I have submitted almost all of my secondaries to the schools I have applied to (18 MD and 11 DO). I have marked on my AMCAS and AACOMAS applications that I will retake my MCAT on 9/6/24. My first score was disheartening as I scored 504 after averaging 513 on my AAMC Full Lengths. My clinical experiences and extracurriculars are strong, and I have a science GPA of 3.6. Although my stats are below average for most MD programs, taking a retake in September may be too late into the cycle for most of them to revisit my application, especially with my secondaries already submitted. I have also received an interview from Liberty University already this cycle. With all of these factors, I've been debating whether I should spend my time studying for a retake if it is not needed. I do have aspirations of getting into an MD program, but would anyone happen to have any insight on whether this September retake date will screen me out of most MD programs? Thank you, and good luck to everyone during this cycle!
Should I retake my 504 MCAT during this cycle
- Thread starter vinnied86
- Start date
Hollow Knight
Effort beats talent
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2023
- Messages
- 834
- Reaction score
- 1,488
Are you really going to vastly improve your score in a couple of months?
If I were you, I’d start studying for a retake next year. If you don’t get MD this time, OK. If you want to apply next year, you’ll probably improve if you study steadily and use Anki from now until then.
If you’re confident you’ll get into a DO school somewhere, and you want to just increase your chances at MD, maybe taking one this cycle is an acceptable answer. But remember, it would hurt you if you don’t improve your score. Be careful trying to up your score significantly in a short amount of time.
Edit: while a September retake won’t screen you out, it will hurt you, yeah
If I were you, I’d start studying for a retake next year. If you don’t get MD this time, OK. If you want to apply next year, you’ll probably improve if you study steadily and use Anki from now until then.
If you’re confident you’ll get into a DO school somewhere, and you want to just increase your chances at MD, maybe taking one this cycle is an acceptable answer. But remember, it would hurt you if you don’t improve your score. Be careful trying to up your score significantly in a short amount of time.
Edit: while a September retake won’t screen you out, it will hurt you, yeah
- Joined
- May 19, 2020
- Messages
- 693
- Reaction score
- 1,879
I wouldn't this cycle, personally. You're late enough in that you won't have time to study well for a re-take, and a lot of institutions will have already screened your app by the time a new score is in there.
Even in the future, remember that you need significant improvement on a re-take. Most schools formally or informally average your scores, and scores are useful in "band" ranges, not as stand-alone scores. I generally recommend students trying for a re-take assume they need an 8-10 point bump to see the new score make a significant change in their admissions chances.
Even in the future, remember that you need significant improvement on a re-take. Most schools formally or informally average your scores, and scores are useful in "band" ranges, not as stand-alone scores. I generally recommend students trying for a re-take assume they need an 8-10 point bump to see the new score make a significant change in their admissions chances.
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2005
- Messages
- 6,708
- Reaction score
- 8,029
If you want MD only, why did you apply to DO too? What if Liberty or some other DO schools are your only acceptances? Will you give up those acceptances?
Schools are under no obligation to wait for your new MCAT score, even if you tell them you are retaking. Your fate might be decided long before you even retake. Your scheduled September test date will mean you won’t receive your score until early October. That’s pretty late. (The first MD acceptances start around October 15.) and remember many schools average multiple MCAT scores.
You need to figure out if your are MD or nothing. If you are, stop with the DO cycle and focus on MD. Depending on the rest of your application and your school list, see what happens this cycle. If you are unsuccessful with MD schools, then consider a MCAT retake in January so you are ready with your next application next May.
This is all theoretical since you have shared nothing about your application with us. If you want good and appropriate help please fill in the attached grid.
Good luck.
forums.studentdoctor.net
Schools are under no obligation to wait for your new MCAT score, even if you tell them you are retaking. Your fate might be decided long before you even retake. Your scheduled September test date will mean you won’t receive your score until early October. That’s pretty late. (The first MD acceptances start around October 15.) and remember many schools average multiple MCAT scores.
You need to figure out if your are MD or nothing. If you are, stop with the DO cycle and focus on MD. Depending on the rest of your application and your school list, see what happens this cycle. If you are unsuccessful with MD schools, then consider a MCAT retake in January so you are ready with your next application next May.
This is all theoretical since you have shared nothing about your application with us. If you want good and appropriate help please fill in the attached grid.
Good luck.
*~*~*~*IMPORTANT: How to Format Your WAMC Thread for Optimal Results and More!!*~*~*~*
Hello, and welcome to the What Are My Chances (WAMC) forum. The purpose of this forum is to Post threads about your chances of acceptance to MD and/or DO schools Have your school list critiqued and modified by other members of SDN Determine how to strengthen your current application General...
forums.studentdoctor.net
I had a weak Bio/Biochem section with a score of 124. Genuinely thought going into the exam that this would be my best section since I scored well on this section on all of my practice tests.
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2021
- Messages
- 4,947
- Reaction score
- 5,170
Realistically, getting 5 more points in bio would have put you at a 509. That is an improvement, but would likely have still been considered an area of weakness for many MD schools.
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2022
- Messages
- 38
- Reaction score
- 29
I wouldn’t retake. I would just go for it. I got 503 twice and I retake it for the 3rd time and I got 506. Yeah not worth all the studying for 3 point increase. The first two times was around 126/121/126/130. The 3rd times was 128/125/126/126 (score are more even but yeah it did drop)
I would just apply and go for it. Pretty sure with 504 you could get in at least one MD/DO. Mcat is part of the application so if you got good experience and GPA you will be fine
Last edited:
Thank you for your response! I think this will probably be the route I take. I believe in my experiences and my GPA is solid for DO. Hopefully, an instate MD will give me a shot. Thanks again!
