.58

MCAT: 10, 7, 11, M = 28M

One of my top choices is Western/COMP, a DO school.

 

[SN2ed]

Ibn Rushd: You should call them to see if they have a cutoff on verbal. I know that verbal score eliminates your chances at a good number of MD schools. I'm not sure if the same applies to DO.

Honestly, I don't know enough about DO schools to provide much help in that area.

 

[DrBOshkosh26]

🙂

 

[Bluffer]

34S

P-14
B-12
V-8

GPA: 3.55 (overall and science)

Good ECs, experience, rec letters, etc..

Only thing I am worried about is obviously the verbal and Im hoping that the good writing score might help balance that out. What do y'all think? Am I being too picky bc I know some would kill for this score?

 

[Spannuta]

Yea, I am also interested to know about an 8 in VR. If you have a solid score in the other sections and good writing sample is that going to be really something that adcoms really focus on? Is it something that justifies a retake?

 

[techie222]

Every other component of my application (GPA to extracurriculars to LORs to personal statement) are excellent.

Retake MCAT with a 34N the first time? (14P, 8V, 12B, N)

Comments? Thoughts? Advice?

 

[iA-MD2013]

Moving to "Should I retake" thread in the MCAT forum.

 

[Myuu]

Every other component of my application (GPA to extracurriculars to LORs to personal statement) are excellent.

Retake MCAT with a 34N the first time? (14P, 8V, 12B, N)

Comments? Thoughts? Advice?

Don't retake. It is statistically more likely for you to lose points on a retake than gain just for the writing sample or verbal. What I would do instead is write the best set of PS and application essays you've ever written to counter any negatives associated with the N or, worse, the 8.

I'm assuming you're not applying to any schools in Canada, though. From what I've heard they take verbal and the writing sample very, very seriously.

 

[Ladholyman]

Hey all, I just took my first MCAT in January, and here are my results.

PS: 10
BS: 9
VR: 9
W: S

28S

I'm a California resident going to UC Berkeley and my sGPA is around 3.4-3.5 and my cGPA is around a 3.7. My extracurriculars are the usual (volunteering at the hospital, museum-related research, vice president of club). I was wondering whether my MCAT scores are good enough to net an acceptance anywhere in the continental United States for allopathic schools. Any feedback is well appreciated.

 

[Myuu]

Hey all, I just took my first MCAT in January, and here are my results.

PS: 10
BS: 9
VR: 9
W: S

28S

I'm a California resident going to UC Berkeley and my sGPA is around 3.4-3.5 and my cGPA is around a 3.7. My extracurriculars are the usual (volunteering at the hospital, museum-related research, vice president of club). I was wondering whether my scores are good enough to net an acceptance anywhere in the continental United States for allopathic schools. Any feedback is well appreciated.

You can definitely get in with a 28S, but you have to target your schools well and apply very broadly. If you think you can do (a lot) better (I was in the same spot), by all means retake.👍

 

[Ladholyman]

Thanks for the quick reply. I have a question about retaking. If I retake in June after I submitted my primaries and indicate that I intend to retake, does that mean that schools won't receive my primaries until they get the results of the June test?

 

[p0stman]

Hi folks, I am new to this forum and could really use some advice! I am a Canadian applicant hoping to get into an US school.

Couple of questions.

1) Should I retake with a 31Q (12 BS, 10 PS, 9 VR)? My CGPA is 3.5 with a 3.4 SGPA and 3.8 non-science GPA. I've only taken it once.

2) Is it early enough if I send in primary applications for US schools by August 1st?

Thank you very very much!

 

[FML]

So I'm new to be registered but i've been lurking and reading the boards for a while now.

Just got 1/30/09 socres back: 31R 12PS 9V 10BS

as of right now: 3.74 GPA, BCMP <3.74 (haven't actually calculated but should be higher than 3.6) --looking to increase overall to 3.8 this sems

decent amount of comm. service and clinical experience, very involved in school and school EC's, have a retail job (parttime), research for the past 2 years, just standard EC's i guess (maybe a little better)

the thing that gets me is my avg for AAMC practice tests was a 35! (i took 4 of them) and highest was a 38

i don't think i really have shot at top ten but I was hoping to have a shot at the top tier schools.. signed up for 4/24 don't even know where to begin studying at this point....

please advise!

 

[frostyut]

I got a:

VR:7
PS:8
BIO: 11
WR:S

and I'm Black🙂. I have a 3.86 overall GPA at UT Austin and a 3.81 science GPA.

Should I retake.

 

[crock1255]

A little background: Graduated 2008, currently doing research at a big consulting firm.
Terrible first semester Freshman year (2.7), took Spring semester off (live on a Kibbutz in Israel). Came back. graduated Cum Laude. Science GPA is ~3.3 (only took the basics) - Politics/Sociology Major
Got a 31Q on my MCAT (01/31) VS - 12, PS - 10, BS - 9
My thinking:
A little short on clinical experience, did some shadowing. No hospital hours. My research is in the humanities - not lab. I feel like I'm missing the "Why medicine?"
My Choices:
1) Apply for Fall 2010, keep working, volunteer in evenings, weekends, etc.
2) Take another year and apply for Fall 2011. I have been doing some work with a nonprofit and am working on getting a grant to use social network analysis as part of rural health education. Like I told the pre-med advisor: "I can always be a better candidate, if I won the Nobel Prize, I'd be a great candidate, but that might take a while." 🙂.

As crass as this sounds, with the economy getting worse, more people will be applying to med school (less bankers)...Tough decisions

Sorry for the long post. Any input would be helpful

 

[AlexP]

Hey guys, I just got my score back from Jan31st test, I must say pretty bad ( PS 8/BS9/VR10/ O (27 O))🙁. I came in with a very weak physics knowledge which is rather clear from my score. My undergrad GPA is a 3.4, I'm a biology major undergrad, and am currently doing a masters in biology. I have been researching breast cancer for a little over a year, for this I have received 2 small grants, and have presented at undergraduate conferences (2). As far as other stuff I'm a lab technician, a biology tutor, and I teach biology at my college ( the low bio score is due to the orgo section). My grad GPA is a 4.0. I'm not sure if I should work my butt off and retake in June or apply broadly and hope for the best... I have also been reading up on DO and it looks like a great option but not sure if my score is competitive there....any advice 😕😕😕😕😕

 

[adisatr4]

1. GPA: 3.3
2. SCIENCE GPA: 3.3
3. MCAT OVERALL: 36
4. 200+ hours of ER volunteering complete
5. can speak farsi
6. i know ASL (sign language)
7. plenty of involvement in college clubs and organizations (Bio club, Chem club, Operation smile club, etc.)
8. Class Senator for two years in my graduating class
9. 30+ hours Habitat for Humanity Volunteering complete


Do i have a chance at getting in any MD school in the US???? 🙁

 

[abcshawnxyz]

hi everyone. this is my first post ever and i am in desperate need of some advice.

first mcat: V6 P10 B9 WS R
second: V7 P10 B12 WS R

i have people telling me that my 29 is decent enough to be competitive in the lower tier schools but i also have some that say I should take the MCAT ASAP because its still fresh in my memory. i avg'd 32-33 on my last few diags before the second MCAT.

my overall gpa is 3.46 and my science is a 3.2. I went to a top UC school. my EC's include 500+ clinical volunteer hours, 300+ volunteer tutoring hours, volunteered abroad in latin america teaching spanish, half year (and counting) of clinical research with 2 publications submitted, ranked official in two school-related clubs, and 5 year employment at a medical office.

my main dilemma is if i need to retake my mcat. i feel confident that i know i can do better but am terrified that it wont improve by more than a couple points. if i do need to retake it, how much do i need to improve by in order to show significant progress?

 

[SN2ed]

WOW. There are a ton of posts all of a sudden.


DrBOshkosh26: No, don't retake just yet. The 8 in verbal hurts, but won't kill your application. Below an 8 usually requires a retake. Since you're trying for your in-state schools, you stand a decent shot at University of Wisconsin. Your GPA is high which will help alleviate your MCAT.

Bluffer: Read above about the 8 in VR. Your MCAT probably won't hold you back at too many schools because of the high composite score.

Spannuta: Read above about the 8.

techie222: No reason to retake.

Ladholyman: If you stuck with low tier schools you might get in. Both your BCMP GPA and your MCAT are low. These two things combined could easily kill your application. If you want to stick with that MCAT, you'll have to do something special in terms of EC. You're looking at the Africa gambet. Overall, I'd suggest a retake.

p0stman: Vihsadas would be better suited for this question. You should PM him. I think your GPA is too low for US medical schools. Your MCAT is fine.

FML: Don't retake unless you're absolutely dead set on top 10 schools. However, if you are, you need more work than just your MCAT. You'll need significantly better ECs. You can't have the typical. A typical applicant doesn't make the cut for top 10s. Even if you hit your average MCAT, you couldn't cut it without improving your ECs. You could make it with a 38+. Overall, I think it's a very bad idea to retake.

frostyut: You have an interesting case. On the one hand, 8 is usually the cutoff point in verbal. On the other, you're an under-represented minority. I think the 8 still trumps it since I know other under-represented minorities that didn't make it due to sub-par VR scores. Call the schools you're interested in and ask them. My bet would be on a retake.

crock1255: This is one of those cases where you'd need a high MCAT to counteract your low GPA. Right now, you don't have it. You could aim for a high MCAT 36+ or improve your GPA through post-bacc classes. Neither option is very good.

1. Even with a high MCAT, it might not be enough. Plus, you have to actually get a high MCAT.
2. Taking post-bacc classes requires plenty of time and money.

I think post-bacc might be better, but go with whichever option you feel is more in-line with your thinking. Also, remember to improve those ECs.

AlexP: Allopathic schools are a long shot for you. DO may be an option. I'm not sure how competitive your score is, but I believe it's comparable to other DO applicants. I could be wrong there.

adisatr4: You have a decent shot. You got a solid MCAT to alleviate your low GPA. What would really pull your application over the top are your ECs. They look good. The multiple languages part is especially helpful. Make sure you know those two down cold. Expect to be tested on them during an interview.

abcshawnxyz: Your ECs look good, but they aren't enough with your MCAT and GPA. You stand a chance, not a good one, at lower tier schools. Your best bet would be an in-state school. You should retake and raise your GPA. Furthermore, the 7 will get you cut at a good number of schools. A significant boost in your MCAT would be getting a 32-33. Perferably 33+, but a higher MCAT is always better as long as the individual section scores are strong.

 

[AlexP]

Thanks, if it helps I also speak a second language (Russian) fluently, I should mention that in my Apps I suppose

 

[FML]

thanks for teh reply SN2ed. I really was hoping to aim for top tier schools, what do you think I should do on the EC end of the app (assuming I retake and get say a 35)?

thanks again for all the help, anybody else have any comments for me?

 

[Spannuta]

Thanks SN2ed.

31Q - 10 PS 8 VR 13 BS

I was consecutively getting 9-10's on my VR practice tests, and being realistic, knowing this is my weakness, is it worth retaking in order to try and get it up a point or two? I am not trying to get into the top 10 but I would like to be considered at some upper-tier schools.

That 8 really bothers me personally and I am wondering if it will bother schools as much as me.

 

[adisatr4]

thank you SN2ED...

 

[w0lf137]

v-7 b-12 p-12 w-Q

cGPA-3.77
BCMP - 3.88

Part time front desk agent at a hotel, volunteer in a hospital and a clinic for the uninsured, emt volunteer, emt teacher, shadowed 3 doctors, clubs

I live in Illinois. Want to apply to UofC, UIC, Loyola, Rush, etc.

 

[actoutfit]

V-10 PS-9 BS-12
Total - 31 S

cGPA - 3.55
sGPA - 3.3

I had a bad freshman year switched my major and have a 3.8+ average over the last 3 years. A's in Orgo, Chem 2, Bio and Physics 2 (All classes I took after I switched my major and decided to pursue pre-med).

Done research a couple semesters, volunteered at hospital, research internship

I live in Maryland and would like to get into UMM. I've worked at UMM one summer and plan on returning this summer.

 

[flip26]

Thanks SN2ed.

31Q - 10 PS 8 VR 13 BS

I was consecutively getting 9-10's on my VR practice tests, and being realistic, knowing this is my weakness, is it worth retaking in order to try and get it up a point or two? I am not trying to get into the top 10 but I would like to be considered at some upper-tier schools.

That 8 really bothers me personally and I am wondering if it will bother schools as much as me.

Well, per AMCAS you have a 40 percent chance of a 1 to 2 point increase in VR...however you have to weigh that against an 80 percent chance of a drop in the BS...I realize you would probably trade 2 BS points for 2 VR points if you could, but retesting with these odds is pretty scary...and you have to worry about holding on to that 10 in PS, too (roughly even odds of staying same, going up, or going down)...

Go to AMCAS and check my math...I was guesstimating the cum percentages...

With your numbers, I would not retake. I would only retake on a cum MCAT under 30, or a section score under 8...

 

[flip26]

V-10 PS-9 BS-12
Total - 31 S

cGPA - 3.55
sGPA - 3.3

I had a bad freshman year switched my major and have a 3.8+ average over the last 3 years. A's in Orgo, Chem 2, Bio and Physics 2 (All classes I took after I switched my major and decided to pursue pre-med).

Done research a couple semesters, volunteered at hospital, research internship

I live in Maryland and would like to get into UMM. I've worked at UMM one summer and plan on returning this summer.

No way I would retake those numbers...no way...if you can raise that sci GPA, do that - that is the one that is going to hurt you, not the MCAT...

 

[flip26]

v-7 b-12 p-12 w-Q

cGPA-3.77
BCMP - 3.88

Part time front desk agent at a hotel, volunteer in a hospital and a clinic for the uninsured, emt volunteer, emt teacher, shadowed 3 doctors, clubs

I live in Illinois. Want to apply to UofC, UIC, Loyola, Rush, etc.

I would directly ask those schools if the VR 7 is a deal killer...some school have hard and fast policies on section scores...if they don't, I would not retake out of fear of losing those pretty 12s...

 

[w0lf137]

I would directly ask those schools if the VR 7 is a deal killer...some school have hard and fast policies on section scores...if they don't, I would not retake out of fear of losing those pretty 12s...

Tnx I'll do that.

 

[pan68]

Please someone help! I am so confused!🙁

I taken my MCATs am not sure if I should take them again... I scored a 29O: P11 B10 V8. Verbal definitely isn't my strongest focus, but I did score higher in verbal several times during practice tests.. but then again, I've also scored lower. Since then, I've been enrolled in english/lit classes in order to improve my reading skills.

I go to a very competitive school now. My GPA is around a 3.5 - 3.6. My extra-curriculars/work experience are strong:

I hold two jobs right now, as a pharmacy tech (for the past several years) and a research lab assistant (also for several years). I also am a TA for several classes. I started my own competitive dance team at my school. I interned in the various departments of a hospital for several months and have also shadowed an orthopedic surgeon. I am also actively involved with other clubs on campus...

Any suggestions? I don't have a preference as to where to go for med school, I just want to get in!

Any help would be much appreciated!! Thank you so much!🙂

 

[flip26]

Please someone help! I am so confused!🙁

I taken my MCATs am not sure if I should take them again... I scored a 29O: P11 B10 V8. Verbal definitely isn't my strongest focus, but I did score higher in verbal several times during practice tests.. but then again, I've also scored lower. Since then, I've been enrolled in english/lit classes in order to improve my reading skills.

I go to a very competitive school now. My GPA is around a 3.5 - 3.6. My extra-curriculars/work experience are strong:

I hold two jobs right now, as a pharmacy tech (for the past several years) and a research lab assistant (also for several years). I also am a TA for several classes. I started my own competitive dance team at my school. I interned in the various departments of a hospital for several months and have also shadowed an orthopedic surgeon. I am also actively involved with other clubs on campus...

Any suggestions? I don't have a preference as to where to go for med school, I just want to get in!

Any help would be much appreciated!! Thank you so much!🙂

I say do not retake with your grades and goals.

Apply broadly and early...what state are you in? Plan to apply to all your state schools, plus another 20 or so around the country, and don't waste much time applying to Top 25 research schools, and you should be fine...

Good luck.

 

[pan68]

I say do not retake with your grades and goals.

Apply broadly and early...what state are you in? Plan to apply to all your state schools, plus another 20 or so around the country, and don't waste much time applying to Top 25 research schools, and you should be fine...

Good luck.

I'm from GA, and will definitely apply to all the schools here. Thanks for your help!!

 

[sjdsn135]

I would directly ask those schools if the VR 7 is a deal killer...some school have hard and fast policies on section scores...if they don't, I would not retake out of fear of losing those pretty 12s...

I took the MCAT once and got a 7 verbal. This year I got 10 M.D. interview offers and so far 4 M.D. acceptances. Granted none of the schools that accepted me are in the top 20, but a 7 verbal can be overcome.

If you want to go to a top 20 med school, then you may need to retake if you get a low subscore like this. Otherwise I agree with the other posts above, it may be too risky.

 

[AspirinMD]

Ok guys so I just recieved my jan 31st mcat score and i am dissapointed to say the least, but that's a given, seeing as i am on the should i retake thread. thing is i would do anything not to retake. i got a 28M and the breakdown was 9 ps 8 vr 11 bs. the best i did was a 30 on the practices and that was with a 10 in verbal. i am thinking about applying to literally every medical school in the US along with the DO schools. I dont care where i get in, i just want to get in. So should i retake? oh yeah and my gpa is 3.6, science is around 3.2-3.3.

 

[AspirinMD]

I took the MCAT once and got a 7 verbal. This year I got 10 M.D. interview offers and so far 4 M.D. acceptances. Granted none of the schools that accepted me are in the top 20, but a 7 verbal can be overcome.

If you want to go to a top 20 med school, then you may need to retake if you get a low subscore like this. Otherwise I agree with the other posts above, it may be too risky.

what was your breakdown?

 

[SN2ed]

FML: I'm thinking about stuff that's out of the ordinary and doing many different things. For instance, trying to do all of these: going aboard for some health related conference, getting numerous articles published in big journals as the primary author, starting up your own club or whatnot, and tons of community service leadership roles. That's on top of the typical ECs such as shadowing and hospital volunteering. It's a mistake to only apply to top 10 schools, so make sure to apply broadly. Even if you did all of the above, you still are not guaranteed anything when it comes to top 10.

Spannuta: I agree with flip26. Do not retake.

w0lf137: I agree again with flip26. Call and see if the 7 is a deal breaker. If it is, then retake. However, I suspect you may have to retake even if the 7 is not a deal breaker.

actoutfit: Don't retake. I know you're GPA looks bad, but I don't think it will be a problem. True, you had a horrible freshman year, however, you got a 3.8+ for your last three years. Medical schools don't mind a low GPA nearly as much when you showed improvement over the years. You could even spin this to be more positive by saying that once you found your passion for medicine, you did well your last three years.

pan68: Don't worry, you don't need to retake. You stand a good chance at Mercer and Morehouse. Due to your ECs, you have a shot at some mid-tier schools.

AspirinMD: You don't need to retake since you're applying very broadly and including DO schools. I hope you aren't actually applying to every school because that's a waste of money.

 

[FML]

ok so here are my EC's in a little bit more depth:
hosp volunteering since 14,
extensive shadowing experiences (multiple different areas of med too),
held a full time retail managerial job in the summer (and been doing partime since 16 although as partime it;s only a cashier type job),
president of 1 club thru which I am single-handly organizing a international health service trip,
treasurer of a pre-med club,
lots of other comm service (boys and girls club, homeless shelters, etc.),
board member of a nonprofit dealing with AIDS outreach/management funding (on the allocatoins committee)
very involved in cultural club on campus and a dancer on 2 competition fusion dance teams
researching for 1.5 years (including a summer), might have a publication pending by the time application season rolls around but wouldn't be primary author

those are the major things (there are more smaller things I can't think of at the moment) ---I guess they are pretty average

dunno if this matter but I am applying after only 2 years of achool but I will gradute (in 3 years) before marticulating to med school

I guess my thinking is if I retake and get a 35-36, I'll have some sort of shot at top tier schools? I'm not goign to app;ly only to top schools, but I just wanted to have a decent shot at posibbly getting into some of them.... that's my whole reasoning for wanting to retake a 31 (with a 9 in verbal whic really irritates me)

 

[AspirinMD]

FML: I'm thinking about stuff that's out of the ordinary and doing many different things. For instance, trying to do all of these: going aboard for some health related conference, getting numerous articles published in big journals as the primary author, starting up your own club or whatnot, and tons of community service leadership roles. That's on top of the typical ECs such as shadowing and hospital volunteering. It's a mistake to only apply to top 10 schools, so make sure to apply broadly. Even if you did all of the above, you still are not guaranteed anything when it comes to top 10.

Spannuta: I agree with flip26. Do not retake.

w0lf137: I agree again with flip26. Call and see if the 7 is a deal breaker. If it is, then retake. However, I suspect you may have to retake even if the 7 is not a deal breaker.

actoutfit: Don't retake. I know you're GPA looks bad, but I don't think it will be a problem. True, you had a horrible freshman year, however, you got a 3.8+ for your last three years. Medical schools don't mind a low GPA nearly as much when you showed improvement over the years. You could even spin this to be more positive by saying that once you found your passion for medicine, you did well your last three years.

pan68: Don't worry, you don't need to retake. You stand a good chance at Mercer and Morehouse. Due to your ECs, you have a shot at some mid-tier schools.

AspirinMD: You don't need to retake since you're applying very broadly and including DO schools. I hope you aren't actually applying to every school because that's a waste of money.

i actually was considering applying at every single school, except for like Harvard and John's and etc. money really isn't the issue for me. i just don't want to be one of those people that apply to 30 schools and get no acceptances, so i figured that applying at them all would obviously increase my chances of getting in. since i am a california resident and most probably not getting into any california M.D. school, and schools tend to accept students from their own states, i think that my chances of getting in elsewhere are slimmer. so what should i do? if you can suggest what schools or what types of schools that would be greatly appreciated.

 

[snook]

Should I retake?

30M 10/8/12 Jan 31 2009 2nd MCAT
29 N 9/8/12 Jun 2007 1st MCAt

I feel like I should have voided my exam, because I had only slept 1 hour the night before (yes what a nightmare that was), and I was obliviously making mistakes which I noticed during the writing section where I was not making any sense. (incoherent sentences) I was scoring 32-34 on my practice AAMC exams, anywhere between 8-11 on verbal.

Applying to Florida schools. My concern is that my MCAT is not high enough because I only improved one point. I was instantly rejected from UF last cycle (automated email the next day after AMCAS verification), so it may be my verbal score? I ended up getting rejected from 10 medical schools (1 interview) the 1st time applying with a 3.6 GPA 29M (+ 1.5 year research, honors thesis, research fellowship, poster, tons of shadowing, a little community service, working at the hospitial 40hrs a week during summer, and good LORs). I have a 3.44 sGPA a 3.53 overall uGPA and a 4.00 graduate (SMP) GPA. Without a better MCAT score I feel like I really haven't improved my application that much besides the additional volunteer work and SMP program that I am in at the moment.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MDhopeful21]

So I would really appreciate any input from really anyone on my situation...

MCAT- 30R (8PS 11VR 11BS)
GPA- overall 3.94 BCPM 4.0
Lots of ECs and all of that stuff

Will I get screened out of schools with that PS score? I really can't take the MCAT again right now and I'm definitely prepared to apply this year. Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[junkct]

my story:

1/31/09 MCAT: 33R (13/8/12)

GPA = 3.9+ for overall and BCPM
strong ECs, LORs, PS (so I'm told), everything else... it's just this darn mcat that's annoying me

I was scoring 36-38 consistently on my practices. never scored below a 34 except for my kaplan diagnostic.

I'm pretty set on retaking. already registered for 3/28. I think this test was a fluke, especially the 8. I never scored below a 9 (my diagnostic). I just wanted to know if this was an idiotic move, or if it would seem so in the adcom's eyes.

I'm aiming for a top school (yes, top 10. no i'm not an elitist, I have my reasons). Does a retake look bad in the admissions process? do your chances get hurt at top schools if you retake, even if you do well the second time around? Say someone improves from 28 to 40... does it look bad that he/she had to retake? or does the 40 simply look like a 40?

 

[SN2ed]

FML: Actually, those ECs are very good. From what you typed before it didn't sound like much. Those are far from the standard like you mentioned in your first post. I'd say you stand a good shot at cracking the top 10 with those ECs. However, I obviously can't guarantee anything.

AspirinMD: There comes a point where the number of applications you send out don't matter. The key here is to carefully select your schools. If you do that and you couldn't make it into one school out of thirty, you wouldn't make it period. That, unfortunately, is the sad truth of the matter.

 

[FML]

FML: Actually, those ECs are very good. From what you typed before it didn't sound like much. Those are far from the standard like you mentioned in your first post. I'd say you stand a good shot at cracking the top 10 with those ECs. However, I obviously can't guarantee anything.

AspirinMD: There comes a point where the number of applications you send out don't matter. The key here is to carefully select your schools. If you do that and you couldn't make it into one school out of thirty, you wouldn't make it period. That, unfortunately, is the sad truth of the matter.

thanks SN2ed! that;s reassuring at the very least, good to know at least part of my app is solid.... I just need to get that 35+ on the MCAT now. Back to studying i guess lol

 

[SN2ed]

FML: You shouldn't retake. You have a much higher chance of doing worse than doing better. Use your ECs to get you in. It's very possible. I have personally known someone with similar stats get into several top 10s. In fact, that person had a slightly lower MCAT and got in. If you retake and do worse (which is highly likely), you're in bad shape for top 10s. What FLs did you take anyway?

 

[sjdsn135]

what was your breakdown?

7 vr 14 ps 11 bs s: 32 s