Retake a 126 in B/B for MD aspirations?

[radioactive15]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I took the MCATs a couple months ago and scored a good percentile (510+).
My biology/biochemical section was underwhelming for me, and was below my projected score (I received a 126)

I didn't worry about this too much at first, because I'm not aiming for a Top 10 school or anything, but recent talks with my advisors told me that a 126 in that biology section could raise eyebrows for allopathic schools, especially since my GPA is around 3.9. They said that the people who review my application would strongly be inclined to believe that my GPA is "inflated". My schedule has been typical of that of other premeds, and I've been taking 15+ credits as long as I've been in college.

Originally, I was happy with my overall score and didn't pay too much attention to my B/B section score, because I assumed the rest of my scores and GPA would be enough to quell any doubts. But the meeting with my advisor is making me reconsider whether I should retake the MCAT or not.

My GPA is in the 3.9 range, and my overall MCAT score is satisfactory for me because I'm not really aiming for a top 10 school or anything too top-tier (though a Top 25 or so would be nice). (If I retake, the B/B would probably go up while the other sections stay the same or possibly slightly decrease).

Should I re-take the MCAT, or should I be happy with my score and ignore all these new doubts my advisors put into my head?

 

[9909]

Any section that is below a 131 is an automatic retake..

JUST KIDDING, STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT YOU ARE FINE.

 

[BluMist]

 

[Ovid]

You're advisor is, unsurprisingly, very wrong. Your overall percentile is very strong, and a 126 sub score isn't low enough to raise any flags, especially if you aren't gunning for a prestigious school.

 

[Gandyy]

Yet another example of how bad today's pre-med advisors really are.

 

[radioactive15]

Thanks everyone above for reassuring that I shouldn't take my advisors's input too seriously.

I'll just act like my meeting with my advisors didn't happen and return to my realistic beliefs 👍

 

[PugsAndHugs]

126 is between 9 and 10. Definetly do not retake with an overall of 510+.

 

[Goro]

Data Pont 1,985,690 on the gross incompetence of premed advisors.

 

[GrapesofRath]

If you equate the B/B to the old Bio section you basically have a 10. Non issue.

More importantly there are going to be lower tier schools which you admittedly are aiming for that might not be big fans of re-taking a perfectly fine MCAT score, particularly if you don't make substantial improvement on the re-take(think 517+ type).

Don't try fixing what isn't broken.

 

[efle]

I mean it is kind of weird to hear of people with 3.9+ GPAs scoring <10 Bio/chem but this is certainly not a retake situation

 

[radioactive15]

More importantly there are going to be lower tier schools which you admittedly are aiming for that might not be big fans of re-taking a perfectly fine MCAT score, particularly if you don't make substantial improvement on the re-take(think 517+ type).

Well, I didn't mean that I was shooting for all low-tiers either. Ideally some good mid tiers or low mid/high low schools.

I mean it is kind of weird to hear of people with 3.9+ GPAs scoring <10 Bio/chem but this is certainly not a retake situation

Trust me, I was extremely shocked, namely because all my practice B/B scores were much higher (129-131). My lowest biology/biochem practice test score was a 128, and I only got that once. I also used several different brands and the AAMC materials, but still the real score was unexpected.

I won't retake. No worries everyone.