The answer to the question, “Is 507 a good MCAT score?” will be slightly different for everybody. There are a number of different factors that will determine if this score is enough to get you into med school.
But don’t worry.
This guide will help you figure out if a 507 is good enough for you, and what you need to do if it isn’t.
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Is 507 A Good MCAT Score?
After what seems like a lifetime of preparation and months of rigorous studying, you finally tackle the MCAT. When you receive your scores, you’re met with a total of 507. How does an MCAT score of MCAT stack up against the competition? Is it any good?
A score of 507 is very respectable. It puts you in the 76th percentile of all test-takers, which is a decent place to be.
However, it’s not the highest score around. According to recently published AAMC data, it’s on the lower end of the scale when compared to recent matriculants.
A 507 may be enough to gain an acceptance letter to certain schools, but there’s still room for improvement.
Should You Retake If You Got A 507?
If you’re thinking about taking the MCAT to get a higher score, you’re not alone. Many students want to make those single-point differences to increase their chances of acceptance as much as possible.
But is a retake worth the trouble with a 507?
There’s a big difference between getting into any medical school and getting into the medical school of your choice. All schools have different acceptance requirements, so you need to consider how your score falls within those parameters.
Not only that, but you must take a look at how your scores compare to others who are vying for the same spot.
The average MCAT score for medical school applicants in 2019-2020 was 506.1. Compared to other applicants, a score of 507 is average. The score is well within the standard deviation.
However, when you compare your score of 507 to the average score of matriculants, things start to look a bit grimmer. The mean total MCAT of students who matriculated in 2019-2020 was 511.5.
Your score of 507 is lower than what most students who got accepted into medical school. So does that mean you should retake the MCAT?
Not exactly.
Truth is, the right course of action for you is going to depend on the following factors. Every applicant’s situation is different. Your MCAT score is just one piece of the puzzle. To determine if a retake is necessary, you need to consider your entire application and credentials.
1. What Is Your GPA?
The first thing you should be looking into is your GPA. Your total undergraduate GPA is going to play a huge part in the admissions process. Like your MCAT score, your GPA is seen as a qualifier of sorts.
Schools want to know that you’re ready for the rigors of medical school ahead. Admission panels want to see that you’ve already accomplished a lot academically and that you understand the core fundamentals you need to enter medical school.
The MCAT tests your knowledge of the material. Your GPA shows that your understanding of the material isn’t just delegated to cram studying!
Let’s take a look at two different scenarios and how they might affect your chances of getting accepted with an MCAT score of 507:
In the first scenario, you were dedicated to your studies throughout your entire undergraduate career. You knew that you wanted to attend medical school, so you did your best to maintain your GPA. Upon graduation, you’re leaving your undergraduate school with a 3.9 GPA.
That’s a fantastic GPA to show off in your medical school applications! In this case, your MCAT score and GPA will benefit you. Even with a relatively low MCAT score of 507, there’s a very good chance that you’re going to get accepted somewhere.
Now, let’s take a look at a different scenario. Say, for example, that you didn’t do great during your undergraduate years and have a low GPA. You still did pretty decently and got respectable scores. But, you struggled with a few classes here and there.
So, you graduate with a GPA of 3.5. A 3.5 GPA is still pretty decent, but it’s not good for medical school.
If you’re applying with a low GPA and a low MCAT score, don’t expect to get too many invitations to interview.
In this situation, retaking the MCAT can benefit you greatly. You can’t change your GPA. But, you can work hard to get the highest MCAT score possible to make up for a lower GPA.
2. What Is Your State Of Residency?
Believe it or not, your state of residency plays a part in the admissions process, too. Many prospective medical students fail to consider their chances of getting accepted into in-state schools over out-of-state schools.
You see, many schools prefer to accept students who are already residents of the state. Of course, there are exceptions. But take a look at the AAMC matriculant data and you’ll see that a vast majority of medical schools lean towards in-state students.
Why is this?
Well, schools ultimately want to support the state’s healthcare infrastructure. If you’re already living in the state, you likely have roots that will keep you there. When you graduate, there’s a better chance that you’re going to stay behind and work in the state.
Note: Of course, ultra-competitive schools are a bit different. Ivy-league institutes and other high-ranking schools want the very best students they can get. So, they will not consider the state of residency. Those schools are the exception rather than the rule.
Think about how many schools you’re applying to in your state. If you live in a state with a lot of medical schools, such as California, Florida, Texas, or New York, you may be able to get accepted somewhere with a 507 MCAT score.
On the other hand, states with limited options for students are often going to be more competitive. If you live in a state with few schools, or even none at all, you might want to consider retaking the MCAT to improve your chances of acceptance.
The spots are limited in those states, so you need to come in with the most competitive application process.
It’s also a good idea to see what the average MCAT score for students in your state is. That knowledge can give you a better idea of where you stand amongst your in-state competition.
3. How Competitive Your Target Schools Are
Another big factor that comes into play is the overall competitiveness of your target school. Some schools are far easier to get into than others.
If you’re looking at top-ranked schools, you have some stiff competition ahead of you. All schools have limited seats. Most schools receive thousands of applications a year, so every detail in your application count.
Take a look through AAMC data to get a better understanding of what your target schools are looking for. Compare their admissions guidelines to your own credentials and see where you stand.
With competitive schools, a score of 507 is not going to do you any favors. Chances are, that school is getting applications from students with scores in the 510s and 520s!
In this case, a retake may benefit you.
4. The Quality Of Your Overall Application
Many students focus all of their attention on their MCAT score. While there’s no denying that the MCAT score holds a lot of weight, it’s only one part of the application.
Admissions panels are going to take a look at your entire application to paint a picture of who you are and what you have to offer. Most schools take on a holistic approach to accepting students. They will take a look at what each student brings to the table. Your MCAT score is a consideration, but it’s not the ultimate deciding factor.
You must think about how your overall application stacks up against other students vying for a seat at the table.
Let’s say that you have a glowing application with all of the things admissions panels are looking for. You did great during your undergraduate education, won several awards, and was an active member of your community. You participated in tons of extracurricular activities and even gained some medicine-related experience.
Pair all of that with great letters of recommendation and you’re a shoo-in! In this case, a lower MCAT score of 507 doesn’t have a huge negative impact on your application. This is an ideal situation.
Now, say that your application isn’t very competitive at all. Maybe you didn’t realize that you wanted to become a doctor until later on in your academic journey, so you don’t have much volunteer experience to back up your application.
In this instance, your low MCAT score of 507 will work against you. There’s nothing in your application that stands out. Neither your score nor your past experience shows that you’re committed to a life of medicine. So, retaking would be a good idea.
Ideally, your MCAT score should either support your application or not affect it at all. Focus on providing the best application possible. If you don’t have those amazing credentials to back you up, your only choice would be to retake the MCAT and strive for a higher score.
5. Do You Truly Think You Would Score Higher?
Here’s where you have to take a good hard look at how you do things! Retaking the MCAT is not a quick process since the test is quite hard. It’s a massive undertaking! Not only do you have to spend months preparing again, but there’s the financial and time burden, too.
The last thing you want is to waste your time preparing for the MCAT and taking practice tests if you’re unable to do any better. Scrutinize your first attempt and figure out where things went wrong. Was there a part of the test that you could improve on?
Or, do you think that you did all you could do to prepare?
The goal with your retake should be to do things differently. Improve the way you study so that you can see noticeable improvements in your score.
Schools have access to all of your MCAT attempts. While most will use the highest score as the qualifier, it doesn’t look that great if you have a lower score on your retake!
Take some time to see how you can improve before you attempt a retake. Make this second attempt count!
Closing Thoughts
While a 507 is a good MCAT score for some, it’s not nearly high enough for others. But you should be able to determine this based on the criteria we listed above.
Regardless of where you stand, we encourage you to take a step back before making any decisions. Stress is the enemy when trying to get into med school, and a borderline score like a 507 doesn’t make that any easier.
When you have all the information and a clear head, you’ll be able to pick your next steps with confidence.