What happens in this situation?

[meraki_soul]

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Lets say an applicant took the MCAT three times and scores 502, 508, 516. Is it still possible for said applicant to get into MD despite taking the MCAT three times? If MD is attainable, what kinds of schools should they shoot for? Only low-tier or will they be competitive for mid-tier or even top tier? Assume applicant is ORM with great GPA and extra-curriculars but from a not-so-nice state. fyi, this isn't for my situation but I do need the advice for something else. so would like some honest input! Thanks 🙂

 

[Jdoxis]

Depends if they average your score or take the most recent score. It varies school by school. Average is a 508 so fine for MD most likely. You can tell your asian friend from california that they'd probably be fine if they made a good school list

 

[Goro]

Lets say an applicant took the MCAT three times and scores 502, 508, 516. Is it still possible for said applicant to get into MD despite taking the MCAT three times? If MD is attainable, what kinds of schools should they shoot for? Only low-tier or will they be competitive for mid-tier or even top tier? Assume applicant is ORM with great GPA and extra-curriculars but from a not-so-nice state. fyi, this isn't for my situation but I do need the advice for something else. so would like some honest input! Thanks 🙂

100% dependent upon the schools. AMCAS recommends averaging MCAT scores (this is what my school does). But a 516 is still nothing to sneeze at. I believe that while at @gyngyn's school it would be an issue, it would not at @LizzyM's school.

The avg of the three scores is 508, which is still fine as a single score for many MD schools, and all DO.

 

[rolliespring]

Apply for more schools in the 508-509 range but I think it's still fine to shoot for some schools closer to the 516 end. I took the MCAT twice and the average was about 509. I ended up getting more IIs at schools with median stats closer to my higher re-take.

 

[cactusman]

100% dependent upon the schools. AMCAS recommends averaging MCAT scores (this is what my school does). But a 516 is still nothing to sneeze at. I believe that while at @gyngyn's school it would be an issue, it would not at @LizzyM's school.

The avg of the three scores is 508, which is still fine as a single score for many MD schools, and all DO.

I think even having a 516 (with 2 lower scores) might be an issue at LizzyM's school though.

 

[mariposas905]

100% dependent upon the schools. AMCAS recommends averaging MCAT scores (this is what my school does). But a 516 is still nothing to sneeze at. I believe that while at @gyngyn's school it would be an issue, it would not at @LizzyM's school.

The avg of the three scores is 508, which is still fine as a single score for many MD schools, and all DO.

I think even having a 516 might be an issue at LizzyM's school though.

Isn't LizzyM's school a really top-tier one? Even if someone got a 520, I feel like they'd be rejected because of the first two trials 😕 @LizzyM ?

 

[cactusman]

Isn't LizzyM's school a really top-tier one? Even if someone got a 520, I feel like they'd be rejected because of the first two trials 😕

It's very highly ranked and I believe it's one of the more "stats-whorish" - nay, number royal - of the top tiers.

 

[Goro]

Isn't LizzyM's school a really top-tier one? Even if someone got a 520, I feel like they'd be rejected because of the first two trials 😕 @LizzyM ?

To quote the divine Miss M:
Q: What do you call someone who retakes an already good MCAT score?
A: Someone who wants to get into my school!

 

[meraki_soul]

Apply for more schools in the 508-509 range but I think it's still fine to shoot for some schools closer to the 516 end. I took the MCAT twice and the average was about 509. I ended up getting more IIs at schools with median stats closer to my higher re-take.

I see...did they ask about your lower MCAT and did you get into any of the higher ranked schools in the end?

 

[meraki_soul]

100% dependent upon the schools. AMCAS recommends averaging MCAT scores (this is what my school does). But a 516 is still nothing to sneeze at. I believe that while at @gyngyn's school it would be an issue, it would not at @LizzyM's school.

The avg of the three scores is 508, which is still fine as a single score for many MD schools, and all DO.

Why would it be an issue at gyngyn's school? also, do you recommend that the three mcats be explained in the AMCAS app, secondaries or PS? but then again, why bring attention to a negative...

 

[cactusman]

Why would it be an issue at gyngyn's school? also, do you recommend that the three mcats be explained in the AMCAS app, secondaries or PS? but then again, why bring attention to a negative...

Because it screams "unhealthily perfectionist and/or focused on getting into a higher ranked school."

 

[meraki_soul]

Because it screams "unhealthily perfectionist and/or focused on getting into a higher ranked school."

Yes, but 502 and 508 are both low scores with an avg of only 505. I feel like even gyngyn's school would advise a retake b/c it'd be a long shot to get in without one. If schools avg, then an applicant basically has to retake again...it's not abt getting into a top ranked school, it's abt getting into any MD school

 

[Goro]

Why would it be an issue at gyngyn's school? also, do you recommend that the three mcats be explained in the AMCAS app, secondaries or PS? but then again, why bring attention to a negative...

My perception is that gyngyn's school wants you to take the MCAT 1x and that's it.

My draw attention to a negative. The reader can see that one improved, right?

What is this need to explain every bad grade??????? This is not healthy. SDNers should not have academics define who they are.

 

[rolliespring]

I see...did they ask about your lower MCAT and did you get into any of the higher ranked schools in the end?

I was asked at 2 schools and all they asked for was how did I improve my score. I don't have access to MSAR anymore but the school I'm matriculating at has a median MCAT at about 33/34 which is about 514/515. My retake was at the median.

You don't have to mention it anywhere unless it's brought up at the II.