Retaking MCAT--Latest Possible Date

[eeek11]

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[pseud0]

Why would you retake a 505 for DO school? Is your GPA that bad?

 

[radian313]

Hi All,

Quick backstory: I'm currently in my 1st year of a 2-year Master's at a well-established DO school. I'm going to apply to medical schools (mostly DO, a few MD) as soon as the applications come out this coming spring. I took the MCAT once to get into Master's programs, knowing I'd likely retake, and got a 505 (124/127/125/129).

I know I could score much higher on the MCAT in chem/physics/bio/biochem after taking this year of natural science courses, however, I'd also really want time after my courses are over to prepare for the exam. And I need to put 100% of my focus during the school year into my coursework because I'm trying to make up for a (very) low undergrad science GPA.

My question is, what would be the latest possible take that I could retake the test? My program ends the very beginning of June. Ideally I'd study over the summer and take the MCAT in August, but I'm hearing April is really the latest date to be safe. Would July be acceptable, or is that still too late?

Thanks, guys!

505=about 27-28 on old one. If you are doing Mostly DO, then what the heck am I missing here?

 

[austintr]

I would probably put all my efforts into doing well in the MS, personally. Your MCAT is decent for DO and I think a strong performance in your masters program would be the best way to show you're a serious student now.

If you're dead set on retaking, you can try to coordinate MCAT studying and integrate what you're learning in your science classes into said study. This would allow you to take take one of the early-mid summer tests. I would look at June or July. I took it in August and though it didn't seem to hurt me significantly, it did delay my app a fair bit. A July MCAT would position you to be done with all secondaries (depending on schools) by the beginning to middle of September.

Just make sure you are fully ready for the MCAT and are applying with the best possible app.

 

[eeek11]

redacted

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Thank you for your helpful responses! I want to retake because yes, my uGPA is ungodly low. 2.9 overall, ~2.1 sGPA, ~3.7 non-science GPA. I think the only sort of excusable part is that it was from an Ivy that didn't grade inflate (i.e. STEM classes sometimes curved to 2.7, D's were passing and school encouraged not to retake, etc). I also graduated a semester early, but not on purpose. I just crammed too many classes in too soon. Was basically done Junior year.

I'm doing well in my graduate program so far, but no matter how well I do I won't bring it up to an acceptable range; hence the kinda-making-up-for-it-with-the-MCAT plan. If it matters, I have extensive research experience including one or two potential publications, plenty of volunteer work, (hopefully) excellent recommendations, etc. GPA is the main issue, here.

@austintr It looks like there are only late July exams available-- 7/21, 7/22, 7/27, and 7/28. If I took it on the 21st, do you think that would be acceptable? Thanks again.

Forget retaking the MCAT. You need to retake all of your C/D/F coursework. Your sGPA makes applying pointless.

 

[edgerock24]

Thank you for your helpful responses! I want to retake because yes, my uGPA is ungodly low. 2.9 overall, ~2.1 sGPA, ~3.7 non-science GPA. I think the only sort of excusable part is that it was from an Ivy that didn't grade inflate (i.e. STEM classes sometimes curved to 2.7, D's were passing and school encouraged not to retake, etc). I also graduated a semester early, but not on purpose. I just crammed too many classes in too soon. Was basically done Junior year.

I'm doing well in my graduate program so far, but no matter how well I do I won't bring it up to an acceptable range; hence the kinda-making-up-for-it-with-the-MCAT plan. If it matters, I have extensive research experience including one or two potential publications, plenty of volunteer work, (hopefully) excellent recommendations, etc. GPA is the main issue, here.

@austintr It looks like there are only late July exams available-- 7/21, 7/22, 7/27, and 7/28. If I took it on the 21st, do you think that would be acceptable? Thanks again.

Your MCAT is solid. Your GPA is the problem. What makes you think that retaking the MCAT is the best route to take here?

Retake several courses to get your GPA up. That is the issue, not the MCAT.

 

[eeek11]

I definitely understand what you guys are saying, thanks for the responses. I'm in a full-time, 2-year grad program right now so I won't be able to retake previous courses. I can only do as well as possible in the ones I'm currently in. I want to retake the MCAT to bring up the 124 and 125 in my science sections. Most schools recommend at least a 125 and I want to show that I've improved in my science critical thinking and general knowledge.

 

[bigindian4891]

...But you do realize that your GPA will get you screened out of most places, right?

 

[eeek11]

I do. This is why I'm bringing up my sGPA at a competitive osteopathic institution.

 

[HMtoDO]

I think you may be missing the point that this will not in anyway effect your uGPA. gGPA is not factored into your undergraduate grades and therefore you would still be susceptible to auto screens and filters. Thus the advice to retake undergrad science courses to take advantage of grade replacement policy by DO institutions.


With that being said I think performing exceptionally well in this graduate program is absolutely essential. If you don't, then I think your chances may move to nonexistent.

Good luck in your path!

I do. This is why I'm bringing up my sGPA at a competitive osteopathic institution.

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[eeek11]

@HMtoDO That makes sense, I definitely appreciate the advice. Maybe I can retake a course over the summer.

 

[naivePremed]

I think you may be missing the point that this will not in anyway effect your uGPA. gGPA is not factored into your undergraduate grades and therefore you would still be susceptible to auto screens and filters. Thus the advice to retake undergrad science courses to take advantage of grade replacement policy by DO institutions.


With that being said I think performing exceptionally well in this graduate program is absolutely essential. If you don't, then I think your chances may move to nonexistent.

Good luck in your path!








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what are the usual auto screens and filters for cutoffs of cGPA and sGPA for most DO schools?

 

[HMtoDO]

It is advisable that both should be >3.0 however I do believe there are some schools with a 3.25 cutoff. Therefore most will say that to really increase your chances both gpa's should ideally be >3.3. I recommend looking at the CIB online so you can see what they are for each school specifically and then target your application to the ones where you meet the cutoffs.

 

[naivePremed]

It is advisable that both should be >3.0 however I do believe there are some schools with a 3.25 cutoff. Therefore most will say that to really increase your chances both gpa's should ideally be >3.3. I recommend looking at the CIB online so you can see what they are for each school specifically and then target your application to the ones where you meet the cutoffs.

oh boy my sGPA is around 3.19, just under some cutoffs (cGPA 3.49). By the way, what is that website called to look up the cutoffs? I google CIB but a lot of random links came up. Thank you for the help.

 

[austintr]

oh boy my sGPA is around 3.19, just under some cutoffs (cGPA 3.49). By the way, what is that website called to look up the cutoffs? I google CIB but a lot of random links came up. Thank you for the help.

http://www.aacom.org/news-and-events/publications/cib

There's the link to the CIB...it has lots of info in it, essentially a compilation of what is available on schools' individual sites. I wouldn't worry much about that sGPA being below cutoffs, because most schools that have a cutoff of 3.25 don't follow a "hard" rule if aspects of your application make up for it. For example, a cGPA of 3.5 may make up for a sGPA of 3.2, or a 510 MCAT may make up for a lower GPA. KCU for instance screens for 3.25/3.25/500, but people have been accepted (recently) with lower stats in one area.

 

[naivePremed]

http://www.aacom.org/news-and-events/publications/cib

There's the link to the CIB...it has lots of info in it, essentially a compilation of what is available on schools' individual sites. I wouldn't worry much about that sGPA being below cutoffs, because most schools that have a cutoff of 3.25 don't follow a "hard" rule if aspects of your application make up for it. For example, a cGPA of 3.5 may make up for a sGPA of 3.2, or a 510 MCAT may make up for a lower GPA. KCU for instance screens for 3.25/3.25/500, but people have been accepted (recently) with lower stats in one area.

gotcha, its good to know that the cutoff isn't absolute ("hard") and they will still look at you application. Thank you for the link!

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

gotcha, its good to know that the cutoff isn't absolute ("hard") and they will still look at you application. Thank you for the link!

But you better have two other things that make up for the bad one. You can't just have a 3.1/3.1/ 510 you will need something like a 3.6/3.2/510. The one that's lower can't be that much below the cutoff.

The CUSOM 3.2 GPA (both) cutoff though is hard, no exceptions. (The 3.25 cutoff is for KCU)

 

[Rekt]

Honestly, your Masters program school is taking you for a ride. They should not have even accepted you with a 2.1gpa. I'd honestly advise you to drop the masters and start retaking classes unless you want to wait several years before you can even apply. A 520+ wouldn't even make up for that GPA.

 

[eeek11]

@Rekt I appreciate the concern but, well, they DID accept me, and so did a handful of other programs. Some of these had automatic acceptances to their medical schools (e.g. obtain a 3.5 in the master's, get a DO acceptance without having to apply/interview). The program I chose doesn't have the automatic acceptance, but rather an automatic interview. I know this isn't the same, but I was assured by several members of the admissions committee that if I do well in the MS program I have a real shot at the DO program. Of course it's absolutely possible that they're taking me for a ride, but I'll have to hold out hope otherwise. My professor yesterday asked me what school I went to for undergrad so I told him where and added that I didn't do particularly well, and he responded with "Oh, well C's at that school are like A's at some third-tier schools."

Regardless, I'm still planning on retaking the MCAT to enhance my application so it's the best it can possibly be. If anyone has any more insight on the timing for that, it's greatly appreciated!

 

[naivePremed]

But you better have two other things that make up for the bad one. You can't just have a 3.1/3.1/ 510 you will need something like a 3.6/3.2/510. The one that's lower can't be that much below the cutoff.

The CUSOM 3.2 GPA (both) cutoff though is hard, no exceptions. (The 3.25 cutoff is for KCU)

gotcha, currently sitting at 3.19 sgpa and 3.49 cgpa. taking the mcat in april. thank you for the info, I will try to bring these numbers up before I apply.