Should I Retake Unbalanced 32?

[Amalfi.aqua]

Total: 32
PS: 10
VR:9
BS:13

Even though this is a decent score, I'm on the fence about retaking. My AAMC verbal average was 11.5; I was consistently scoring 12's on the AAMC tests. Conversely, my AAMC biology score was consistently an 11. The 13 seems like a lucky fluke. The unbalanced score is unsettling.

I had a full-time internship this summer so I don't think I did this test justice. Virtually all of the practice I did was the AAMC tests; I barely looked my TPRH workbooks and didn't really practice verbal because I was doing so well on the AAMC tests.

My winter break will be almost 2 months long so I can fully devote my time to studying. I don't know if I want to though; the whole ordeal is psychologically exhausting.

I'm a TX resident applying next cycle and I really want to go to school in Houston or Dallas. That means BCM, UTSW, or UTH. I could live with UTMB or A&M. I really don't want to go to Texas Tech (Lubbock or El Pas0).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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[Make Or Break]

No. Your score is balanced enough.

 

[Aerus]

No. Your score is good. Retaking will put you at risk for doing worse.

 

[csx]

Considering you hardly studied the first time around...sure, if you really want to. Sounds like youre naturally smart...

 

[Amalfi.aqua]

bump!

 

[texan2414]

The problem with your dilemma is that you are likely to drop to 11 (maybe even lower) on your retake. And if you score a 12 on your VR, will you make another thread saying "should I retake cuz unbalanced bio".

You are RIGHT AT THE MEDIAN for all the TX schools except UTSW. But I know several people who had low 30 scores and made it into UTSW with great ECs, strong PS, and of course, by nailing the interviews.

 

[texan2414]

And btw don't write off Lubbock so easily. I visited Lubbock earlier this spring and the environment is absolutely amazing. Don't discount any school before even visiting them.

 

[Amalfi.aqua]

Thank you for your input, texan2414. I've actually lived in west Texas before and I've visited Lubbock a few times. My family is in the Houston area so I'd rather not live 10+ hours away.

I wasn't ready for how calculation heavy/insane the PS was on my test. That's where I think I messed up -- I didn't practice enough PS and I got burned. I think that rattled my confidence on verbal.

Honestly, I'm leaning towards cutting my losses and moving on with my life. The MCAT is a miserable experience and I want to enjoy my winter break. Maybe I'd even be better served by going to a middle tier Texas school in a smaller city. Houston/Dallas traffic stresses me out!

 

[texan2414]

Hey,

MCAT will not be a problem for you at all. Try to enrich your extracurricular experiences so you can talk about them @ interviews. This is what may give you an acceptance at UTSW/Baylor despite having a lower than avg MCAT score.
UT Houston should not be a problem for you. Their median accepted score for past 3 years has consistently been 31-33. You are an excellent fit by MCAT-wise.

 

[LostinLift]

What is your GPA?

 

[Amalfi.aqua]

3.86 … should be 3.91 by the time I apply. BCPM is currently 3.8; should also go up a little

 

[pepocho]

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