Should I Retake a 515 MCAT?

[EdgeTrimmer]

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maybe private bank loans with 1~3% interest with the help of parent cosigners?

Who gives loans for 1-3%?

 

[Damson]

Who gives loans for 1-3%?

i dunno, just heard that some students get amazing loan deals...somehow.

 

[HopeP]

Who gives loans for 1-3%?

That would be even cheaper than govt..Wonder how low interests rates for foreseeable future may help.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Are these rates fixed or adjustable?

 

[Bexa8778]

Hi,

I just got my score back today, 515 (129/129/129/128) and it was below my FL average of 518, so I feel like I underperformed. I was hoping to target T10 schools and I'm not sure if a 515 is good enough. My GPA is a 3.91, I'm egyptian (white), good EC's just need clinical experience over the next two years (gap year applicant).

Please let me know what you think.

Hey nasserthemaster
Congratulations on the amazing score. Your stats, 3.9 GPA + 515 balanced MCAT, means that you are academically ready to handle the rigors of medical school. Please, take my advice with a grain of salt but from all medical school open houses that I have been to, I can tell you that retaking an already high MCAT score signals medical schools that you are a perfectionist. Perfectionism can be bad at times and it can be a sign of arrogance. I think now what you need to do is that you need to convince through your narratives, ECs, and LORs, that you really want to be a doctor. Medical school applications are not only about stats. Yes, you need to stats but once you have the right stats ( which you have), the second question is let is look at the rest of the application and see if the applicant is pursuing medicine for the right reasons, etc. I hope my advice helps.

 

[Gilakend]

For anyone seeing this in the future: regardless of what anecdotal evidence you read, a bad decision that works out for someone else doesn't make it a good decision. Don't make bad decisions, don't retake a 90th+ percentile score.

 

[treatem-and-streetem]

MCAT score is a good indicator of USMLE step scores. Look at stats of Vandy and WashU.

While there are errors when looking at the "top" schools. Step1 is soon to be P/F and nothing on the MCAT is important for medicine.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

While there are errors when looking at the "top" schools. Step1 is soon to be P/F and nothing on the MCAT is important for medicine.

Consensus is Step 2 score will become important now, so MCAT score still could be a good indicator.

 

[MyOdyssey]

nothing on the MCAT is important for medicine.

This is definitely an outlier take. Apparently in your view the ability to reason verbally and quantitatively, to critically evaluate scientific literature, to apply science quickly and accurately, to master a vast amount of scientific material relevant to human biological processes isn't important to medicine. Okaaaay.

 

[Goro]

Consensus is Step 2 score will become important now, so MCAT score still could be a good indicator.

The MCAT is at best, a weak indicator of Step scores.

Rather, a bad MCAT is a very good predictor of bad step scores.

The best predictor of Step scores is preclinical GPA.

 

[MyOdyssey]

The MCAT is at best, a weak indicator of Step scores.

Rather, a bad MCAT is a very good predictor of bad step scores.

The best predictor of Step scores is preclinical GPA.

Are you referring to Step 1 or Step 2 scores?

Haven't most medical schools abolished grades?

 

[Goro]

Are you referring to Step 1 or Step 2 scores?

Haven't most medical schools abolished grades?

Step I. I recall studies on Step 2...I'm sure they're out there.

Don't have a tally as to who grades and who doesn't. Students still have exams that get graded if they are P/F. Now, if students just slide to pass exams and go for Board study, that will complicate things. However, I suspect that your typical med student, being both bright and an overacheiver, will want tot do they best they can (at least, I hope so!)

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Rather, a bad MCAT is a very good predictor of bad step scores.

Agree, indicator for standardized test taking skills.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Agree, indicator for standardized test taking skills.

Indicator for reading and quantitative reasoning skills. FIFY