Which is more important - MCAT score or getting secondaries in fast?

[Paeonia]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello party people!

So, I'm in kind of a weird position to be in. I took the MCAT on June 5th and recently received my scores. I was scoring an average of 34 or so on my practice MCAT tests, but when the actual came around, I scored a 10/7/12. I totally choked on the PS section (I averaged a 10-12), normally I don't do well on VR, so that was a pleasant surprise.

My AMCAS application was turned in on June 3rd, and I've received about 11 secondaries so far that I have been turning back in within a couple of days of receiving them. I have some higher-tiered schools that I applied to, and then some in the middle range.

I have a 3.72 GPA, 6 letters of recommendations, and a huge list of extracurricular activities (research lab, community service, club involvement, international medical missions, office shadowing, hospital volunteering, etc). It's been a really busy couple of years.

I scheduled myself to take the MCAT again on Sept. 4th because I know that PS section was a fluke. However, I was wondering if I should just not re-take this cycle and see what happens. I know a 29 is "on the bubble" and with my GPA / LOR / ECs, might help me out.

So, long story short: Is it more important for me to get my secondaries in early and cross my fingers with my 29 than put my school applications on hold so I can re-test? I know some schools will put my secondary on hold if they see I'm scheduled to take the MCAT again on Sept. 9, but that would mean they wouldn't look at it again until mid-October at the earliest, which would totally ruin all my hard work of getting in everything on the first day, but there's the chance of having a higher MCAT score..

Thanks in advance for any insight and good luck to everyone applying!

 

[el_duderino]

You do not want to wait til October to get your secondaries in, period. Schools will get your new MCAT automatically.

 

[Paeonia]

Right, what I meant is I'm going to continue turning in my secondaries as they come in like I have been for the last month, but some schools will put my secondary on hold if they see I'm scheduled to take the MCAT again on Sept. 9th, so they essentially would wait for my new score / won't look at my secondary until mid-October even though I already have my MCAT score from June on there. Make sense? So I'm wondering if it even is worthwhile to take the MCAT again in September, if schools are going to put my secondaries on hold until they get that new MCAT score mid-October, or if I should just not take the test so that schools will look at my secondary as soon as it's submitted.

 

[el_duderino]

With that score it's worthwhile if you're confident you can end up with a 32+.

 

[Paeonia]

With that score it's worthwhile if you're confident you can end up with a 32+.

Thanks Johnnythan. I've only had one school say they'll put me on hold until they get that second MCAT score. Really, the deciding factor would be if I got any interviews in August. If I got a couple interviews, I don't think I would take the MCAT again. I won't have a lot of time to study for it, but I know that PS score was a fluke. Can't wait until it's all over!