Hi, I have a 2.94 GPA (working on retroactive withdrawl which would give me a 3.05). I have not taken the MCAT yet. With a high MCAT score, do you think I would be able to get into the Georgetown SMP with a 3.05? I know their minimum is a 3.0 and the average GPA is 3.3. I'm going to try my best to bring it up as much as I can. What do you think? Thanks.
3.05 competitive for Georgetown?
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i wouldnt say competitive
but there is a CHANCE of getting in to the program
but there is a CHANCE of getting in to the program
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Maybe with a 35+ MCAT you'll be competitive, but otherwise they want a better GPA than simply 3.05.
Yes, but you need 35+ mcat most likely, as others have said.
That was pretty much my gpa - but, i had the high score and got in np. It'll hurt you much more on amcas, than smp apps. Honestly, with smp mean gpa centered around 3.2-3, there really isnt much difference. The rest of your app will fill the void.
That was pretty much my gpa - but, i had the high score and got in np. It'll hurt you much more on amcas, than smp apps. Honestly, with smp mean gpa centered around 3.2-3, there really isnt much difference. The rest of your app will fill the void.
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My GPA was around that as well. At first I was rejected from the G-town SMP with my GRE score and an expired 29 MCAT. Once I received my new MCAT score, 38, I emailed them and they reactivated my application and I went on to be accepted!
So, kill the MCAT and its definitely doable!
So, kill the MCAT and its definitely doable!
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I would say no matter what, take a course. I personally took Kaplan because I believe that their materials are better, in particular online. I know several people that took TPR, and they found it beneficial. To be honest though, this needs to be a small part of your study plan for the MCAT. I took it on 6/16 and some of it was insane while other material was easy. It all depends on what your strengths/weaknesses are. There are some decent discounts for the courses if you look online. I was able to take Kaplan for $1700.
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25 is the median MCAT score for all 70k+ people per year who want to go to med school, fyi.
I think y'all ought to keep in mind that 34+ is the top 10% of all test takers. You can't plan on being a 34+ unless your gene pool helps you out. Getting a 34+ after doing 3.0-ish undergrad work...that's an anomaly.
Basically if you're more of a normal human being, maxing out around 32 is somewhat realistic, and 28 is very realistic.
My point is that planning on getting a great MCAT score to get into Gtown or med school isn't a good plan. Be ready to have to do it the hard way, such as doing multiple years of more undergrad at a 3.7+ (maybe instead of an SMP, maybe before an SMP), and doing long painful MCAT prep.
I suggest that before you start a paid course, get a read on how far you are from a 32+.
People have disagreed with me on this, but I allege that if you take a practice test now, cold, no prep, then you know what you're in for. You can take one free on www.e-mcat.com.
Imho improving verbal is the hardest. If you aren't already at a 10 on verbal, getting that 32+ is not realistic just via test prep (you need more schooling, imho). If you aren't already at an 8 or a 9 on the sciences, 32+ is at least a year of prep away.
People disagree with me on the above, but I'm very much against giving people an expectation that doesn't match their capabilities. There's almost always a way to get into med school, and that way is pretty much never quick & dirty.
Best of luck to you.
I think y'all ought to keep in mind that 34+ is the top 10% of all test takers. You can't plan on being a 34+ unless your gene pool helps you out. Getting a 34+ after doing 3.0-ish undergrad work...that's an anomaly.
Basically if you're more of a normal human being, maxing out around 32 is somewhat realistic, and 28 is very realistic.
My point is that planning on getting a great MCAT score to get into Gtown or med school isn't a good plan. Be ready to have to do it the hard way, such as doing multiple years of more undergrad at a 3.7+ (maybe instead of an SMP, maybe before an SMP), and doing long painful MCAT prep.
I suggest that before you start a paid course, get a read on how far you are from a 32+.
People have disagreed with me on this, but I allege that if you take a practice test now, cold, no prep, then you know what you're in for. You can take one free on www.e-mcat.com.
Imho improving verbal is the hardest. If you aren't already at a 10 on verbal, getting that 32+ is not realistic just via test prep (you need more schooling, imho). If you aren't already at an 8 or a 9 on the sciences, 32+ is at least a year of prep away.
People disagree with me on the above, but I'm very much against giving people an expectation that doesn't match their capabilities. There's almost always a way to get into med school, and that way is pretty much never quick & dirty.
Best of luck to you.
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Since we're talking about MCAT, I gotta throw in my two cents here. I agree with the above except for the specific numbers. No offense to DrMidLife, but she's probably going off her relatively limited experience from studying for the MCAT herself and from the SDN pipeline.
Yes, it's difficult (and sometimes based on luck) to score very well on the MCAT. A 33+ score and you are scoring in the top ten(ish) percentile of MCAT test takers. Saying that you will "get a good MCAT score" to solve your admission problems is like saying that you will "get a good paying job" to solve your money problems. Yes, it's true, but it's easier said than done!
So yes, I would echo DrMidLife's recommendation on taking a practice MCAT now to see how much improvement you would need.
But scoring poorly now does not mean you cannot score well on the actual MCAT. It does not mean you need to take "at least a year" to score competitively for medical school. As an MCAT instructor and tutor for years, I have seen students jump 15+ points into the low 40s and I have seen students study and practice with all their might and never get above a 24. And most people saying "oh you need a year before you can nail the MCAT" or "you just need to study hard for a few weeks" are basing those statements usually on their personal experience with the test.
Here's what I've noticed over the years (both from studying/taking the MCAT and teaching/tutoring the MCAT):
The students who tend to do well are the students with the right attitude. They tend to have a positive outlook on things. They don't believe the test is an impossibility or "stupid" but rather see the test as a challenge to overcome. They're not necessarily the hardest workers but the ones with the best attitudes.
So be realistic about your goals but stay positive. Be ready to be humbled but don't be discouraged.
Best of luck.
Yes, it's difficult (and sometimes based on luck) to score very well on the MCAT. A 33+ score and you are scoring in the top ten(ish) percentile of MCAT test takers. Saying that you will "get a good MCAT score" to solve your admission problems is like saying that you will "get a good paying job" to solve your money problems. Yes, it's true, but it's easier said than done!
So yes, I would echo DrMidLife's recommendation on taking a practice MCAT now to see how much improvement you would need.
But scoring poorly now does not mean you cannot score well on the actual MCAT. It does not mean you need to take "at least a year" to score competitively for medical school. As an MCAT instructor and tutor for years, I have seen students jump 15+ points into the low 40s and I have seen students study and practice with all their might and never get above a 24. And most people saying "oh you need a year before you can nail the MCAT" or "you just need to study hard for a few weeks" are basing those statements usually on their personal experience with the test.
Here's what I've noticed over the years (both from studying/taking the MCAT and teaching/tutoring the MCAT):
The students who tend to do well are the students with the right attitude. They tend to have a positive outlook on things. They don't believe the test is an impossibility or "stupid" but rather see the test as a challenge to overcome. They're not necessarily the hardest workers but the ones with the best attitudes.
So be realistic about your goals but stay positive. Be ready to be humbled but don't be discouraged.
Best of luck.
