Taking MCAT for 3rd time after 493 and 505.

[nslot1]

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Hello!

Here is my situation. I took the MCAT in spring 2017 for the first time, did not study seriously, thought I could wing it, got a terrible score of 493. Took it again in January of 2018, this time I was doing MUCH better. Had practice scores of 510+, and felt good after a few months of dedicated study. I took the test and got back a 505 (126/125/125/129), which was much much lower than any practice test scores on AAMC stuff.

I decided to just try and apply (MD) and see what happens since my ECs were decent, and still have 0 interviews at this point. I am from the East Coast but I applied all over the country to about 40 schools. I am not against DO and plan on applying to most DO schools if I reapply next year.

Should I try taking it again for a higher score (I understand I would need a much higher score) or just reapply again (MD and DO this time), with the same scores, while improving on the rest of my application?

I realize there is no guarantee that I can score much higher, but I also know that taking it for a 3rd time may not be looked at favorably no matter what I get.

 

[Skeletorr]

Were all of your AAMC FL (1-3) practice scores above a 510? Those are the only predictive ones.

 

[nslot1]

Were all of your AAMC FL (1-3) practice scores above a 510? Those are the only predictive ones.

Yep they were. I only took one the first time around, which was AAMC1 but my scores the second go-around were 513, 510, 516.

My sole fear is that I will get way lower than practice tests again and get a similar score, putting me in an even worse place.

 

[Skeletorr]

Yep they were. I only took one the first time around, which was AAMC1 but my scores the second go-around were 513, 510, 516.

My sole fear is that I will get way lower than practice tests again and get a similar score, putting me in an even worse place.

Yeah, I can understand that concern. I thought that the 3rd test was very predictive, since that score matched my real score, but n=1 I suppose. It seems like a fluke in your case.

 

[Master Thinker]

Keep in mind most MD programs average your MCAT. Your average will be 499, which gives you very little chance at MD and hence the 0 II. Apply all DO next time.

 

[Isoval]

Keep in mind most MD programs average your MCAT. Your average will be 499, which gives you very little chance at MD and hence the 0 II. Apply all DO next time.

I probably wouldn’t bother applying to top end-DO with those scores. I think very little chance at interview with the likes of DMU and TU-CA.

 

[futureDocDD]

What is your sGPA (AMCAS calculated) and which state of residency? What MCAT practice tests did you use besides the AAMC ones (only 3 tests, not very good at predicting)?

 

[Blanky]

GPA is going to be important here.
Also how productive all of this gym time has been. I hope you are still building ECs hard.
Unless you have a test anxiety issue or you did them untimed I find it unlikely you took AAMC FL2 in testing conditions and scored a 510.
The problem you will face on a third attempt is you can retake the AAMCs etc but you will score like 520+ since you have taken them and struggle to gauge IF you are improving for the third retake.

 

[Goro]

Hello!

Here is my situation. I took the MCAT in spring 2017 for the first time, did not study seriously, thought I could wing it, got a terrible score of 493. Took it again in January of 2018, this time I was doing MUCH better. Had practice scores of 510+, and felt good after a few months of dedicated study. I took the test and got back a 505 (126/125/125/129), which was much much lower than any practice test scores on AAMC stuff.

I decided to just try and apply (MD) and see what happens since my ECs were decent, and still have 0 interviews at this point. I am from the East Coast but I applied all over the country to about 40 schools. I am not against DO and plan on applying to most DO schools if I reapply next year.

Should I try taking it again for a higher score (I understand I would need a much higher score) or just reapply again (MD and DO this time), with the same scores, while improving on the rest of my application?

I realize there is no guarantee that I can score much higher, but I also know that taking it for a 3rd time may not be looked at favorably no matter what I get.

Frankly, I don't think that you're going to do any better, given that you did worse than your practice score. Unless test taking anxiety issues are hindering you. Those are fixable.

 

[Princeton Medical Student]

Taking another MCAT would imho be a terribad idea. Apply DO (why did you not apply DO this cycle confuses me).

 

[Gilakend]

Keep in mind most MD programs average your MCAT. Your average will be 499, which gives you very little chance at MD and hence the 0 II. Apply all DO next time.

In my personal experience/research many schools claim not to average, even though that’s what the AAMC recommends (I’m 2x taker w/ 16 point difference).

 

[DrRiker]

In my personal experience/research many schools claim not to average, even though that’s what the AAMC recommends (I’m 2x taker w/ 16 point difference).

And you're interviewing at some no-joke schools!

 

[rx001]

Keep in mind most MD programs average your MCAT. Your average will be 499, which gives you very little chance at MD and hence the 0 II. Apply all DO next time.

I dont see it is documented any where.
I guess it depends on the school. I am not sure AAMC one way or other. I know EMory picks up latest score. There are others which could be following other mechanisms.

 

[Goro]

I dont see it is documented any where.
I guess it depends on the school. I am not sure AAMC one way or other. I know EMory picks up latest score. There are others which could be following other mechanisms.

There is no accounting for individual screeners or interviewers. AAMC indeed suggests that scores be averaged, because it's more accurate in predicting performance than picking a single score.

A 505 is lethal for Emory.

In the best case scenario, I suggest:
MCW (maybe)
Rush (maybe)
Creighton
Loma Linda (only if you are SDA or a very devout Christian)
Loyola
MCW
Oakland U Beaumont
Rosy Franklin
SLU
U VM
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)
VCU
WVU
Your state school(s).
Any DO school. I can't recommend Touro-NY, Nova, Wm Carey, LUCOM, for different reasons. MSUCOM? Read up on Larry Nasser and you decide. LMU has an accreditation warning, which concerns me.

 

[rx001]

What if the Mcat was taken more than 4 years ago that too with Old mcat.

 

[nslot1]

checking in 2 years later, hopefully to bring some people hope that a low MCAT is not everything. Did not end up taking it a 3rd time, and completely rewrote my application, and did a few more activities both clinical and non clinical to help beef up that side of my application, reapplied and was actually accepted to 3 MD schools and had a decent amount of DO interviews! (mid-tier schools, GPA ~ 3.8, ORM)

Obviously an anecdote, but just want to emphasize to people that other things can make up for a low MCAT (even a sorry first attempt of 493), and I am now here a few months into medical school and doing just fine. Best of luck to anyone who may be in a similar situation and feel free to reach out for any questions!

I will emphasize the importance of making sure everything else is as perfect as possible in your application, obviously I have no way to tell what got me in, but I put in a ton of work making sure that everything was written in the best way and had a ton of people go through each item. I also spent hours and hours preparing for each interview just to make sure I put my best effort into perfecting everything in my control. But it will definitely be an uphill battle regardless.

 

[southernhope1]

checking in 2 years later, hopefully to bring some people hope that a low MCAT is not everything. Did not end up taking it a 3rd time, and completely rewrote my application, and did a few more activities both clinical and non clinical to help beef up that side of my application, reapplied and was actually accepted to 3 MD schools and had a decent amount of DO interviews! (mid-tier schools, GPA ~ 3.8, ORM

OP, that is amazing! Seriously, I am very happy for you...and it just goes to show.....well, I'm not sure what it shows but it absolutely does prove that nobody knows anything! #NeverGiveUp

 

[tansky]

checking in 2 years later, hopefully to bring some people hope that a low MCAT is not everything. Did not end up taking it a 3rd time, and completely rewrote my application, and did a few more activities both clinical and non clinical to help beef up that side of my application, reapplied and was actually accepted to 3 MD schools and had a decent amount of DO interviews! (mid-tier schools, GPA ~ 3.8, ORM)

Obviously an anecdote, but just want to emphasize to people that other things can make up for a low MCAT (even a sorry first attempt of 493), and I am now here a few months into medical school and doing just fine. Best of luck to anyone who may be in a similar situation and feel free to reach out for any questions!

You don't know how much you just helped me. I just took and scored a 506, and in combination with covid destroying all of the opportunities I set up for myself to further my resume I have been anxious AF. You gave me hope, crush it in med school!

 

[deleted1054719]

checking in 2 years later, hopefully to bring some people hope that a low MCAT is not everything. Did not end up taking it a 3rd time, and completely rewrote my application, and did a few more activities both clinical and non clinical to help beef up that side of my application, reapplied and was actually accepted to 3 MD schools and had a decent amount of DO interviews! (mid-tier schools, GPA ~ 3.8, ORM)

Obviously an anecdote, but just want to emphasize to people that other things can make up for a low MCAT (even a sorry first attempt of 493), and I am now here a few months into medical school and doing just fine. Best of luck to anyone who may be in a similar situation and feel free to reach out for any questions!

I will emphasize the importance of making sure everything else is as perfect as possible in your application, obviously I have no way to tell what got me in, but I put in a ton of work making sure that everything was written in the best way and had a ton of people go through each item. I also spent hours and hours preparing for each interview just to make sure I put my best effort into perfecting everything in my control. But it will definitely be an uphill battle regardless.

Congratulations future doctor!