Can I get into med-school with 498 MCAT?

Yes, getting into med school with a 498 MCAT is challenging but possible, especially if you're applying to Osteopathic (DO) programs or have an exceptionally strong application with high GPA, clinical experience, research, and compelling personal narrative, but it often means targeting schools with lower averages or retaking for Allopathic (MD) admissions. A 498 is below the average for many MD programs, but some DO schools and specific MD programs do accept students in this range, particularly if other parts of your profile (GPA, experience, personal statement) are outstanding.

Can you get into med-school with a 498 MCAT?

All medical schools require an MCAT score of 494 or higher. A 490 places you well below this minimum threshold for consideration. You should consider retaking the exam or applying to the few schools that don't require the MCAT at all.

Is 498 a good 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 498 on the MCAT® means you performed in the 45% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.

What is the lowest MCAT to get into med-school?

The MCAT is scored between 472 and 528, with the average test-taker scoring around 501. Most competitive medical schools expect 510+, but there are programs with: Lower minimum cutoffs (498–502) Lower average accepted scores (500–505)

Should I retake the MCAT if I scored 499?

If you scored 499-505 your first time, you should probably retake the MCAT. If you scored 506-511, you may not need to retake, but you could if you know you'd score much higher — especially if you're applying to Ivy League schools.

Can I Get an Acceptance With a 496 MCAT? | Old PreMeds Ep. 331

Is 484 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 484 on the MCAT® means you performed in the 8% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.

How good is a 499 MCAT score?

According to recent AAMC data, a score above 501 will put you in the above-average category of testers. A score above 511 will make your application competitive, as that is the average MCAT score of matriculants over the last few years.

Is a 495 MCAT score good?

In general: MCAT scores below 502 are considered below-average. Scores between 490–500 fall on the lower end for both MD and DO schools. Below 490 is unlikely to be competitive at accredited U.S. or Canadian schools.

What is the easiest MD medical school to get into?

The "easiest" medical schools to get into often have higher acceptance rates, favoring in-state applicants and those with strong but not necessarily top-tier GPAs (around 3.7+) and MCATs (around 500+), with examples including University of Mississippi, ECU Brody School of Medicine, University of North Dakota, and Mercer University School of Medicine, but even these are competitive, requiring dedication to building a strong application with experiences and good scores. Osteopathic (DO) schools like William Carey and Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine are also options, often with lower average stats. 

What is the average MCAT score for Albert Einstein?

Accepted students at Einstein have an average MCAT score of 516. The 10th-90th percentile range is 511-520.

What is a realistic MCAT score?

A good MCAT score is generally considered to be 511 or higher, with no section score below 127. The MCAT, also known as the Medical College Admission Test, is a computer-based standardized exam designed to assess your potential as a medical student and doctor.

What is a bad first MCAT score?

However, if you want to get accepted into a top medical school, you will probably need to aim for a score significantly higher than this. A great score is 515 to 528 (the maximum possible score), while an average score is 502 to 508. In contrast, a poor score is 501 and below.

What is the average MCAT score for doctors?

In recent years, the competition has only intensified: the national median GPA for new medical students now hovers around 3.86, and the average MCAT score of matriculants is roughly 511–512. Clearly, strong academics are a cornerstone of a competitive application.

What's the lowest MCAT score accepted by Harvard?

Although HMS does not set a minimum grade point average or minimum MCAT scores, academic excellence is expected. Applicants must post their scores to their AMCAS application in order to be considered in the current application cycle no later than October 22, 2025.

How bad is a 487 MCAT score?

A 487 MCAT score is generally considered below average and not competitive for most US MD programs, falling around the 11th-14th percentile, well below the ~501 average and ~512 matriculant average; however, it might be considered for some DO programs or if coupled with exceptional other application components, though retaking is often recommended for better odds.
 

What is the lowest MCAT score accepted into medical school?

You'll need a minimum score in the 490-495 range to be accepted into any medical school that requires the MCAT. Anything lower than 490 is very unlikely to be acceptable. It should be noted, though, that very few test-takers score in this range.

What is the 32 hour rule for medical school?

The "32-hour rule" in medical school admissions refers to a policy where some medical schools focus on an applicant's GPA from their most recent 32 credit hours, often in post-baccalaureate coursework, to evaluate academic strength, giving a chance to those with a weaker overall undergraduate record but strong recent performance, like at LSU-New Orleans and Wayne State. It's a way for schools to see recent academic growth, with examples including focusing on recent semesters or post-bacc programs to demonstrate improvement.
 

What is the least competitive doctor to become?

With that in mind, the five least competitive medical specialties are:

• Family medicine.
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation.
• Anesthesiology.
• Pediatrics.
• Psychiatry.

What is a top 1% MCAT score?

A top 1% MCAT score generally falls around the 515-520+ range, though the exact score shifts slightly with each testing year's percentiles, with scores like 475-477 often representing the 1st percentile on the total score chart, but a 99th percentile is closer to 520+, requiring near-perfect section scores (131-132) for the highest ranks, with 528 being perfect. 

Is a 480 bad on the MCAT?

Yes, a 480 is generally considered a low or below-average MCAT score, falling in the 3rd percentile, significantly below the average of around 501 and the competitive range (511+) for medical school admissions, making it challenging to get into most MD programs without a strong retake or exceptional other application components. However, your specific section scores and overall application (GPA, experiences) matter, and a balanced score (e.g., 120 in each section) is better than a skewed one, with DO or Caribbean schools potentially being more accessible. 

What does a 518 MCAT score mean?

Attaining a score of 518 on the MCAT® means you performed in the 97% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.

What is the average MCAT score for 2025?

The average MCAT score for all medical school applicants in 2025-2026 is 506.1. The average MCAT score for all medical school enrollees was 511.8. As of 2025, the average score for the psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior section is 125.9, the highest of all sections.

Is the MCAT harder than the SAT?

Yes, the MCAT is widely considered significantly harder than the SAT, as it's much longer (nearly 8 hours vs. ~3 hours), requires extensive, specialized science knowledge (biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, psychology, sociology), and tests advanced critical thinking in complex, passage-based scientific contexts, unlike the SAT's high school-level content. The MCAT demands hundreds of hours of dedicated study, making it a formidable challenge even for high-achievers who did well on the SAT.
 

Can I get into med-school with a 490 MCAT?

While a score of 490 on the MCAT is below the average for most medical school applicants, it is not impossible to gain acceptance into a medical program with this score. That being said, medical school admissions committees consider the entire application, not just the MCAT score.