Re-taking MCAT vs. applying, advice?

[JayJay3916]

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Just got my MCAT score and got a 29P and am re-taking on august 14. I am also all ready
to submit my app. I dont know what to do?
Do I:
Wait till sept. when I get my 2nd score and submit to all schools on my list?

Submit now to lower-tier schools with my score, and letting them know that I am retaking?
then in sept. if I do better with my august score apply to better schools?

Apply to all my list of schools both high and low tier now and let them know Im retaking
in august?

Or any other advice on what I should do?

 

[littlealex]

Dude... 29 isn't bad. What are you smoking?

I would just apply to the lower tier and let them know that I plan to retake the test.

But damn, whats the big deal.

 

[TheRealMD]

Dude... 29 isn't bad. What are you smoking?

I would just apply to the lower tier and let them know that I plan to retake the test.

But damn, whats the big deal.

3.6/30 isn't good enough anymore man. You know the new 3.8/36 is where its at here on SDN.

 

[FlowLimited]

Apply to all your schools now. Your MCAT as it stands is not horrible and it won't instantly turn schools away. As long as you indicate on your AMCAS that you'll be retaking, med schools will wait to process your file until they arrive.

 

[babi]

Apply, Apply, Apply. 29 on the MCAT with a solid application will get you in. I would not even retake at this point, just apply early and broadly. good luck.

 

[SketchLazy]

Just got my MCAT score and got a 29P and am re-taking on august 14. I am also all ready
to submit my app. I dont know what to do?
Do I:
Wait till sept. when I get my 2nd score and submit to all schools on my list?

Submit now to lower-tier schools with my score, and letting them know that I am retaking?
then in sept. if I do better with my august score apply to better schools?

Apply to all my list of schools both high and low tier now and let them know Im retaking
in august?

Or any other advice on what I should do?

If you are going to retake then most schools will probably wait until the aug. scores comes out. This will make you pretty late on your application. Unless you are positive you can score significantly higher (more than 32) on the MCAT, you should just go with what you have or wait until next year. It will look bad if you retake and get the same score, AND you are a late applicant. A balanced 29 won't so negatively affect your application as all that will. But, on the other hand, if your breakdown has a 7 or an 8, then you might have to do better on the MCAT (which based on retake statistics for people with 7's or 8's, you can) and take that risk.

 

[Star2008]

Hey,
I'm retaking in August too. Just got my scores from 5/31 exam. I submitted my app already to three schools, but it's not even verified...already a week and a half. Most schools told me that they won't even look at my app until my new score is in. Some rolling ones said they would screen my app twice to see if I get a secondary.
Anyway, good luck!! Hope we both score big this second time around!