Retaking a 30?

[TheDeal93]

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Hello everyone,

I took my MCAT in August and was disappointed to score a 30 (11/10/9) after averaging over 35 on the practice tests. I know I made some silly mistakes in the BS section but otherwise I thought the test went fine.

I'm really, really split about whether to retake this test. I've currently signed up for a January spot and I have 6 weeks to prepare. One one hand, I feel like I can do better than a 30. On the other hand, what's to say that the same thing doesn't happen again? I'm also really fed up with MCAT studying and I have finals coming up too so I'm not sure if it's the best situation.

Should I just stick with the 30? If so, what type of schools should I be applying to?

Thanks for the help and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[MajorBubblez]

you can get in with a 30 for sure. I got 5 points below my AAMC average too, so it happens. Depending on the GPA, you've probably got a good shot at your state school and some other private schools.

 

[TheDeal93]

you can get in with a 30 for sure. I got 5 points below my AAMC average too, so it happens. Depending on the GPA, you've probably got a good shot at your state school and some other private schools.

Thank you for the quick reply! Unfortunately I'm from California so it looks like I'll have to look elsewhere.

 

[Doug Underhill]

30 is a very tough spot to be in at the moment. The average amongst matriculants is 31 and the median is 33. However, there's also an old rule of thumb that any number that starts with 3 is enough for lower-tier MD, if the rest of your app is competitive. If you drop a point (which happens all the time on retakes), you'll go down to 29, and 29 looks much worse. How's your GPA? Do you have any standout experiences?

 

[MajorBubblez]

Thank you for the quick reply! Unfortunately I'm from California so it looks like I'll have to look elsewhere.

Hmm, that does change things. I'd say it's a gut call then. If you really feel you can do better (and it would probably need to be a 33+ to be looked at favorably) than I would go for it. Otherwise, if you don't think you can do that with finals, etc. I wouldn't.

 

[TheDeal93]

30 is a very tough spot to be in at the moment. The average amongst matriculants is 31 and the median is 33. However, there's also an old rule of thumb that any number that starts with 3 is enough for lower-tier MD, if the rest of your app is competitive. If you drop a point (which happens all the time on retakes), you'll go down to 29, and 29 looks much worse. How's your GPA? Do you have any standout experiences?

My ECs are pretty good, I've done hospital volunteering, 3 years of research, Vice president of an organization, and I have a handful of non-medical activities (sports writing, working at library) that I have spent a lot of time on as well. Plan to work full-time as a scribe during my gap year.

My cGPA is 3.74 and my sGPA is 3.62. One of my parents passed away during sophomore year; since then, I have shown a very strong upward trend in grades after getting a lot of B's freshman year.

 

[cidem2065]

Starts with a 3...let it be.

Unless that score is a 3...

 

[Doug Underhill]

Eh, don't retake it if you have a 3.74.

 

[Lamel]

If I was averaging 35+ then I would personally retake. It really depends on your goals; if it is to get into any medical school, then I am sure you can work with a 30. If you want to stay in Cali, you pretty much need a 35+ (unless you can go to the mission or region based school).

Regardless, I completely understand being tired of studying, and ultimately a 30 is serviceable.

 

[AspiringERMD]

My AAMC 9-11 averaged a 37 and the subsequent week I scored a 33. There's no guarantee that you will score better. And you'd look far worse improving just 0-1 points. That's like saying "nope, I'm really not capable of doing better." A 30 is fine. Apply to OOS private mid/low tier schools. An MD is an MD.

 

[Louis C.K.]

I got a 30 (11/8/11) and retook it for a 35 (11/11/13). However, I had about a year to improve my verbal. It's a tough spot to be in, but if you really think you can score higher, then maybe you should retake. On another note, it might look funny to adcoms if you retake an MCAT so soon after your prior one. It's a tough call, but you should go with your gut on this one.

 

[Aubrey Graham]

I got a 30 (11/8/11) and retook it for a 35 (11/11/13). However, I had about a year to improve my verbal. It's a tough spot to be in, but if you really think you can score higher, then maybe you should retake. On another note, it might look funny to adcoms if you retake an MCAT so soon after your prior one. It's a tough call, but you should go with your gut on this one.

You have a pretty promising comedy career..why medicine?


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[Louis C.K.]

You have a pretty promising comedy career..why medicine?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, I figure I'm 47 years old, divorced, balding, and overweight. What better way is there to motivate young people to take care of themselves than by looking at the aftermath of a lifetime of not doing so? Also, I have two children, so I want them to have a role model who doesn't tell jokes about howling loneliness and perpetual masturbation 👍

 

[shleitrieg]

There's no guarantee that you will score better.

 

[user12]

it's not a BAD idea to retake a 30. and if you were averaging 35 or over on practice tests, it's very suggestive that you just had a bad day and would do better on a retake. but unless you can grab an old test exam date (and manage to squeeze in some time to study), I could certainly understand why one would choose to forego retaking it, especially if faced with the new exam. still, it can be difficult to stand out with a 30.

 

[NontradCA]

Well, I figure I'm 47 years old, divorced, balding, and overweight. What better way is there to motivate young people to take care of themselves than by looking at the aftermath of a lifetime of not doing so? Also, I have two children, so I want them to have a role model who doesn't tell jokes about howling loneliness and perpetual masturbation 👍

Brilliant.

 

[xo7]

I have a >3.7 GPA and retook a 30 because it was several points below my AAMC average and was the lowest score I had ever gotten on a full length. Ended up with a 35 the second time. I think it's worth retaking since your practice tests were much higher, but only if you have the time to devote to preparing.