I Failed the MCAT, Retook It, and Got Into Multiple Medical Schools
An AMA Reflection for Premeds Who Feel Behind
I hosted an Ask Me Anything (AMA) on Reddit for premed students, and one theme came up again and again: “What do you do when you fail… and still want to be a doctor?”
So I wanted to turn those questions into a single place — especially for the premeds who feel like one exam, one score, or one bad day has already decided their future.
Here’s the truth: I failed the MCAT (around 475). Retook it. Scored a 505. And still got into multiple medical schools.
Now I am a Medical Doctor and Chief Psychiatry Resident for Medical Student Education.
This is what that actually looked like.
Q: What Do I Mean When I Say I “Failed” the MCAT?
A: When people hear “failed the MCAT,” they often assume I mean I got a score I was unhappy with.
No — I mean I truly failed.
This was a decade ago, but I’m fairly sure my first MCAT score was around a 475, which at the time was essentially the lowest possible score. I had a panic attack during the exam and didn’t finish any of the sections on time.
It wasn’t a knowledge issue.It wasn’t a motivation issue.It was an untreated testing disability + anxiety + zero accommodations issue.
At the time, though, all I saw was failure.
Q: How Long Did I Wait to Retake the MCAT?
A: I retook the MCAT about a year later, during a gap year.
It was important to follow a schedule plan and doing TONS OF PRACTICE QUESTIONS.
The biggest thing I recommend is doing Practice tests, timed and a full day just like the real thing!
ONLY When you have scored what you want to score (usually above 500) multiple times should you take the MCAT.
Here is a blog post I created with specifics on how I overcame a USMLE Step 1 Failure during Medical School.
Q: Did you take a MCAT Course? What Pre-med Courses are Best? & When Should I take the MCAT?
For Us we couldn't afford a course for both of us so we purchased the Kaplan books at a used book store.
There are tons of courses you can take. But not all are equal. Stick with what feels right for you and your circumstance.
I HIGHLY reccomend using UWorld since it is a #1 Required Resource for medical students and Resident doctors so you will need to get used to the types of questions, flashcards, and styles of explanation. Use code: STEPH50 for $50 off of the UWorld MCAT 180day or 360 day MCAT prep course! I wish this was around when I was a premed student! I have used UW the past 7yrs in medicine. I am so happy that I can now be a UWorld affiliate to provide a discount for premeds like you!
Use code: STEPH50 for $50 off of the UWorld MCAT 180day or 360 day MCAT prep course!
I wish this was around when I was a premed student! I have used UW the past 7yrs in medicine. I am so happy that I can now be a UWorld affiliate to provide a discount for premeds like you!
The most aligned Premed Coursework that aligns with MCAT content:
General & Organic Chemistry
Reading-heavy courses for CARS
Make sure you are practicing tons of questions
TIMED and in blocks of the REAL MCAT Exam!
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (CPBS): 59 multiple-choice questions in 95 minutesCoverers general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry.
59 multiple-choice questions in 95 minutes
Coverers general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry.
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS): 53 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutesFocuses on comprehension and analysis of humanities and social sciences passages.
53 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes
Focuses on comprehension and analysis of humanities and social sciences passages.
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (BBLS): 59 multiple-choice questions in 95 minutesFocuses on biology, biochemistry, and organic chemistry.
Focuses on biology, biochemistry, and organic chemistry.
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (PSBB): 59 multiple-choice questions, 95 minutes, covering psychology, sociology, and biology.
The MCAT is required for U.S. MD and DO programs, but timelines and expectations differ by school. Always check individual requirements — there is no single “correct” path.
Biggest thing is ONLY take the MCAT when you are SCORING the range on the practice test (timed) you want.
Q: How Did you Re-Study for the MCAT the Second Time?
A: This part is simple, but uncomfortable: I stopped doing what felt "productive" like watching Videos & Lectures and started doing what was actually effective (QUESTIONS)
Analyzing why types of questions and topics I get wrong (UWorld does great at tracking this)
Identifying testing patterns, not just content gaps (for me was physics & CARS)
Adjusting how I learned, not just how long (time) I studied
Progress didn’t come from grinding harder — it came from learning differently
Q: Did medical schools question your failure or retake? Did interviewers grill you about it?
A: Honestly? I don’t remember being asked much at all.
Here's what many applicants don’t realize this:
Interviewers usually don’t see your scores
They often only have your personal statement and activities
Admissions committees review metrics (GPA/MCAT Scores) ; interviewers assess YOU (as a person)
If a “red flag” ever does come up, it’s less about the failure and more about how you reflect on it. Growth matters far more than perfection.
Here is a Video how to practice addressing your "red flags"
This Blog Post on Preparing for Interviews and talking about failures, gap years, etc.
Sign up for a Practice Mock interview with me if you want to practice answering these more difficult questions from someone who has been on both sides of the interviewing.
Q: How Did You Mentally Recover From Failing?
Exam failure doesn’t just hurt academically — it attacks your identity.
“Maybe I’m not smart enough”
“Maybe everyone else was right”
I didn’t magically bounce back. It took time, therapy, and healing.
What helped was slowly separating:
That reframing took YEARS — and later resurfaced again when I failed USMLE Step 1 in medical school.
Failure didn’t disappear after getting accepted. But neither did resilience.
Video on Navigating these Emotions after USMLE Failure
Check out the associated blog post on emotional and identity impacts of failure.
Q: How did you Retake the MCAT While Working
One of my favorite questions came from a non-traditional student with a family who was working full-time: “How did you juggle MCAT studying while working and just living life?”
A: The honest answer: structure and communication.
I sat down and mapped out:
Rest and relationship time
My partner (also a pre-med who was working full time), and I intentionally aligned our schedules so that:
We worked at the same time
It wasn’t perfect — but it was intentional, and that made it sustainable.
If you want to learn more about how we continued this in medical school check out this blog post from 1st year as a MS1.
Q: What do Testing Accommodations look like for the MCAT vs. STEP Exams
I was asked about accommodations a lot — especially by students planning ahead.
From helping dozens of medical students and premeds, I can say:
MCAT, USMLE, and COMLEX accommodations are very similar
I didn’t get accommodations early — and that cost me time, confidence, and unnecessary suffering. Helping others avoid that has become one of the most meaningful parts of my work.
Video on Preparing your Accommodations Application (Made video for Medical Students but very similar)
Here is the blog post on advice for Applying to Testing Accommodations
If you would like help with your MCAT testing accommodations:
Check out my Accommodations Workbook or Sign up for an Advising Appointment
Q: Did You Struggle Later in Medical School and Matching?
Yes.... I failed USMLE Step 1 twice, took a leave of absence, and only passed after receiving proper accommodations.
And yet — I still matched.
Setbacks didn’t disqualify me. They reshaped how I advocate, mentor, and show up for others.
Check out this Video & Associated Blog Post for more overview on my Medical School Challenges to Matching as a Doctor
Final Thoughts for Premeds Reading This
If you take nothing else from this post, let it be this:
A failed MCAT does not define your intelligence
A low score does not erase your potential
A non-traditional path is not a weakness
Accommodations are not cheating — they’re access
You Deserve to Demonstrate Your Best
You are allowed to need support.
You are allowed to take time.
And you are allowed to keep going.
Your story isn’t over — even if this chapter hurts.
UWorld MCAT Prep Course - use code STEPH50 for $50 off