Schools That Don't Mind 2 MCATs

[tradkeke]

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I had a pretty big jump in my MCAT scores (500-515) so far my list is mainly low yield and low tier MD, DO list is at about 4 schools. I was wondering if there were any schools where around a 515 is competitive and they don't mind MCAT retakes? I found lists of "reinvention" schools but figured that was more non-trad/GPA based on not so much 2 MCAT score based.

My research is strong if that helps at all.

tyty

 

[lovehate]

Check this:
Multiple MCAT Score Policy School List

 

[personperson]

Any school. I have a somewhat similar MCAT jump, and the sky is the limit.

 

[21Rush12]

515 from 500 is not going to close any doors that wouldn’t already be closed to a 515.

 

[tradkeke]

515 from 500 is not going to close any doors that wouldn’t already be closed to a 515.

So you're saying I should apply as if I had just a 515? I feel like the 500 is still going to turn heads.

 

[tradkeke]

Any school. I have a somewhat similar MCAT jump, and the sky is the limit.

Do you mind elaborating on how you made your list?

 

[personperson]

I had a good list of schools that were closer to the average of my scores ( I had an 11 point difference), but the majority of schools I interviewed with were closer to my higher score. Of course, n=1

 

[MDPedigree]

Schools will only really look at your 515, don't worry. I'm a 3x MCAT taker with my highest score being a 512. 15+ II, many to mid-tiers.

 

[PhilzCoffeeAddict]

^ I 2nd the above post. I took it way too many times and finished with a 513. Got into mid tier md schools. Apply broadly!

 

[Goro]

So you're saying I should apply as if I had just a 515? I feel like the 500 is still going to turn heads.

A 515 is nothing to sneeze at.
Here's my suggested list:

USF Morsani
U IA (maybe)
U MI (maybe)
Case
UCF (maybe)
Duke
U Cincy (maybe)
U VM
Pitt
Mayo
Miami
St. Louis
Albany
Albert Einstein
Rochester
Rush
Rosy Franklin
BU
MCW
Hofstra
NYMC
VCU
EVMS
Wake Forest
Jefferson
Temple
Tufts
Drexel
Creighton
George Washington
Georgetown
Emory
USC/Keck
Tulane
Dartmouth
Loyola
Netter
Oakland-B
Your state school(s).
Nova MD

 

[personperson]

Agree with above posters.. just know you will get asked at almost every interview how you improved your score

I was never asked that question once

 

[tradkeke]

A 515 is nothing to sneeze at.
Here's my suggested list:

USF Morsani
U IA (maybe)
U MI (maybe)
Case
UCF (maybe)
Duke
U Cincy (maybe)
U VM
Pitt
Mayo
Miami
St. Louis
Albany
Albert Einstein
Rochester
Rush
Rosy Franklin
BU
MCW
Hofstra
NYMC
VCU
EVMS
Wake Forest
Jefferson
Temple
Tufts
Drexel
Creighton
George Washington
Georgetown
Emory
USC/Keck
Tulane
Dartmouth
Loyola
Netter
Oakland-B
Your state school(s).
Nova MD

Thank you for the list, I can definitely use this to make my list. Could I use any of these or are some of those reaches? Duke, mayo, pitt all seem like reaches.

 

[Goro]

Thank you for the list, I can definitely use this to make my list. Could I use any of these or are some of those reaches? Duke, mayo, pitt all seem like reaches.

I don't do reaches. I name schools I think that you're competitive for.

 

[gyngyn]

There are schools that average as policy (Jefferson).
There are more schools that have little control of how multiple scores will be be viewed by individual examiners.
The AAMC indicates that the best practice is to average scores.

 

[Dantes]

There are schools that average as policy (Jefferson).
There are more schools that have little control of how multiple scores will be be viewed by individual examiners.
The AAMC indicates that the best practice is to average scores.

From experience with the 25+ schools I applied to only Jefferson has that policy. Most seem to be taking all scores into account and note improvements. AAMC also recommends that schools focus on the fact that an MCAT score over 500 is sufficient for medical school success and to put less emphasis on higher scores, and nobody follows those guidelines either...

 

[ScreenName23]

Like others have said with a big jump they will focus on the second score. I too was hesitant given that I also had a 15 point score jump. I applied to a lot more schools because of that than I would with just the one score. That being said on 12 interviews I was only asked about the score jump once (almost all interviews I had were MCAT/GPA blind). Based on where my IIs came from I would say schools seemed to really focus on the second score. Not always the case in a small score increase but at the 15 point level they know what you're capable of. Way to make a huge improvement! Good luck!!

 

[tradkeke]

I don't do reaches. I name schools I think that you're competitive for.

How does this look?

State schools
Albany
Wake
Vermont
Tufts
GW
Temple
EVMS
NYMC
MCW
Drexel
VCU
Netter
Einstein
Case
BU
Pitt
Duke
Oakland-B
Rosy Franklin
Hofstra
Rochester
Jefferson
~5 DO schools TBD

 

[Goro]

How does this look?

State schools
Albany
Wake
Vermont
Tufts
GW
Temple
EVMS
NYMC
MCW
Drexel
VCU
Netter
Einstein
Case
BU
Pitt
Duke
Oakland-B
Rosy Franklin
Hofstra
Rochester
Jefferson
~5 DO schools TBD

👍👍👍👍👍👍

 

[RinShanKaiHo]

I took mcat twice with a huge jump and it worked fine for me with Jeff.
I think the individuals on adcom are not strictly bound to the "policy". They will just instinctively have their own view on your mcat if they view all of them.

Don't worry too much and congrats on make such an improvement!

 

[gyngyn]

From experience with the 25+ schools I applied to only Jefferson has that policy. Most seem to be taking all scores into account and note improvements. AAMC also recommends that schools focus on the fact that an MCAT score over 500 is sufficient for medical school success and to put less emphasis on higher scores, and nobody follows those guidelines either...

Very few schools have committee members who strictly abide by their school's stated policy (exceptions appear to be Jefferson, Vandy, MCW and GW). Although some evaluators are blind to MCAT scores, it is the rare school where the MCAT is not extremely important. Since no one can make an evaluator "unsee" multiple scores, one must assume that they will be open to idiosyncratic interpretation (without regard to stated policies). I have committee members who place more weight on the first score, for example!
There is the tendency to focus on the good score when someone is making a case to accept an applicant and the same tactic is used (with the lower score) when a member is arguing the opposite.

To summarize, a single strong score is always the best strategy, but there are circumstances in which a second score may be required.