Safe than sorry, or better late than never?

[The Wop]

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I am currently scheduled to take the MCAT on Friday. I just graduated college with about a 3.10 science GPA. I am scoring on average 29 on my Kaplan practice tests. I have been religiously studying for about 3-4 weeks. My AMCAS will be submitted this weekend (my transcripts and LORs are already in). SHOULD I wait until July 13 to take the MCAT or just go for it on Friday? I can't decide whether a better score, but being late, or being average and "on-time."

Thanks

 

[146233]

July 13th puts your MCAT score out in August. That is not terribly 'late'. Submit your application, get it verified, and schools will be ready to start evaluating you as soon as your MCAT score comes out. Use those extra days to study and get that practice score up to about 30.

August isn't very late - but even if it were, a solid 30+ is better than an early 28.


Best of luck!
-z

 

[The Wop]

Thanks for the response Jim Halpert

 

[armybound]

Do it when you feel adequately prepared.

 

[Thayer]

I would agree with zipmedic. The premed adviser at my undergrad stressed that to have a good chance of getting into medical school you need to ideally hit a 10 in every section for a total score of 30. I think it's sort of a psychological cutoff point for adcoms. Med schools will sometimes accept people below a 30, but you definitely want to strive for that 30 mark if you can. Of course, if you do any better than 30 it can only help you. I would use those extra days to study to bring up your practice full length scores until you can consistently get a 30+. You want as strong an MCAT score you can get, considering your BCPM is on the low side. Good luck on the MCAT!

 

[patrickd223]

Can you take it twice? One now and one on the next date. That way you can still apply earlier and than just update w. new MCAT score. idk.

 

[notdeadyet]

Do it when you feel adequately prepared.

Agreed. I'd apply 1 month later if it meant my score might go up. And with a 3.1 GPA, a 29 MCAT isn't going to kick open too many doors. Do whatever you can to get as high a score as possible. If another month will help you do this, do it.

Best of luck...

 

[SunshineNYC]

I am currently scheduled to take the MCAT on Friday. I just graduated college with about a 3.10 science GPA. I am scoring on average 29 on my Kaplan practice tests. I have been religiously studying for about 3-4 weeks. My AMCAS will be submitted this weekend (my transcripts and LORs are already in). SHOULD I wait until July 13 to take the MCAT or just go for it on Friday? I can't decide whether a better score, but being late, or being average and "on-time."

Thanks

Wait until you are ready to rock it!

You can always get your AMCAS in and then send the MCAT scores later. July is still not TOO late. I waited till August last year... wish I hadn't, but I did well on the MCAT and I don't have to take it again and I was accepted so good. Just seriously make sure the AMCAS application is in earlier though.