Should I delay my application until I re-take the MCAT? Bad initial score, but waiting would put me back til August

[Jag33]

Just got my score back, and WOOF. My application is nearly complete and ready to submit, but I'm so scared I'll get rejected before I can re-take. I am planning to re-take on July 30th. Would submitting to one school to get verified and then waiting to get my scores back (Aug 31st) be a huge mistake? Need advice.

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[candbgirl]

What was your score?
what makes you think you can recover in the next 8 weeks?
What were your FL scores?
How’s the rest of your application(and don’t just say great)?
August 31 is pretty late. You won’t get secondaries until September or later. Interviews will have started and the first round of acceptances go out 10/15.
A gap year is never a bad thing, especially if it helps your application.

 

[Faha]

What is your score ? What are your sGPA and cGPA ? What are your ECs ?

 

[Jag33]

What was your score?
what makes you think you can recover in the next 8 weeks?
What were your FL scores?
How’s the rest of your application(and don’t just say great)?
August 31 is pretty late. You won’t get secondaries until September or later. Interviews will have started and the first round of acceptances go out 10/15.
A gap year is never a bad thing, especially if it helps your application.

My score was 195, and I am planning to enroll in a Kaplan course and focus much more on FL's because I didn't do enough. My first FL scores were 495, 501, 503. I have a 3.73 GPA, 5 letters of recommendation (one from a current surgeon I am working for). And I am very hesitant about the late re-take date and want to be smart, but I am also already one year post-grad and hate the idea of delaying any further.

 

[Faha]

It is not possible to score as low as 195. Do you mean 495?

 

[Jag33]

What is your score ? What are your sGPA and cGPA ? What are your ECs ?

495, 3.73 cGPA and 3.64 sGPA; ECs include multiple shadowing surgeon opportunities, working as a medical scribe. volunteering for Alzheimer's association, coaching youth lacrosse, and playing Division II lacrosse to name a few. A few other research opportunities and publications in NCBI for gene sequencing.

 

[Jag33]

It is not possible to score as low as 195. Do you mean 495?

Yes, I apologize - 495. That was a typo.

 

[candbgirl]

Well your score isn’t that far off from the FL scores. If you are applying to DO and you retook it and got a 505 you might be okay. For MD you’d probably need a 515. Some schools average multiple MCAT scores and all scores remain visible on your MCAT report, so that 495 is with you now. What was your target goal? It is usually suggested that you not take the MCAT until you are consistently scoring at or above your target score on a series of FL practice tests.I’m not sure why you took the test with a 503 as your highest score. Do you really think you can go up 10-20 points in 8 weeks? Be realistic. Another bad MCAT score will really did you deeper in a hole. I know you don’t want to wait but if you apply with another questionable score you’ll be a reapplicant too.

 

[Faha]

If you can raise your score to 500 of higher you could receive interviews to DO schools. September is not late to apply to DO schools.

 

[Jag33]

Well your score isn’t that far off from the FL scores. If you are applying to DO and you retook it and got a 505 you might be okay. For MD you’d probably need a 515. Some schools average multiple MCAT scores and all scores remain visible on your MCAT report, so that 495 is with you now. What was your target goal? It is usually suggested that you not take the MCAT until you are consistently scoring at or above your target score on a series of FL practice tests.I’m not sure why you took the test with a 503 as your highest score. Do you really think you can go up 10-20 points in 8 weeks? Be realistic. Another bad MCAT score will really did you deeper in a hole. I know you don’t want to wait but if you apply with another questionable score you’ll be a reapplicant too.

This is great advice and frankly I am kicking myself for taking it before I was ready. I was kidding myself by thinking that knowing the material itself was enough, but I rushed into it before I was ready. I really think that with the proper prep I could bump my score significantly, but will it be enough is a good question. I think that potentially applying with the rest of my factors will hopefully supplement the application enough to be even considered this cycle, but you are right, being a re-applicant might hurt my chances more. Feeling very torn still but I appreciate the insight it is very helpful.

Side note: If I already have my transcript/recc letters submitted, would I have to re-submit those all over to the next app. cycle or is there a way to transfer them? Thank you!

 

[Jag33]

If you can raise your score to 500 of higher you could receive interviews to DO schools. September is not late to apply to DO schools.

What about MD? MD was always the plan for me

 

[Faha]

What about MD? MD was always the plan for me

September would be somewhat late for MD schools. Post your actual score here in the future.

 

[Jag33]

September would be somewhat late for MD schools. Post your actual score here in the future.

I agree. My score is 495, is that what you're referring to?

 

[Faha]

I agree. My score is 495, is that what you're referring to?

Your retake score which you indicated you would receive in late August.

 

[Jag33]

Your retake score which you indicated you would receive in late August.

Oh, I understand. But I think at this point I am planning to reschedule for a later date, but I will re-post once I take and get them back. Thank you!