I applied last year with a 25 MCAT, 3.8 post-bacc, 3.45 cum GPA, 3.0 law school. I'm a lawyer, married, woman, 28, did tons of clinical volunteering during post-bacc. I did not get any interviews. I applied only to lower-tier schools, such as Finch, Rush, NYMC, Albany, Jefferson, MCO

During my app year, I wokred in the hospital for 9 months while I took an upper level bio in the fall. Then I retook the MCAT and got a 26. I only want allo.

My question is, since my stats really didn't change a whole lot, shoud I reaplly this year, for the class of 2006 or what should I do? I studied so long and hard for the April MCAT, I'm very sad that I got just one point higher.

My MCAT breakdowns were:

2004: 10 V 8 BS 7 PS
2005: 10 V 9 BS 7 PS :confused:

its worth a shot, but I would also look at foreign schools just 2B safe ;)

I agree that it's worth a shot. The fact that you've retaken the MCAT and done some other things will hopefully demonstrate that you are dedicated to becoming a physician.

If you reapply now, keep in mind that we are already 3 weeks into the application cycle. To have the best chance possible, you really should have applied on June 1st. Each day you delay, will likely lower your chances of getting in. This is especially true of students with some of the deficiencies you listed (low MCAT, borderline/low overall GPA, low graduate GPA).

At the same time, you might also want to come up with a plan for turning things around, in case you need to reapply next year, which is a definitely possibility. You may need to retake some or all of your premed courses to learn the material that is on the MCAT. You may need to dedicate more time to studying for the MCAT. You may need to take additional courses to raise your science GPA. Or it may be something else. Talk to your premed advisor or a trusted faculty member about this.

I applied last year with a 25 MCAT, 3.8 post-bacc, 3.45 cum GPA, 3.0 law school. I'm a lawyer, married, woman, 28, did tons of clinical volunteering during post-bacc. I did not get any interviews. I applied only to lower-tier schools, such as Finch, Rush, NYMC, Albany, Jefferson, MCO

During my app year, I wokred in the hospital for 9 months while I took an upper level bio in the fall. Then I retook the MCAT and got a 26. I only want allo.

My question is, since my stats really didn't change a whole lot, shoud I reaplly this year, for the class of 2006 or what should I do? I studied so long and hard for the April MCAT, I'm very sad that I got just one point higher.

My MCAT breakdowns were:

2004: 10 V 8 BS 7 PS
2005: 10 V 9 BS 7 PS :confused:Apply to the D.O. schools(vcom, lecom,pscom,azcom,). You will get into one of these

I just took all my pre-med classes last year in a post-bacc program; re-taking would be crazy!!!!! I didn't have any of the pre-med courses so I had to take everything in a year and a summer.

I don't think it's worth applying for the fall of 2006 b/c I think I just haven't shown the level of "improvement" after applying once that adcoms are looking for. I mean, my 3.8 post-bacc GPA is great, and of course I can take more upper level bios, but what will that really do for my post-bacc GPA?

I guess I can take another shot at the MCAT, though I will probably be the only student in the history of Kaplan to take Kaplan three times.

:(

I just took all my pre-med classes last year in a post-bacc program; re-taking would be crazy!!!!! I didn't have any of the pre-med courses so I had to take everything in a year and a summer.

I don't think it's worth applying for the fall of 2006 b/c I think I just haven't shown the level of "improvement" after applying once that adcoms are looking for. I mean, my 3.8 post-bacc GPA is great, and of course I can take more upper level bios, but what will that really do for my post-bacc GPA?

I guess I can take another shot at the MCAT, though I will probably be the only student in the history of Kaplan to take Kaplan three times.

:(
How many schools did you applied to last year?

Apply to the D.O. schools(vcom, lecom,pscom,azcom,). You will get into one of these


What part of "I only want allo" did you not understand? :laugh: BTW nothing wrong with going DO cuz I am :thumbup: :meanie:

I just took all my pre-med classes last year in a post-bacc program; re-taking would be crazy!!!!! I didn't have any of the pre-med courses so I had to take everything in a year and a summer.

I don't think it's worth applying for the fall of 2006 b/c I think I just haven't shown the level of "improvement" after applying once that adcoms are looking for. I mean, my 3.8 post-bacc GPA is great, and of course I can take more upper level bios, but what will that really do for my post-bacc GPA?

I guess I can take another shot at the MCAT, though I will probably be the only student in the history of Kaplan to take Kaplan three times.

:(

I took Kaplan at first but then when I retook the MCAT I took Princeton Review and upped my score 7 points! I think Princeton Review really helped me, I'll be starting my second year in Texas now! Just advice.

I can't answer whether to apply or not. I do believe your chances are low, and some schools do not look approvingly at people applying a third time. If you have the money it may be worth it to take another shot at it. It just doesn't seem like adcoms allow life experiences to make up for small defiencies in either GPA or MCAT scores. I was victim to this as well.

Don't give up. I too have an a strong allo preference, but I truly feel that I would much rather be a DO in the US than an IMG, or worse, not in medical school at all. Apply broadly and apply osteopathic. You should get an osteopathic application out this summer. If you get accepted you can ask for a one year deferral (though a good reason is often needed). This will allow you to still take the MCAT again, apply allopathic and have a backup.

I agree that you need to do something other than Kaplan. I did The Berkeley Review and I thought the material was very complete. You are obviously a smart guy, but just because you did the pre-req classes, You didn't have all the other classes that many pre-med majors take that solidify that knowledge. Study till April (I don't think August will not be enough time, because you really need this third score to be good!).

[QUOTE=bioteacher] and some schools do not look approvingly at people applying a third time. If you have the money it may be worth it to take another shot at it. It just doesn't seem like adcoms allow life experiences to make up for small defiencies in either GPA or MCAT scores. QUOTE]

:thumbdown

From everything that I have learned and experienced during this journey to med school, the statement that adcoms don't like 3-time applicants and that they don't look at life experiences is a bunch of boloney!

Toofscum is looking for encouragment and advice. Very few people (especially non-traditional matriculants) will back up this statement :meanie:

the statement that adcoms don't like 3-time applicants and that they don't look at life experiences is a bunch of boloney!Toofscum is looking for encouragment and advice. Very few people (especially non-traditional matriculants) will back up this statement :meanie:

:thumbup: There are plenty of people who've applied to med school >3X and are now med students/doctors. The thing is that FEW people are willing to admit ESPECIALLY here on SDN!!!

I just wanted to share with everyone what one of the Dean's at UCONN Medical school told me in a meeting today about having a low MCAT score (like mine at 25R). He said that if your GPA, extracurricular activites, research experience, etc are good/excellent the MCAT will be the thing to keep you from getting in. Just as cut and dry as that. I would have thought that as an CT resident and UCONN undergrad that I may have had a minute chance, but he said that they are really looking for people with 30+. He said that people with 25-28 MCAT scores may still be offered interviews so to apply anyways. That said, he did mention that if a particular person has a very hard time with the MCAT and recieves the same score for multiple test dates, that one could take another standardized test. He said that a very strong score on the GRE, for example, could make up for the MCAT.
I hope that this info is helpful.

I was in the same boat. Non-traditional student with average MCAT. I decided to go to Europe to study. As for you, reapply to BOTH allo and DO programs. DO are well represented in the FM, EM, IM field. US Allopathic application process is Bull----! 10 years from now, nobody will care where you went to school. GL.

I wouldn't re-apply unless you will apply to DO schools. 1 point difference on MCAT is not significant improvement. If you don't want DO then you should get your MCAT score above 30.