Should I retake my MCAT?

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nabilesmail

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So to sum this all up, I applied this cycle, and since there is a decent chance I wont get in I'll be reapplying in June. This cycle I was pretty late and applied with a 3.7/34. During this year, my GPA dropped because of a semester where I got a B+, B, B- (o-chem 2), C+, and spring semester I'll probably get an A-,A-,B. This happened because I was burnt out, 3 yrs of straight classes, including winters and summers + studying for the MCAT for 7 months and then applying made me die lol.

When I re-apply, I'll have between a 3.62-3.65 with a 34N 13-9-12. Another interesting note is I came in from community college. So I applied with 2 years of course work from CC with a 3.72ish GPA and 1 yr at USC with a 3.8 GPA, however, reapplying will add in my senior year GPA which shows a major decrease (like a 3.3-3.4 gpa (over senior year) and a 3.5 overall at USC). I'm hoping this doesn't count as a trend/I can't handle university coursework. Another thing, I didn't do any EC's aside from intramurals and some research last semester, and the only ec I've been doing this semester is more research (I did get a grant 2 days ago!).

The reasons I want to retake my MCAT: to make up for: my 9 in verbal, grade decline, 2 yrs of community college coursework, and not too many EC's done during senior year. And just to make me more competitive in general.

Why I think I will improve on my MCAT:

The last materials I did for my MCAT study resulting in pretty good scores
AAMC 9- 37 14-10-13
AAMC 10 - 37 14-8-15
AAMC 11- 38 14-10-14
MCAT Survival Guide by AAMC- 90-95% in each category
Self Assessment Packages- 94% Ochem, Gchem, 88% Bio, 86% Physics

Also, my test was at 8 am in the morning, I am the absolute opposite of a morning person and never took any of my 20 FL's in the morning. I usually got up, at 11 am, ate, chilled, and took a FL anywhere between 2 pm and 8 pm. This may have significantly affected me during my test as I was not use to an 8 am test as well as I did not get great sleep the night before as my sleeping schedule had not been consistent (I got into bed at 10 pm but probably didnt fall asleep until 3 am).

My goal would be to simply get myself to my knowledge I had previously and just work on the external issues such as sleep, routine etc. My method would be to do a quick SN2 schedule again, and retake all my AAMC material (not for diagnosis purposes but rather, just to get use to the their style of material again, like I said, I don't need t learn more than before, but rather, get to the same point and just work on other things).

Additional pluses- I took my test without some classes, and since then I have taken Ochem 2, Biochem, Molecular Bio, Maybe this will help?

Also, though I would rather not do anything academically related vs just chilling out, I don't mind studying for the MCAT compared to other people. In other words, I kind of like it! (Though not as much fun as just chilling out with friends etc.)
I would probably spend about 1.5-2 months just reviewing all my notes etc.

Negatives: I scored my average for verbal (a 9) and can hope for a 10 at best but may drop to an 8 as well. Verbal is tough for me
-having to study again for the test, but like I said, I don't mind as much as other people
All in all, I hope to get a 36-37 and would be happy with a 35. I know I could still get in with a 3.63/34 but wouldn't a 3.64/36 make me much more competitive so long as I really work on my PS and improve that as well? What would you do?
 
Don't re-take, and apply early. Your MCAT won't hold you back at most places. If the rest of your app is solid, you won't have anything to worry about.
 
Spend your time on ECs and apply on opening day. Your MCAT is pretty obviously not the problem.
 
I had 80 hrs of shadowing over 6 specialties including primary care in both private practice and hospital :/

plus my lower GPA + 34 makes it hard for me to get interviews at 4 /9 cali schools, and I really want to stay in Cali+ those are all my dream schools (ucsf,ucla,ucsd,stanford)
 
did you adjust your personal statement from the last time i saw it? you never wrote back so i assume you didn't appreciate my advice. worth a look. good luck
 
nabilesmail said:
I had 80 hrs of shadowing over 6 specialties including primary care in both private practice and hospital :/

plus my lower GPA + 34 makes it hard for me to get interviews at 4 /9 cali schools, and I really want to stay in Cali+ those are all my dream schools (ucsf,ucla,ucsd,stanford)
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, reapplying there with a lower gpa sets you up for a greater disadvantage. Applying early is key, but all I could say is to strengthen your ECs. Your mcat is good so don't retake
 
nabilesmail said:
So to sum this all up, I applied this cycle, and since there is a decent chance I wont get in I'll be reapplying in June. This cycle I was pretty late and applied with a 3.7/34.
Click to expand...

Dont retake, apply earlier. 34 is a solid score. be happy about it
 
From what I remember, you also believe your LORs weren't great - which can probably be a killer for a borderline applicant like yourself. The adcoms can tell you didn't put effort into getting meaningful ones and consequently know nothing else about you. Think about it - if all a LOR says is "x is a great applicant and is involved in 1, 2 and 3" from your AMCAS, the adcom doesn't learn anything new. So do your best to get better LORs that can speak to the qualities you can't necessarily express in your activity descriptions. From the adcom POV, I've had to review LORs in considering people for student organizations and I cannot express how a mediocre letter will change my opinion of a borderline applicant - it either greatly changes my perspective on them for the positive OR reaffirms my initial feeling that their application isn't worth considering.

Also, absolutely apply early - as you've seen, MANY MANY late applicants have been having unfruitful cycles. The only exceptions I've seen are exceptional applicants. It'll help both your application and your sanity as you won't have to wait ages to be verified OR start receiving interviews.

Your MCAT is fine - when I retook to a 35, I had a 9 in Verbal as well (14/9/12 if you're curious) and my cycle went fine. Don't fall into a cycle of denial thinking the 9 is holding you back, because there are plenty of other potential shortfalls in your application. My GPA was also pretty much the same as yours.
 
Last edited:
Don't retake.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
dmf2682 said:
did you adjust your personal statement from the last time i saw it? you never wrote back so i assume you didn't appreciate my advice. worth a look. good luck
Click to expand...

Hi! I thought I did respond! Either through PM or Studoc. Are you sure you didn't accidentally skip the message?

I definitely will work on my PS + writing secondaries more! and applying early. I definitely think I have a good chance of getting in just by doing those, but once again, wouldn't a higher MCAT allow me a good chance for other schools, particularly in the top 30.

(for top 30s)
Because my GPA will be lower than average, my MCAT will be lower than average + the 9 in verbal, and my EC'S are not unique or great enough to overcome those two, and 3 months is not enough time to change that, I feel like the MCAT is the only way to significantly improve my chances. And I would probably only need to study 1-1.5 months.
1-1.5 months to improve my LizzyM score 2-3 points seems like the most efficient way of increasing my app.

I figure a 3.64/36 + Decent EC's and a better PS/secondary responses/early app can land be some hits that a 3.64/34 couldnt'
 
IncognitoGuy said:
From what I remember, you also believe your LORs weren't great - which can probably be a killer for a borderline applicant like yourself. The adcoms can tell you didn't put effort into getting meaningful ones and consequently know nothing else about you. Think about it - if all a LOR says is "x is a great applicant and is involved in 1, 2 and 3" from your AMCAS, the adcom doesn't learn anything new. So do your best to get better LORs that can speak to the qualities you can't necessarily express in your activity descriptions. From the adcom POV, I've had to review LORs in considering people for student organizations and I cannot express how a mediocre letter will change my opinion of a borderline applicant - it either greatly changes my perspective on them for the positive OR reaffirms my initial feeling that their application isn't worth considering.

Also, absolutely apply early - as you've seen, MANY MANY late applicants have been having unfruitful cycles. The only exceptions I've seen are exceptional applicants. It'll help both your application and your sanity as you won't have to wait ages to be verified OR start receiving interviews.



Your MCAT is fine - when I retook to a 35, I had a 9 in Verbal as well (14/9/12 if you're curious) and my cycle went fine. Don't fall into a cycle of denial thinking the 9 is holding you back, because there are plenty of other potential shortfalls in your application. My GPA was also pretty much the same as yours.
Click to expand...

I don't think my MCAT is bad or holding me back (aside from top schools, in which my MCAT is still acceptable, but not doing me any favors, and the 9 is damaging though not terribly so)


Also, LizzyM posted that 90% of people's LOR do not help their application and only 1% actually hurt them. I don't think I'll be able to improve my LOR much as my classes are huge and I'm more of a self-studyer
 
I know you really want to stay in Cali, but it's tough! 🙁 I've been following you since the cycle started since we have really similar stats (3.8/33) + applied to almost identical schools, but I applied really early and I'm doing pretty decently OOS wise. IS though is another thing lol I've only gotten 1 in-state interview --> WL.
 
The weakness in your application is not your MCAT! Identify a dozen OOS schools that might interview you and you will succeed (if you can interview).

Many excellent CA applicants can't get in IS. You already have good stats, continuing to focus on the good part of your ap and avoiding the part that really needs work (strategy, letters?...)is the common problem that turns into a 3rd application.
 
septermber-october

Btw guys, maybe my GPA will be lower, ugh, didnt do too hot on my first test and I am not a great writer, my senior GPA may look like the following

B+
B
B-
C+
A-
B+
B

I had a 3.74 before this year. My GPA will drop to a 3.61, how bad is this, is this a red flag? (not the GPA overall, but the senior year GPA)
 
premed2000 said:
Hi nabilesmail,

I am sure you know my profile already since we are both having a terrible season. I really wish you the best of luck. But I am perhaps in a worse situation that you are. I am currently sitting at 1II and 17R with 8 silences. I anticipate at the end of the cycle, I will have 1II and 25R. I am also rejected by all California schools besides Stanford (idk why it's taking them so long to reject me)

I have a ~3.77/34Q when I applied this cycle, and I hope to pull that GPA up to a solid 3.8 after senior year. I too have pondered whether I should retake my 34Q, but I decided against it because I don't want to go through the pain of studying for the MCAT unless my score expires.

I am personally not very sure if I am going to be reapplying this coming cycle, and I am seriously pondering reapplying summer of 2014 and to REALLY REALLY bolster my ECs and give it all I've got for one last shot at med schools. I just don't think I can add too much to my ECs section and my personal statement from last cycle, and I have a few ideas/options on how to bolster my ECs. But MOST DEFINITELY, WE APPLIED LATE. With our only avg/slightly above avg stats, we gotta apply on Day 1 to maximize our chances.

Good luck on your upcoming interview at Einstein. I have yet to hear back from them. and my advice like others is not to retake your MCAT, but to bolster your ECs (that's if you are willing to delay til 2014 to reapply).
Click to expand...

I definitely know that my application was late and thats what held me back. I also know I am going to apply this year (and think you should as well unless your only interested in top 20's). My concern is my GPA drop of .13
 
I agree with a lot of what has been said here:

I would not retake a 34, the 9 is not a major downside.

Have you done much volunteering/shadowing?? That to me seems to be the weakest part of your application. (unless I missed it which is also possible 😛)
 
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