Retaking the MCAT in August or Should I not bother?

[TheAnonymous]

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Sorry if this has been addressed before, just trying to get some new advice:

I was planning to retake the MCAT early August - but I am being told that writing the MCAT in August is useless because there will be few spots left by that point - and that submitting my app now would not be a good idea and I should wait till next year

Should I still write it in August or will I almost certainly be wasting my money/time applying so late? Should I do everything I can and re-take it on July 24th or is that still late? I can also apply with my current (bad?) MCAT score and tell the schools that I will be retaking it?

Thanks

 

[el_duderino]

Too little information. What score are you sitting on now, and when did you get that score? What's your GPA? ECs? URM status?

 

[TheAnonymous]

Too little information. What score are you sitting on now, and when did you get that score? What's your GPA? ECs? URM status?

Sorry for providing little info:

- I wrote the MCAT on May 31st and will get my score in a week - I will most definitely get an unbalanced 30 (+/- 1) something like: 12/6/12
( I think I can bring up my verbal to an 8)
- GPA: 4.0/4.0
- EC: considered strong by most people (Extensive research, clinical volunteering, non-clinical volunteering, tutoring, strong leadership, extensive shadowing, etc)
- LOR: I would say very strong
- Not US Resident (Canadian residency) <-- kills my chances

 

[el_duderino]

Repost once you get your actual score.

 

[lmn]

Depends on what your current score is. Be aware that the mcat is changing January of next year though, so if you end up having to retake, I wouldn't delay until next year unless you want to study the new sections

 

[TheAnonymous]

Depends on what your current score is. Be aware that the mcat is changing January of next year though, so if you end up having to retake, I wouldn't delay until next year unless you want to study the new sections

I will certainly not be writing the new MCAT whatsoever lol I was debating whether to write it in late July/early August or if it's too late for this cycle just study until September/October/November to give my self as much time

 

[2Pints]

Definitely have to wait til you get your score but my friend got into all of her top choices with a re-take in September. She wouldn't tell me her first score but it was below 30. Her retake score was 32.

 

[TheAnonymous]

Definitely have to wait til you get your score but my friend got into all of her top choices with a re-take in September. She wouldn't tell me her first score but it was below 30. Her retake score was 32.

Thanks - this makes me feel better ! I think what is going to kill me is my verbal score in particular.

If I submit my app with current MCAT score and indicate that I will be retaking in August/September, wouldn't they reject me outright because of my "bad" current score? Or would they wait to see the next one anyways?

 

[snowflakes]

Thanks - this makes me feel better ! I think what is going to kill me is my verbal score in particular.

If I submit my app with current MCAT score and indicate that I will be retaking in August/September, wouldn't they reject me outright because of my "bad" current score? Or would they wait to see the next one anyways?

They will put your app on hold and take no action on it until your new score comes it.

 

[TheAnonymous]

They will put your app on hold and take no action on it until your new score comes it.

Oh I didn't know that ! So is there any point in submitting early? I heard that if you submit, you will be considered a reapplicant? Like what's the point of applying and telling them to expect a future MCAT score instead of applying late?

Thanks and sorry for my silly questions

 

[baxt1412]

in for this, because i may be in a similar situation. i'm gonna go ahead and say that i would probably retake if i got an 8 or 9 on one of my sections only because that's still a pretty decent score.