Score Analysis
Is 511 a Good MCAT Score?
A 520+ scoring MCAT tutor breaks down what a 511 means for MD and DO admissions, which schools match your score, and whether retaking makes sense.
511 is the 82nd percentile and equals the approximate MD matriculant median for the 2024 to 2025 cycle.
What 511 means in the applicant pool
508 to 511 covers the 74th to 82nd percentile, straddling the MD matriculant median of 511 to 512. At this range, the MCAT shifts from a limiting factor to a neutral-or-slight-positive one, and the rest of the application (GPA, activities, narrative, essays, school fit) becomes the primary driver of outcomes. The realistic MD list here is wide, and adcoms typically stop treating the score itself as a concern in this band.
MD acceptance odds at this score
AAMC Table A-23 aggregates three application cycles of real MD applicant data to map MCAT and GPA combinations to acceptance rates. At 511, the realistic range is roughly Roughly 40 to 55 percent with a 3.7+ GPA. 511 with a 3.8 GPA sits near the peak of the AAMC A-23 acceptance grid for the matched-median program set. MD admissions outcomes here are driven primarily by fit, story, and essays.
For DO programs, the acceptance picture is different because the DO matriculant average is 503 and the applicant pool is smaller. Expect roughly Roughly 70 to 85 percent with a 3.6+ GPA.
MD schools to consider with a 511
Mid-tier MD programs and most state schools open up cleanly at this range. The top-tier schools with 518+ medians remain reaches, but the middle of the MD ecosystem (schools with 509 to 514 medians) treats you as a solid academic fit.
Schools are grouped by how a 511 compares to their matriculant interquartile range. Target schools place your score inside the middle 50% of admitted students (roughly 25th-75th percentile). Reach and safety are sorted by the gap. The 25th/75th MCAT values are estimated from published medians using typical published IQR spreads; most schools do not publish their exact percentile figures.
Target schools (82)
Your 511 sits within the 25th-75th MCAT range of these programs.
+ 67 more MD target schools.
Reach schools (33)
Your 511 is below the 25th-percentile MCAT at these programs. Reachable if your application is strong elsewhere.
+ 25 more MD reach schools.
Stats-positive MD programs (10)
Your 511 sits above the 75th-percentile MCAT at these programs.
DO schools to consider with a 511
Your score is above the DO matriculant average, which makes you competitive at essentially every DO program in the country, including the more selective ones.
Target DO schools (2)
Stats-positive DO programs (20)
Canadian MD programs
Toronto, Queen's, Western, McMaster, and Ottawa are all in play if you meet the section-level cutoffs. Western still requires 127 per section, so subsection balance matters more than total score for Canadian applications. A 510 balanced (128/127/128/127) is a much stronger Canadian application than a 511 split (132/121/130/128). Alberta and Calgary require 128+ CARS for non-residents. UBC, Dalhousie, and Saskatchewan treat MCAT holistically. McGill, Laval, Sherbrooke, and Montreal do not require the MCAT.
Canadian schools mapped to 511
How the 511 realistic school list compares
The section-split edge cases
The MCAT total tells only part of the story. Adcoms also look at section balance, and two applicants with the same 511 total can have meaningfully different realistic school lists depending on how that score was distributed.
Low CARS with a 511 total
The classic split at this total looks like 128/121/128/128 or similar. McMaster rejects the application. Georgetown and a few other US MD schools that weight CARS more heavily (Ohio State, some Northwest schools) may pass. Most state schools with holistic review still interview. A targeted CARS-only retake is the rational response if it is your only limitation.
511s are usually balanced because the distribution tightens at the median. A 511 with a 121 CARS is unusual enough to attract attention and can hurt at CARS-weighted US programs and all of McMaster.
Low C/P with a 511 total
Low C/P (121 or 122) with a 511 total usually means you compensated with strong CARS or B/B. MD schools with heavy research-first curricula (Duke, Johns Hopkins) may view low C/P more skeptically. Primary-care focused MD and DO schools often weight the total only.
Balanced vs. split profile
A balanced 510 (127/127/128/128) reads as a 511. A split 510 (132/120/128/130) reads as a below-cutoff in one section at many schools even though the total is fine. Balance matters more than people expect in this band, especially for Canadian applications.
Should you retake a 511?
At the MD matriculant median, retaking almost never produces a net gain in admissions outcomes. Apply now and focus on essays, secondaries, activities, and interview prep.
At this range, retaking is usually not the right call unless you underperformed your practice average by 4 or more points. The marginal value of pushing 510 to 513 is real but costs you a cycle, and the application cost of an application delay often outweighs the score gain. If you do retake, your study plan must specifically address the gap that produced the split, not just repeat general review.
Before registering for a retake, run the numbers. Our MCAT Retake Calculator uses AAMC retake score-change data to estimate your realistic retake outcome based on your current score, practice average, and study time. It is free and takes under two minutes.
For a deeper framework on the retake decision, see the full Should You Retake the MCAT guide, and if your score is below your practice average, the MCAT Score Not Improving guide walks through the four error types that drive most plateaus.
Frequently asked questions
Is 511 a good MCAT score?
511 is the 82nd percentile. It sits near or at the MD matriculant median of 511 to 512. At this range, the MCAT stops being a limiting factor and the rest of the application drives outcomes. 511 is the 82nd percentile and equals the approximate MD matriculant median for the 2024 to 2025 cycle.
What medical schools can I get into with a 511 MCAT?
For MD, Mid-tier MD programs and most state schools open up cleanly at this range. The top-tier schools with 518+ medians remain reaches, but the middle of the MD ecosystem (schools with 509 to 514 medians) treats you as a solid academic fit.. For DO, Your score is above the DO matriculant average, which makes you competitive at essentially every DO program in the country, including the more selective ones.. Full named school lists for your score are in the guide above.
Should I retake the MCAT if I scored 511?
Do not retake. At the MD matriculant median, retaking almost never produces a net gain in admissions outcomes. Apply now and focus on essays, secondaries, activities, and interview prep.
What percentile is 511 on the MCAT?
511 is the 82nd percentile according to AAMC data in effect May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026.
Related scores
See all score-by-score guides in the full MCAT Score Guide, or check the complete MCAT percentile chart.