Should I retake my MCAT and apply late?

[parkjisung]

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Hi,

Thanks for taking the time to read over my post.

I'm hoping to apply in this upcoming cycle.
My cGPA is 3.83, my MCAT (taken september 2012) is only 26Q. (11 B, 8 P, 7 V).

My ECs during college include:
4 years of a nonprofit organization that provide medical and educational help to Vietnam (held various officer positions, including Director in my last year this year). made 3 medical mission trip to vietnam.
2.5 years of research, gave one presentation
2 years as a camp counselor for underprivileged children in LA
4 years of intramural soccer, served as team captain
2 years of working as an intramural soccer referree
2 years of being a student notetakers
1 year of involving with a vietnamese student organization (i'm vietnamese), and participated in their retention program and cultural night event

I am extremely worried about getting into any MD school with my MCAT score, but has been occupied during the school year to be able to study effectively. I hope to take this test again by the end of June and while applying in june. Does this seems like a good idea? The one thing I am worried the most though, is that I am not a native speaker (I lived in Vietnam for half of my life) and very skeptical of how much I can improve on the sections that I have trouble with on my MCAT and don't want to run the risk of scoring an even lower score.

Thanks so much in advance for any of your advices!

 

[tarheel1408]

I do not think you have a strong chance at MD schools with a 26 and I suggest a retake. Be sure to study hard. There are a number of resources on SDN and other places to help you improve your verbal score, if that's giving you the most problems. Also, when you apply, I'd go ahead and submit your AMCAS as soon as possible, just to get verified, and you can add the schools you want once you get your second score back if you like.

 

[parkjisung]

Thank you for your advice,
So I should send in my applications when the window opens in June, but don't add the schools until my scores come in?

 

[AquiVoy13]

The rest of your application looks good, but yes your mcat is quite low for MD. I think it would be best to study well and retake. I can see how verbal can be difficult if you're not a native speaker, but I would try to raise your score to at least an 8. Also, try to raise your physical science section. You did well in bio so could probably do about the same in physics with lots of practice.

You can send in your application to start the verification process and let them know you will be sending in an additional mcat score.

 

[sinombre]

Thank you for your advice,
So I should send in my applications when the window opens in June, but don't add the schools until my scores come in?

What were you scoring on your practice tests? If you were consistently scoring >10 in each subsection, I think re-taking it this year makes sense. If you weren't, there's no reason to believe you would do better re-taking it in a month, and so you should probably take an extra year off to study before applying.

If you do think you have a good chance of increasing your score, you should apply to one school early, and then add the remaining schools once your new score comes in. If you apply to schools with a 26 there's a good chance they'll auto-screen you out before they get your new score, so I think waiting makes the most sense.

Edit: I'm not sure what you should be aiming for for VR since English isn't your native language, but anything under an 8 will probably get you screened out of most places.

 

[mzarrowsmith]

You should re-take, with a focus on PS and BS.

Here's some encouragement:

My spouse is also an Asian, non-native English speaker. Highest MCAT score was a 29, VR of 7 both times took the test. Graduated from an MD program with all three step scores >260 and 99+%-ile on all inservice exams during residency.

Admission will be a hurdle, but you can succeed once you overcome the toughest obstacle!

 

[parkjisung]

Thanks so much for the advice everyone. I studied and retook my MCAT in July and was able to get a 30 (11BS, 8VR, 11PS) and was recently accepted to MD school! Thank you all so much for the advice