Retaking MCAT after submitted application

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ANDYCHARLES

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If I submit my application in June (with my initial MCAT score) and then retake the MCAT in August, will my application be negatively affected in terms of rolling admission?
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ANDYCHARLES said:
If I submit my application in June (with my initial MCAT score) and then retake the MCAT in August, will my application be negatively affected in terms of rolling admission?
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Many schools will make their decision based on the available information.
Others may wait for the second MCAT.
 
gyngyn said:
Many schools will make their decision based on the available information.
Others may wait for the second MCAT.
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When you say "make their decision", do you mean in terms of secondaries or outright rejection or...? Because I thought the application timeline lasted all the way until ~March
 
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ANDYCHARLES said:
When you say "make their decision", do you mean in terms of secondaries or outright rejection or...? Because I thought the application timeline lasted all the way until ~March
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Yes. Rejection might be a reasonable decision based on the available facts. Rolling, or not.
 
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I see...long shot question, but I just have to ask. If I get rejected by a school really early with my initial MCAT score, can I resubmit an application to that same school after I get my new MCAT score (and thus losing rolling admission benefits)?
 
ANDYCHARLES said:
I see...long shot question, but I just have to ask. If I get rejected by a school really early with my initial MCAT score, can I resubmit an application to that same school after I get my new MCAT score (and thus losing rolling admission benefits)?
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Your submission does not get "refreshed" even though the new MCAT will automatically update.
You are free to send an email but there is no reason to expect re-consideration of a complete application.
 
gonnif said:
If you already know your MCAT score, you should decide to apply based on that score
If you are only first taking the MCAT in June, you should never, ever, apply without knowing your score except to a single "throwaway" school for verification only
If your score comes back in July low, you should consider not applying this cycle. Trying to retake the MCAT in August and then only first getting your application in in September, you are starting on the downhill side of the rolling admissions curve. It isnt too late, but it is definitely the second half of the pack
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@gonnif by this statement, did you mean re-taking the MCAT in August and submitting AMCAS in September? or did you assume an already submitted AMCAS when you posted this?
 
I don't know what he meant but I think he's pretty specific with"...then only first getting your application in in September...". But maybe he meant something else.


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candbgirl said:
I don't know what he meant but I think he's pretty specific with"...then only first getting your application in in September...". But maybe he meant something else.


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I wasn't sure if he meant "getting in your app" as in submitting AMCAS in Sept. or "getting them in to schools" as in being complete at schools in Sept. which would require earlier AMCAS submission, but just updating schools with the new score.
 
Theoretical question to add to this thread - if someone took the MCAT, then decided to take it again, would that person be able to hold off on submitting LORs to prevent being "complete" at schools, or is the implication that schools will find reasons to reject people before their applications are complete? And are LORs are necessary to offer an invitation for an interview?
 
gyngyn said:
Your submission does not get "refreshed" even though the new MCAT will automatically update.
You are free to send an email but there is no reason to expect re-consideration of a complete application.
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Would there be any way I can opt out from the new scores being forwarded to the schools ive already applied to ? 🙁
 
gonnif said:
There is no formal mechanism to somehow resubmit an application to a school and very few reconsideration letters to a specific will get any consideration. Considering the alternatives, you would be well advised to focus on doing well on your first MCAT and if you dont feel ready for it, seriously consider cancelling it and preparing for the MCAT and an application next cycle. All MCAT scores will stay with you forever and be reported to all schools every time you apply. I would give all this some consideration as you must consider that your future profession as a physician hangs in the balance. I must go as "All Things Considered" is on
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Is there any way I can opt out from having my new mcat score forwarded to the schools I have already applied to ?
 
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gonnif said:
No: all scores will be sent to all schools. If you reapply all old schools will be sent to all schools. They stay forever
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I’ve already gotten a couple interview invites with my old scores and now im paranoid thinking if my new scores (if lower ) will affect this decision badly ?
 
Goro said:
Can you Enlighten us as to why you took this course of action?
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Because I honestly didn’t think I had a solid chance with my current mcat score- but surprisingly I ended up getting multiple interviews and now I can’t help being scared thinking what if my new scores comes out worse than the first ... any helpful thoughts ?
 
gonnif said:
What if your new score shows up before interview?
What if you get an acceptance and then they rescind based on updated information, while rare, is certainly allowable as all acceptances are conditional
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Nah my interview date is way before the score release date
 
gyngyn said:
Unexpected behaviors can elicit paradoxical results.
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Sure . But if my new score ends up being higher than th last , I don’t understand why they would treat me any differently than another person who had retaken the MCAT .
 
pixiehew said:
Sure . But if my new score ends up being higher than th last , I don’t understand why they would treat me any differently than another person who had retaken the MCAT .
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Re-taking a high stakes exam in the middle of an active application cycle would be viewed askance by several members of our committee.
 
gyngyn said:
Re-taking a high stakes exam in the middle of an active application cycle would be viewed askance by several members of our committee.
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That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard. I know plenty of people who retake/ have retaken the MCAT during July - Aug- and still do pretty well in their app cycles. I was only worried thinking what would happen if I end up scoring lower.
 
pixiehew said:
That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard. I know plenty of people who retake/ have retaken the MCAT during July - Aug- and still do pretty well in their app cycles. I was only worried thinking what would happen if I end up scoring lower.
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Judgement is also evaluated.
 
pixiehew said:
I don’t see anything wrong with taking an exam twice. If everybody else can take it during the cycle then why can’t I
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You can. You did. I'm pointing out that there are many ways to interpret this choice.
 
Your MCAT was obviously in the range the school requires for an interview. Why would you jeopardize your chances by taking the test again ?Not everyone does better on a retake. You had a decent application and now added an additional level of risk? What makes you think the decision to accept or reject your application happens AFTER your interview? You let your pre med neurosis get the better of you. Not showing good judgement, something every PD looks for.
 
gyngyn said:
Timing is an important consideration in the interpretation of scores, especially re-takes.
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Why can’t a retake in the middle of the cycle be interpreted as a candidate who is striving to make it to this cycle somehow
 
Angus Avagadro said:
Your MCAT was obviously in the range the school requires for an interview. Why would you jeopardize your chances by taking the test again ?Not everyone does better on a retake. You had a decent application and now added an additional level of risk? What makes you think the decision to accept or reject your application happens AFTER your interview? You let your pre med neurosis get the better of you. Not showing good judgement, something every PD looks for.
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My score wasn’t competitive at these schools at alll. I have a tons of years of experience in research and multiple first author pubs in hand so it’s my ECs that got me the interview
 
pixiehew said:
Why can’t a retake in the middle of the cycle be interpreted as a candidate who is striving to make it to this cycle somehow
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Interpretation of multiple scores is idiosyncratic. Each evaluator has their own lens through which additional data will be viewed.
 
pixiehew said:
Because I honestly didn’t think I had a solid chance with my current mcat score- but surprisingly I ended up getting multiple interviews and now I can’t help being scared thinking what if my new scores comes out worse than the first ... any helpful thoughts ?
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Hindsight is 20-20, but why would you apply if you didn't think that your score was good enough?

As an aside, we frown upon perfectionist tendencies. The MCAT is as much an exam assessing judgement vs competence.
 
Goro said:
Hindsight is 20-20, but why would you apply if you didn't think that your score was good enough?
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Because I had super solid ECs and an almost perfect GPA
 
Goro said:
Hindsight is 20-20, but why would you apply if you didn't think that your score was good enough?

As an aside, we frown upon perfectionist tendencies. The MCAT is as much an exam assessing judgement vs competence.
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.
 
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Angus Avagadro said:
Your MCAT was obviously in the range the school requires for an interview. Why would you jeopardize your chances by taking the test again ?Not everyone does better on a retake. You had a decent application and now added an additional level of risk? What makes you think the decision to accept or reject your application happens AFTER your interview? You let your pre med neurosis get the better of you. Not showing good judgement, something every PD looks for.
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.
 
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pixiehew said:
My MCAT was not in the range . I have tons of research experiences for years and multiple first author pubs in hand . It’s primarily my ECs that got me the interviews . My MCAT was 505-510
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MCATS, should be enough with your ECs, unless you are trying for Stanford. People get caught up with the pedigree thing. It doesn't necessarily make you a better doctor, what you put into med school is what makes you a better doctor. I had an attending, an MD , PhD from Columbia who was a walking textbook, but was clueless as how to apply that knowledge. Run your own race. Good luck and best wishes!
 
Angus Avagadro said:
MCATS, should be enough with your ECs, unless you are trying for Stanford. People get caught up with the pedigree thing. It doesn't necessarily make you a better doctor, what you put into med school is what makes you a better doctor. I had an attending, an MD , PhD from Columbia who was a walking textbook, but was clueless as how to apply that knowledge. Run your own race. Good luck and best wishes!
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This is true . Thank you for your insights and well wishes
 
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