Schools to Add, MCAT to retake?

[BambiMD]

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Hey everybody,

I'm having trouble deciding: 1) which other schools to add to my application list AND 2) whether or not I should retake the MCAT.

I have a cum 3.69GPA and a BCPM of 3.49. I took the June 13th MCAT and got a 30M, which was about 5 points lower than I anticipated. I have pretty strong ECs.

I know my stats aren't bad--but I'd like them to be better (don't we all?)--and so I'm juggling between re-taking the MCAT again or having all my applications submitted earlier.

I do believe that I can raise my MCAT score; I've been out of school for more than two years now and relatively recently been starting back on the med school track. (No excuses, I should have been better prepared going into the MCAT--but I only had two good weeks of studying before my MCAT, since I was working full-time and, well, haven't taken/used most of the content for five years.)

Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

You should add Drexel and Wisconsin.

 

[BambiMD]

Thanks for the input.

I was already considering Wisconsin--and will check into Drexel.

 

[HiFi09]

Were your practice scores averaging 5 points higher?

If they were, I would retake. If you did not legitimately average at least a 33 or 34 I would keep what you have and apply now.

 

[BambiMD]

Um, well, I didn't really take any practice tests. But I decided against re-taking the MCAT. Thanks for the input though.

Any comments on more schools to apply to with my stats would be appreciated.

I'm considering:

New York Medical College
Columbia
Creighton
Drexel
Thomas Jefferson
Brown
Boston U

 

[JLC]

no offence, but its pretty arrogant to expect a 35 without knowing or even taking practice tests.

IMO the schools you're applying to are all fine and I don't think you need to worry about anything. Good luck

The only problem you'll have if any are the screening for the reach schools, at least for hopkins.

 

[BambiMD]

No offense, but one does not have to take practice tests to be able to judge the range of how well they will do. That may be your methodology--but it doesn't have to be mine. Just saying that not everybody prepares the same way.

I appreciate your input on the schools. Thanks!

 

[MilkmanAl]

Uh...so how exactly would you judge how well you were going to do without some sort of standard? And no, "I think I'll score in the mid 30's" doesn't count as an accurate score assessment.

 

[BambiMD]

IMO, I think one can objectively gauge how one is doing by the comfort level of the content, coupled with how they subjectively feel they're doing on the actual test day (the breakdown of the questions I know I got right vs. the ones I was mostly sure on vs. the ones I had no idea whatsoever and guess).

I mean, haven't we been doing this our entire lives in testing situations?

Have you taken practice tests for every single test you've taken in a class--in order to make a reasonable, "standardized" prediction of how well you'll do on a test? I bet not.

And, we all know, that there is so much content for the MCAT, that just because we do well on a practice test, doesn't mean we'll get the same content and do the same on the real thing/next practice test.

I'm just saying that many others have used the methodology of "how well I've been doing on practice tests" and have gotten a 24 when they thought they'd get a 33.

My methodology may not be perfect--but, it's what I did and what I'll live with--and I'm fine with that.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I think one can objectively gauge how one is doing by the comfort level of the content, coupled with how they subjectively feel they're doing on the actual test day

I'm just saying that there's no way you can translate comfort level to a score without having tried it first. Is "comfortable" a 30 for you? A 25? 40? Personally, I never took any practice tests. I was aiming for the upper 30's and knew that I had the material down pretty well, but I really had no idea where I was going to fall.

Have you taken practice tests for every single test you've taken in a class--in order to make a reasonable, "standardized" prediction of how well you'll do on a test? I bet not.

No, that's why I never like the first test in a class. You just have to get the material down and hope you got it down well enough. After that, you know what to expect and can use the first test as your standard.

And, we all know, that there is so much content for the MCAT, that just because we do well on a practice test, doesn't mean we'll get the same content and do the same on the real thing/next practice test.

That's why you take multiple practice tests.

I'm just saying that many others have used the methodology of "how well I've been doing on practice tests" and have gotten a 24 when they thought they'd get a 33.

True, but it seems like the vast majority of people who bother to take several practice tests fall within their practice score range.

My methodology may not be perfect--but, it's what I did and what I'll live with--and I'm fine with that.

Coolio. 🙂

 

[BambiMD]

I concede. Had I had more time I would have taken more practice tests. Hence my original question of whether or not to re-take, because I would have had more time to prepare, take practice tests, etc.

My original post was more about the benefits of retaking and submitting later, vs not retaking and submitting earlierwith the score as is.

Didn't mean to get in a battle of competing MCAT prep methodologies.😉

 

[MilkmanAl]

All right, so back to business. You're probably in good shape to get accepted as you are, but if you want a good shot at the reachier schools on your list like Brown and Columbia, you should retake. If I were you, I think I'd stay with your decision to not retake.