Start secondaries or study for MCAT?

[ohword3]

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Hey guys,

So I submitted my primary June 29th and received a 32 on my MCAT August 6th.

I have decided to retake the MCAT September 11th so I will get my scores back October 15th. Should I work on the secondaries I have been receiving or should I spend my time studying for the MCAT? Some of the schools I am applying to are rather competitive so I am not too confident applying with my 32.

 

[kyamh]

Study for the MCAT!!!

 

[kyamh]

Seriously though, consider the fact that - since you put down that you have another MCAT to go - schools are not looking at your application. The fact that you aren't complete due to secondaries is irrelevant since you aren't complete due to MCAT.

Do your best on the test, try very very hard to not go down, make the retake count. After that, you have a month post MCAT to work on secondaries before you have to feel the pressure to be complete at schools.

Edit: does your application actually say that you are waiting on another test? It could be a problem if the schools don't know you are retaking and you submit the secondary - they will look at your app without the new score.

 

[ohword3]

Yes, my application says I will retake. Thanks for the feedback, that's what I thought but it's reassuring to hear.

 

[Ismet]

I would highly suggest keeping your current MCAT score, adding on schools that are more in your range, and get started on secondaries. Being complete in October is quite late for competitive schools, and if you end up scoring the same or getting a worse score, that's the kiss of death. 32 is a good score and, depending on your GPA and ECs, you would probably be good to go on paper at the schools in your range.

For any future applicants reading this: this is why you shouldn't add a ton of schools to your primary before knowing your MCAT score. Submit with one school, get verified, and add more schools when you get your score.

 

[ohword3]

I would highly suggest keeping your current MCAT score, adding on schools that are more in your range, and get started on secondaries. Being complete in October is quite late for competitive schools, and if you end up scoring the same or getting a worse score, that's the kiss of death. 32 is a good score and, depending on your GPA and ECs, you would probably be good to go on paper at the schools in your range.

For any future applicants reading this: this is why you shouldn't add a ton of schools to your primary before knowing your MCAT score. Submit with one school, get verified, and add more schools when you get your score.

I submitted my primary with Duke as my only school because I knew I was applying there for sure. I am confident I will score higher (I did not have long to prepare first time around) and would like to increase my chances. My top three are duke washU and Johns Hopkins so I'd like a higher score. My EC and GPA are at or above average for almost every school.

 

[Ismet]

I submitted my primary with Duke as my only school because I knew I was applying there for sure. I am confident I will score higher (I did not have long to prepare first time around) and would like to increase my chances. My top three are duke washU and Johns Hopkins so I'd like a higher score. My EC and GPA are at or above average for almost every school.

I'm just saying that being complete in October is not advantageous for WashU and JHU, and it's always a risk to retake (even if you're "confident" you'll do better). It might be worth it to take a look through the 2012-2013 school specific threads for WashU and JHU and see when people were complete and getting interviews. I skimmed through the WashU one quickly, and the people who got II's in January (aka the last of the offers) were complete in late August/early September.

Best of luck with whatever you choose.

 

[Burla]

Hey guys,

So I submitted my primary June 29th and received a 32 on my MCAT August 6th.

I have decided to retake the MCAT September 11th so I will get my scores back October 15th. Should I work on the secondaries I have been receiving or should I spend my time studying for the MCAT? Some of the schools I am applying to are rather competitive so I am not too confident applying with my 32.

Did you have a significant drop between your average practice test score and real deal? I'm with Ismet on this one

 

[Cambover]

Did you have a significant drop between your average practice test score and real deal? I'm with Ismet on this one

+1

Unless you're like my friend and saw a drop from an average of 38 to an actual of 30, I would not retake. You passed 30. The cost/gain between completions in October and a bump of 2 points is minimal at best.

If you choose to retake, study your ass off. Make 32 your lowest score because adcom gods help you if you drop 3 points.

 

[jk1006]

sounds like another case of pre-med ego kicking in

 

[1cor1311]

Hey guys,

So I submitted my primary June 29th and received a 32 on my MCAT August 6th.

I have decided to retake the MCAT September 11th so I will get my scores back October 15th. Should I work on the secondaries I have been receiving or should I spend my time studying for the MCAT? Some of the schools I am applying to are rather competitive so I am not too confident applying with my 32.

Unless you can confidently score a 35 at minimum, you shouldn't retake it. The chances of submitting secondaries very early helps applications significantly. I have 4 interviews already, all MD, one to USC one of my top choices, and am still under review for interview at the other schools I applied to. I applied with a 30 MCAT. I'm not saying this to boast, heck a 30 MCAT isn't that great, I was scoring higher, but several ad comm personnel told me apply ad get the secondaries in ASAP!

 

[Hemorrage]

Hey guys,

So I submitted my primary June 29th and received a 32 on my MCAT August 6th.

I have decided to retake the MCAT September 11th so I will get my scores back October 15th. Should I work on the secondaries I have been receiving or should I spend my time studying for the MCAT? Some of the schools I am applying to are rather competitive so I am not too confident applying with my 32.

study for the mcat. I called a few schools (i retook yesterday) and they all told me they wouldn't look at my app until the retake was in regardless. Also, why on earth did you retake a 32??

 

[Ismet]

study for the mcat. I called a few schools (i retook yesterday) and they all told me they wouldn't look at my app until the retake was in regardless. Also, why on earth did you retake a 32??

You can remove a "future MCAT date" from AMCAS if you decide not to retake and cancel your future test date. It's one of the few things you can change after verification.

 

[Helixkam]

I would keep that MCAT score dude unless your GPA is really on the low end and focus on doing secondaries and getting them out ASAP.

 

[Espadaleader]

You just sunk your application.

 

[1cor1311]

You just sunk your application.

lol. "Remove futur MCAT" from AMCAS is the option

 

[Ismet]

lol. "Remove futur MCAT" from AMCAS is the option

it's not gonna happen. OP made a WAMC thread earlier, pretty much asking the same thing, and he's obviously still steadfast in his decision, despite what a couple SDN adcoms have advised. 🙄