Retake MCAT or Take Acceptance

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FuturePharm21

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So I was accepted at KYCOM and wait-listed at LMU-DCOM with a 23 MCAT. I am also in a BS/DO program at NSU-COM, but they require a 24, so I have to retake the MCAT in January.

Is it worth retaking the MCAT to go to NSU-COM or should I take my acceptance and forget the wretched test forever?
 
Actually, now that I have been thinking about it a couple minutes, take the acceptance. You likely haven't been studying or preparing for a january mcat, so you would essentially be screwed if you were to sign up now. So go to kycom and try to make the best of it.
 
I guess I'm missing something? What's so bad about KYCOM that it's worth declining an acceptance and risk not getting accepted somewhere else?
 
MedPR said:
I guess I'm missing something? What's so bad about KYCOM that it's worth declining an acceptance and risk not getting accepted somewhere else?
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I don't think he was saying should he decline the acceptance. I read it as, "should I suffer through that crappy test on the chance that I do better and could possibly get into nsu thisnyear, or just be glad the mcat is done and forget nsu?"
 
MedPR said:
I guess I'm missing something? What's so bad about KYCOM that it's worth declining an acceptance and risk not getting accepted somewhere else?
Click to expand...

I'm not risking anything. I got accepted at KYCOM with a 23, but if I get a 24 or higher, I have a reserved seat at NSU-COM. I have 6 weeks to study for the MCAT and if I get lower than 24, I lose nothing but the test fee.
 
FuturePharm21 said:
I'm not risking anything. I got accepted at KYCOM with a 23, but if I get a 24 or higher, I have a reserved seat at NSU-COM. I have 6 weeks to study for the MCAT and if I get lower than 24, I lose nothing but the test fee.
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There is your answer, you have nothing to lose besides the 230 dollar fee. So if you dont mind possibly wasting 230 dollars then go for it, if money is tight dont.
 
Well, I already signed up for it in November:/ So I either start studying or get the $120 back and cancel.
 
Sounds like you really want to be at NSU-COM. Since there's no hurt besides a few bucks, retake. You don't want to go to KYCOM and spend all 4 years thinking "if only i had retaken."
 
TriagePreMed said:
Sounds like you really want to be at NSU-COM. Since there's no hurt besides a few bucks, retake. You don't want to go to KYCOM and spend all 4 years thinking "if only i had retaken."
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Yeah, I agree with you completely.
 
FuturePharm21 said:
Well, I already signed up for it in November:/ So I either start studying or get the $120 back and cancel.
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Forget the money....that's not what's at stake. What's at stake is a study filled, anxiety ridden holidays, lol. While everyone else is relaxing eating Christmas dinner and watching the ball drop, you are going to feel guilty that you aren't studying.

Is it still worth it....probably, especially if this is your top choice.

But just get the facts straight, $120, not even 2 grand, is comparable to the pain of studying for that crappy test.....:scared:
 
FuturePharm21 said:
I'm not risking anything. I got accepted at KYCOM with a 23, but if I get a 24 or higher, I have a reserved seat at NSU-COM. I have 6 weeks to study for the MCAT and if I get lower than 24, I lose nothing but the test fee.
Click to expand...

I don't think 6 weeks is enough to study. However if you do like 8 hours a day and directly study what you're majorly weak in, then you should be able to get an average score.
 
FuturePharm21 said:
I'm not risking anything. I got accepted at KYCOM with a 23, but if I get a 24 or higher, I have a reserved seat at NSU-COM. I have 6 weeks to study for the MCAT and if I get lower than 24, I lose nothing but the test fee.
Click to expand...

At first I was like, "are you crazy, take the acceptance." But once you added the above, yeah go ahead and retake for sure. $230 is nothing in the long run if you end up scoring the 24+.
 
FuturePharm21 said:
I'm not risking anything. I got accepted at KYCOM with a 23, but if I get a 24 or higher, I have a reserved seat at NSU-COM. I have 6 weeks to study for the MCAT and if I get lower than 24, I lose nothing but the test fee.
Click to expand...

No reason for this thread then. Save yourself $250 and settle for your not-top-choice knowing that all you needed was a 24 on the MCAT, or spend the $250 and do minimal studying to get your 24 and what appears to be your top choice.

Edit: Sorry if I sound like a jerk, but I would be more empathetic with your indecision if you needed a higher score or something more difficult than a 24. You got into med school, I doubt that 23 was your best effort or even near your best effort, so a 24 should not be very difficult to get even if you only have a month to prep.

serenade said:
I don't think 6 weeks is enough to study. However if you do like 8 hours a day and directly study what you're majorly weak in, then you should be able to get an average score.
Click to expand...

IMO, 6 weeks is more than enough to study, casually study at that, to get a 24 on the MCAT.
 
Last edited:
corpsman33 said:
Forget the money....that's not what's at stake. What's at stake is a study filled, anxiety ridden holidays, lol. While everyone else is relaxing eating Christmas dinner and watching the ball drop, you are going to feel guilty that you aren't studying.

Is it still worth it....probably, especially if this is your top choice.

But just get the facts straight, $120, not even 2 grand, is comparable to the pain of studying for that crappy test.....:scared:
Click to expand...

I know this test is such a drag to study for....AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
 
I don't think you'll have too much of an issue trying to break 24. Study your butt off and get that NSU acceptance!
 
serenade said:
Isn't a 24 the average?
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A few years ago it was, I don't know about now. 24 is below average as far as matriculation is concerned. Way below average.
 
Definitely retake!

Since your KYCOM seat is already reserved (right?)... even if you don't break a 24 you're still in medschool. If you do break a 24, you're automatically in NSU's BS/DO program, right? 6 weeks is plenty of time to review... especially since there's not really any pressure due to the KYCOM acceptance. AND you already reserved the test date... so as Wily said:

nike1.jpg
 
MedPR said:
A few years ago it was, I don't know about now. 24 is below average as far as matriculation is concerned. Way below average.
Click to expand...

He meant average for all test takers who didn't void the score. Of course the average scores of those who actually matriculated into osteopathic schools are higher, more like 26-28 depending on which school.

I'd be a little worried if a school's average MCAT scores were actually at or below the mean test takers' score of 25.1.
 
Thanks everyone for the encouragement! Tomorrow is day 1 of actual prep-last week was just laziness after finals.
 
Iliketoytles said:
Definitely retake!

Since your KYCOM seat is already reserved (right?)... even if you don't break a 24 you're still in medschool. If you do break a 24, you're automatically in NSU's BS/DO program, right? 6 weeks is plenty of time to review... especially since there's not really any pressure due to the KYCOM acceptance. AND you already reserved the test date...
Click to expand...

Yeah, my seat at KYCOM is reserved and I need at least a 24 composite with 7 minimum in each sub-section for guaranteed acceptance at NSU-COM.
 
dbizzy said:
He meant average for all test takers who didn't void the score. Of course the average scores of those who actually matriculated into osteopathic schools are higher, more like 26-28 depending on which school.

I'd be a little worried if a school's average MCAT scores were actually at or below the mean test takers' score of 25.1.
Click to expand...

I know that's what he meant. Re-read my post carefully. I said that 24 is way below average for matriculants, meaning that the average matriculant has a way higher score than 24 and the average mcat among all matriculants is way higher than 24.
 
I increased my score from a 22 on practices to a 26 just by taking the practice tests on AAMC and reading over a study guide. Do the practice tests, and retake it.
 
MedPR said:
I know that's what he meant. Re-read my post carefully. I said that 24 is way below average for matriculants, meaning that the average matriculant has a way higher score than 24 and the average mcat among all matriculants is way higher than 24.
Click to expand...

That's irrelevant. All he needs is a 24.

Good luck OP!
 
24 is like 38-44th percentile.

You can do it
 
FuturePharm21 said:
I'm not risking anything. I got accepted at KYCOM with a 23, but if I get a 24 or higher, I have a reserved seat at NSU-COM. I have 6 weeks to study for the MCAT and if I get lower than 24, I lose nothing but the test fee.
Click to expand...

Well, if you're sure KYCOM won't look at your retake negatively if you happen to score below 23, then why not retake the MCAT? Since you already have experience with the exam, six weeks of studying and reviewing is more than enough to to be prepared to take the exam again. It's up to you on whether you're prepared to spend 8-10 hour days for the next six weeks studying for that evil thing they call "MCAT" lol. Go for it if you have nothing to lose.
 
Last edited:
Don't retake unless you are very unhappy with the school that accepted you!
 
My questions to you is, do you want to go to KYCOM, period? Is NSU-COM your number one choice? Is there another school which is your number one choice that you would wait another year for to get into? Would it be that terrible to re-take your MCAT in the Spring to ensure you get the score you need for NSU-COM but just matriculate for the class of 2017?

If it were me, and if NSU-COM was my number one pick, I would first double check with KYCOM on what happens if you get a lower MCAT, then I would study my butt off for the next 5 weeks focusing on AAMC practice tests, and then re-take. Now if KYCOM says they will re-evaluate me based on a lower MCAT and I am not consistently scoring several points higher than 24 on my practice tests...I would not retake come gameday; so definitely check with them if they do.

Here's another question...since you are in NSU's feeder program shouldn't you have already known about needing a 24? Why are you waiting until the last minute to study for this thing if you have known all fall you needed the 24? I dunno perhaps that is a sign you may not be committed to studying for the test again and so soon.
 
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