<p>I got my mcat score today and its a 34P. 11 VR 12 BS 11 PS. I don't know whether I should retake or not. I wouldn't even be considering retaking if my practice exams at the end weren't around the 36-38 range. I think that nerves got to me and I didn't do as well. I know that the chances of improvement are only marginal for retakes when you studied all you could for the first time.</p>
<p>My question is, with a 3.7 sGPA from WashU, how competitive am I for schools like WashU, Yale, and UPenn? I'm from MO if that changes anything.</p>
<p>Nicely balanced. Good job. Your MCAT score will not keep you out of an allopathic med school in the US. As for the 3 schools you mentioned…you’ll be light on the MCAT at all 3. You’d have to be betting that the rest of your app will be strong enough to get you a look. </p>
<p>Are you male? If so, for your gender, you are in the same place score-percentile-wise my D was in and she only garnered 1 Top Ten interview from the 5 (maybe 6?) Top Ten schools she tried. Should she have re-taken? Maybe so, but the re-take percentages were against her. Big time. And they are against you, too. And anyway, she ended up at the right place for her. </p>
<p>That being said, a 11/12/11 only time MCAT is a great feat IMO. I wouldn’t downplay it.</p>
<p>I’d be happy if I got your mcat score next summer when I take it. Can you pm me how you studied for it and how long you studied? It would really help. I also get REALLY nervous during standardized tests and if affects my ability to do well.</p>
<p>Isn’t the average mcat score at Yale and UPenn a 35? If so, you are only 1 point below the average. As long as the rest of your application is decent, it won’t keep you out.</p>
<p>Also how long does it take to get back mcat scores. I plan on taking the mcat next august and I was wondering when I would receive my scores by.</p>
<p>Anyone got any test taking tips that can help me keep calm during standardized tests? I am sweating right now, just thinking about taking the mcats next august…hahaha…</p>
<p>Drops on test day are very normal and to be expected. They should not be used to justify a retake unless you’re talking about something like an 8 point drop.</p>
<p>I know the feeling of missing your projected score by a few points. For me, it stung the most right after the fact, and definitely got easier to deal with over time. I bet you’ll be pretty thrilled with your 34 in a few weeks once the initial sting wears off. Just give it some time!</p>
<p>I elected not to retake my 30 (I’d been getting 33/34) because of the chance that the opposite would happen and my score would drop to 29 or below. Definitely not a chance worth taking, which is why I kept my 30 and focused on bringing up other aspects of my application and tried to “market” myself well with my essays, letters, and secondaries. </p>
<p>I doubt your MCAT was the only part of your application, and I doubt you were expecting it to be your app’s shining star. I have a feeling the remainder of your application is very strong (based solely on what other things you’ve posted here)–so if the major downside to your candidacy is a 34 on the MCAT…I know plenty of people who’d give anything to be in your shoes.</p>
<p>Don’t retake it and don’t worry about the P either. Practice tests are practice tests. I scored 44s on several of them and I assure you that I did not get a 44.</p>
<p>I think that is a very solid score. Already solidly over one standard deviation, meaning you are doing better than over 80 percent of other test takers.</p>
<p>I think there are some things to take into consideration. The average MCAT scores school post are for those accepted, not those matriculating. Matriculating averages are at least 1 point below. Also, an average should be taken as that- a mean in a normal (Gaussian) distribution. Instead of thinking of an average of 35 to mean “most students at this school have a 35 or above” it means that half of those accepted have a score higher than that, half before. There are outliers, but this half above and half below model still works pretty well I think, and those outliers probably work in both directions.</p>
<p>When I saw the title of this thread I immediately felt an “Gosh, I feel sorry for this kid - I know how much effort goes into the MCAT.” moment. Now that I know the distress is over a well-balanced 34 I can see that no sympathy is necessary. It is a very respectable score and if everything else on your application looks good it will serve you well at many schools. Mazel tov. :)</p>
<p>Are you kidding?!? A 34 is an excellent score. Don’t even think of retaking. You should be thanking your lucky stars. Move on and work on your other aspects of your application.</p>
<p>Where did you finally end up? My child also invariably scored a 36-38 in the AAMC practice tests. But found the real MCAT to be very tough and not matched with the practice tests at all. We dont know the scores yet but not sure if it will be above 32. Please advise based on your experience. Thanks.</p>
<p>^ For what it is worth: ChemFreak has not been active on CC recently. Also, some CCer may want to keep some privacy about where he ends up with, and it could be the case for OP. I do not know CC’s guideline here (hopefully, the moderator could come out to educate us on this.) But it appears that CC prefers that CCers would not revive an old thread. (How “old” a thread is before it is considered as “old”? What is the criterion here?)</p>
<p>I admit though sometimes I enjoy reading some old posts, especially when I “know” most of these CCers who posted on that old thread. Most of these CCers (or their loved one) are likely in a med school now (or even past that stage.)</p>
<p>Please use old threads for information only. When they are posted on and revived, other members often do not notice the date and respond to the OP.</p>
<p>Please feel free to start your own thread using the New Thread button.</p>
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