taking the MCAT three times

[chm9332]

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I know that having taken the MCAT three times is definitely not good; adcom definitely prefers applicants who took it once and did decent. But my question is can I still get into a mid-tier ranked school like Temple, GT, George Washington, Albert Einstein, etc?

I just want to know everyone's input on these. Thank you in advance.

 

[Lawpy]

That 123 in verbal on the third MCAT attempt is a problem.

Also going from a 28 to a 25 to an unbalanced 32/33 isn't a convincing case for MD schools, where nearly all of them have medians and 10th percentiles (for the top tiers) of a 31 (which is usually on first try). The policy here is to average the scores, which would be a 28. This would be a problem for all US MD schools.

You would be good for DO, but you should find an answer to the above @gonnif question

 

[chm9332]

Please explain your judgement in taking the MCAT twice within a week. I would certainly ask that if I was interviewing you.

After getting the two scores, I was devastated. But I took some time off to really heal and dedicated another three months of my life for this heinous exam.

 

[Lawpy]

I took the first two in 2015 January, and this was the last month to take the old MCAT. So I was desperate. I did not want to take a gap year or the new MCAT as I had not taken sociology, psychology or biochemistry at the time.
I have always been a great test taker. I did very well on the SAT and also in school, and I believe that my GPA reflects this. Thus, I was very confident in my abilities. But when I took the first exam, I had a panic attack. Never experienced this ever in my life. Right after the exam, I sought help from my parents who made me go see a psychiatrist. I was prescribed two strong medications, I don't remember what they were exactly, but one of them was an anti-depressant.
I found out that there was a seat available in a neighboring state, I signed up for it because one- I was stupid, but most importantly I just wanted to get the MCAT over with.
I failed to take a practice exam with the drugs in my system, thus I wasn't aware of its side effects- known for decreasing your cognitive abilities and what not.
Anyway, I bombed it, but I swear the drug was so strong that I got out of the exam smiling and all happy.

After getting the two scores, I was devastated. But I took some time off to really heal and dedicated another three months of my life for this heinous exam.

Why didn't you void the exams?

 

[studentdocftw]

Taking the mcat within 1 month is highly questionable, but within the same week? That implies you know you didn't do well (even though you didn't know for sure), so why didnt you void it? Also, you did worse on the 2nd attempt, and didn't void that one either. 3 MCATs isn't a death sentence, I'm proof of it. But my first 2 scores stayed the same, and then I had a 5 point increase. Your scores are so volatile one has to average them which leads you to a composite of 28.6. Your GPA may save you, but at this point, own up to your mistake and hope for the best. Im still in disbelief you took the exam within 1 week, I thought that wasn't allowed?

 

[chm9332]

Why didn't you void the exams?

I was dumb..?
I was foolishly overconfident. I always did better than I had expected or felt on any exam, so I guess I assumed that the same thing would happen on the MCAT.


Do I really stand no chance for MD schools?

 

[Lucca]

Why didn't you void the exams?

The past is sort of irrelevant now. Op has admitted he displayed poor judgement, hopefully he has learned from them.

That Verbal score seems too low to me. However, not having data on how the new MCAT is doing in the app cycle (adcoms will be most helpful here) I can only tell you what I would do. I would retake. If and only
If you are committed to fixing those deficits in cars

 

[chm9332]

To be blunt and critical, I am not impressed with your judgement, rush to get something over with that may have set the course of the rest of your life, and then your inability to do well on VR/CARS even after you had faced in twice before. I wouldnt recommend you to apply as is until I get a concise, coherent, and compelling explanation to this that doesnt sound like a whiny kid desperate to explain to a junior high teacher why a paper is late but rather a professional, self aware, and self critical explanation of such. Because this will be the question that will matter in getting an interview at most schools.

Having 3 MCATs is less than the average of all 3 in the eyes of an adcom

Thank you for your honest input. I do realize that my explanation does not sound good. All I think about these days is how I can explain this problem in interviews the way you describe-professional, self aware, and self criticial, that is if I ever get an interview haha. Anyway. Thank you!!

 

[riya.rhino]

Thank you for your honest input. I do realize that my explanation does not sound good. All I think about these days is how I can explain this problem in interviews the way you describe-professional, self aware, and self criticial, that is if I ever get an interview haha. Anyway. Thank you!!

Maybe you could say you had a best test day experience? Tell adcoms that your test either froze multiple times, shut down, loud testing environment, locked out of the bathroom (some have keys - and this has actually happened before), etc. You can say you filed a testing center complaint and was very sure it would be accepted based on your chat with an AAMC representative, so you signed up for a new test thinking AAMC would void your score. However, AAMC takes time for these things, and at the end, the result is still unpredictable. So, after you took your second test, you could say AAMC decided to reject your testing center concern request? I don't know if this explanation is any better...everything still sounds like excuses to me, but it's a thought if you're looking for something to say this might hide some of the bad judgement on your part...I'm sure everyone knows how difficult the AAMC can be sometimes so they might believe you idk

 

[chm9332]

Maybe you could say you had a best test day experience? Tell adcoms that your test either froze multiple times, shut down, loud testing environment, locked out of the bathroom (some have keys - and this has actually happened before), etc. You can say you filed a testing center complaint and was very sure it would be accepted based on your chat with an AAMC representative, so you signed up for a new test thinking AAMC would void your score. However, AAMC takes time for these things, and at the end, the result is still unpredictable. So, after you took your second test, you could say AAMC decided to reject your testing center concern request? I don't know if this explanation is any better...everything still sounds like excuses to me, but it's a thought if you're looking for something to say this might hide some of the bad judgement on your part...I'm sure everyone knows how difficult the AAMC can be sometimes so they might believe you idk

Thank you!

 

[Lucca]

Maybe you could say you had a best test day experience? Tell adcoms that your test either froze multiple times, shut down, loud testing environment, locked out of the bathroom (some have keys - and this has actually happened before), etc. You can say you filed a testing center complaint and was very sure it would be accepted based on your chat with an AAMC representative, so you signed up for a new test thinking AAMC would void your score. However, AAMC takes time for these things, and at the end, the result is still unpredictable. So, after you took your second test, you could say AAMC decided to reject your testing center concern request? I don't know if this explanation is any better...everything still sounds like excuses to me, but it's a thought if you're looking for something to say this might hide some of the bad judgement on your part...I'm sure everyone knows how difficult the AAMC can be sometimes so they might believe you idk

Thing is, does anyone have a good test day experience? Even if one does, i feel like people are biased to blame externalities for their performance not meeting their expectations.

Test day blows. Period. I don't think anyone feels 100% or calm-and-collected when they take their MCAT, and something dumb and beaurocratic is bound to throw a small wrench on the proceedings of the day of.

 

[riya.rhino]

Thank you!

Np, but make sure you run this by more experienced people on SDN first. I understand this is unethical because you are basically lying and it's no good to do that...but I also know how defeating it is to have one mistake define the rest of your life and feel like you have no more choices left. So, in your case, if this explanation can help you in front of MD schools, it might be worth trying :/

 

[chm9332]

Np, but make sure you run this by more experienced people on SDN first. I understand this is unethical because you are basically lying and it's no good to do that...but I also know how defeating it is to have one mistake define the rest of your life and feel like you have no more choices left. So, in your case, if this explanation can help you in front of MD schools, it might be worth trying :/

Thank you for putting it so nicely. This is exactly how I feel these days. I worked so hard in undergraduate, really dedicated myself to school and work. But because of this mistake, I feel like I have no choices anymore. I know it sounds like I am giving a lot of excuses, and I probably am. But I feel like I am screwed for the rest of my life since all these people are telling me that I should just give up on MD when all I've wanted to do was become a doctor..

 

[studentdocftw]

Thank you for putting it so nicely. This is exactly how I feel these days. I worked so hard in undergraduate, really dedicated myself to school and work. But because of this mistake, I feel like I have no choices anymore. I know it sounds like I am giving a lot of excuses, and I probably am. But I feel like I am screwed for the rest of my life since all these people are telling me that I should just give up on MD when all I've wanted to do was become a doctor..

I don't feel like you should give up on MD, just know you are fighting an uphill battle. If you want to get started quickly, apply MD/DO and you will get in somewhere.

 

[riya.rhino]

Thing is, does anyone have a good test day experience? Even if one does, i feel like people are biased to blame externalities for their performance not meeting their expectations.

Test day blows. Period. I don't think anyone feels 100% or calm-and-collected when they take their MCAT, and something dumb and beaurocratic is bound to throw a small wrench on the proceedings of the day of.

True...but the thing is, when it comes to filing a test center concern, there is a lot of vagueness, ambiguity, and uncertainty in that process. AAMC reps say one thing, but then there are a lot of tiny stipulations within the form itself that the student and even the AAMC reps fail to notice until they actually send the form to the higher-ups for scrutiny. The test center in turn will want to save their reputation and don't really care for pre-meds taking a test. they get so many students all the time taking all sorts of exams. In my experience, test centers may just say "nothing big happened" even when it really did just to save their time and money. And AAMC will obv go with their response when analyzing the report. And remember, the MCAT is written by AAMC, but run by PROMETRIC, so there are a lot of factors at play. OP could have gotten "lost" in those factors.

By the time this is figured out (about 2-4 weeks later), you may receive a completely unexpected decision but there's nothing you can do about it because AAMC is law. OP could blame his "dumbness" and naivety on that confusion instead of his own terrible judgment. Most pre-meds are clueless about such a complex process, and for all we know, OP's pre-med advisor at school could have been no help and even confused him/her further.

 

[Lawpy]

The past is sort of irrelevant now. Op has admitted he displayed poor judgement, hopefully he has learned from them.

No it's relevant because i don't see how a school would be impressed if they asked the same questions to OP and received OP's responses from here (i.e. was too hasty, lack of foresight etc.).

OP, your best chances would be at your state schools.

 

[Espressso]

Thing is, does anyone have a good test day experience? Even if one does, i feel like people are biased to blame externalities for their performance not meeting their expectations.

Test day blows. Period. I don't think anyone feels 100% or calm-and-collected when they take their MCAT, and something dumb and beaurocratic is bound to throw a small wrench on the proceedings of the day of.

Agree 100%. No one has a great test day experience, and after the OP's past decisions of taking the mcat twice in one week, blaming these decisions on external factors would be yet another red flag.

 

[gyngyn]

Maybe you could say you had a best test day experience? Tell adcoms that your test either froze multiple times, shut down, loud testing environment, locked out of the bathroom (some have keys - and this has actually happened before), etc. You can say you filed a testing center complaint and was very sure it would be accepted based on your chat with an AAMC representative, so you signed up for a new test thinking AAMC would void your score. However, AAMC takes time for these things, and at the end, the result is still unpredictable. So, after you took your second test, you could say AAMC decided to reject your testing center concern request? I don't know if this explanation is any better...everything still sounds like excuses to me, but it's a thought if you're looking for something to say this might hide some of the bad judgement on your part...I'm sure everyone knows how difficult the AAMC can be sometimes so they might believe you idk

I would ask for a copy of your complaint and the follow-up from both the test center and AAMC.

 

[Espressso]

I would ask for a copy of your complaint and the follow-up from both the test center and AAMC.

The thing is though.. you have to register for the MCAT months in advance. So OP must have scheduled both dates months prior, which means they were pretty determined to take it twice. It seems too calculated to try and pull a "my test day experience was horrible..." excuse.

 

[gyngyn]

The thing is though.. you have to register for the MCAT months in advance. So OP must have scheduled both dates months prior, which means they were pretty determined to take it twice. It seems too calculated to try and pull a "my test day experience was horrible..." excuse.

Yes. I know. I'm pointing out that we are not fools.
Self-serving falsehoods are deal-breakers.

 

[frchuatritons]

Delete

 

[candbgirl]

Maybe you could say you had a best test day experience? Tell adcoms that your test either froze multiple times, shut down, loud testing environment, locked out of the bathroom (some have keys - and this has actually happened before), etc. You can say you filed a testing center complaint and was very sure it would be accepted based on your chat with an AAMC representative, so you signed up for a new test thinking AAMC would void your score. However, AAMC takes time for these things, and at the end, the result is still unpredictable. So, after you took your second test, you could say AAMC decided to reject your testing center concern request? I don't know if this explanation is any better...everything still sounds like excuses to me, but it's a thought if you're looking for something to say this might hide some of the bad judgement on your part...I'm sure everyone knows how difficult the AAMC can be sometimes so they might believe you idk

So you are telling him to lie? That is awful advice. And wouldn't there be some notation someplace of testing irregularities at a certain center? OP don't consider this option. It just reinforces your poor decision making skills.


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[Ad2b]

The thing is though.. you have to register for the MCAT months in advance.

Not true. You can only register for one at a time, and there is a 48 hour cooling off period before you can register for the 2nd exam.

Maybe you could say you had a best test day experience? ...but it's a thought if you're looking for something to say this might hide some of the bad judgement on your part...

Terrible advice. The worst thing anyone can do is try to buffalo these folks. The best thing anyone can do is tell the truth. Period.

There is no covering up for the bad judgment to take the MCAT twice like that; own it, don't whine, move on.

 

[Goro]

I strongly recommend working on Plan B.

Do I really stand no chance for MD schools?

 

[MI2015]

Hey there. I'm not an adcom, but I talked to a family friend who is on the admissions committee at a well respected state MD school. He said that every year they interview more and more people that took the test three times, because they see it as a sign of dedication. I'm not trying to argue with anyone, but to advise the OP to work on Plan B seems a bit odd. There are schools out there that really admire the dedication. I say go for it.

 

[Espressso]

Hey there. I'm not an adcom, but I talked to a family friend who is on the admissions committee at a well respected state MD school. He said that every year they interview more and more people that took the test three times, because they see it as a sign of dedication. I'm not trying to argue with anyone, but to advise the OP to work on Plan B seems a bit odd. There are schools out there that really admire the dedication. I say go for it.

Agree but, saying to work on plan B is just common sense. We all should have a contingency plan, regardless if you take the MCAT once or 8 times. Specifically in regards to this thread, I think what @Goro was saying is that you should be open to the idea of applying to DO schools.

 

[Lawpy]

OP, as you can see from the above discussion, you need a solid reason for why you took the first 2 MCAT exams in the same week. The responses to a poor reason (like the one you have provided) aren't kind. All the best.

 

[Goro]

OP hasn't displayed much common sense so far in this process. You would also be surprised how many pre-meds have the "I'll keep on applying until I'm 60" mindset. I had a good friend back in UG who thought like this.

OP will have some luck with DO schools.

Agree but, saying to work on plan B is just common sense. We all should have a contingency plan, regardless if you take the MCAT once or 8 times. Specifically in regards to this thread, I think what @Goro was saying is that you should be open to the idea of applying to DO schools.

 

[MI2015]

OP try your state MD schools. I understand what the adcoms are saying, but there are quite a few people that get in with taking it 3 times. In my state personally, the number of MCATS is not judged like that. If you improve, it's not held against you. Apply to DO schools as a backup, but have faith in yourself.

 

[MareNostrummm]

Hey there. I'm not an adcom, but I talked to a family friend who is on the admissions committee at a well respected state MD school. He said that every year they interview more and more people that took the test three times, because they see it as a sign of dedication. I'm not trying to argue with anyone, but to advise the OP to work on Plan B seems a bit odd. There are schools out there that really admire the dedication. I say go for it.

I agree, I really doubt most adcoms are so strict as to just flat out average all the MCAT scores. Some people do poorly on the first test for a variety of reasons that could make the first test not an accurate representation of their abilities, averaging would not be very sensible. For example, all the MCAT test companies emphasize different topics. When the 2015 MCAT was first released some companies said not to memorize the structure/3 letter/1 letter abbreviations of the amino acids... well if you didn't know the amino acids you were basically signing off any hope of having a high MCAT score.

 

[MI2015]

@MareNostrummm exactly...I just don't understand why Goro is already saying go to DO school. Obviously apply to it as a backup but still... There have been SO MANY threads on people taking it 3+ times who got in. N=1 all you like, but it happens, and it's more common now, especially with a new test out. Just because his school emphasizes averaging does mean all schools do. A list was posted last year and around 75% of schools only take the recent or highest score. I'm going to go ahead and listen to the adcom that is at one of the schools i'm thinking about applying to haha.

 

[freak7]

Thing is, does anyone have a good test day experience?

With the amount of fluid and caffeine I had in my system, I had to urinate by the time I sat back down after my bathroom break between each section.

 

[candbgirl]

I agree, I really doubt most adcoms are so strict as to just flat out average all the MCAT scores. Some people do poorly on the first test for a variety of reasons that could make the first test not an accurate representation of their abilities, averaging would not be very sensible. For example, all the MCAT test companies emphasize different topics. When the 2015 MCAT was first released some companies said not to memorize the structure/3 letter/1 letter abbreviations of the amino acids... well if you didn't know the amino acids you were basically signing off any hope of having a high MCAT score.

So by your logic, those that do well on the first test "could make the first test not an accurate representation of their abilities"? AMCAS encourages schools to average multiple MCAT scores. Some do some don't, but ALL scores are visible and anyone reading an application can see them. When I see a chain of numbers I sort of subconsciously add them up. I'm certainly not talking about MCAT scores but I bet there are ADCOMS that do the same thing. In OPs case , the real issue isn't his score but the fact that he took it twice in a week and seemingly has no good answer for doing that. I don't know how he found an empty seat really. People were frantic to find a seat in January 2015 before they switched over to the new rest. It seemed people were flying all over the place to take the test.


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[MI2015]

So by your logic, those that do well on the first test "could make the first test not an accurate representation of their abilities"? AMCAS encourages schools to average multiple MCAT scores. Some do some don't, but ALL scores are visible and anyone reading an application can see them. When I see a chain of numbers I sort of subconsciously add them up. I'm certainly not talking about MCAT scores but I bet there are ADCOMS that do the same thing. In OPs case , the real issue isn't his score but the fact that he took it twice in a week and seemingly has no good answer for doing that. I don't know how he found an empty seat really. People were frantic to find a seat in January 2015 before they switched over to the new rest. It seemed people were flying all over the place to take the test.


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Really? Normally if I saw 3 numbers I would examine them to see if there was a good increase in score. I'm not trying to start an argument. In Texas, there are instructions by TMDAS, basically AMCAS but in Texas that all schools are to only take the most recent score. Sure they can "add them up", but from what i've heard from adcoms in tx, they really admire the dedication by multiple time test takers. Am I saying that taking the test one time is bad? NO WAY. Haha but it also shows dedication and determination to take the test more than once. After all, who would willingly take the test more than once? It's so much work. Taking the test once is great, but more and more schools are turning towards a more holistic view of the MCAT scores, including seeing improvement. Or maybe that's just TX.

 

[MI2015]

most MCAT averaging is initially done by automated system, as is not up to adcom disrection during initial screening

Why do schools say on their website that they're only looking at the most recent score mainly? How can they see the recent score if it's all averaged? I mean I only know TMDAS not AMCAS, but that doesn't make any sense.

 

[Sardinia]

Maybe you could say you had a best test day experience? Tell adcoms that your test either froze multiple times, shut down, loud testing environment, locked out of the bathroom (some have keys - and this has actually happened before), etc. You can say you filed a testing center complaint and was very sure it would be accepted based on your chat with an AAMC representative, so you signed up for a new test thinking AAMC would void your score. However, AAMC takes time for these things, and at the end, the result is still unpredictable. So, after you took your second test, you could say AAMC decided to reject your testing center concern request? I don't know if this explanation is any better...everything still sounds like excuses to me, but it's a thought if you're looking for something to say this might hide some of the bad judgement on your part...I'm sure everyone knows how difficult the AAMC can be sometimes so they might believe you idk

Where did you hide the bodies.

 

[candbgirl]

Is OP from Texas? If so. I know nothing about that whole Texas application process. And OP went down by 3 points on his second attempt and even his last attempt wasn't balanced and his CARS was sort of low. So there is that too. OP can apply any where he wants, anytime he wants. This is just a discussion.
And I think the averaging is done at the schools, not by AMCAS. But I'm not sure about that but since not all schools average that must be the process.

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[Sardinia]

Re: being a bad test taker comments. It's not that you're just a bad test taker. But you burned $300+ to do a really bad spaghetti art project that you know went south the moment you got to the 50th spaghetti-o and then you presented it at the amateur art exhibit even though you had a prompter telling you several times that you can void your project altogether or reschedule to a later date. Then you repeat this fiasco in the same week burning another $300 on another really bad spaghetti-o project. Also this entire ordeal was direct sent to Parson's School of Design and you knew this the entire time. What's crazy is that spending $600-$700 to do a really crappy spaghetti project would still let you remain in a neutral position because no one is paying attention to how you burn cash on personal hobbies. However, when you know you're in the spotlight for a professional school and you show poor decision making not only on the test, but poor judgment on decision making in general...

 

[MI2015]

Re: being a bad test taker comments. It's not that you're just a bad test taker. But you burned $300+ to do a really bad spaghetti art project that you know went south the moment you got to the 50th spaghetti-o and then you presented it at the amateur art exhibit even though you had a prompter telling you several times that you can void your project altogether or reschedule to a later date. Then you repeat this fiasco in the same week burning another $300 on another really bad spaghetti-o project. Also this entire ordeal was direct sent to Parson's School of Design and you knew this the entire time. What's crazy is that spending $600-$700 to do a really crappy spaghetti project would still let you remain in a neutral position because no one is paying attention to how you burn cash on personal hobbies. However, when you know you're in the spotlight for a professional school and you show poor decision making not only on the test, but poor judgment on decision making in general...

I think everyone shows bad judgement at one point or another in university. Sure, his is very noticeable. But he bucked up and decided to do it again. But poor judgement in decision making in general? Wow haha I don't think making poor decisions on the MCAT can reflect on general. Everyone makes mistakes- doesn't mean he has bad judgement in general. I'm sure no one will agree with me, since for some reason taking the MCAT 3 times is the worst thing someone can do.

 

[gyngyn]

I'm sure no one will agree with me, since for some reason taking the MCAT 3 times is the worst thing someone can do.

It is far from the worst possible judgement. It is among the more obvious (legal) examples, though. It isn't just the number of tries or even the scores, it's the rapid fire re-take before the score is even received. It shows haste, poor decision making, bad self-assessment and failure to seek advice (or take it). We are not screening these qualities in.

 

[Goro]

At my school we do and we reject people with avg's below our effective floor.

There is published data that shows that people in med school perform according to their average MCAT score.

We select for people who make good choices. Making bad choices tends not to be a one time thing.

I agree, I really doubt most adcoms are so strict as to just flat out average all the MCAT scores. Some people do poorly on the first test for a variety of reasons that could make the first test not an accurate representation of their abilities, averaging would not be very sensible. For example, all the MCAT test companies emphasize different topics. When the 2015 MCAT was first released some companies said not to memorize the structure/3 letter/1 letter abbreviations of the amino acids... well if you didn't know the amino acids you were basically signing off any hope of having a high MCAT score.

 

[Lucca]

Re: being a bad test taker comments. It's not that you're just a bad test taker. But you burned $300+ to do a really bad spaghetti art project that you know went south the moment you got to the 50th spaghetti-o and then you presented it at the amateur art exhibit even though you had a prompter telling you several times that you can void your project altogether or reschedule to a later date. Then you repeat this fiasco in the same week burning another $300 on another really bad spaghetti-o project. Also this entire ordeal was direct sent to Parson's School of Design and you knew this the entire time. What's crazy is that spending $600-$700 to do a really crappy spaghetti project would still let you remain in a neutral position because no one is paying attention to how you burn cash on personal hobbies. However, when you know you're in the spotlight for a professional school and you show poor decision making not only on the test, but poor judgment on decision making in general...

This post is v. underrated (bit harsh though)

 

[gyngyn]

This post is v. underrated (bit harsh though)

I felt that the spaghetti-o analogy made it quite kind.

 

[MI2015]

At my school we do and we reject people with avg's below our effective floor.

There is published data that shows that people in med school perform according to their average MCAT score.

We select for people who make good choices. Making bad choices tends not to be a one time thing.

Honestly Texas is moving away from that thinking which I think is better IMO. I was fortunate to only take it twice, but many many people take the mcat with a lot of preparation and do well on their practice scores, and feel pretty decent during the exam, only to find themselves dropping several points. It's great that your school averages, and I have a lot of respect for adcoms on here, but I am super glad that TX does not average haha. Wisconsin superscores, and their Step 1 scores are equivalent to schools that average or choose the most recent.

 

[CavsFan2016]

@MI2015 do you happen to have the thread that shows that 75% of schools are now focusing on the most recent score?


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[MI2015]

@MI2015 do you happen to have the thread that shows that 75% of schools are now focusing on the most recent score?


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I remember a member who took the test 3 times posted the list on a thread (there are soooo many 3+ mcat threads). I calculated the 75% myself from the list. It probably is higher, considering new schools and TX schools were not in the thread. I can't find it obviously, but I wouldn't post something with an exaggerated number considering I have no stock in the outcome of this thread haha. But the majority of schools do not average. If I find it I will post it, but i'm doing secondaries right now so my time is occupied

 

[CavsFan2016]

I remember a member who took the test 3 times posted the list on a thread (there are soooo many 3+ mcat threads). I calculated the 75% myself from the list. It probably is higher, considering new schools and TX schools were not in the thread. I can't find it obviously, but I wouldn't post something with an exaggerated number considering I have no stock in the outcome of this thread haha. But the majority of schools do not average. If I find it I will post it, but i'm doing secondaries right now so my time is occupied

Same here 🙂 no worries, thanks for the help. Good luck with your secondaries!

 

[BeachBlondie]

At my school we do and we reject people with avg's below our effective floor.

There is published data that shows that people in med school perform according to their average MCAT score.

We select for people who make good choices. Making bad choices tends not to be a one time thing.

Always curious, what are some examples of these numeric cut-offs? Anything below a 30?

 

[MI2015]

Always curious, what are some examples of these numeric cut-offs? Anything below a 30?

I believe Goro is at a DO school. I would be very surprised if the cutoff is a 30. I would think it would be lower at DO schools and low tier/mid tier MD schools.

 

[BeachBlondie]

I believe Goro is at a DO school. I would be very surprised if the cutoff is a 30. I would think it would be lower at DO schools and low tier/mid tier MD schools.

*sigh* Having a 30 is a weird gig -- not low enough to get filtered out; not high enough to impress anyone 🙁