Medical What are my chances with multiple retakes of the MCAT?

[Goro]

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I’ve taken the MCAT multiple times between 2016 and 2018. I’ve bounced between 498 and 503 all those times. How realistic is it that I get into medical school if I take the MCAT another time this year and score around a 510? I really want to go to medical school (hence why I’ve taken it so many times), but I don’t want to put in all this effort into studying for it with very little to no hope of getting into medical school.

I can't sugar coat this, I think it's unrealistic to expect a 510 when you have the exam result that you do.

I think MD is not realistic; chances best with a broad application to DO schools.

IF you have test taking anxiety issues, that's fixable, and necessary for success as a med student.

 

[Catalystik]

I know of one applicant who took the test 5 times and eventually got into one DO med school. She had pretty spectacular ECs after many years of consistently beefing them up. How are yours?

- What will your explanation be if asked at interviews why your score stayed low after so many tries?
- What will be different about your sixth attempt?
- How have your sub-scores varied?

 

[Goro]

I think I've seen someone who did six or seven tries.

 

[Catalystik]

My explanation will probably be along the lines of just basically mentally maturing after my dad got sick and was diagnosed with cancer. I was going to talk about how I gained a different kind of respect and appreciation for the field of medicine and it made me look at this test in a different way and it was just a mindset change. Any suggestions on how you would go about explaining multiple attempts that would be taken well by a committee?

That sounds good, provided you get a really solid score (a 511 would be nice) that shows the "you of then" is not the person you are now.

Take care to apply only to schools that don't average multiple MCAT scores.

And listen to @Goro and include DO schools on your list.

 

[Catalystik]

I will apply to DO schools also.

1) So you believe that gaining an acceptance to an MD school will be realistic??

2) Also how would I go about finding out which schools average MCAT scores?

1) I don't know enough about your application, but if all else is optimal, I can only say that an MD acceptance is not impossible if you achieve an average-for-acceptees MCAT score. A DO acceptance seems far more realistic considering the evidence of your past pattern of MCAT performance.

2) Here is an old list to give you a starting point, but you'll need to confirm that each school you apply to has not changed its multiple MCAT policy (as the trend is that more schools are following AAMC recommendations to average the scores). Start with websites, especially the FAQ area, and call admissions offices if necessary. Why waste Secondary fees at schools where you have no chance: Multiple MCAT Score Policy School List

 

[Catalystik]

I’m going to submit my primary for verification in the next week or two. I will take the MCAT in the beginning of August. My study plan is to focus more on practice instead of mainly sheer content and trying to learn every detail. I also plan on reviewing the FLs and section banks (something I did not do before).

I’m going to start calling schools and asking this week so I can have my list of schools ready. Thank you.

Applications that become Complete after Labor Day, meaning all Secondaries and supplemental items having been submitted, are "late." You will put yourself at a statistical disadvantage in the MD application process by doing this. You'd be better off taking the MCAT if you've repeatedly scored in your target range on practice tests after 2-3 months of dedicated study (perhaps in September or January) and waiting to apply until early June 2020. Also, I cannot recommend that you apply without knowing your MCAT score first. Yes, I know you don't want to hear this dose of reality. Sorry.

The DO application process runs much later and a Completion date before Thanksgiving is still fine.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Even if I apply next year with a good mcat score, I wanted to make sure that it was possible before I spend months trying to study.

I know we haven't even touched your grades or experiences, but I will say that a lot of admissions committees will need you to demonstrate significant challenges to look at anyone who took the test multiple times (actually, more than 3). Yes, your chances are likely to be better with DO programs and MD programs with large class sizes. Your MCAT attempts may be just part of a series of little issues that taken in aggregate can make anyone in admissions hesitant to put your application through to interview stage. There is definitely a history and likely an admissions rule-of-thumb (along with success data) that says standardized test results predicts results on standardized tests (SAT -> MCAT -> USMLE).

I am always skeptical of anyone who would say I want to go to medical school above wanting to be a physician. Make sure you aren't communicating this with your application.