Average MCAT Score - What Medical School Will Take Me?

Average Scores Are Inevitable

The way the MCAT is scored means some people will get an average MCAT score. You are scored against your peers. If they do well, you must do even better to get a high grade. If they did not do well, you do not have to do as well to get a high grade.

So what is the average MCAT score? In 2010, the 50th percentile is 25 out of 45. If you want more details on the MCAT percentiles, Wikipedia has them.

Will You Get into Medical School With an Average Score?

Your goal is to do better than average. But if you did average, with a score of 25, you will still get into medical school in the Caribbean. If you decide to go that route, you will have a harder time than if you went to an American medical school. Even so, if you are willing to put in the effort, you can still do well. One of my friend's brother is an anesthesiologist after graduating from a Caribbean medical school. But do keep in mind of the high drop-out rates for Caribbean medical schools are quite high.

With an average score, you may have a chance of getting into an osteopathic school . You will need a stellar GPA, impressive extra-curricular activities, and a good interview to offset your score.

Should You Retake the MCAT?

You may want to take the MCAT again but I believe the schools will see your previous scores if you choose to retake the exam. So if you score poorly, the schools can see that. Personally, with an average score, I would not retake the exam. I did not want to wait around for a year, I wanted to go to medical school as soon as possible. I would apply to DO schools and Caribbean schools because I'll have a good chance of just getting in somewhere. I would apply to at least 10 osteopathic schools and the big 4 Caribbean schools. I would not apply to allopathic schools. Applying to MD schools would just be a waste of money. The exception would be if you are in an under-represented minority group. As an under-represented minority applicant, you could get admitted with a lower score. If you must go to a MD school in the US, especially if you're Asian or Caucasian, retake the exam. Check out the MCAT test prep section for more tips on how to study if you choose to retake the exam.

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