Timing of a second attempt at MCAT / Applying

[openstage]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Situation: ORM Current Senior, 30 MD 2nd submitted by Aug 1, 2 ii, 0 A, 2 WL, 4 R. 508 MCAT 3.92 GPA 4.0 SGPA.
All my LOR, Volunteer, Shadowing Hours and EC's are solid.

By next spring there will not be much new - just continuing with these. There will be no publications or significant changes by next summer. Just a slight uptick in GPA and hopefully a significantly improved MCAT.

Question: My 2 interviews went very well. But, assuming things do not pan out for this cycle, when would be the best time to schedule a retake of the MCAT?

1. So how long should I wait before booking a 2nd attempt at the MCAT

2. And what test date would you choose (April, May or June) to allow for stronger study, but also not hold up verification significantly?

Thanks!

 

[Skeletorr]

I would apply to some DO schools, instead of taking the MCAT twice.

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

Schedule now for a date in April.

 

[Gilakend]

Apply to DO ASAP, wait until December/Jan and see if you get accepted/rejected anywhere. From schools that rejected you and are open to giving feedback ask them about your app. Some schools might have no issues with your MCAT and it may be something entirely different.

If no luck with app cycle by that time and schools said it was your MCAT that was the issue, then start studying for April MCAT. I don't know how quickly spots fill up for registration though.

However, if you can get your app in soon I would say your chances of MD/DO this cycle are high.

 

[Blueprint Med School]

If you're set on retaking the MCAT, you really want to be sure you can score ~515+, otherwise, it's hard to say if the retake would even help you.

 

[openstage]

Yes - 508 was with minimal study. Only did 2 sample practice tests and 1 full length practice. I expect with work at least a 5-6 point gain is realistic.

 

[Kardio]

2. And what test date would you choose (April, May or June) to allow for stronger study, but also not hold up verification significantly?

I believe you may submit AMCAS prior to your new score becoming available. However, you won't know if the new score is competitive. You can mitigate the damage by applying to one program (to begin the verification process) and expanding your school list after the new score becomes available (assuming it is to your liking).

 

[deleted804295]

Yes - 508 was with minimal study. Only did 2 sample practice tests and 1 full length practice. I expect with work at least a 5-6 point gain is realistic.

A 5-6 gain isn't significant enough for a retake. I could only suggest retake if you're scoring 517+ on practice exams.

You said your ECs are solid. Mind sharing hours?

 

[medemac]

1. If things don't pan out, try reaching out to AdComs to see why. A 508 is borderline so I can see why you'd guess that's your issue, but there could be something else you could work on concurrently that's simple (volunteering, clinical hours through part-time scribing/EMT/MA/etc).

2. If you find/decide on retaking the MCAT, I can only share an anecdote. I took an in-person course for my 2016 test and received a ~510. Come 2019 I skipped right over content review and started questions from day 1 and my score shot upwards ~10 pts. Every pre-med I knew IRL chided me for wanting to re-take a "good score", but I was confident that it would need to be done given my SES and general lack of superstar-dom. If you think you approached preparing for the exam in*correctly and know how to address it, then I think you could see a big boost.

3. Date you should schedule for: April or early May at the very latest. June could put you at a disadvantage in being complete.

 

[openstage]

A 5-6 gain isn't significant enough for a retake. I could only suggest retake if you're scoring 517+ on practice exams.

You said your ECs are solid. Mind sharing hours?

2 years (300+ hrs) clinical volunteering in a hospital with direct patient care
1 summer clinical volunteering in a non-profit program for people in rehab
1 month volunteering in an under-served clinic abroad
80+ hours shadowing 3 physicians
2 years research on campus
1 summer research at NYU
TA on campus
Leadership in campus groups

 

[deleted804295]

2 years (300+ hrs) clinical volunteering in a hospital with direct patient care
1 summer clinical volunteering in a non-profit program for people in rehab
1 month volunteering in an under-served clinic abroad
80+ hours shadowing 3 physicians
2 years research on campus
1 summer research at NYU
TA on campus
Leadership in campus groups

Your ECs are pretty good. You could increase the amount of non clinical volunteering you do with underserved and you might get some love from service oriented schools. Also add some DO schools to your list.

 

[Chromium Surfer]

A 5-6 gain isn't significant enough for a retake. I could only suggest retake if you're scoring 517+ on practice exams.

You said your ECs are solid. Mind sharing hours?

Why would a 5-6 point gain not be significant enough, since a 3 point increase is statistically significant based on the score report confidence intervals?

 

[openstage]

I think a 5 - 6 point swing is the difference between 25 % range to 50% range of accepted students in some schools. Being 5 points lower takes many schools off your apply list because they're reaches.

 

[deleted804295]

Why would a 5-6 point gain not be significant enough, since a 3 point increase is statistically significant based on the score report confidence intervals?

Because many schools average scores so it's essentially only a 3 point increase in the eyes of adcom

 

[Chromium Surfer]

Because many schools average scores so it's essentially only a 3 point increase in the eyes of adcom

Interesting. I have heard the opposite that schools often factor in the higher score greatly. I wish schools were open about their policy for reviewing retakes

 

[erdoc111]

I second the idea of starting some nonclinical volunteering ASAP! I do not see any on your list of EC's. When you resubmit, it will be much more impressive to have some new information in addition to the high MCAT score you are aiming for. Shoot for MCAT in April if you are ready then launch directly into your applications. Of course, re-do all of your essays.

 

[medemac]

Because many schools average scores so it's essentially only a 3 point increase in the eyes of adcom

Interesting. I have heard the opposite that schools often factor in the higher score greatly. I wish schools were open about their policy for reviewing retakes

Here's a list from UManoa from 2018. 6 schools (Kimmel, UWash, Colorado, Mercer, Stony Brook, Sanford) average, an additional 2-3 will only average if you take 3+. The majority of the rest will use the highest or most recent score and examine the trends: Allopathic Medical School Multiple MCAT Scores | Pre-Health

 

[deleted804295]

Here's a list from UManoa from 2018. 6 schools (Kimmel, UWash, Colorado, Mercer, Stony Brook, Sanford) average, an additional 2-3 will only average if you take 3+. The majority of the rest will use the highest or most recent score and examine the trends: Allopathic Medical School Multiple MCAT Scores | Pre-Health

While many schools say they will look at the highest, this has not been the case for many friends I have heard from where individual interviewers circle a number of the averaged MCAT.

It depends on the individual interviewer and if you believe it's worth the gamble to retake a 508 and get a 513 and hope they consider the score a 513 then that's on you.

Adcoms on SDN have continuously stated that they prefer applicants with a single MCAT than multiple MCATs. I would not retake an MCAT unless 517+ on practice exams but that's just my own opinion