Is 519 a bad MCAT score?

No, a 519 is an outstanding MCAT score, placing you in the 96th-98th percentile and making you highly competitive for virtually any medical school, including top-tier programs, but perfection requires strong section scores and other application components. It's a fantastic score, but perfectionists might feel it's "not perfect," though it's far from bad and likely won't hold you back if your GPA and experiences are strong.

Is 519 on MCAT a good score?

A 520 MCAT score puts you in the 97th percentile of all test takers—outstanding for top-tier medical schools. A 515–519 score range is still exceptional and competitive for medical school applicants.

Can I get into Harvard with a 519 MCAT?

For top-tier MD programs like Harvard, Stanford, and NYU Grossman, you're looking at an average MCAT between 519 and 523. That means scoring in the 97th–99th percentile. But don't stop at the number. Those schools expect everything: academic excellence, leadership, service, and a clear sense of purpose.

How hard is it to get a 519 MCAT?

According to recent AAMC stats, a 519 on the MCAT is not a bad score because it's an above-average MCAT score, and it is competitive for med-school admission: A 519 is 97 percentile rank on the MCAT. * The current average MCAT score is at the 501 mark, and a 519 is 18 points ahead of that score.

What is considered a bad MCAT score?

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. This guide will go over what a good MCAT score is and how medical schools use your score to make their decision.

From Low 490s to 519 on the MCAT: How I Did It!

Should I retake a 502 MCAT?

Bottom line: If you scored 498 or below, I definitely recommend retaking the MCAT. 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.

How rare is a 520 MCAT score?

A 520 MCAT score is extremely rare and highly competitive, placing you in the top 3-4% of test-takers, generally the 97th percentile, meaning only a few thousand out of hundreds of thousands score that high annually. It's considered an elite score, excellent for highly selective medical schools, but achieving it requires exceptional performance across all sections, ideally with balanced scores.
 

Is a 517 MCAT too low?

Attaining a score of 517 on the MCAT® means you performed in the 96% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 129 (C/P) 130 (CARS) 129 (B/B) 129 (P/S).

What score is 75% correct in MCAT?

A 75% correct score on the MCAT usually translates to a total scaled score around 509-510, placing you at the 75th percentile, meaning you scored better than 75% of test-takers, though the exact scaled score depends on the difficulty of the specific test administration, with sections like Psych/Soc often requiring higher raw percentages for the same scaled score.
 

Is retaking the MCAT a red flag?

Retaking the MCAT isn't an automatic red flag, especially for one or two attempts with significant score improvement, showing upward trajectory; however, multiple retakes (three or more) without substantial gains, or retaking a strong score, can raise concerns about judgment or inability to learn, potentially signaling issues to admissions committees, though schools often focus on the final, highest score if improvement is shown. It's crucial to understand why you need to retake it, fix prior mistakes, and demonstrate meaningful growth, rather than just repeating the same approach. 

What is the average MCAT score for Mayo Clinic?

Applicants should aim for an MCAT around 521. A minimum of 508 is required for secondary application consideration.

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.

Is 518 a good MCAT score?

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

Should you retake a 520 MCAT?

Assuming a strong GPA and extracurricular profile, scoring a 518 or above will help you be competitive for the highest-tier schools, even if their average matriculant MCAT score is a 520 or 521. With scores at this level, an MCAT retake is not necessary because schools will consider you to be academically elite.

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.

Can I get into an MD school with a 500 MCAT?

What is the lowest MCAT score accepted into medical school? The lowest MCAT scores accepted by medical schools can vary, but generally, MD programs accept scores starting around the lower 500s, with 500-503 being on the lower end.

How good is a 519 MCAT score?

Attaining a score of 519 on the MCAT® means you performed in the 98% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 129 (C/P) 130 (CARS) 130 (B/B) 130 (P/S).

What score is considered failing the MCAT?

There is no definitive pass or fail score for the MCAT; rather, each medical school sets its own criteria for acceptable scores. To determine the score needed for a particular medical school, it's best to consult the specific school's requirements or visit their website.

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.
 

Should I retake the MCAT if I got a 500?

If you score a 500, it's a good idea to retake the MCAT—after you seek tutoring and develop more effective study strategies. However, if you score a 513, you could easily slip down to a 510 on a retake.

Can I get into medical school with a 517 MCAT?

Minimum MCAT Score Requirements (Do They Exist?)

Some medical school admissions officers suggest students think in tiers: Top 20 schools - 518+ often needed. Top 50 schools- 512–517 may be competitive. Many medical schools (mid-tier) - 505–511 workable with strong GPA/ECs.

Should I retake a 517 MCAT reddit?

I wouldn't retake a 517. Plenty of people with a 4.0 GPA and a 528 MCAT are rejected from all of the schools they apply to. Getting a 523 is not going to change a committee's mind on whether they should accept you or not, in my opinion.

How many questions can I miss on the MCAT to get a 520?

To get a 520 on the MCAT, you generally need to miss very few questions, perhaps only a handful across the entire test, but the exact number isn't fixed because scoring is scaled and depends on the test's overall difficulty and other test-takers' performance, meaning you could miss a few and still score high (around 97th percentile) or need near perfection. You can miss one or two questions per section and still score a perfect 132 on that section, but hitting a 520 (which requires high section scores like 130+) means extreme accuracy, often under 10 errors total for the whole exam. 

Can I get into medical school with a 512 MCAT?

A "good" MCAT score is one that puts you near or above the average percentile for matriculants at your target medical schools. For comparison, the average MCAT score for students admitted to an MD program in the United States in 2022–2023 is between 511 and 512, with an average GPA of 3.75.

What is the lowest acceptable MCAT score?

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)