So, I have about 13 applications out right now with 4 secondaries submitted and two I am working on. My MCAT score came out today and was a 496. I am shocked and really disappointed. I have a ton of experiences outside of my score including being a trauma nurse for 5 years. What should I do moving forward? Should I finish my secondary applications? When should I retake the mcat? I’m just very lost right now. Thanks for the feedback!
https://www.aamc.org/download/321508/data/factstablea23.pdf
Statistically you still have a chance at getting, but it gets bleaker the lower your GPA. Schools use MCAT scores for 2 primary purposes (that I’m aware of): 1) the great equalizer since all ugrad schools are different, 2) there’s a correlation with MCAT score and successfully completing medical school (including passing Steps). Personal experiences may help make up for #1, but there is a baseline that schools are looking for that cannot be made up by personal experiences.
Tough call on what to do at this point. I think everything will eventually lead to retaking the MCAT. There are a few paths you can take.
- Finish your secondaries and hope schools look past your score based on everything you’ve accomplished.
- Don’t submit any more secondaries and let the other ones ride to see what happens. If you end up applying again, pretty much every school application I can remember had a “are you a reapplicant” button, meaning are you applying to THAT specific school again. The less of those you have, the better it’ll probably be for you next cycle.
- Continue with this cycle and schedule an immediate retake of the MCAT. If you can get your score in before the cutoff date, you may increase your chances. Downside is your application would be put on hold until those scores come back, and you’ll fall farther and farther down the pool of potential matriculants.
In any case, I’d probably start studying for the next battle against the MCAT. Reflect back on how you studied, what worked, what didn’t, and what you think you could do better. I’m a big fan of commercial prep courses because it really helped me with my MCAT studies/strategies.
I am in similar situation, except I didn’t submit primary apps.
I work with nurses on daily basis 
you guys are amazing. From other premed forum, it seems like for those of us (RT, PharmD, Paramedics) who have been in the health field for years may have hard time to perform well in MCAT. It is a different ball game.
I am in no position to give advice. I just tell myself if it is my dream I have to keep going… that includes face my fear of verbal 
, taking new science class to boost my knowledge.
Let support each other! 