Please Give Me Advice. Should I retake 511 MCAT with red flag in my application?

[RagingBolt34]

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Hi everyone. I'm an ORM TX resident with a 511 MCAT on a second attempt(506 first attempt). 3.83 cGPA, 3.82 sGPA in TMDSAS and 3.79 sGPA, 3.76 cGPA in AMCAS.

I was sanctioned for plagiarism of an assignment in my sophomore year of undergrad and applied for the first time this cycle(graduated last May). I managed to get 3 MD ii's with 2 of them being OOS and 1 being to an IS T20 MD(very unexpected). I didn't receive love from any other IS or OOS MD's this year and cast a very wide net(applied to around 40 OOS and all IS MD's). Ended up with 2 Rs and 1 WL from these ii's.

I know it's generally not advised to retake a 511 mcat but given the circumstances would you all recommend I retake it to try and score higher? I've been spending my gap year working as a full-time MA in an outpatient clinic and volunteering in an underserved community on the side, but I'm worried that if I reapply I still won't receive any attention due to the red flag and that increasing my MCAT score could make my application stand out. I personally would really prefer to go to an MD school rather than DO so that is my target. I also feel as though my app didn't necessarily lack anything major in terms of EC's for this cycle so I'm a bit unsure of how to proceed.

I applied with ~450 hrs clinical volunteering in ER, ~100 hours shadowing various specialties, ~1000 hrs of research in undergraduate lab(1 poster presentation at conference), ~200 hours of non-clinical volunteering in various food pantries, ~100 hrs international trip volunteering with underserved communities in Asia, and a couple of average leadership experiences.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Faha]

Where were your interviews?

 

[Rachapkis]

The fact that you received three MD interviews suggests to me that your neither your plagiarism sanction nor your MCAT is a bar to admission. Personally, I would be wary of taking the MCAT again. If your third score is anything other than a major improvement (I am not talking about a few points), I would question your judgment in taking it again.

 

[wysdoc]

Don't retake the MCAT because your MCAT is at the median for matriculants to TMDSAS schools.
Do rewrite your 3 Texas essays and in your secondaries, be sure each one is focused on that particular school.
I agree with more nonclinical hours in the US in your own community.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Don’t retake. If the “red flag” would sink you a 528 wouldn’t make up for that.

But dude I think you’re gonna be just fine.

 

[LindaAccepted]

Hi everyone. I'm an ORM TX resident with a 511 MCAT on a second attempt(506 first attempt). 3.83 cGPA, 3.82 sGPA in TMDSAS and 3.79 sGPA, 3.76 cGPA in AMCAS.

I was sanctioned for plagiarism of an assignment in my sophomore year of undergrad and applied for the first time this cycle(graduated last May). I managed to get 3 MD ii's with 2 of them being OOS and 1 being to an IS T20 MD(very unexpected). I didn't receive love from any other IS or OOS MD's this year and cast a very wide net(applied to around 40 OOS and all IS MD's). Ended up with 2 Rs and 1 WL from these ii's.

I know it's generally not advised to retake a 511 mcat but given the circumstances would you all recommend I retake it to try and score higher? I've been spending my gap year working as a full-time MA in an outpatient clinic and volunteering in an underserved community on the side, but I'm worried that if I reapply I still won't receive any attention due to the red flag and that increasing my MCAT score could make my application stand out. I personally would really prefer to go to an MD school rather than DO so that is my target. I also feel as though my app didn't necessarily lack anything major in terms of EC's for this cycle so I'm a bit unsure of how to proceed.

I applied with ~450 hrs clinical volunteering in ER, ~100 hours shadowing various specialties, ~1000 hrs of research in undergraduate lab(1 poster presentation at conference), ~200 hours of non-clinical volunteering in various food pantries, ~100 hrs international trip volunteering with underserved communities in Asia, and a couple of average leadership experiences.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I recommend against taking the MCAT again. The risk of it going down is there and would be damaging.

If you did not apply DO last time, also apply to DO progams and make sure you have shadowed a DO doctor or have some DO experience.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Previously, you said you had a 514.

R

Thread 'WAMC 514/3.82 ORM TX Resident 1 Gap Year'

Apr 19, 2024

1. cGPA and sGPA as calculated by AMCAS or AACOMAS: 3.83 cGPA and 3.82 sGPA calculated through TMDSAS
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown. Include all (non-voided) attempts.
   Attempt 1: 506 -> 125/127/126/128 April 2023
   Attempt 2: 514 -> 129/127/129/129 July 2023
3. State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US): TX
4. Ethnicity and/or race: Asian
5. Undergraduate institution or category: BS Healthcare Studies from University of Texas at Dallas
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer): 350 hrs ER volunteer; 50 hrs OR volunteer; 100...

• RagingBolt34
• Replies: 3
• Forum: What Are My Chances? WAMC Medical

Two post-interview R's: work on your interview skills.

 

[Adiemus]

Don't put yourself through that MCAT retake. I can tell you from personal experience that a 511 can get you far. Best of luck my friend

 

[Goro]

Quoting the wise Homeskool: Taking the MCAT is like getting married: ideally you only do it once, and the more times you do it the worse you start looking to suitors with good judgment.