Should I rewrite the MCAT???

[Taco]

Hi! I am currently in the process of applying to med schools and Dal is my top choice. I was born and raised in NS, attended university here and currently live in Halifax. I have about a 3.8 GPA and just got my MCAT score back. I got a 503 which is horrible as I was practice testing around 515. I’m wondering if it’s worth my while to re write the test. I have decent activities (volunteer work, TA, etc), have not done research but I do have a lot of work experience. I don’t know if I should focus my time on my essay and application as an in province applicant or if I should start studying again and rewrite the MCAT. Thoughts and advice please????

[dh.]

Are your practice scores of 515 on AAMC tests or third-party? I also scored lower on my actual exam than I did on practice tests, I think that’s fairly common.

I don’t think a 503 is going to make or break your application. The difference between a 515 and a 503 is probably about 3 or 4 points out of 100 (based on prior speculation on this forum about Dal MCAT assessment). Every other component of your application is worth more than the MCAT.

Ultimately, will getting a higher MCAT score help you sleep better, or are you comfortable with the rest of your application (ECs, essay, CASPer, interviews)?

[Taco]

I 

1 hour ago, dh. said:

Are your practice scores of 515 on AAMC tests or third-party? I also scored lower on my actual exam than I did on practice tests, I think that’s fairly common.

I don’t think a 503 is going to make or break your application. The difference between a 515 and a 503 is probably about 3 or 4 points out of 100 (based on prior speculation on this forum about Dal MCAT assessment). Every other component of your application is worth more than the MCAT.

Ultimately, will getting a higher MCAT score help you sleep better, or are you comfortable with the rest of your application (ECs, essay, CASPer, interviews)?

I think that I would be okay for Dal but I hate the feeling that it’s my only option. I think a better MCAT would open the doors for more interviews at other schools even though Dal is my first choice. 

[avocado_toast]

For the 2020-2021 application cycle, the last eligible MCAT test date is September 5th, 2020. If you can get a date before then and study/practice seriously before then, I think it is worth rewriting. 

If you look at the class statistics for the Dalhousie Medicine 2019 incoming class, the average MCAT score was 510 (80th percentile). 503 is the 57th percentile. I think you could still apply to Dalhousie with a 503, but meeting the cutoffs doesn't mean that you'll definitely get in. The MCAT is assessed competitively at Dal for both the interview and the admission offer, so every extra point you have counts. You were doing really well on your practice tests, so I think that there's a good chance that if you rewrote, you could get a score that better reflected the work you've already put in! :) 

[Chels1267]

4 hours ago, avocado_toast said:

For the 2020-2021 application cycle, the last eligible MCAT test date is September 5th, 2020. If you can get a date before then and study/practice seriously before then, I think it is worth rewriting. 

If you look at the class statistics for the Dalhousie Medicine 2019 incoming class, the average MCAT score was 510 (80th percentile). 503 is the 57th percentile. I think you could still apply to Dalhousie with a 503, but meeting the cutoffs doesn't mean that you'll definitely get in. The MCAT is assessed competitively at Dal for both the interview and the admission offer, so every extra point you have counts. You were doing really well on your practice tests, so I think that there's a good chance that if you rewrote, you could get a score that better reflected the work you've already put in!

MCAT is not assessed competitively for interview for IP students. OP do you think you could do better if a date before the cut-off was available? I'd still apply with a 503 at Dal but I completely see what you're saying about a higher score opening doors at other schools.