DO Retake MCAT or take my chances this cycle?

[Elleiram]

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Hi everyone. I'm a graduate from a top 20 public school. Here are my stats:

First MCAT: 23 (PS: 7 V: 10 BS: 6)
Second MCAT: 26 (PS: 10 V: 7 BS: 9)
cGPA: 3.45
sGPA: 3.17

I was pretty disappointed with my second verbal score. I've already sent in my primary app on 7/17 to LECOM and ATSU-SOMA

ECs:

Tutor at a math and reading center (paid employment) - started July 2011, ~7-8 hours per week

AmeriCorps - Community HealthCorps member, starting in September. 1700+ hours
Volunteered at a soup kitchen/thrift shop - 110+ hours
ER volunteer - ~24 hours (once a week for a month and half during the summer)
Cultural club member for 4 years - went to conferences, volunteered, performed in cultural events
Went on a humanitarian mission/leadership network to the Philippines for 2 1/2 weeks - mostly worked with high school students and was responsible to the public speaking workshops; worked with a local community development group and a local medical school
Language/conversation partner for one semester - ~15 hours
Shadowing a DO pediatrician (20+ hours) and possibly another DO


My top school (besides my state school) is ATSU-SOMA because of my strong interest in community health and working in underserved areas as a PCP. I recently just found out about this school and when I read its mission, it couldn't be the more perfect school for me (well, it could be closer). I felt like it was made for me lol.

I'm also planning on applying to these other schools (so far) if anyone would like to give me advice on that (most are schools on the east coast since I'm from New England)

ATSU-Kirksville
LECOM-B
NOVA
UNECOM
Touro NY
NYCOM
West Virginia
UMDNJ

So should I take my chances this cycle with the 26 MCAT or retake on the first week September? I'm just worried that my application won't be looked at until October and by then, I'll be late :/ Or worse, I get a worse score...

 

[Faha]

A 26 MCAT is competitive for some DO schools so I do not see any point in retaking it. Apply more broadly to DO schools, at least 15 in total, and you should receive some interviews. Perhaps Goro could recommend which ones.

 

[Elleiram]

A 26 MCAT is competitive for some DO schools so I do not see any point in retaking it. Apply more broadly to DO schools, at least 15 in total, and you should receive some interviews. Perhaps Goro could recommend which ones.

Thanks for the reply. The verbal subsection is what's really bumming me out, but I guess I'll go ahead and add more schools 🙂

 

[Elleiram]

A 26 MCAT is competitive for some DO schools so I do not see any point in retaking it. Apply more broadly to DO schools, at least 15 in total, and you should receive some interviews. Perhaps Goro could recommend which ones.

Also, what's the best way to get Goro's opinion on this? PM?

 

[Faha]

Goro may see your post here but you could PM him. The newer schools such as William Carey, Marian, Campbell, Rocky Vista and the 3 Edward Via schools would be worth applying to.

 

[Goro]

You need to do some homework now. I think you'll need to target those schools which take the best composite score, which in your case would be a 29. A number of schools avg (like mine) and your avg might get you rejected at mine. Also, some schools might take the most recent score, which is your case isn't too bad.

Best bet is most likely the newest schools. Avoid LUCOM.

Hi everyone. I'm a graduate from a top 20 public school. Here are my stats:

First MCAT: 23 (PS: 7 V: 10 BS: 6)
Second MCAT: 26 (PS: 10 V: 7 BS: 9)
cGPA: 3.45
sGPA: 3.17

I was pretty disappointed with my second verbal score. I've already sent in my primary app on 7/17 to LECOM and ATSU-SOMA

ECs:

Tutor at a math and reading center (paid employment) - started July 2011, ~7-8 hours per week

AmeriCorps - Community HealthCorps member, starting in September. 1700+ hours
Volunteered at a soup kitchen/thrift shop - 110+ hours
ER volunteer - ~24 hours (once a week for a month and half during the summer)
Cultural club member for 4 years - went to conferences, volunteered, performed in cultural events
Went on a humanitarian mission/leadership network to the Philippines for 2 1/2 weeks - mostly worked with high school students and was responsible to the public speaking workshops; worked with a local community development group and a local medical school
Language/conversation partner for one semester - ~15 hours
Shadowing a DO pediatrician (20+ hours) and possibly another DO


My top school (besides my state school) is ATSU-SOMA because of my strong interest in community health and working in underserved areas as a PCP. I recently just found out about this school and when I read its mission, it couldn't be the more perfect school for me (well, it could be closer). I felt like it was made for me lol.

I'm also planning on applying to these other schools (so far) if anyone would like to give me advice on that (most are schools on the east coast since I'm from New England)

ATSU-Kirksville
LECOM-B
NOVA
UNECOM
Touro NY
NYCOM
West Virginia
UMDNJ

So should I take my chances this cycle with the 26 MCAT or retake on the first week September? I'm just worried that my application won't be looked at until October and by then, I'll be late :/ Or worse, I get a worse score...