Re-taking MCAT...what should be my new "goal" score?

[dmb02]

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Undergraduate:
cGPA: 3.51 sGPA:3.55 (had a difficult course load - took all advanced biology classes throughout)

Graduate:
cGPA: 3.75

I have more than enough hospital experience as well as extracurricular involvement. I have been doing research for 4 years as well. I have good letters of rec but the only thing holding me back is the MCAT (I just never do well with standardized testing). I got a 22 the first time (well below my practice test scores) and I am re-taking it July 16th. Do I have any shot with a 22? What will I need to get to have a good chance at getting in at all?

Thanks for the help.

 

[waterpolo480586]

With a 22 I think it is unlikely for DO schools. If you get a 25 or higher you will be competitive for DO schools assuming you apply broadly. If you get 32+ you become competitive for MD schools.

 

[MattyBee]

With a 22 I think it is unlikely for DO schools. If you get a 25 or higher you will be competitive for DO schools assuming you apply broadly. If you get 32+ you become competitive for MD schools.

I think that may be a little harsh. 3.5/30 or 3.5/31 seem pretty competitive stats for MD schools. What, with a 3.5/30 you have roughly a 50% chance of an acceptance? That seems pretty competitive to me. Statically speaking chances start dropping pretty significantly with a score below 30 but it still may be worth a shot depending on the applicant.

 

[FattySlug]

I think that may be a little harsh. 3.5/30 or 3.5/31 seem pretty competitive stats for MD schools. What, with a 3.5/30 you have roughly a 50% chance of an acceptance? That seems pretty competitive to me. Statically speaking chances start dropping pretty significantly with a score below 30 but it still may be worth a shot depending on the applicant.

I don't think that's harsh at all. The median of matriculants is 32 MCAT with higher GPA. To be competitive you need to be about the median.

I know this is obvious but just do you best. I had to take it 3 times too. But with a 22 you really need to relearn the basics of subjects and build from there.

 

[DDX2k]

Wait, how can you only be competitive if you are above the median? wouldn't that make anyone accepted below the median non-competitive? yet half of the med school matriculants are lower than this median....just sayin..

 

[waterpolo480586]

The OP has a GPA below the median so they need an MCAT at least at the median to be competitive at MD schools. I consider someone competitive when they have a 50% shot.

 

[dmb02]

I realize that my score is low, but was mostly a result of the verbal section...I completely bombed it. I realize that I need to increase my score at least 4 points, but do the DO schools weigh the verbal as much as the science sections?

 

[MattyBee]

I am not trying to argue I just want to clarify my post. Being competitive in my eyes means that an applicant has a reasonable chance of competing for an acceptance spot. For example if you have a 3.5/30 and choose not to apply to any MD schools it would seem a little ridiculous if you came to that conclusion because you did not think you were 'competitive' enough (assuming all other aspects of the application are up to par). You are not going to have the luxury of being very picky about your school and your list is going to have to be relatively broad but you still are a viable contender for an acceptance spot. I think there may be different definitions of what competitive actually means and I hope that clarifies my stance.

I realize that my score is low, but was mostly a result of the verbal section...I completely bombed it. I realize that I need to increase my score at least 4 points, but do the DO schools weigh the verbal as much as the science sections?

Medical schools in general like to see balanced scores. They like to see you excel in all three sections of the test. The only score that medical schools do not put much weight on is the writing score.

 

[Aydee]

Hey! Im in a similar position. I bombed mine with a 23 🙁 Way below what my practice tests were Im retaking in July as well. But how do you plan on applying now? Im afraid to submit my application because I don't want to be screened out immediately but I receive my score at the end of August so I'm worried I'd be applying late in that case I think. Any ideas?

I wanted to submit my application by this week to an OOS school just to have my application verified and then all of August work on the secondaries I can get my hands on and just send everything 1 week before my scores come out in hopes that they get to my application when my scores are released lololol trying to have perfect timing on this hahaha What do you guys think? -____- bad position.

 

[Goro]

Go for a minimum of 28-30. Combined MCAT scores are pretty good predictors of some aspects med school perfomance, like dropout rates and board performance, but we wouldn't take you too seriously with, a 22 and then a 24-26.

Undergraduate:
cGPA: 3.51 sGPA:3.55 (had a difficult course load - took all advanced biology classes throughout)

Graduate:
cGPA: 3.75

I have more than enough hospital experience as well as extracurricular involvement. I have been doing research for 4 years as well. I have good letters of rec but the only thing holding me back is the MCAT (I just never do well with standardized testing). I got a 22 the first time (well below my practice test scores) and I am re-taking it July 16th. Do I have any shot with a 22? What will I need to get to have a good chance at getting in at all?

Thanks for the help.