Reapplying--kind of

[caduceusdude]

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Right now I have an MCAT score in the lower range (although good enough for certain safety schools I have in mind) and I am confident I can imporve it 1 or 2 points bringing it upto an acceptable range after taking the august MCAT. But the problem is that if I mark I want to retake the MCAT, many schools are saying they will not proceed with my application. That is my application won't be complete until my new MCAT score is in and thus wasting all this effort that I went through to apply early.

So I was wondering if it is possible for me to just apply to these lower range schools with my existing MCAT and mark on the application I don't plan to take the MCAT any time soon. Then, after taking the MCAT I could call up the schools and update them with my new scores.

This way I am assuming my file will be complete atleast at certain schools pretty early and I can apply to certain upperlevel schools late in the process with my new scores.

Am I correct in making this assumption, or would this not work?

Basically if I say I am not going to take an mcat on the AMCAS, but I end up taking one any way at a later point, would schools not look at the later MCAT? Or would they consider it any way if I update them about it?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[sarahl86]

If your current scores are "good enough" (meaning what, may I ask?) then I'd apply with what you have rather than have to take the MCAT a third time...the fewer times you take the MCAT, the better. Especially if you feel like you'd get at best a 1 to 2 point improvement.

Schools will automatically be sent your new scores, regardless of whether or not you tell them you are taking it again. I'd still indicate you're retaking on AMCAS though. The question then becomes whether or not they would bother taking them into account considering its the third time you took it after you said you wouldn't. This would be dependent on the individual schools I would think.

If you broke 30, its not worth it IMO. Heck, even a 29. You need to factor in how good your GPA and ECs are as well...its not all about numbers.

 

[tiedyeddog]

I would't retake unless you think you can do at least 2 points better. Retaking it for one point isn't worth it, I think.