2019-2020 Low GPA High MCAT Thread

[Aktak]

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Great advice, thanks! yea that's what I figured, the jump from sub-500 to 513ish was pretty easy I feel like that gap is just content review and test taking skills. but like you said from here its just time. I'm taking mine on June 19th so I still have some time! I've been studying 8-12 hours a day for 2 months already

You'll get there if you stay laser-focused. I didn't have money for fancy courses and whatnot, but I was able to get my hands on a ton of practice tests as well as the Kaplan QBank and UWorld. My first third-party FL had me at about a 484. I logged 600 hours of study time over three months and took 20 FLs. Real deal ended with a 520. The climb was slow, but studying smart and staying focused is the key. Keep your head in the game and you'll get results! Good luck!

 

[meridian17]

People who score above 515 tend to have put over 500 hours of studying into the MCAT.

This is absolutely not true, and I fear that making this sort of blanket statement could discourage hopeful high scorers. I studied something like 250 hours (though I never counted, it could have been a fair bit lower or higher) and scored well into the 520s.

 

[jmu29]

You'll get there if you stay laser-focused. I didn't have money for fancy courses and whatnot, but I was able to get my hands on a ton of practice tests as well as the Kaplan QBank and UWorld. My first third-party FL had me at about a 484. I logged 600 hours of study time over three months and took 20 FLs. Real deal ended with a 520. The climb was slow, but studying smart and staying focused is the key. Keep your head in the game and you'll get results! Good luck!

dammmmmnnnnn! that's amazing. Is it too much to ask for some details. I started studying in March. I went through all my college notebooks and took summaries. I finished about two weeks ago (when I noticed my jump from sub 500 to 512/513). The only section I didn't/can't move up in is CARS. Right now I am taking sections of FL to work on my timing. Bio I am doing pretty good 128/129 consistently, Chem/phys 127/128, CARS 124-126, psych/soc 127-128. any advice would be awesome! study sources, reviews, techniques, ANY CARS advice, schedule, etc. Appreciate the input. Trying to stay away from costly material as money is tight as well.

 

[BeingForItself]

This is absolutely not true, and I fear that making this sort of blanket statement could discourage hopeful high scorers. I studied something like 250 hours (though I never counted, it could have been a fair bit lower or higher) and scored well into the 520s.

I second this. I worked a full-time job while studying for the MCAT over 3 months and if 500 hours were really necessary to score above a 515, I wouldn't have slept lol

 

[jmu29]

I second this. I worked a full-time job while studying for the MCAT over 3 months and if 500 hours were really necessary to score above a 515, I wouldn't have slept lol

Suggestions? what did you study for a good score?

 

[deleted889094]

This is absolutely not true, and I fear that making this sort of blanket statement could discourage hopeful high scorers. I studied something like 250 hours (though I never counted, it could have been a fair bit lower or higher) and scored well into the 520s.

Agreed. Not sure how much I did, but it sure wasn't 500 hours. Got 516

 

[BeingForItself]

Suggestions? what did you study for a good score?

I was really cheap so I used materials that I already had for the most part along with a lot of free stuff online!

Relevant Khan Academy lectures, slideshows and textbooks I had saved from undergrad prereq courses, and a comprehensive 2015 Princeton Review MCAT book served me well. Regarding the latter, definitely check out used book stores if you still want comprehensive review books. I've seen MCAT review sets at used book stores several times where you can buy a full set of books for very cheap. They won't be the newest but you can save a lot of money and as long as it's geared towards the 2015-present MCAT, the content should be good!

 

[meridian17]

Now that the next cycle is about to begin, I'd be curious to hear any more testimonials from this cycle, as well as any updates that people would like to share on their cycles if they posted about them earlier! I've looked through this thread already which has plenty of great advice, but more is always appreciated as well! I'm about to embark on my own low GPA high MCAT cycle and I feel like I have no idea how it will go as the combo is kinda rare :\

 

[jambro]

I had 6 interviews and 2 acceptances. Mostly low tiers with 1 high this cycle and 1 mid the cycle before. Honestly a crapshoot imo with this combo, my only recommendation is to apply very broadly and early.

 

[AnonymousDoctorGuyPerson]

Now that the next cycle is about to begin, I'd be curious to hear any more testimonials from this cycle, as well as any updates that people would like to share on their cycles if they posted about them earlier! I've looked through this thread already which has plenty of great advice, but more is always appreciated as well! I'm about to embark on my own low GPA high MCAT cycle and I feel like I have no idea how it will go as the combo is kinda rare :\

2.8 uGPA (over 5 years)
3.9 gGPA (over 3 years - 1 DIY, 2 SMP)
522 MCAT (132/126/132/132)
~2000+ hours of volunteer, leadership positions, etc
~2000 hours of research
~5000+ hours of employment


2 II -> 1 A, 1 WL

One was my SMP school (that's the A), the other a state school.


The big caveat - I applied LATE. My primary wasn't in until mid-October, my secondaries not submitted until 10/30. With an uGPA < 3.0, I was DOA at most schools especially this late in the season.

Apply EARLY. I was very fortunate my SMP school stuck their neck out for me and got me that II ASAP, and I ended up with that A within 2 months of getting my application submitted, with a sexy scholarship to boot which makes me feel a lot better about my situation haha. Still, if I was able to get my application in during the summer I'm sure I would've seen more love all around.

Either way, I was going to follow the money (state schools and free schools were my top choice initially), so it still actually worked out for me in the end. Good luck! <3


For Reference, this was my school list:

SUNY Downstate
SUNY Stony Brook
SUNY Buffalo
SUNY Upstate
New York Medical College
Albany
Rochester
Hofstra
Einstein
Columbia
Cornell
NYU
NYU-LI
Mt. Sinai
Vermont
Seton Hall
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
George Washington
Georgetown
EVMS
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Western Michigan
Medical College Wisconsin
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
Rush
Creighton
Boston U
Tufts
Wake Forest
Duke
Vanderbilt
Emory
Dartmouth
UCSF

 

[Kingbika]

Now that the next cycle is about to begin, I'd be curious to hear any more testimonials from this cycle, as well as any updates that people would like to share on their cycles if they posted about them earlier! I've looked through this thread already which has plenty of great advice, but more is always appreciated as well! I'm about to embark on my own low GPA high MCAT cycle and I feel like I have no idea how it will go as the combo is kinda rare :\

I'll repost stats here: 3.54 cGPA, 3.21 sGPA, 521 MCAT, Art History major with no SMP or Post-bacc. Did a halfway related MS in medical humanities.

Got a 2nd acceptance recently out of 5 interviews and 26 applications