Should I retake 509 or focus on ECs?

[Navyyy]

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Hi everyone! I am a current senior, planning on applying in the upcoming cycle. I recently got my mcat scores back and am unsure if I should retake or focus on extracurriculars. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!

1. cGPA and sGPA as calculated by AMCAS or AACOMAS
   • 3.98 cGPA, not sure how to calc science GPA
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown. Include all (non-voided) attempts.
   • 509 127/128/127/127
3. State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US)
   • PA
4. Ethnicity and/or race
   • Asian
5. Undergraduate institution or category
   • State University
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer)
   • 530 hrs of scribing
   • 50 hrs of hospital volunteering (will continue this)
7. Research experience and productivity
   • just started volunteering in lab, currently 15hrs
8. Shadowing experience and specialties represented
   • 40 hrs emergency medicine
   • 20 hrs family medicine
9. Non-clinical volunteering
   • Crisis Text Line, also just started this 20 hrs
10. Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc)
    • Anatomy and Physiology TA - just started 10 hrs
    • A+P Tutor also just started 10 Hrs
    • Research Mentor for underserved highschool students - 160 hrs
11. Relevant honors or awards
    • University academic award
    • Deans list every semester
    • STEM scholarship
12. Anything else not listed you think might be important
    • Taking a gap year planning on getting a clinical job

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hi everyone! I am a current senior, planning on applying in the upcoming cycle. I recently got my mcat scores back and am unsure if I should retake or focus on extracurriculars. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Welcome to the forums.

Answer to your question: Yes. You can (should) walk and chew gum at the same time.

Slightly seriously, I sense that you want to gun for "brand name programs," which is why you want to retake your MCAT. Goal should be +10 from your first score, so 519+. If your practice tests have been this high, you should retake. Give yourself enough time to prepare properly.

You definitely need more experiences, especially service orientation. In-person experiences where you are comfortable with uncomfortable people in a humble role, not as a subject matter expert or "leader." You must have 150 hours when you submit; if you're going for brand-name schools, you must have 250 hours. Crisis text line is not face-to-face experience. With zero hours currently listed, your application may be summarily screened out.

 

[Navyyy]

Welcome to the forums.

Answer to your question: Yes. You can (should) walk and chew gum at the same time.

Slightly seriously, I sense that you want to gun for "brand name programs," which is why you want to retake your MCAT. Goal should be +10 from your first score, so 519+. If your practice tests have been this high, you should retake. Give yourself enough time to prepare properly.

You definitely need more experiences, especially service orientation. In-person experiences where you are comfortable with uncomfortable people in a humble role, not as a subject matter expert or "leader." You must have 150 hours when you submit; if you're going for brand-name schools, you must have 250 hours. Crisis text line is not face-to-face experience. With zero hours currently listed, your application may be summarily screened out.

Thank you for your reply! I don’t really care about brand name programs, just trying to get in the door. I am not confident in my abilities to test significantly higher than my current. I think my highest FL was around a 512. I am just concerned that my 509 won’t be good enough for MD schools in PA, which all seem to have an avg around 512. I will also try to get more in person experiences.