The 2012 MCATs are over, and the holiday season is rolling around. And quickly approaching is the 2013 season of MCATs. It’s very easy to get sucked into a vortex of obsessing over MCAT, feeling discouraged by your score, and hoping to score better next time.
To give you an idea of how retesters do, check out the AAMC’s data on retesters and their score changes upon retesting here.
Whether or not you decide to retest is a very personal decision. But keep in mind that while the MCAT is a very important test, it is not the only important factor in your medical school application. Try to maintain some perspective and don’t let yourself get too stressed out. If you are not happy with your score and are thinking of retesting, consider the following first:
Can you do score better on the MCAT?
You may feel as if you were not as prepared as you could have been when you went in to take the test the first time. Or perhaps something happened the day before or day of the test that threw you off your game. Maybe your practice test scores are consistently and significantly (3+ points) higher than your actual MCAT score. If you really feel that you can face the next test much better prepared, it could be worth investing in a retesting effort.
How was your score? Is it strong enough for your application to medical school?
Compare your score to the average MCAT scores of applicants at your target medical schools. For many schools, a 30 is respectable enough to get your application looked at. For other schools, the average hovers around 34. For most places, 1 and perhaps even 2 points either way will not make much of a difference. And keep in mind too that these MCAT averages of accepted applicants are only guidelines, not rules set in stone.
What does your GPA/MCAT combination look like?
Again, take a look at the average GPA/MCAT scores for the schools in your target range. If you have a higher GPA, it probably will not make much of a difference if your MCAT score is slightly lower than their average. And if your GPA is lower than their average, you might want a MCAT score that is higher than the school’s average.
If you want more advice on the pros and cons of re-taking the MCAT exam, a Cambridge Coaching application consultant or MCAT tutor can weigh in. Reach out for a free consultation today!
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