Undergraduate Studies
Health Professions: Should I take the MCATs again?
There are many factors that should be considered when deciding whether to retake the MCAT. The following are some general guidelines that should aid in making this decision.
The average MCAT scores for Purdue students accepted to medical school in 1997 were 9.6 in Verbal Reasoning, 10.2 in Physical Sciences, O on the Writing Sample and 10.3 in Biological Sciences. The average MCAT scores for all applicants throughout the United States who were accepted to medical school in 1997 were 9.7 in Verbal Reasoning, 9.9 in Physical Sciences, P on the Writing Sample, and 10.2 on Biological Sciences.
In 1997 only 5% of the Purdue students who were admitted to medical school had a seven on one of the MCAT sub-tests. None of the admitted applicants had a score lower than seven and no admitted applicant had more than one seven. Thirty eight percent of the admitted applicants had an eight as their lowest score. Five percent of the admitted applicants had two eights. None of the admitted students had both a seven and an eight.
Robert Stump, Director of Admissions, Indiana University Medical School recommends that any student with a 7 or below in any category should retake the MCAT. Since very few students with a score of 7 on any of the MCAT sub-tests gain acceptance to medical school, it is fair to assume that other medical school admissions directors share Mr. Stump's opinion.
If an applicant has a score of seven or two scores of eight on the MCAT and wishes to avoid retaking the MCAT he or she is encouraged to apply to medical school but develop a strong back-up plan. Students with scores below seven are strongly urged to retake the MCAT.
It is not always possible or advisable for a student to retake the MCAT in the August following his or her first test. The MCAT should not be retaken unless ample time can be devoted to studying for the exam. Many strong applicants to medical school retake the MCAT in April of their senior year and begin medical school fifteen months after graduation. This situation can serve to enhance a student's medical school application by giving him or her time to take additional courses or work or volunteer in a medical setting.
Many medical schools view MCAT scores differently for students from minority groups that are under-represented in medicine. The general guidelines listed above may differ for students from African-American, mainland Puerto Rican, Native American, or Mexican-American backgrounds. Students from these under-represented groups should discuss their MCAT scores with the admissions director or minority student dean from the medical schools where they intend to apply.
