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Bring your 2026 application questions to our open office hours with Emil Chuck, PhD, Director of Advising Services for HPSA, and get them answered live. Personal statements, secondaries, interview prep, school list strategy. Sunday, May 17 at 9 p.m. Eastern.
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OrthopedicNeurosurgeon99
Full Member
First of all your practice scores were probably inflated (due to subconsciously remembering the passages/questions) because you just took them a couple months earlier when you were preparing for the MCAT the first time. Also ask the Adcoms to clarify but I'm pretty sure retaking and scoring substantially lower is close to a death sentence.
Robbie the MCAT is just 1 aspect of your application. That is interesting that there is a "discrepancy" section of a secondary. I don't recall these when I applied.
I suggest a thoughtful answer reflecting on what went right the first time and what could be improved upon your second attempt. Avoid a long explanation, and own it. Medicine is all about self reflection and learning, and this may be an opportunity for you to illustrate it - as frustrating as your result may be.
Of course, there is always the viewpoint to abstain from illuminating things which may not need to be. Only you can make the decision on that.
And yes, I agree. A 507-503 is certainly not a death sentence as the previous poster stated.
Best of luck.
I suggest a thoughtful answer reflecting on what went right the first time and what could be improved upon your second attempt. Avoid a long explanation, and own it. Medicine is all about self reflection and learning, and this may be an opportunity for you to illustrate it - as frustrating as your result may be.
Of course, there is always the viewpoint to abstain from illuminating things which may not need to be. Only you can make the decision on that.
And yes, I agree. A 507-503 is certainly not a death sentence as the previous poster stated.
Best of luck.
we best be talking about applying to DO secondaries since a 507 is below average for MD let alone a decrease to 503
it sure does because OPs goal is to presumably get into medical school and their chances of getting into medical school are quite low if they are only applying to MD.
Not here to argue, but it's important to realize that nowhere in the original post was there anything to do with where they are applying.
My understanding is they scored lower than they wanted and wanted to know how to address it in their secondary applications. There are plenty of state MD schools who will take residents with around a 50th to 60th percentile MCAT. As I mentioned, it is only 1 part of the application, as is GPA, extra curricular activities, extraneous circumstance, who your family is, etc. But sure, the DO route will be much more fruitful with a 503.
So again, to the OP, good luck with your application.
I can't say that I've ever heard an good explanation for an unfortunate MCAT score.
For sure, being pressed for time won't work.
This is one case where averaging scores will work to your benefit, though.
For sure, being pressed for time won't work.
This is one case where averaging scores will work to your benefit, though.
OrthopedicNeurosurgeon99
Full Member
@gyngyn How would an applicant be viewed at your school if they retook and then scored 4 points lower? Can OP come back from that easily or will it be an uphill battle to say the least?
Well, I took the new MCAT 4 times before breaking the 500 mark, and in my case I explained that English was my second language (plus I had only been in the US for 6 years) which caused me to be a slow reader. I guess it worked since I got over 12 IIs including one in-state MD.
We have the luxury of many candidates who did not suffer a drop so an interview would be quite unlikely.
That's why making a thoughtful list is so important. There are other schools where either of these scores is fine.
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