what are the disadvantages of taking it a 3rd time?

[horrorshow]

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I have always heard that it was a bad idea to take the MCAT 3 times, that 2 times was ok. But after not getting what I wanted 2 times in a row, is it a bad idea to take this badboy again? What does an applicant who takes it 3 times look like to the selection committee?

I appreciate any help in these regards...

 

[Medikit]

I stand corrected

 

[Pinkertinkle]

No, that's for the fourth time. I guess for the third time it'd be hard to impress the adcom since you have 2 scores already locked in.

 

[dhoonlee]

.

 

[EMDrMoe]

Only take it a 3rd time if you're going to study differently or think there's a GOOD chance you'll improve. You've got just as good of a chance, if not better, to do worse. For me, it'd depend on the scores you have now and what your chances are with those. Good luck!

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

Disadvantages:

1. It costs (more) money.
2. It's very stressful.
3. You risk either not improving or (gasp) dropping - both of which hurt your chances.
4. Even if you do improve a bit, your old scores are still there, so the extra 2-3 points will not greatly improve your application.
5. The chances of improving more than 2-3 points are extremely low. See this post:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=128865&highlight=statistics

Needless to say, it's probably a better idea to improve your application in other areas or to consider Osteopathic or foreign schools.

Good luck!

 

[frank51]

Disadvantages:

1. It costs (more) money.
2. It's very stressful.
3. You risk either not improving or (gasp) dropping - both of which hurt your chances.
4. Even if you do improve a bit, your old scores are still there, so the extra 2-3 points will not greatly improve your application.
5. The chances of improving more than 2-3 points are extremely low. See this post:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=128865&highlight=statistics

Needless to say, it's probably a better idea to improve your application in other areas or to consider Osteopathic or foreign schools.

Good luck!

I'll be taking it for the 3rd time despite all the statistics, if you want to be a loser you can sit there and listen to all the stats and the points this guy mentioned and whine about how you can't improve, or you can say the fu** with all the stats, study like there is no tommorow, and prove all of them wrong, speaking of which I got to go...

 

[horrorshow]

what i mean is not 'do you think i will do better if i take it a third time?'

i mean to ask, assuming i WILL do better the third time, what the drawbacks are, from the adcoms perspective, of taking it a third time? does anyone have any definitive info on this, rather than speculation?

good luck frank, and all those in my predicament.

 

[EvoDevo]

Your score **can** improve on the 3d try if you change the way you've been studying...more disciplined, for example.

As for the adcoms looking at it: if the previous scores are old then it won't really matter at all. However, if the scores are relatively close together then you might have to make a bigger leap in performace.

Just my two cents.

 

[IndyZX]

first of all, no one is goind to have definite info. we are not on adcoms.

secondly, what are the drawbacks? it'll look like you cant take a standardized test. 'why don't we just take this other similar guy who had a much easier time with the mcat instead?' the drawbacks are obvious.

but, who cares? if you want to go into medicine and you need to improve your mcat to do that, then what choice do you have?

 

[medic170]

if you want to go into medicine and you need to improve your mcat to do that, then what choice do you have?

Well said.

 

[biffbuddy]

secondly, what are the drawbacks? it'll look like you cant take a standardized test. 'why don't we just take this other similar guy who had a much easier time with the mcat instead?' the drawbacks are obvious.

This is just not true at all - but your last point is the most important

horrorshow, I took the mcat 3 times (went up each time), got 6 interviews, and not once did an interviewer even mention my mcats (not my scores nor the fact that I took them 3 times- and i got a 28) -

interviewers are not going to look down on you if you take the test and improve- thats what its all about - working hard, and doing what you need to do - i never asked for a pity treatment nor felt like anyone gave me one. If anything, by virtue of the fact that no one said anything, I proved to the committees that I was dedicated and determined to gain acceptance - I knew the risks, did the work, and improved each time - maybe i couldve studied right the first time and not had to take it over, but who cares. In fact, most secondaries only have room for your last two, so i doubt many of the schools even saw my first one.

i think the drawbacks to taking it multiple times is that its a waste of time - it delays your plans, and makes you have to endure the test that many times - but you have to remember that these adcoms and interviewers are normal teachers - they want to think highly of you, and they went through the process themselves - if you show them that you can do the work and are confident in yourself, then it will come through

best of luck

 

[horrorshow]

This is just not true at all - but your last point is the most important

horrorshow, I took the mcat 3 times (went up each time), got 6 interviews, and not once did an interviewer even mention my mcats (not my scores nor the fact that I took them 3 times- and i got a 28) -

interviewers are not going to look down on you if you take the test and improve- thats what its all about - working hard, and doing what you need to do - i never asked for a pity treatment nor felt like anyone gave me one. If anything, by virtue of the fact that no one said anything, I proved to the committees that I was dedicated and determined to gain acceptance - I knew the risks, did the work, and improved each time - maybe i couldve studied right the first time and not had to take it over, but who cares. In fact, most secondaries only have room for your last two, so i doubt many of the schools even saw my first one.

i think the drawbacks to taking it multiple times is that its a waste of time - it delays your plans, and makes you have to endure the test that many times - but you have to remember that these adcoms and interviewers are normal teachers - they want to think highly of you, and they went through the process themselves - if you show them that you can do the work and are confident in yourself, then it will come through

best of luck

awesome biffbuddy, that is just what i want to hear. i kinda took it cold the first time, and this april i would like to think i just had a bad day. well, back to studying. by the way, did you get into any schools?

 

[biffbuddy]

horrorshow,

I was very happy with my application cycle - i got into loyola and maryland, and withdrew from a few schools that offered me interviews - I was also waitlisted at boston university (after i withdrew post acceptance). the only school that i was rejected from post interview was g'town - anyways, I am heading to maryland in the fall! ( my state school)

good luck to you

 

[SCB]

This is just not true at all - but your last point is the most important

horrorshow, I took the mcat 3 times (went up each time), got 6 interviews, and not once did an interviewer even mention my mcats (not my scores nor the fact that I took them 3 times- and i got a 28) -

interviewers are not going to look down on you if you take the test and improve- thats what its all about - working hard, and doing what you need to do - i never asked for a pity treatment nor felt like anyone gave me one. If anything, by virtue of the fact that no one said anything, I proved to the committees that I was dedicated and determined to gain acceptance - I knew the risks, did the work, and improved each time - maybe i couldve studied right the first time and not had to take it over, but who cares. In fact, most secondaries only have room for your last two, so i doubt many of the schools even saw my first one.

i think the drawbacks to taking it multiple times is that its a waste of time - it delays your plans, and makes you have to endure the test that many times - but you have to remember that these adcoms and interviewers are normal teachers - they want to think highly of you, and they went through the process themselves - if you show them that you can do the work and are confident in yourself, then it will come through

best of luck

Thank you for sharing, I'm taking it for the 3rd time in Aug. and it's nice to here a positive story. Congrats and good luck in Maryland! 🙂

 

[lilsoljah]

Thank you for sharing, I'm taking it for the 3rd time in Aug. and it's nice to here a positive story. Congrats and good luck in Maryland! 🙂

I feel the same way. I've just been accepted into some post-baccs and I'm not sure when I will take it for the third time.

 

[Aegis]

I was talking to a DO resident at work tonight about the MCAT. She said she took it five times, yes five times before she got a 24. Needless to say she got into a DO school and kicked butt in Med school. I thought this point might fit in this thread. She told me If you don't get in the first time don't give up, with enough persistance you can make it happen.