How bad is a 500 MCAT score?

Asked by: Ms. Darby Mohr  |  Last update: December 18, 2023
Score: 5/5 (31 votes)

Attaining a score of 500 on the MCAT means you performed in the 53% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.

Can you get into med school with a 500 MCAT?

If we're going on MCAT score percentiles, a score of around 500 will put you under the 50th percentile. As a rule of thumb, anything less than 507 is considered a low MCAT score for medical school.

Should I retake a 500 MCAT score?

Unfortunately, the test is designed to have average MCAT score of about 500, which means at least half the test takers get 500 or below, a score too low to meet most medical school standards. This means that a large percentage of people will probably need to retake the test if they want to go to medical school.

Is 500 on MCAT 50th percentile?

In 2015, a score of 500.0 was the 50th percentile, whereas the number is now 501.5 in 2021-2022.

What is the lowest MCAT score accepted?

The lowest MCAT score accepted by medical school is challenging to nail down because it varies greatly between institutions. For example, a more competitive school may not accept anyone with an MCAT lower than 512, while a less competitive one may have a minimum acceptable score of 472.

How She Broke Her 500 MCAT Score Plateau To 513! (ft. Julia Moore)

30 related questions found

How bad is a 490 MCAT score?

Is 490 a bad MCAT score? in, and most importantly, your individual section scores. Attaining a score of 490 on the MCAT means you performed in the 20% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.

Can I get into DO school with a 490 MCAT?

A 490 is the 17%ile. There are about 100,000 MCAT-takers and ~21,000 openings in MD Med schools and ~7000 openings in DO Med schools. Anything lower than the 72%ile is on the wrong side of the odds. Lower than the 60th%ile is a long shot.

Should I apply with a 505 MCAT score?

So, for students who are doing about average or a little above average on the MCAT, in the 502-505 range, that's good enough to get a look and probably good enough to get an interview—although you would have to knock it out of the park on everything else—it could get you an acceptance.

What is a 500 on old MCAT?

Old MCAT Scoring System: Range between 3-45. A 50th percentile score approximated 25. New MCAT Scoring System: Range between 472-528. A 50th percentile score approximates 500.

Is MCAT more important than GPA?

But, the easy answer is: MCAT. Some med schools believe that GPA is a better indicator of future success because it measures your work ethic and determination. However, your MCAT score is the only factor that is completely objective. It is the only factor that can compare all students evenly.

What is a failing MCAT score?

There is no pass or fail score for the exam, there are only scores that are acceptable for specific, individual medical schools. Consider consulting specific medical schools, or their websites or the AAMC for past trends. What score do you need for medical school?

Does it look bad to retake MCAT 3 times?

That's not the message you want to send to medical schools that you keep making mistakes over and over again. Again, medical schools don't care if you have multiple MCAT tests on your application. Just make sure that if you screw up the first time, know why so you can prove the next time.

Can you get into med school with a 506 MCAT?

If your MCAT score is near the average range of 506, it's not impossible, but rather improbable to be successfully admitted to medical school. And if you do gain an acceptance, it likely won't be at your top choice schools.

Can I get into an MD school with a 499 MCAT?

MCAT and GPA are obviously top of the list because those are very easy things to weed someone out. I've seen lots of students get into medical school with a 499. The 3.9 in your SMP is awesome, the 3.2 college GPA, your stats GPA-wise are not holding you back.

How many times do most med students take the MCAT?

Not necessarily — it's good to take the MCAT as few times as you can. Medical schools don't generally ding you for having 3 or fewer tests on your application. The MCAT is an exam conducted multiple times throughout the year, standardized by the AAMC. It's a difficult test that takes more than 7 hours to complete.

Is 504 a bad MCAT score?

Is 504 a bad MCAT score? The answer depends on several factors including what type of medical school (MD vs DO vs Canadian) you're interested in, and most importantly, your individual section scores. Attaining a score of 504 on the MCAT means you performed in the 67% percentile.

How rare is a 525 MCAT?

The answer depends on several factors including what type of medical school (MD vs DO vs Canadian) you're interested in, and most importantly, your individual section scores. Attaining a score of 525 on the MCAT means you performed in the 100% percentile.

How to go from 500 to 520 MCAT?

How To Go From a 500 to a 520 on the MCAT
  1. Do as many practice questions as you possibly can. ...
  2. Ask for help EARLY if you find yourself struggling with MCAT prep. ...
  3. Make an MCAT study plan — avoid overwhelm. ...
  4. Study efficiently — but also allow yourself plenty of time where necessary (especially for CARS). ...
  5. Mindset is key.

What is a mediocre MCAT score?

Average MCAT Scores

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the average MCAT score was 501.5 for those who took the test between May 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022. MCAT scores range from 472-528.

Will a high GPA make up for a low MCAT?

The bottom line is this – if you have a low MCAT, you must do your best to balance it with a high GPA. While these stats are not the be-all and end-all of medical school admissions, some schools will not continue the review of your application if you do not demonstrate a strong academic history via your GPA and MCAT.

Should I retake the MCAT if I got a 510?

While going from 515 to 517 looks good, going from 498 to 502 looks great. So statistically speaking, unless you're already in the very highest tier of test takers, chances are that retaking the MCAT will result in a better score and will ultimately benefit your application.

Does a high MCAT help a low GPA?

“Holistic” admissions is the buzzword right now.

But when you think about having a low GPA and getting a high MCAT score to overcome that GPA, it just doesn't work that way. GPA and MCAT are both number-based.

What is the lowest MCAT score accepted at MD school?

What is the lowest MCAT score accepted to medical school? Generally speaking, the lowest acceptable score to be admitted to medical school is in the 490-495 range. Most medical schools do not list a minimum required MCAT score, but their average accepted MCAT score may be higher.

Does taking the MCAT 4 times look bad?

Will It Look Bad On My Application If I Retake the MCAT? If you retake the MCAT only once, even twice, and improve your score each time, it won't impact your chances of admission. However, retaking the MCAT excessively or scoring lower each time you take it may negatively impact your application.

How many times can you fail the MCAT?

RETAKE POLICIES

MCAT examinees can test up to three times in one calendar year and four times across two calendar years. An examinee cannot take the exam more than seven times in their lifetime. Not showing up for an exam counts as an attempt toward the lifetime limit.