Retaking my mcat, one month off, test in one month?

[Bigbash]

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Hey all!,

So i took my first MCAT march 31st. I felt like going into it i was going to get at least a 505. I came out feeling uneasy and scored a 496 :/. Now that i graduated and application cycles are about to open i feel i should retake my exam and as i apply check the little box on AMCAS that says "expect another score". Where i struggled the most was reading passsages, i was super nervous my first test and had trouble thinking. my question is, would it be a good idea to reatake and risk the hit of having to either apply in july when i get my scores back? also, i know exactly where i went wrong and plan on doing a crazy amount of practice problems. My main MD schools are Oakland U (495 MCAT min),
Wayne State (i have a letter of Rec. from a prof. there), and Michigan State D.O school. I know i only have one month until the test and i feel as if i have a very strong base but i need to work on my reading skills.

I know i could apply next cycle (next year) BUT i have amazing letters of Rec. and ECCs I woul hate to let those letters of Rec waste.

MCAT scores
CHem CARS BIO Soc
37% 124 44% 123 36% 125 54% 124 41%

 

[alex.jl1994]

Have you considered taking a gap year? 496 to 505 (if that's your goal) is a 9 point jump, which is not insignificant and will probably be extremely difficult to pull off in a mere month.

Even if you score a 505 the second time, adcoms will still see the initial 496. I'm not sure how multiple scores are considered, but I've heard that some adcoms might average the two scores, so that second 505 might be more like a 500.

And if you don't make it to a better score the second time, you'll have to take the test a third time, with 2 unsatisfactory scores on your record already.

 

[Lawpy]

What were your practice test scores?

 

[Bigbash]

What were your practice test scores?

All my practice scores were 501, 507, and 505.

 

[Lawpy]

All my practice scores were 501, 507, and 505.

Yeah i wouldn't retake in a month. Take the time you need to work hard and crush the test in the retake. Apply once with the best possible application even if it means taking a year off.

 

[Nucleophile1]

Hey there,

I would first recommend planning to take a gap year. Rushing to take the MCAT again is not a good idea and it is an easy way to wind up scoring low for a second time. When you study for a second time, you should be scoring AT LEAST a 508 on the AAMC practice exams although higher would be better considering your first score.

Keep in mind that the minimum accepted MCAT at a medical school does not reflect the scores of those that they accept. Here are the most recent admission stats for Oakland U. OUWB Class Profile - Admissions - Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine - Oakland University The median MCAT is a 31 which translates (roughly) to about a 510 on the new MCAT. When formulating your school list, make sure to look at the average accepted MCAT rather than the minimum accepted. I also recommend expanding your school list significantly.

You can definitely recover from this and get accepted into medical school. However, I don't recommend rushing the process. You want to get accepted on your first cycle rather than having to apply multiple times.

 

[Bigbash]

Rule 1: Take a Breath

If you apply with these stats now, these letters of rec would go to waste by likely be rejected.You can easily ask your recommenders to update next year or have them submit letters to Interfolio to be held. Your ECs arent going anywhere. But they will not make up for a horrible MCAT. Schools are under no obligation to wait for planned MCAT and retake that late puts a weak candidate in a weaker position. With reading being your issue, a month of prep is not enough. And you dont want to be a reapplicant next cycle. So my strong advice to you is to not apply this cycle, prep for the MCAT, possibly with a coach, continuing adding to record/EC, and apply next cycle in a much stronger position. Remember, your goal is to become doctor; it is not becoming a doctor quickly​

Since i had already spent 3 months studying with kaplan (another victim). If i were to take a diagnostic test and score in the low to mid 500s do you think that my one month would be enough? i personally believe that it was a fluke (as most people do when they see an appalling score). I would be okay with holding off another year if i HAVE to. I was going to take a AAMC practice FL on wednesday to see where i stand currently.

 

[Bigbash]

Hey there,

I would first recommend planning to take a gap year. Rushing to take the MCAT again is not a good idea and it is an easy way to wind up scoring low for a second time. When you study for a second time, you should be scoring AT LEAST a 508 on the AAMC practice exams although higher would be better considering your first score.

Keep in mind that the minimum accepted MCAT at a medical school does not reflect the scores of those that they accept. Here are the most recent admission stats for Oakland U. OUWB Class Profile - Admissions - Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine - Oakland University The median MCAT is a 31 which translates (roughly) to about a 510 on the new MCAT. When formulating your school list, make sure to look at the average accepted MCAT rather than the minimum accepted. I also recommend expanding your school list significantly.

You can definitely recover from this and get accepted into medical school. However, I don't recommend rushing the process. You want to get accepted on your first cycle rather than having to apply multiple times.

So would you suggest not even applying this year at all so i don't have do a reapply? or should i apply on the off chance i will get picked up by a DO school (maybe a low tier MD). I do have a large list of schools i want (which got destroyed once i saw my score), but those are the schools i REALLYY want.

 

[Frogger27]

Since i had already spent 3 months studying with kaplan (another victim). If i were to take a diagnostic test and score in the low to mid 500s do you think that my one month would be enough? i personally believe that it was a fluke (as most people do when they see an appalling score). I would be okay with holding off another year if i HAVE to. I was going to take a AAMC practice FL on wednesday to see where i stand currently.

Did you take the MCAT without using the AAMC material? Section bank or any of the FL tests? That was mistake #1. Kaplan or any other testing company do not prepare you well enough for the test. AAMC material is gold.

 

[Nucleophile1]

So would you suggest not even applying this year at all so i don't have do a reapply? or should i apply on the off chance i will get picked up by a DO school (maybe a low tier MD). I do have a large list of schools i want (which got destroyed once i saw my score), but those are the schools i REALLYY want.

I would strongly recommend not applying this year. You want to apply when your application is as strong as possible. I agree with @gonnif that rushing into a retake is a recipe for disaster. I also would not recommend aiming for a 505 on your next MCAT. Keep in mind that the average matriculant (to MD school, not sure about the average for DO schools) has an MCAT of 508. You need to show the admissions committee that you can do well on the MCAT especially considering your first score.

 

[efle]

Do not apply with a 23, take a year off and retake.

 

[mistafab]

To me, the strategic choice would be to take the year off and retake in 6-9 mo. I highly recommend that you do not move forward with this cycle or this retake.

 

[Spr1ngrolls]

Everyone else just about covers it. Take the extra year, give yourself some time. Your picture (which btw you might want to change if that is infact a picture of you) tells me that you're still young and have all the time in the world to really strengthen yourself for your next MCAT. A month is really not going to change anything imo. Take 8-10 practice tests. Burn up all your available resources, and then come back to re-evaluate yourself. True, your first MCAT may have just been a dud, but a second one that is similar would be a red flag that'd be extremely difficult to explain/avoid.

 

[Bigbash]

Thank you to everyone that responded! i am going to take the year off (make money), enjoy post-graduate life and study for the MCAT next year.

 

[f645]

I would strongly recommend not applying this year. You want to apply when your application is as strong as possible. I agree with @gonnif that rushing into a retake is a recipe for disaster. I also would not recommend aiming for a 505 on your next MCAT. Keep in mind that the average matriculant (to MD school, not sure about the average for DO schools) has an MCAT of 508. You need to show the admissions committee that you can do well on the MCAT especially considering your first score.

Average MCAT for the schools this person is applying to is a 504-505, definitely not a 508 lol. MSU CHM 505 + MSU COM is a 504 average. Anyways, I'm kind of in the same boat in that once you get a low score you want to start studying right away and salvage what dignity you have left but i agree with what everyone is saying; do not risk retaking and not doing substantially better. Meaning, i got a 501 and that's in the 498-503 confidence band and i'm not even going to schedule a retake date until i'm confident i can at least improve one or two confidence bands higher 504-507 or higher because if i rushed my retake and just went from a 501 to a 503 it wouldn't be that significant and i wouldve stayed in the same confidence band and screwed myself. i know the feeling of taking a gap year when you didnt anticipate it sucks ass but it is what it is. best of luck!

 

[raiderette]

As for your great rec letter, use Interfolio and save the letter for next year. Better to apply once, with your best application.

Sent from my QTAQZ3 using SDN mobile

 

[Dr. Souk]

Did you take the MCAT without using the AAMC material? Section bank or any of the FL tests? That was mistake #1. Kaplan or any other testing company do not prepare you well enough for the test. AAMC material is gold.

Couldn't agree more!