Retaking 510, best advice on submitting primary?

[mitokhondrakiller]

Hey guys, thoughts?

I took the mcat in the fall of this year and got a 510. I have a 4.0, have 1000 hours working in 2 diff research labs with 8 published abstracts and poster/podium presentations. Also have 1000 working as an EMT for my university hospital. I’m a music major and do a lot of things in music, including play professionally and teach and also do my best to explore the connections between music and healthcare. I want to apply for the 2026 cycle, but was annoyed with my mcat, so I scheduled to take it again in may, getting my score back in early june. Should I submit my primary with my 510 as soon as it opens up or wait till I get the new score to apply? Do schools still screen the primary with a pending mcat date? Will they take into consideration that I’m retesting to try and do better?

Thanks ur all wonderful

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[Hollow Knight]

Why are you retaking a 510? Are you from California?

But to answer your questions- you should definitely submit your app as early as possible. If you want them to wait until your score is back, you just apply to a throwaway school and then add the other ones later once you get your score. The reason people say apply early even without your score is that it takes AMCAS several weeks to "approve" your application.

I think it's school dependent as far as the other details. definitely apply early though.

 

[stew_md]

I would not recommend retaking a 510 unless your full-length average was significantly higher than 510. N=1 but I was plateaued at a 509 score on my full-length scores and decided to postpone my exam date, it took me 6 months to increase my score to a 520 and that was while working full time + other responsibilities. Analyzing your weaknesses and improving your score will take significant effort and a thoughtful/reflective approach. 510 is a decent score and if the rest of your application is strong with good writing you have a good chance of getting into an MD program.

When filling out your AMCAS application you can mark that you are expecting a new score and schools will be able to see that. However, whether or not your application continues through review with your new score may depend on the individual school's policies. They may see that you have a valid MCAT score and decide to review your application since it is "complete." You could apply to one throwaway school while you wait for your new score.

If you want more comprehensive feedback on the competitiveness of your current application, post a WAMC post in the WAMC sub-form.

 

[JAH_]

I am in the exact position you were in @stew_md

I seem to be plateauing at a 509 on my AAMC FLs and am 2 weeks out.

How did you decide to reschedule to such a later date? Did you have to put off applying until the next cycle?

 

[stew_md]

I am in the exact position you were in @stew_md

I seem to be plateauing at a 509 on my AAMC FLs and am 2 weeks out.

How did you decide to reschedule to such a later date? Did you have to put off applying until the next cycle?

My original plan was to take it in September 2022 and apply in 2023 but looking back, even if I got a good score I don't think I would have been competitive overall. I lacked a lot of ECs. I ended up postponing until April 2023 and then applied in 2024.

I decided to postpone because I knew I needed a solid score to overcome my lower than average GPA (3.5) and I knew I was capable of more. I made a lot of silly mistakes and mistakes related to content on my practice exams. I felt that If I addressed my weaknesses I could improve, I just needed more time.

 

[hommefatale]

what were your subsection scores? i personally think improvement to a 130 in P/S is possible if you weren't already there yet

 

[mitokhondrakiller]

I would not recommend retaking a 510 unless your full-length average was significantly higher than 510. N=1 but I was plateaued at a 509 score on my full-length scores and decided to postpone my exam date, it took me 6 months to increase my score to a 520 and that was while working full time + other responsibilities. Analyzing your weaknesses and improving your score will take significant effort and a thoughtful/reflective approach. 510 is a decent score and if the rest of your application is strong with good writing you have a good chance of getting into an MD program.

When filling out your AMCAS application you can mark that you are expecting a new score and schools will be able to see that. However, whether or not your application continues through review with your new score may depend on the individual school's policies. They may see that you have a valid MCAT score and decide to review your application since it is "complete." You could apply to one throwaway school while you wait for your new score.

If you want more comprehensive feedback on the competitiveness of your current application, post a WAMC post in the WAMC sub-form.

I would say that it’s difficult for me to apply some of these warnings regarding retaking. I only took 2 of the 4 AMCAS Fls and did 505 and 511. I believe that one of my biggest problems with the test was lack of effort on my part studying. I wasn’t willing to give up on my EC time commitments and I simply burned out.

My decision to retake it comes from a variety of things-1.) an oppressive feeling of guilt that I half-a$sed it, 2.) a pretty wide subsection distribution (125-130) and 3.) I’ve met so many people with significantly better scores who dont get in for years or ever. I understand that this process is competitive and I am mentally prepared for that should it happen, but I will not be happy if I feel like there was something I could have done better. I feel like overall my app is good, besides that score- it is the only thing I can think to fix so I may as well try to do it now. That way, if and when I get rejected, I know that it wasn’t because of lack of effort.

I’m testing in May. In Feb I took an amcas “diagnostic” which was my first time seeing any of the material since testing in Sept. that was 511. This time round I’m using Anki and Uworld which I didn’t use last time. I feel that it’s helping but I took a Kaplan FL last week and got 509 so I don’t know. The whole thing is frustrating and I feel annoyed with myself. But I still have time, and will be working hard to get it up. My goals is 3-4 points, I feel that would really help my chances with my instate MD which is where I really want to go.

Sorry for the long response, I have many thoughts about all of this. You’re all very helpful 🙂