25 MCAT with M.D. interview

[ShinyDome19]

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Cool to see another Mississippian on here, ShinyDome.

I know its not a 25, but I'm close with a 27 (P6, V11, B10). I started to get cold feet as the application deadline got closer (mainly over finances) and ended up only submitting my application to my state school. I didn't expect to get an interview, but instead planned on making next year my year to really crack down and get everything done right. Anyway, I was surprised when I got asked to interview. I go on the 10th...I'm still not expecting to make it in, I'll be happy to even get waitlisted. Either way, it has done a lot for my ego to even get this far.

I hear ya, it is a nice ego boost knowing that they atleast considered your application. It was enough to keep me motivated to reapply this year, after they rejected the prior year. Anyhow, good luck on the interview. Everyone there is super awesome and friendly. And, if you get interviewed by Dr. Hester, be prepared for a couple off the wall questions (nothing hard, just odd) - like the ball or glove question.

good luck

 

[DRMRL]

Good luck to all of you! 25 mcat shouldn't keep us out. 🙄

 

[hoot504]

...and get more clinical exposure (had 1 year of EMT work at this point)

Maybe I am off base here, but can someone explain to me how in the world a year of work as an EMT qualifies as 'not enough clinical exposure'?

 

[Hifey]

Cool to see another Mississippian on here, ShinyDome.

I know its not a 25, but I'm close with a 27 (P6, V11, B10). I started to get cold feet as the application deadline got closer (mainly over finances) and ended up only submitting my application to my state school. I didn't expect to get an interview, but instead planned on making next year my year to really crack down and get everything done right. Anyway, I was surprised when I got asked to interview. I go on the 10th...I'm still not expecting to make it in, I'll be happy to even get waitlisted. Either way, it has done a lot for my ego to even get this far.

I have the same exact MCAT breakdown

but just for reference:

6 interviews
😍😍1 acceptance😍😍
3 waitlists
2 I just got back from...

and they were all decent schools (not Harvard or anything but respected schools)

All MD. It is possible to get in with a sub 30, just have to have a well rounded application and a reason for your scores.

 

[YA7ES]

I have a 25M MCAT (7PS/9BS/9VR)

I applied to 1 MD school and 4 DO schools.

I was offered interviews at every school I applied to and attended 1 MD interview and 1 DO interview.

I was accepted to both (not waitlisted or delayed decision, just straight up accepted)

I have about a 3.75 GPA, and my 4.0 physics GPA may have helped them see past my 7 in PS.

I have pretty good clinical hours, but I honestly I think the reason I got in was because I nailed my interview. Everything went extremely smooth and seemed more like I was hanging out with a few friends opposed to some highly powered people on an admissions committee.

 

[DocMcCoy]

26 mcat here

 

[avksx]

I don't know why anyone would ever settle for a low MCAT score. It seems to be one of the easiest determining factors of your portfolio to change. People spend YEARS molding their GPAs, but will sit on almost any MCAT score given to them.


A couple days of study + 5 hour testing + couple bucks = Huge difference in your acceptance rates. YOU CAN RETAKE THE MCAT AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT AND THE HIGHEST SCORE ALWAYS SUCCEEDS.

It boggles the mind why anyone settles for anything less than a 33.

 

[DRIN]

It boggles the mind why anyone settles for anything less than a 33.

🙄
Well let's see here...a 33 is probably a 90th - 93rd percentile score which means that only 7 -10% of the people that take it, will score 33 or higher. Also, if you have studied effectively and don't get a 33, then you probably won't. The MCAT is designed to be an exam where you score around the same each time assuming you're fully prepared when you take it.

 

[avksx]

🙄
Well let's see here...a 33 is probably a 90th - 93rd percentile score which means that only 7 -10% of the people that take it, will score 33 or higher. Also, if you have studied effectively and don't get a 33, then you probably won't. The MCAT is designed to be an exam where you score around the same each time assuming you're fully prepared when you take it.

True enough, but my point still stands. It's one of the most manipulable factors in determining what your acceptance rates are going to be.


The question is:

Why don't people approach the MCAT as aggressively as they do to their cGPA and sGPAs?

 

[DRIN]

True enough, but my point still stands. It's one of the most manipulable factors in determining what your acceptance rates are going to be.


The question is:

Why don't people approach the MCAT as aggressively as they do to their cGPA and sGPAs?

I think most people do approach it in this way. Maybe a 28, 29, or 30 is someone's maximum score for this particular exam. For me, I know I'll never score higher than a 10 on VR because I tend to slow down my reading on those tests and usually don't get to one passage. So no matter how aggressively I practice that section, I highly doubt I'll be able to speed up my comprehension of some of that abstract material.

 

[Appless]

I don't know why anyone would ever settle for a low MCAT score. It seems to be one of the easiest determining factors of your portfolio to change. People spend YEARS molding their GPAs, but will sit on almost any MCAT score given to them.


A couple days of study + 5 hour testing + couple bucks = Huge difference in your acceptance rates. YOU CAN RETAKE THE MCAT AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT AND THE HIGHEST SCORE ALWAYS SUCCEEDS.

It boggles the mind why anyone settles for anything less than a 33.

how about because i and thousands of others have a <33 and have already been accepted? Or maybe because i have 9 interviews and thats more then people with far better scores? Is that a good enough reason for you seriously some people should think before they say statements like this. Not everyone needs a 33 despite what every pre med who thinks they will be top of their class and a practicing orthopod or dermatologist. Some people study hard and just dont get a 33 and for some reasons may not be able to take it again, or just may not want to and are content. I know if i was to retake the mcat I would have had to defer applying another year, not to mention i just didnt want to retake unless i was forced to reapply. to say you need a 33+ is ridiculous for acceptances.

 

[DocMcCoy]

True enough, but my point still stands. It's one of the most manipulable factors in determining what your acceptance rates are going to be.


The question is:

Why don't people approach the MCAT as aggressively as they do to their cGPA and sGPAs?

I studied extremely hard for the MCAT, I also worked full time and attended school full time. My max on over 20 full length practice tests was a 32. I averaged a 28 and I was hoping to hit the high end of my average on the real exam. It didn't turn out that way and retesting when my highest score ever was a 32 seemed like a gamble. The MCAT is just part of the process. I felt my ECs and experiences would make me a competitive applicant for DO and MD schools. I am holding multiple acceptances from both.

Not everyone is capable of scoring a 35 on the MCAT. There are many doctors and students in medical school that are or have been the top of their class with a sub 30 MCAT. A 30-32 would put you right at the mean for ACCEPTED applicants and yes, that is what everyone should strive for. But remember, lower scores can get you in just fine.

My point is if you are well prepared and you aren't capable of a 32+ score (by stats only 10 percent of all test takers are) then it isn't that malleable.

 

[POW16]

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