<p>If you don’t say new scores are coming then your application will move as though a new score isn’t coming which may yield rejections before you get a chance to retest/receive your score. I don’t know if its possible to report a new score or how to do it if it is.</p>
<p>I know this is totally anecdotal and personal but I figured I’d share it anyway:</p>
<p>My diagnostic MCAT was 25. My highest score was 34 (or 35?). I’d say my most frequent score on practice tests was 32. My actual score was 30. My ACT score was 32. </p>
<p>I was slightly bummed when I got my 30–the only thing that really tempered it was that I had decided from the get-go that as long as my score started with 3 I’d apply. Scraped by by the hair on my chinny chin chin!</p>
<p>BUT given what I know now, if I had the choice between my July application (with its 3.8/30) and a later application with a better MCAT (had I retaken, scored what I’d normally been scoring, and had what–a late August/September 32?), I would take the earlier application with the lower score every single time.</p>
<p>Being complete as early as possible is a benefit because it allows you the opportunity to win early interview spots. Conventional wisdom says that earlier interview spots yield more acceptances because the adcoms aren’t as stingy with their spots as they are with later interviewees (see curm’s current thread re early applications for more details). </p>
<p>This process is DEFINITELY a game, and there’s a lot more to an application than GPA and MCAT. Your kiddo has absolutely nothing to worry about in terms of GPA!</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, one of my friends (a year younger) applied this year. She has a very strong profile and spectacular interpersonal/communication skills. She had a 28/3.96, applied as early as possible (late June-early July), and was accepted in December (earliest you can be accepted here). I am confident her early application played a huge role, as I know multiple other people with similar applications who applied much later (September?) and were rejected.</p>
<p>Bottom line: if it were me, I’d take an early app over a few MCAT points any day, especially if you’re not gunning for a med school that places a lot of emphasis on MCAT scores. With my 30, I believe I was within a point of the average score for my class; having a higher score wouldn’t have really mattered much to the school I decided to attend, so had I retaken and applied later, I may have actually shot myself in the foot (because who knows if that higher score on a retake would have opened more doors for me, and a late app probably would have sunk me here). Plus, there’s no guarantee a retake will yield a higher score. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t take the risk.</p>
<p>The other problem in signing up for a retake that hasn’t been mentioned is what the adcoms will think when they see a student signed up for a retake if you do get a decent score.</p>
<p>Let’s say he thinks he does poorly but doesn’t cancel the scores and gets a 32-33. He is already signed up for the retake because he thought he did poorly. A retake at that point might signal that he wants a better score for the purposes of getting into what he perceives to be a “better” med school (not true but perception might trump reality). Or a better score might lead to some better money financial aid-wise (more true).</p>
<p>I think this can be a possiblity because it happened to son in his app process. He did not have a low score, but he had a very lopsided score, low verbal. He retook for that reason and did end up with a higher score, both verbal and bio. Did it help? I don’t think so. Delayed a few apps, (didn’t move to complete but rather in process) but he was asked why a retake? He said low verbal but with an S writing balanced it out. If he had to do it again he would not have retaken, just because it was such a pain. His advisors at school told him to retake, but again knowing what he knows now would not retake.</p>
<p>Contrast this with his GMAT score and he did not retake even though he knows he could do better. His verbal was high while his math was lower than he thought it should be. But he knows why, and he knows what to fix. But nope he is keeping that score, its over the threshold he needed. He knows his major and his math courses speak more than the score.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!!</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>Thank you for your advices, really appreciate the input.
Here is our plan: complete the AMCAS with current score. Already signed up for June test so she will take it and scores are back at the end of July. Per kristin’s post, this should be ok since everything should be verified and ready. I spoke to a premed advisor and she told me that especially schools with EDP, they put aside the non EDP application until July since they need a reply to the EDP by 10/1. </p>
<p>We will explore the procedure/possibility of sending additional score if “the box” for upcoming MCAT is not checked (so the application can move on). Anyone has any info, that would be so helpful.</p>
<p>We will explore the procedure/possibility of sending additional score if “the box” for upcoming MCAT is not checked (so the application can move on). Anyone has any info, that would be so helpful.</p>
<p>Yes…what is the answer to this?</p>
<p>Everyone’s insight has been excellent. Sharing with my son.</p>