Should I retake 518 MCAT?

A 518 MCAT score is excellent (97th percentile) and makes you competitive for most medical schools, so a retake is generally not necessary unless targeting extremely top-tier T5/T10 programs where an even higher score might help, or if you have a significantly lower score in one section that needs boosting, as the time might be better spent on the rest of your application (essays, ECs) to avoid risk of a lower score. With a 518, you're already considered academically elite; consider your target schools, your GPA, and your application's holistic strength before risking time and effort for a minimal gain.

How rare is a 518 MCAT?

If you scored a 518 on the MCAT, this means you performed in the 96th percentile according to most recent AAMC statistics, and you now have a competitive score for med-school admission.

How hard is it to get a 518 on the MCAT?

Attaining a score of 518 on the MCAT® means you performed in the 97% percentile.

Should I retake the MCAT if I got a 500?

Definitely retake it. Honestly if you're scoring in that range you're missing some content, it's not because you're not smart. People do get in to DO schools with scores in that range but the odds are significantly better for DO schools with 505+ especially as it gets more competitive with each consecutive cycle.

Is retaking the MCAT a red flag?

Retaking the MCAT isn't an automatic red flag, but it warrants careful management; consistent improvement with each retake is positive, showing resilience, while stagnant or declining scores raise concerns, suggesting potential issues with preparation or readiness, requiring a strong explanation in your application. Most schools look at your highest score, but multiple attempts (especially 3+) can draw attention, so demonstrating significant growth, strengthening other application areas (GPA, experience), and having a solid narrative is crucial for success.
 

500 ➡️ 518 On The MCAT In 24 Days: How I Did It!

Does it look bad if I retake the MCAT?

Some admissions committees look unfavorably on your application if you don't improve your score significantly when retaking (at least 5 points). AdComs are most likely to look negatively on your application if you have taken the MCAT 3+ times with no significant improvements.

What score is 50% correct on MCAT?

A 50% on the MCAT usually means a total score around 500-502, placing you at the 50th percentile (the average), meaning you scored better than roughly half of all test-takers, though this can fluctuate slightly with test years, with recent averages often being around 500.5. It's considered an average score, not necessarily competitive for top-tier schools but often meeting minimums for many programs, with scores above 508 being in the 75th percentile (good) and above 515 in the 90th percentile (excellent).
 

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.

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 3 MCAT attempt bad?

Although you can take the MCAT up to seven times in your lifetime, that number certainly doesn't reflect how many times you should be taking the MCAT. Taking the MCAT twice is fine; even three times shouldn't impact your admissions too much. However, any more tries can begin to damage your application.

Should I retake a 518 MCAT reddit?

I mean first of all a 518 is a score that should almost never be retook and even for competitive schools like you listed, there are plenty of applicants with similar scores. Is exceptional for those schools? No, but it will barely be held against you, if at all.

Who took the MCAT 7 times?

Andy took the MCAT exam seven times and applied to medical school twice before getting one interview and acceptance. He reminds premeds to have faith in themselves and that perseverance and grit are important for a career in medicine.

Is a 519 better than a 520 MCAT?

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.

Is 517 a bad MCAT score?

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).

Can you get into med school with a 512?

In general for MD (Doctor of Medicine) programs, the average accepted MCAT score in the U.S. tends to be higher, typically around 511-512. Acceptance rates for MD programs are generally lower, often ranging from 3-10%, depending on the institution's selectivity.

Do you need to get every question right to get a 528?

The highest possible score on the MCAT is a scaled score of 528. While challenging, this can be achieved by scoring 132 on each of the 4 sections of the test, adding to the “perfect” score of 528. This does not mean you have to get every answer correct on the exam.

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.

Which Ivy League is best for pre-med?

Harvard University

Harvard has a pre-med advising program and assigns tutors and mentors from sophomore through senior year. This Ivy League school also has exceptional biological science departments. Harvard's proximity to hospitals and medical centers means ample clinical and research opportunities.

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.
 

What is a respectable MCAT score?

A good MCAT score is generally considered 510 or above, making you competitive for many programs, while scores of 515+ are strong for top-tier schools, and anything above 518 is exceptional, but a score around 501-508 (50th percentile) is average, with scores varying by school selectivity. Aim for a score at or above the average of accepted students at your target schools, as a strong score opens doors but a holistic application (GPA, experiences) matters most. 

What is the hardest medical school to get into in the US?

Stanford University School of Medicine

With an astonishingly low acceptance rate of about 1.4%, Stanford is the country's hardest medical school to get into.

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.

Should I retake a 516 MCAT?

Is 516 a Bad MCAT Score? According to recent AAMC stats, a 516 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 516 is 93 percentile rank on the MCAT. *

How many questions can you 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.