I need candid advice

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I'm new here but I have been visiting this site for a few months now. I need some honest advice (even if it hurts). I am a female mexican-american applicant (URM) and I just recieved my MCAT scores: V=7, P=9, B=10, and WS=R for a score of 26R. My science GPA is a 3.64, I have four years research experience with one year conducted at Yale School of medicine in a post-bac program. I have co-authored in one publication that is in JBC, I am a MARC scholar, and I graduated with departmental honors and numerous awards including outstanding graduate in the department of biology. I have no clinical experience. I am debating whether I should apply to MD/PhD programs because I am not sure about my MCAT score (average MCAT score for mexican-american med school matriculants is 26P). My question is whether you think I have a good chance of getting into an MD/PhD program or an MD program? If I do MD eventually I will try to do research. My other alternative is PhD. Based on the stats what do y'all think. Thanks for the time and sorry for the long post

Originally Posted by calimaven

I'm new here but I have been visiting this site for a few months now. I need some honest advice (even if it hurts). I am a female mexican-american applicant (URM) and I just recieved my MCAT scores: V=7, P=9, B=10, and WS=R for a score of 26R. My science GPA is a 3.64, I have four years research experience with one year conducted at Yale School of medicine in a post-bac program. I have co-authored in one publication that is in JBC, I am a MARC scholar, and I graduated with departmental honors and numerous awards including outstanding graduate in the department of biology. I have no clinical experience. I am debating whether I should apply to MD/PhD programs because I am not sure about my MCAT score (average MCAT score for mexican-american med school matriculants is 26P). My question is whether you think I have a good chance of getting into an MD/PhD program or an MD program? If I do MD eventually I will try to do research. My other alternative is PhD. Based on the stats what do y'all think. Thanks for the time and sorry for the long post

I think you'll get into a lot of schools because you have great credentials, a decent MCAT score, and are an under-represented minority. Retake the MCATs if possible... a slightly higher score won't hurt.

It depends on your state of residence as well. Actually, that's the most important factor if you are scoring in high 20.

I'm from California. Does it matter?

I don't know how URMs are treated in md/phd programs, but I would still assume that a 26 is a bit on the low side. I am talking with no knowledge of the system whatsoever, but the minority md/phd students that I know still have MCAT scores well above 30.

Originally Posted by calimaven

I'm from California. Does it matter?

I got 30M (GPA 3.8 from a state school) this time and I am from Cali as well. I applied last year with 30L and didn't even get a single interview in state. I did get some interview from out of state school, but at the end they said 32 or 33 are the accepting scores for the non-residents.

My advice, either move to other state (not kidding here) or retake it again. For me, I have enough of MCAT and looking for a job out of California (if I am still want to pursue my dream).

With that said, every applicant and every school is unique and you may have better shot than me.

Best of luck,
California Blue

The moving out of state thing is drastic but there is truth to it. I know of many students here in Texas who moved here from California for the sole purpose of in-state residency.

Originally Posted by kornnata

I got 30M (GPA 3.8 from a state school) this time and I am from Cali as well. I applied last year with 30L and didn't even get a single interview in state. I did get some interview from out of state school, but at the end they said 32 or 33 are the accepting scores for the non-residents.

My advice, either move to other state (not kidding here) or retake it again. For me, I have enough of MCAT and looking for a job out of California (if I am still want to pursue my dream).

With that said, every applicant and every school is unique and you may have better shot than me.

Best of luck,
California Blue

So did you do any extracurricular stuff? Cause I have a 3.5gpa from berkeley, and just got a 29Q on the MCAT. A little low, because of Verbal (which I tripped out on). I am also an "URM" but I don't think that helps that much. At the same time I have a lot of extracurricular stuff such as mentoring, er volunteer, working at a research lab, and plan to do more before applying nex June. I feel confident in applying to a lot of schools..but its seems like you got screwed and had a 30L, what gives? What do you think happened?

Thanks for all the input! I've been doing some hard thinking and trying to decide what the heck I'm going to do with my life. I've decided that I'm going to apply to a PhD program in pathology. I figure that if I get my PhD and I still feel strongly about the MD degree I can always retake the MCAT, apply and my chances will be better because of my higher degree. I've been crunching the numbers and I'll only be losing about a year if I choose this route and who knows I might just find myself perfectly happy with a PhD in Pathology, encounter some great job opportunities and not need that MD degree. I feel as if things are looking up again! Thanks, you guys are fantastic! Lots of luck to all of you.