Can you get into med school with a 497 MCAT?

Yes, it's possible to get into medical school (both MD and DO) with a 497 MCAT, but it's challenging as it's below the average (around 501-502) and percentile (around 37th percentile), requiring an exceptionally strong application in other areas like clinical experience, research, volunteering, a compelling personal statement, and targeting schools with lower averages, particularly DO programs or mission-focused MD schools, says MedLife Mastery, Kaplan Test Prep and Reddit users. Many successful applicants with similar scores highlight stellar extracurriculars, research, and shadowing to balance the score, note Reddit users.

Is 497 on MCAT good?

According to the AAMC, the median MCAT score for all applicants is 506.1, while the median for matriculants is 511.8. In practical terms, anything below 506 is considered low, and to be truly competitive, you should aim for 512 or higher.

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)

Can I get into med-school with a 487 MCAT?

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.

Is 487 a bad MCAT score?

Yes, a 487 is generally considered a below-average and not very competitive MCAT score for most U.S. MD programs, placing you around the 11-12th percentile, but acceptance is still possible at some schools, especially DO programs or with strong supporting factors; most matriculants score above 500, with competitive applicants often scoring 509+. Whether it's "bad" depends heavily on your target schools, individual section scores, and overall application strength, but a retake often significantly improves your chances, with many aiming for 500+ for better options. 

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

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.

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 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.
 

Is 477 a bad MCAT score?

The higher your MCAT percentile, the better.

Here is the full MCAT percentiles list from the latest MCAT percentile ranks released by AAMC. Our medical school admission experts recommend that you aim for a total score of 511 or above.

Is a 490 MCAT score bad?

A 490 on the MCAT is a below-average score. According to recent AAMC stats: A 490 is 17 percentile rank on the MCAT.

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 the easiest MD medical school to get into?

There are no truly "easy" medical schools, but some have higher acceptance rates or lower average GPA/MCAT scores, often focusing on regional needs or specific missions, like University of Mississippi, East Carolina University (Brody), University of North Dakota, Mercer University, Meharry Medical College, University of North Dakota, and University of New Mexico. Osteopathic (DO) schools like William Carey, Arkansas COM, Pikeville KYCOM, and Lincoln Memorial are also frequently listed as having higher acceptance rates than top MD programs. 

Can I get into medical school with a 490?

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.

Is 479 a good MCAT score?

The max score on the MCAT is 528, which means earning a perfect 132 in each of the four sections. The MCAT score range is between 472 to 528, with the average falling right around 501. To put things in perspective, a 502 lands you just above the 50th percentile.

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.

What was Taylor Swift's SAT score?

Taylor Swift's SAT score is not publicly known because she left high school early to pursue her music career and never officially took the SATs for college admission, though she was academically successful in high school, graduating early with a 4.0 GPA before focusing on music. She famously called out a practice test for misquoting her lyrics, highlighting her strong grasp of grammar despite not needing the test.
 

Does MCAT outweigh GPA?

For some applicants, a higher MCAT score can help balance out a lower GPA—especially when that GPA reflects earlier academic struggles. In medical school admissions, a strong MCAT shows that you're academically ready for the demands of med school, even if your transcript is less than perfect.

What was Mark Zuckerberg's SAT score?

Mark Zuckerberg reportedly scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT, achieving the maximum possible score before attending Harvard University. This high score reflects his exceptional academic performance, matching other tech leaders like Bill Gates and Will Smith who also attained near-perfect or perfect scores, according to various reports.
 

Is an MCAT score of 497 good?

Attaining a score of 497 on the MCAT® means you performed in the 42% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.

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.

Is it bad to take MCAT 3 times?

Retaking the MCAT multiple times isn't necessarily bad as long as your score improves each time. If your score worsens with each attempt or stays the same, it won't strengthen your med school application.

Is 491 a bad MCAT score?

Yes, a 491 is generally considered a low MCAT score, placing you in the lower percentiles (around the 20th percentile) and significantly below the average (around 500-501) and competitive scores (511+) for most MD programs, making admission difficult but not impossible, especially for DO or Caribbean schools with lower averages, or if balanced with a stellar GPA/experiences, though a retake is often recommended for better MD chances.
 

What score is 50% correct on MCAT?

A 50% on the MCAT means you scored around the average (median) score, which is approximately a total score of 500-501, placing you at the 50th percentile (or slightly below, depending on the exact date) – better than half of test-takers but below average for successful medical school matriculants, who often score much higher. Each section (118-132) has its own 50th percentile around 125.