Third Time's the Charm!

[Freakingzooming]

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Hey Guys:

I know I'm beating a dead horse on this topic but I actually wanted to make a thread for multiple MCAT takers..

I myself took the MCAT around three times (first time I did it for hell of it and waived it (or rather my mom and dad bought me the ticket and told me to go that same day and take it), second, I took it and scored a 25M (9V,8PS,8BS), third, I scored a 30S (9V,10BS,11PS).

I guess I'm taking it again cuz I felt the 30 was probably not indicative of my potential (for the AAMC tests, I was scoring around a 30-35).

I guess my questions are:

-For multiple test takers, did your score ever improve the third time after you made a big jump the second time? Was there a big letdown?

-How did you study the third time? How did you guys refine the studying? I feel that for the verbal, I have room for improvement. How do I get past there?

-How do med schools look at this? I know some take the highest cummul. score, some take the best set of scores.. but if I hit a 32R or something like that the third time, do they weigh in the 25 at all?

And just to throw it out, I really want to go to a good med school that's pass and fail [cough Pritzker]... (gotta get out of this premed laced place)... what MCAT range should I be shooting for?

 

[ek6]

I took a frighteningly similar route as you. My scores were similar to yours and I've gotten into two schools and am waiting on 5 other schools post-interview. My point is...your scores are already good enough. If you've averaged 33's on practice tests, then be my guest and take it, but you've already done well enough in adcoms minds. You can easily just come up with an explanation for your 25 and just say how much harder you worked for that 30, which is more than respectable.

Btw, I raised my verbal score by 2 points. What helped was approaching the passages slowly at first - don't just take practice verbal tests over and over multiple times - that's a waste. Paraphrase, topic, and subtopic. Those were the 3 things I did and identified. The key is to reword the concepts as quickly as you can in your mind. The questions, then, as a whole become easier to reason through. This must be what people who always kick ass in verbal do really quickly and subconsciously in their head when they take this section.

 

[Freakingzooming]

ek6- if you don't mind, how did you do in school?

I feel kinda inadequate with a 30. I really would like to get into a school with P/F and the ones who have those happen to be really really hard to get into schools.

I also feel my GPA is inadequate and if I could push up my MCAT, I could show I have potential.

Sigh. to update- I've started studying and well Im registered now so the 190 is already down on the table. Just gotta commit myself to studying with the work, activities, and research I'm doing.

 

[redstar18]

Originally posted by Freakingzooming
-For multiple test takers, did your score ever improve the third time after you made a big jump the second time? Was there a big letdown?

-How did you study the third time? How did you guys refine the studying? I feel that for the verbal, I have room for improvement. How do I get past there?

-How do med schools look at this? I know some take the highest cummul. score, some take the best set of scores.. but if I hit a 32R or something like that the third time, do they weigh in the 25 at all?

And just to throw it out, I really want to go to a good med school that's pass and fail [cough Pritzker]... (gotta get out of this premed laced place)... what MCAT range should I be shooting for?

1. Yes, my second score increased 3pts from my first score, and my third score increased 5pts from my second score.

2. I used TPR books the first and second times. They didn't seem to help me, so I switched to EK. Read LOTS for verbal- there is no other way to get around it (at least for me).

3. I thought that it would be looked down upon, but seeing as I have had several interviews and 2 acceptances, an improved score can only be good 👍

4. Not sure because I didn't apply there. Personally, I think your 30 is fine, unless you are almost positive you can improve 2+ pts.