Should I explain low MCAT score in secondary application?

Even with a great activities section, the question of why you have a low MCAT may still linger. You can use your personal statement to briefly explain why your MCAT is not as great as the rest of your application components.

How do you address low MCAT in secondary application?

Highlight extenuating circumstances.

You can explain these circumstances in your personal statement and secondary applications. Even if you had a busy semester while you were studying for the MCAT, you may explain that you overcommitted and did not perform as well.

Should I explain a low MCAT score?

If you are asked about your score, be honest and straightforward. Explain your low MCAT score results, highlight why you think your score is lower than it could be, and talk about the steps you're taking to address the issue. Remember that there are many traits that make a great medical school student.

What happens if you score lower on your second MCAT?

While it's true that you can take the MCAT three times in the same year and seven times in a lifetime, medical schools can see how you scored on each attempt. If you score even lower on a second or third attempt, admissions committees will not see you as a worthwhile investment.

How do you address a low MCAT score in a personal statement?

For example, instead of saying, “I could have gotten a good score if my orgo teacher was better,” you could say, “My MCAT score doesn't accurately reflect my ability and passion for medicine in the same way that my clinical experiences do.” The first example places blame on someone other than the applicant for a low ...

HIGH GPA but LOW MCAT - What are your options?!

How do you justify a low MCAT score?

You can use your personal statement to briefly explain why your MCAT is not as great as the rest of your application components. If you have a reason other than “I just didn't study enough,” this extenuating circumstance can be incorporated into your medical school personal statement.

Is a 517 MCAT too low?

To get an excellent MCAT score means to score in the overall 90th percentile or higher, which currently means a score of 515 or greater. With an MCAT score of 515 or above, you have a significantly better chance of getting accepted. Anything above the score of 517 is considered outstanding.

Should I retake a 502 MCAT?

Should I Retake The MCAT If My Score Is 502? If you want to maximize your chances of achieving medical school acceptance, and if your overall application is not strong, we recommend you retake the MCAT if your score is 502.

What is the lowest acceptable MCAT score?

Medical institutions in the U.S. and Canada that necessitate the MCAT typically accept scores ranging from 490-495 at the minimum. Scores below 490 are rarely if ever, accepted. Interestingly, a vast majority of individuals score above this range. Recent data suggests that the average score hovers around 506.5.

Should I retake a 507 MCAT?

If you want to maximize your chances of achieving medical school acceptance, and if your overall application is not strong, we recommend you retake the MCAT if your score is 507.

What is a bad first MCAT score?

A great score is 515 to 528 (the maximum possible score), while an average score is 502 to 508. In contrast, a poor score is 501 and below. This guide will go over what a good MCAT score is and how medical schools use your score to make their decision.

Does a bad first MCAT score matter?

Medical schools will see all scores -- As you will see from the above, most medical schools will have access to all your scores. They will take each into consideration, so even if your second or third score is better than your first, there's a chance that one bad score can still ruin your chances of getting accepted.

Is 512 MCAT too low?

Nonetheless, a 512 MCAT score is above the average score for accepted applicants at many medical schools. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the average MCAT score for U.S. medical school matriculants in 2020-2021 was 511.5. Thus, boasting a 512 score puts you in a competitive position.

Will schools send secondaries without MCAT score?

Most schools don't require MCAT scores or letters of recommendation before issuing secondaries.

Do med-schools reject before secondaries?

After reviewing your AMCAS file, the admissions committees at your med schools will either reject you or send you a secondary application . Some schools send all of their applicants a secondary. Others go through an initial cut that is usually based entirely on GPA and MCAT scores.

How do med-schools decide who to send secondaries to?

AMCAS immediately notifies the schools designated by an applicant about that individual's intention to apply there. Many medical schools send secondaries automatically to all applicants; some even send secondaries to applicants as soon as they receive this notification from AMCAS.

Should I retake a 508 MCAT?

If you want to maximize your chances of achieving medical school acceptance, and if your overall application is not strong, we recommend you retake the MCAT if your score is 508.

Should I retake a 515 MCAT?

While going from 515 to 517 looks good, going from 498 to 501 looks great. So statistically speaking, unless you're already in the very highest tier of test takers, chances are that retaking the MCAT will result in a better score and will ultimately benefit your application.

Should I retake a 506 MCAT?

Considering that a 506 is quite close to the average MCAT score of a 501, it's not very competitive for med-school admission. With a 506, you might make some med-school score cutoffs, but the rest of your application needs to be very competitive to make you a viable candidate for most med-schools.

How bad does retaking the MCAT look?

1. Will It Look Bad On My Application If I Retake the MCAT? If you retake the MCAT only once, even twice, and improve your score each time, it won't impact your chances of admission. However, retaking the MCAT excessively or scoring lower each time you take it may negatively impact your application.

Do multiple MCAT scores look bad?

That's not the message you want to send to medical schools that you keep making mistakes over and over again. Again, medical schools don't care if you have multiple MCAT tests on your application. Just make sure that if you screw up the first time, know why so you can prove the next time.

What is a bad MCAT score?

A 495 MCAT score is below the national average and is likely to make getting into med school quite challenging. If you have a 495 MCAT, consider retaking the test or applying to medical schools that are known to accept students with a low MCAT.

How common is a 515 MCAT?

Attaining a score of 515 on the MCAT means you performed in the 94% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 128 (C/P) 129 (CARS) 129 (B/B) 129 (P/S).

Has anyone gotten a 528 on the MCAT?

Since this method is not perfect, we'll leave you with a range; between 30 and 70 students every year achieve a perfect 528 MCAT. This is out of the nearly three hundred thousand students who take the exam. Thus, achieving a perfect MCAT score is quite difficult, but it is not impossible.

How common is a 520 MCAT?

Is 520 a good MCAT score? An MCAT score of 520 is very strong and puts you in the 97th percentile of all MCAT test takers.