Where to explain low first mcat score?

[kings2]

Hey guys,

My first MCAT score was low due to extenuating family circumstances. I did not mention it in the AMCAS essay b/c I didn't want to make excuses in that space. I was told I'd have space to give an explanation in the secondaries, but I have recieved 5 secondaries, and none of them had a question asking to explain any low points in the application. How then, should I go about explaining it? with an enclosure?

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[Tippy007]

Tough call. I wouldn't throw it into an essay unless it specifically asked you to explain your weak points. If no essay asks for this, you would be vearing off on a tangent and explaining a weakness, which makes you look weaker (it's a vicious cycle). I would instead focus on the positive points in your application that may overshadow the MCAT (good GPA, ECs or LORs). Besides, if your MCAT truly is well below average, the adcoms will make you retake it no matter how much you explain the circumstances.

 

[Severus]

I'm in the same boat. My plan is to just not bring it up unless they do. I'm adopting a bit of a military policy here... don't ask, don't tell.

On a side-note... free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, I'm free at last... I think I now have access to the lounge! 😀

Sev

 

[WatchingWaiting]

Hey guys,

My first MCAT score was low due to extenuating family circumstances. I did not mention it in the AMCAS essay b/c I didn't want to make excuses in that space. I was told I'd have space to give an explanation in the secondaries, but I have recieved 5 secondaries, and none of them had a question asking to explain any low points in the application. How then, should I go about explaining it? with an enclosure?

The important question is, have you retaken the MCAT and how did you do the second time? If you got something like a 20 the first time and a 30 the second, you would be fine just not mentioning your first score at all. Adcoms know that people sometimes have an awful day, are sick, or the like. As long as you have a second good score that shows the first one was a fluke, you really don't have to address the first one at all. You will probably be asked about it at an interview or two, just because most re-takers don't see big improvement, but a simple, "I was throwing up the night before, but still felt I had to take it," or the like will get the issue explained away very quickly.

On the other hand, if you haven't taken the MCAT a second time and gotten a good score, I can't think of anything you'll be able to write about the first time you took it that will help your chances. You need a decent score to be a competitive applicant, no way around it. If you took it in April, underperformed, and are planning on doing an August retake-- focus on getting a good score in August, as this is the only way you can really "explain" a non-competitive score.

 

[Haybrant]

if you significantly improved i would say it explains itself; but only for a significant improvement

 

[kings2]

thanks guys, I did make a significant improvement, up 8 points on my retake. (and I now have an about avg score for accepted applicants) So I hope that indicates the first was a fluke enough. But I just wnat to be sure schools know that I wasn't just messing around the first time, that I actuall had a legit reason for doing poorly.
so the consensus is to leave it alone, not mention it?

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Regardless of what someone may tell you, medical schools do not average all of your MCAT scores. The important thing is that you have improved. IMO, it will do you no good to bring it up if there is no place set aside to explain it.

 

[angstrom55]

if you've retaken the mcat and did a lot better, then i wouldn't mention the first low score unless they bring it up later in an interview or something. What really matters is your second score, right?

Good luck!

 

[TexPre-Med]

Either way, your first score is not going to help you. If anyone takes the MCAT enough, through pure luck, they will get a decent score. However if you do vastly improve (like you say you did), then interviews will follow, and I might bring up the family excuse during this step. There you can explain your dilemma and intense desire to become a successful physician. On paper, people are liking to take your excuse as BS. Every single student with a bad score has or has made up some excuse. Stateing such in an essay will do ZERO good. If you explain at all, do so face to face so that they can tell that it is sincere.

 

[jpro]

Either way, your first score is not going to help you. If anyone takes the MCAT enough, through pure luck, they will get a decent score. However if you do vastly improve (like you say you did), then interviews will follow, and I might bring up the family excuse during this step. There you can explain your dilemma and intense desire to become a successful physician. On paper, people are liking to take your excuse as BS. Every single student with a bad score has or has made up some excuse. Stateing such in an essay will do ZERO good. If you explain at all, do so face to face so that they can tell that it is sincere.

I don't believe that you can get a good score based on luck. If you improve by a significant amount in all sections, that pretty much proves that the first score was under some special circumstance. Look at the odds of improving your score vs getting a lower score.


http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/examineedata/tables.htm


To get a >6 point gain just doesn't happen by luck.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

If the scores are very different, is there any chance they would think you cheated? I know for SATs you were mandated by cololege boards to retake it if two scores differed by a certain amount. Not the same policy here?