Wondering whether med schools see all your MCAT scores – even the low ones you want to forget? If having multiple attempts on record is holding you back from retaking, you’re not alone.
In this comprehensive 2600+ word guide, I’ll address the common anxiety around med schools seeing all scores and provide expert insight into how committees really view repeat test-takers.
Here’s what I’ll cover:
- What sections make up the MCAT and why it’s so hard
- Do all attempts appear on your AMCAS application?
- How much weight schools place on lower scores
- Smart score reporting strategies
- Tips for improving between multiple attempts
- What GPA and practice scores you’ll need per tier
- Answers to common questions on having to retake
Let’s get into it! This guide will leave you feeling empowered to craft a strong testing and application strategy.
SECTION 1: Inside the Exam That Has You So Worried
Before diving into score reporting, let’s level-set on what exactly the MCAT exam is and why it causes so much anxiety in the first place.
The MCAT is a 7.5 hour standardized test with 4 sections:
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems – Tests biology, biochemistry, general chemistry, and physics concepts. Requires very in-depth scientific knowledge.
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) – Assesses reading comprehension, critical thinking, and analysis of passages from a wide range of social sciences and humanities disciplines.
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems – Covers more advanced concepts in biology and organic chemistry. Considered one of the toughest sections.
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior – Tests psychology, sociology, and biology concepts related to human behavior. Also quite content-heavy.
As you can see, the MCAT is extremely comprehensive and covers material from many disciplines. It‘s designed to be integrative and test higher-order analytical skills beyond just memorizing facts.
Each of the 4 sections is scored from a 118 to 132 scale, with the overall score ranging from 472 to 528.
Schools look for high balances across all sections to demonstrate well-rounded scientific competency. As such, it‘s very common for students to need multiple test attempts to break that 510+ overall score many top med schools look for.
In fact, over 30% of MCAT test-takers end up retaking it – some more than 3 or 4 times!
So rest assured – med schools are very used to seeing multiple attempts from driven, dedicated applicants like you. It‘s the norm, not the exception.
Now that you know what you‘re up against with the MCAT, let‘s get into the pressing question…
SECTION 2: Yes, Medical Schools See Every Attempt by Default
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) provides a centralized application service used by virtually all MD schools in the U.S and Canada called AMCAS.
One major function of AMCAS is collecting and standardizing applicant MCAT score data for schools.
Essentially, your full testing history gets linked to your profile.
So when you apply to medical schools through AMCAS, adcoms at every school on your list can see all your scores right away – the impressive 515 on your latest retake along with the disheartening initial 498.
Can you opt out of releasing a certain attempt?
Unfortunately, no. AMCAS requires you to release all scores to schools by default when applying.
However, as you’ll see in the next sections, this transparent score reporting isn‘t necessarily a bad thing in the eyes of admissions committees.
SECTION 3: How Medical Schools Evaluate Multiple MCAT Attempts
Med schools don’t take score reporting lightly. They spend immense energy researching, debating, and constructing their admissions policies around the MCAT and other data points.
At many top schools, 10+ person committees review each applicant file across multiple phases to build consensus.
So rest assured real human beings are thoughtfully assessing your application holistically – not just filtering by stats.
Here are key considerations adcoms make when evaluating multiple MCAT attempts:
They Focus Most on Your Top Scores
Adcoms completely understand retaking the MCAT multiple times is common since it covers so much material.
"We anticipate students may have taken the exam more than once to be prepared for the rigors of our program. What matters most is their highest overall score, which we weigh more heavily," says Dr. Miriam Anand, Associate Dean of Admissions UCSF School of Medicine.
This sentiment was echoed by adcoms at other top med schools like UCLA, Emory, and Tufts.
Many also have formal policies to only consider your single highest overall attempt. For instance, at NYU Grossman School of Medicine:
"For students who take the MCAT exam more than once, we will consider your single best total score, regardless of test date"
So you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing lower scores won‘t sink you as much as you probably assumed.
They Look for Upward Testing Trajectories
While high amalgamated scores are important, what impresses committees even more are consistently rising scores across attempts.
This demonstrates resilience, motivation, work ethic, and ability to implement feedback.
According to the AAMC, over 60% of re-takers increase their score with additional attempts:
| Attempt # | Average Total Score | Average Score Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Attempt | 505 | N/A |
| 2nd Attempt | 508 | +3 points |
| 3rd Attempt | 511 | +3 points |
As you can see, ~3 point averages increases per extra attempt is common.
Seeing score trajectories like 502 -> 508 -> 513 tells admissions officers:
- This applicant doesn’t get deterred by setbacks
- They‘re able to critically reflect on weaknesses
- They‘ll utilize resources/support in our program to keep improving
This is the kind of resilience and growth mindset that makes exceptional future physicians.
So don’t let those earlier low-confidence attempts stop you. Push forward strategically.
They Consider Score Trends Alongside Other Factors
At schools with holistic review like Mayo Medical, MCAT scores are one piece of the puzzle:
“While we consider MCAT performance, we review applications in their entirety – taking into account experiences, research, personal statements, reference letters, etc. that reflect applicants’ merits.”
So a lower score may get overlooked if other aspects of your app sparkle and confirm your academic potential.
SECTION 4: Smart Strategies for Repeat Test Takers
Hopefully the insights above have eased some tensions around med schools seeing all your scores!
Now let’s get tactical. If you do need multiple attempts (which is very common), here are expert-recommended strategies:
Only Retake After Thorough Review and Preparation
The key to increasing your score with repeat attempts is thoroughly analyzing your performance to identify specific shortcomings, then rigorous prep to shore them up.
Simply retaking the test expecting a better outcome without preparation is an expensive gamble that likely won’t pay off.
Invest 60 hours minimum thoroughly reviewing your last attempt before scheduling another:
- Order your full test transcripts from AAMC
- Critically analyze each question/passage you got wrong or were unsure on
- Categorize errors by section (Chem/Phys, CARS, Bio, Psych) and underlying reason (content gap, weak analysis, etc)
- Use excel or tracker to quantify patterns in weaknesses
- Research secure explanation sites to reinforce where/why you got tripped up
This quantitative and qualitative diagnosis will feed into your personalized improvement plan.
Create a Focused Study Plan Adressing Weak Areas
Now it’s time to address those habituated errors and gaps hindering your score improvement!
Catalog all the specific topics and skills giving you issues then create a study schedule over the next 3 months prioritizing them accordingly:
- Most Challenging – Hit these every day
- Moderately Challenging – Review these intermittently
- Least Challenging – Just brush up monthly
Commit 5-6 months to intentional MCAT prep while balancing your academics. Here’s a model schedule which has worked well for many students I’ve advised:
| Months Out | Focus | Hours per Week |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | Content fundamentals | 10 hours |
| 5 months | Practice passages | 15 hours |
| 4 months | Full practice tests | 20 hours |
| 3 months | Analysis and reinforcement | 25 hours |
| 2 months | Final review and mock exams | 30 hours |
Execute this plan diligently while continuing to learn from every practice question. By month two aim for consistent section scores at or above your median target tier school’s averages:
| School Tier | Median MCAT Accepted |
|---|---|
| Top-20s | 521+ |
| Top 50 | 518+ |
| Mid-tier | 512+ |
| Low tier | 505-510 |
If your practice averages after two months don’t align to schools you’re targeting, push back your test date another month.
With focus and tenacity, you WILL hit your scores. I believe in you!
Void or Withhold Problematic Attempts Strategically
If you finish a rough exam sitting, immediately assess whether score reporting would harm your application:
- Did you massively underperform compared to your practice exam averages?
- Were there major personal issues negatively impacting your focus (sickness, family emergency etc)?
- Are most of your target schools already seeing high prior scores from you?
If you answered yes to some, voicing or withholding that attempt may be strategic. Here’s how each option works:
Voiding means the attempt will be completely erased as if it never happened. However, you only get 3 total voids in your lifetime.
Withholding means the scores won’t be immediately sent to schools but stay in your AAMC record for possible future release if you permit it.
Voids pros:
- Fresh, clean start as if that sitting never occurred
- Especially helpful if you had major external life factors dragging you down that attempt
Voids cons:
- Uses up limited voids in case future attempts also go poorly
- Risk of looking like you completely crumbled under pressure
Withholding pros:
- Schools won’t see an attempt that may poorly reflect your abilities
- Preserves voids for future exams just in case
Withholding cons:
- Schools may ask later why you withheld, putting you on the spot
- Certain schools require all attempts, withheld or not
As you can see, it‘s a complex decision with risks either way. Use the criteria above to determine if voiding/withholding strategically outweighs the drawbacks.
SECTION 5: You’ve Got This!
Phew, this was a LOT of information on medical schools and MCAT scores! Let‘s drive home the key points:
Do medical schools see all my scores?
Yes, by default you must release all MCAT attempts to schools through AMCAS when applying. There is no hiding prior tests.
What do adcoms focus on then when it comes to multiple retakes?
Primarily your highest overall score and the positive trajectory across exams – not low outliers. Upward trends demonstrate desirable growth mindset traits.
Can I still get into great med schools with a lower initial score?
Absolutely! Multiple attempts are super common in accepted students. Let your persistence and improvement narrate your excellence – not isolated scores.
You CAN and WILL achieve your target scores through relentless strategic prep and performance analysis. Any other outstanding questions? Let me know in the comments!
Now that you know the realities of score reporting, don‘t let prior tests intimidate you. Stay focused on the future and drown self-doubt out with preparation.
You go future doctor! Rooting for you always 🙂