Should I retake the MCATs?

[Virginialover]

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Hey all, I am applying this year. My final gpa is going to be 3.90 cGPA & 3.87 sGPA. I scored a 30 on my MCAT. My two target schools are UVa and VCU. UVa would be my number one school and if I have to retake the test I will.

I am instate also. Do you think my score is competitive for these two schools? Other components of my application are fine, just the MCAT is holding me back I believe.


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[theseeker4]

Hey all, I am applying this year. My final gpa is going to be 3.90 cGPA & 3.87 sGPA. I scored a 30 on my MCAT. My two target schools are UVa and VCU. UVa would be my number one school and if I have to retake the test I will.

I am instate also. Do you think my score is competitive for these two schools? Other components of my application are fine, just the MCAT is holding me back I believe.


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If you are applying this cycle, meaning right now, definitely do NOT re-take the MCAT. The boost any realistic increase in score would have would be wiped away by how much later schools will be reviewing your application if they have to wait for another MCAT score for a test that you haven't even taken yet (and here it is September already....)

If you would rather have the best choice of schools possible even if it means waiting until next year to apply, don't apply now, take the MCAT in the spring with better preparation, and go from there, applying in June.

 

[MDWannabe90]

Unless UVA and VCU have average applicant mcat scores of 33+ then I think you would be crazy to retake. Your gpa is much higher than the national average for people who apply to medical school and its also higher than the average gpa for the majority of individual medical schools in all of the U.S. so even if the schools average is 31-32 you are still in decent shape because their average gpa is probly something around 3.7 so it balances.

Not only that, but statistics show that people who retake the mcat with pre-existing scores of 30+ usually do worse on the retake and that would be brutal to your application.

IMO apply this cycle, don't retake.

 

[MedPR]

Hey all, I am applying this year. My final gpa is going to be 3.90 cGPA & 3.87 sGPA. I scored a 30 on my MCAT. My two target schools are UVa and VCU. UVa would be my number one school and if I have to retake the test I will.

I am instate also. Do you think my score is competitive for these two schools? Other components of my application are fine, just the MCAT is holding me back I believe.


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Competitive. Don't retake.

 

[twizzlers713]

don't retake. also, how many "MCATs" are there?

 

[MedPR]

don't retake. also, how many "MCATs" are there?

Pet peeve of mine also. We're fighting a losing battle though.

 

[Irish Football]

Pet peeve of mine also.

Same. Don't retake any of your MCATs OP.

 

[jtdMU2010]

Same. Don't retake any of your MCATs OP.

It's MCAT OP. I agree with these guys. Just sayin. It is quite the losing battle though. Im from Missouri and there is a sub-set of the Missourian population who choose to pronounce Missouri as "Missour-ah." It's not spelled like that so why say that? This minority just tends to make my great state look questionable when they venture past state lines once in a while. Just like you are taking a single test. It's MCAT not MCATs. Consider yourself schooled!!

But to be helpful (considering that's the goal of SDN), It's hard to say if you should retake dem MCATs. According to US News & Reports on Med Schools, UVa had an average MCATs of 33. MCATs would be the easiest thing to change on your app versus volunteer hours, clubs, etc. The right answer is do what you feel is best but trying to get at least a 32 for Uva sounds good. Your score is still "competitive" like these guys said above me but if you really think it's dem MCATs gettin' ya, then retake. Only you really know your app and can think about what else might be holding you back. Even though UVa has an average of 33, there's gonna be a wide range of those MCATs scores. My school has an average of 30 but our class range is something like 25-38 (heard it through the grapevine,not official). Point being your 30 should be fine but a higher score will always be better.

Sorry for sarcastic MCATs. Cant help it.

 

[Irish Football]

A lot of the pre-law guys at my schools say "LSATs." Also, people always say "I did ___ on my SATs." So annoying...

 

[gettheleadout]

All of them.

What were your practice test scores?

 

[UCFKnight]

Don't retake. You should be fine. Best of luck!!

 

[Virginialover]

It's MCAT OP. I agree with these guys. Just sayin. It is quite the losing battle though. Im from Missouri and there is a sub-set of the Missourian population who choose to pronounce Missouri as "Missour-ah." It's not spelled like that so why say that? This minority just tends to make my great state look questionable when they venture past state lines once in a while. Just like you are taking a single test. It's MCAT not MCATs. Consider yourself schooled!!

But to be helpful (considering that's the goal of SDN), It's hard to say if you should retake dem MCATs. According to US News & Reports on Med Schools, UVa had an average MCATs of 33. MCATs would be the easiest thing to change on your app versus volunteer hours, clubs, etc. The right answer is do what you feel is best but trying to get at least a 32 for Uva sounds good. Your score is still "competitive" like these guys said above me but if you really think it's dem MCATs gettin' ya, then retake. Only you really know your app and can think about what else might be holding you back. Even though UVa has an average of 33, there's gonna be a wide range of those MCATs scores. My school has an average of 30 but our class range is something like 25-38 (heard it through the grapevine,not official). Point being your 30 should be fine but a higher score will always be better.

Sorry for sarcastic MCATs. Cant help it.

Lol to be honest, everyone at my school calls them MCATs, advisors included. I did not know that it was referred to in a different way. But I also attend a school in the dirty south 🙂

(and I love it!!!!!)

But I'll start saying MCAT now since there's such a large consensus on its pronunciation. THanks for the help guys, I think I'm going to stick with my score.


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[Gigantron]

Heh, how would you feel if your advisor called them the "MedCats"?

 

[kpcrew]

Lol to be honest, everyone at my school calls them MCATs, advisors included. I did not know that it was referred to in a different way. But I also attend a school in the dirty south 🙂

(and I love it!!!!!)

But I'll start saying MCAT now since there's such a large consensus on its pronunciation. THanks for the help guys, I think I'm going to stick with my score.


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It's like ATM machine. The M stands for machine but people say it again anyway.

 

[Virginialover]

Heh, how would you feel if your advisor called them the "MedCats"?

That would actually make them sound less terrifying and more approachable, so I'd be open to it...haha


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