Retake or wait?

[Efficacy24]

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I took the MCAT in August and am applying this year. I scored a 28 with an 7 in PS. I've received two interviews, but am a little skeptical that the 7 could be a problem. I'm debating on retaking it in April (which could be unnecessary if I am accepted) or waiting to see if I get accepted anywhere and retaking in August if necessary(which could put me at the same disadvantage I'm at now as an Aug MCATer). Anyone been in this predicament or have any thoughts on this? Thanks!

 

[DeterminedMD]

you still have time. Hopefully by the time March rolls around you should have a better idea of where you stand. I'd retake the MCAT in April next time if neceessary. BUt dont give up hope. You have already had interviews! 🙂

 

[constructor]

retake that shiz, unless you've got your heart set on going to new york medical college or new jersey medical college. (i love starting trouble.. 😀 )

 

[Haybrant]

I took the MCAT in August and am applying this year. I scored a 28 with an 7 in PS. I've received two interviews, but am a little skeptical that the 7 could be a problem. I'm debating on retaking it in April (which could be unnecessary if I am accepted) or waiting to see if I get accepted anywhere and retaking in August if necessary(which could put me at the same disadvantage I'm at now as an Aug MCATer). Anyone been in this predicament or have any thoughts on this? Thanks!

if it was a 7 in verbal id be more concerned than a 7 in phys sci...

 

[Haybrant]

retake that shiz, unless you've got your heart set on going to new york medical college or new jersey medical college. (i love starting trouble.. 😀 )

is nymc not a good school or something?

 

[constructor]

hahahah, haybrant. you wanna come over to my side? it'll be the two of us versus everyone else in sdn.

 

[sdnUser500]

if it was a 7 in verbal id be more concerned than a 7 in phys sci...

why do you think 7 in VR is worse than in PS? I am actually in the same boat as you efficacy.. I got a 30 on the august mcat, but with a 7 in VR. just today i was contemplating re-taking it in april..ugh! I REALLLLLY don't want to, but will seriously start thinking about it in january if i dont get any more invites in december.
i'm open to any thoughts/comments as well. -- August mcater, complete at most schools late oct/early nov. 30 (7VR, 12PS, 11BS) , 3.81 overall, 3.85 science ... 2 invites so far

 

[Efficacy24]

Thanks for your responses 🙂 . I'm just starting to get worried...I keep hearing of April/May acceptances, January's approaching quickly, and I'm dreading having to start studying for April's test. Guess we'll see!

 

[YzIa]

why do you think 7 in VR is worse than in PS? I am actually in the same boat as you efficacy.. I got a 30 on the august mcat, but with a 7 in VR. just today i was contemplating re-taking it in april..ugh! I REALLLLLY don't want to, but will seriously start thinking about it in january if i dont get any more invites in december.
i'm open to any thoughts/comments as well. -- August mcater, complete at most schools late oct/early nov. 30 (7VR, 12PS, 11BS) , 3.81 overall, 3.85 science ... 2 invites so far

I think a 7 on any section is where you start getting automatically screened out by some schools regardless of your composite score or GPA. I would prepare to retake in April. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

 

[Trekkie963]

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Good advice in any situation. A 28 or 30 MCAT is certainly good enough to put you in the running at some schools, especially if it is balanced out with a good GPA, EC's, and so on. Even having a 7 on one section of the MCAT is a surmountable obstacle (heck, you had to do extra well on other sections in order to still get the score you got, right?)

Just like most applicants, someone with a 28 or 30 MCAT is no shoo-in, but if you are getting interviews you must have done something right and you still do have a shot at going to medical school.

 

[DrYo12]

Here's my take on the whole "to take or not to retake" question...regardless of what happens, knowledge is power and the more you know, the better of you are. If you were to start studying for the MCAT in January and then got in during the spring, you are that much better off and in study mode for medical school. If you end up taking the MCAt and NOT getting in any where, you're ripped and ready to apply come June 1st. Win-win, I say! 😀

 

[faradayampere]

Here's my take on the whole "to take or not to retake" question...regardless of what happens, knowledge is power and the more you know, the better of you are. If you were to start studying for the MCAT in January and then got in during the spring, you are that much better off and in study mode for medical school. If you end up taking the MCAt and NOT getting in any where, you're ripped and ready to apply come June 1st. Win-win, I say! 😀

I agree ... just study for the mcat now in case ...

 

[DeterminedMD]

Well as constructor put it, you may not get into HArvard or top tier schools. But it all depends on where you will be happy. If you can get into med school this year and are happy with the spot/s that you are offered, then by all means go for it. But if you really want a prestigious school...then retake the MCAT. Ultimately it is up to you and deciding where you will be able to do well and be happy.

 

[Khenon]

I'm in a similar situation as you, and I'm planning to retake next April. I've even purchased more study material, and have my schedule worked out. I've seen posts that claim that some schools that waitlist you, will consider your April scores, so I figure I can either use the scores to possibly get me in this year, or be fully prepared to reapply next year. Either way, I'm taking that test again! 🙂 Good luck with your decision.

 

[tatytts]

hey, i am kinda new to this whole sdn thread thing. but here's my question: as of now i have one acceptance (not my top coice) and 4 interviews with one of them a rejection (georgetown...WTF) i have a very high gpa but only a 29 mcat. should i retake the mcat in april and reapply next year to get into better school, or is it true that my chances become worse as a 2nd time applicant. i know that my mcat is the only thing holding me back from better school...any ideas??

 

[Khenon]

hey, i am kinda new to this whole sdn thread thing. but here's my question: as of now i have one acceptance (not my top coice) and 4 interviews with one of them a rejection (georgetown...WTF) i have a very high gpa but only a 29 mcat. should i retake the mcat in april and reapply next year to get into better school, or is it true that my chances become worse as a 2nd time applicant. i know that my mcat is the only thing holding me back from better school...any ideas??

That certainly seems like quite the gamble and an enormous waste of money. But I guess if it's that important to you, you should do it. I think most of us are just happy getting in anywhere, but I suppose if want to take the test again and try for better schools, that's your perrogative. I don't think your chances become worse as a reapplicant, but most schools want to see a significant difference in your application to consider you a second time. Basically you'd have to get a significantly higher MCAT (at least mid-30's), and have some different/more EC's (since your GPA is already high, I'm assuming you won't be able to improve that much). And I doubt that the schools that have accepted you this year will accept you again, so you're probably eliminating those choices for next year. I have heard of people deferring for a year, and subsequently reapplying with better MCAT scores. But I don't know how common that is, and you would still need to get approved for a deferral, which isn't always that easy. Anyway, good luck with your decision, and congrats on your acceptance.

 

[rockstar2525]

I second the vote to study for April but keep applying as if you weren't retaking. If by January you still haven't heard from many places, then start studying hard for April. If you do get in before then, you can stop studying. Think about it, it's better to study now and find out that you got in somewhere than to not study and find out you didn't get in anywhere. Hopefully it will be the former...

 

[sdnUser500]

I second the vote to study for April but keep applying as if you weren't retaking. If by January you still haven't heard from many places, then start studying hard for April. If you do get in before then, you can stop studying. Think about it, it's better to study now and find out that you got in somewhere than to not study and find out you didn't get in anywhere. Hopefully it will be the former...

If i don't get in next semester, i am definately planning on sending my amcas in June 1! however, taking the mcat again in august would be a lot easier for me than in april. do you think most schools would wait for the new score before interviewing,etc?

 

[Arb]

I'm in an unique situation. I scored a 35M on my MCAT in 2002. However, most schools will not accept such an old score if I have to reapply next year but some schools, in the northeast will. Should I retake?

 

[Khenon]

If i don't get in next semester, i am definately planning on sending my amcas in June 1! however, taking the mcat again in august would be a lot easier for me than in april. do you think most schools would wait for the new score before interviewing,etc?

I really think it depends on the old score and/or school. My April score was super low, so I got a couple of secondaries, but most schools wanted to wait for my August score before reviewing my file. However, I know others that retook in August (with old scores already), and got secondaries from all their schools, and even had a couple of interview invites lined up before their August scores posted. These people had higher original scores than I did. So I think it can make a difference.

 

[Khenon]

I'm in an unique situation. I scored a 35M on my MCAT in 2002. However, most schools will not accept such an old score if I have to reapply next year but some schools, in the northeast will. Should I retake?

Well I guess if you only want to apply to schools in the northeast, then you don't need to take again. But if you want to apply other schools you're going to have too. There's no way out of expired scores. You just have to retake.

 

[Mistress S]

I had a 29 with a 7 in PS from 2003, and decided to retake the Aug MCAT while applying this year. If you have already had 2 interviews, that's a good sign--I brought my score up to a 32 in Aug with an 8 in PS now, and I still haven't heard anything other than 1 rejection. Studying to retake the April test seems like good advice, if you get in before then you can just not take it or if you end up on waitlists you can submit your new scores to schools and it might help you get in. And, if you have to reapply next year, you'll be ready to do so in June, without the delays caused by retaking in Aug (which, as I am discovering, can be very detrimental).