3.67 GPA and 22 mcat

[littleme]

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So what are my chances?
I

 

[BlackBox]

That MCAT is gonna hold you back for an MD and likely a DO. Maybe you have a shot if you're story is unique. The best advice I can give you is to raise that MCAT before applying. Anyone can be trained to take an exam, you just need to find what works best for you. DO NOT APPLY if you think your stats are too low. Re-applicants have a statistically significant lower chance of being accepted (maybe 'cause their scores were lower or they're simply looked down upon- who knows).

If you hit 30+, have good rec letters, and apply broadly- I think your chances are good.

btw- this should be posted in the "What are my chances" thread

GL

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Let's start with the most important thing, how did you get around studying for the MCAT? 22 is really low for any school to consider you.

 

[RC4L]

Let's start with the most important thing, how did you get around studying for the MCAT? 22 is really low for any school to consider you.

YES^. Your stats are fine except for the MCAT. Don't take the easy rode to avoid having to take the test again because a 22 is too low for MD and you don't want to go to a Carrib school. Carrib is not worth it trust me. A 22 is also not a bad place to start with your mcat either! Analyze what you did wrong, do your research, make a plan, and get after the mcat again. If you can increase at least 5-6 points you should have a good chance and that is a very manageable increase from a 22.

 

[MedWonk]

Don't go Carribean unless you enjoy the prospect of possibly not getting a residency spot when you graduate even if you do fine on the USMLE. Study for the MCAT again and don't take the real thing until you're getting at least a 30. Your cumulative GPA is also going to be below average. A post-bacc may be a good course for you. Do you have any research experience? I would get some. Do you have any non-medically related volunteering experience? Get some if you don't. Also, this should go in the "What are my chances" sub-forum.

 

[RC4L]

Agreed. US MD schools are taking more and more students each year, new MD schools are popping up throughout the country, and DO schools are flourishing. The issue is that residency positions are not growing as fast as the number of US medical students if at all so the competition for those residency spots is increasing among US med students and Carrib students are getting shafted. Many graduates of Carrib schools are unable to obtain residency and even the top scoring students there have trouble matching into competitive residencies. You don't want to work that hard to have so few options or possibly none at all so it is very advisable to put in the work to become a US med student. Your GPA could get you in under the right circumstances and especially if you can get your MCAT where it needs to be so I would talk to some of your prospective schools before signing up for any grad classes. My graduating GPA was lower than yours but I had a great MCAT(after 3 tries) and great EC's and I received interviews at all the schools I applied to. Your 1.5 years as a nurse will help you immensely with admission! May I ask what your EC's consist of? Also what was your MCAT prep like? Sorry for posting twice I didn't get to finish earlier due to class.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

22 is bad regardless, man. I mean if it were a practice test, it's perfectly okay. But if you took the real test and got that score, that is bad. Remember that some school have their own policies about scores, some average the two, some take the higher of the two.

 

[broski123]

Please consider taking the MCAT even if you don't want to. Going to a Caribbean School is a really bad idea because you will need to do better on the STEP 1 than US MD applicants to match. Focus on your test taking skills to improve your MCAT.

 

[Czarcasm]

Do NOT go to Caribbean School. I know so many that have gone that route and unfortunately regret it. Have you considered D.O? Even still, you're really young and I'm sure quite capable of retaking the MCAT and doing better. Don't sell yourself short.

 

[littleme]

Agreed. US MD schools are taking more and more students each year, new MD schools are popping up throughout the country, and DO schools are flourishing. The issue is that residency positions are not growing as fast as the number of US medical students if at all so the competition for those residency spots is increasing among US med students and Carrib students are getting shafted. Many graduates of Carrib schools are unable to obtain residency and even the top scoring students there have trouble matching into competitive residencies. You don't want to work that hard to have so few options or possibly none at all so it is very advisable to put in the work to become a US med student. Your GPA could get you in under the right circumstances and especially if you can get your MCAT where it needs to be so I would talk to some of your prospective schools before signing up for any grad classes. My graduating GPA was lower than yours but I had a great MCAT(after 3 tries) and great EC's and I received interviews at all the schools I applied to. Your 1.5 years as a nurse will help you immensely with admission! May I ask what your EC's consist of? Also what was your MCAT prep like? Sorry for posting twice I didn't get to finish earlier due to class.

I have some good EC. Some Volunteering. I was president of the honor society in college. I am looking into doing research too. Maybe that will help my application. I might just stop working for some time and retake the MCAT. I do feel bad that I will be loosing another year. Oh well, that is the price I have to pay.
Thanks for all the replies . Really appreciate it 🙂

 

[valkener]

I think your chances of getting into a DO school are OK-- apply very broadly. If you want to go MD then retake the MCAT and have a minimum of 27.

Good luck!

 

[valkener]

Also, do not go Carribean if you can go DO because it's "do or die" there and if you die, well, ...

 

[RC4L]

I have some good EC. Some Volunteering. I was president of the honor society in college. I am looking into doing research too. Maybe that will help my application. I might just stop working for some time and retake the MCAT. I do feel bad that I will be loosing another year. Oh well, that is the price I have to pay.
Thanks for all the replies . Really appreciate it 🙂

Research is golden. Definitely a good idea to clear as much time as possible for mcat purposes. Waiting does suck but in the long run it will be worth it. I'm 23, graduated in 5 years, and waited to apply until after graduation so I know how you feel. All the others who started at the same time as me are in their second year of med school. All in due time.

 

[michigan1212]

So what are my chances?
I am 22 years old. I have 2 bachelor's degrees.
B.S. in Biology GPA 3.67
Accelerated BS in Nursing GPA 3.3
Lots of EC activities
Clinical experience....currently working as a registered nurse 1.5 years
MCAT score of 22 :-(
Should I do a post bacc linkage program? Retake MCAT?? (I really dont want to) or should I go to a Caribbean school?
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated

Its not really much of a question. All the pieces of the puzzle are there except for the MCAT. Don't do post bacc, don't go to the caribbean, just spend 3 solid months on the MCAT. Then you are in. Congrats on your acceptance in advance.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

^ facepalm

 

[orangeman25]

Do NOT go to Caribbean School. I know so many that have gone that route and unfortunately regret it. Have you considered D.O? Even still, you're really young and I'm sure quite capable of retaking the MCAT and doing better. Don't sell yourself short.

Why is Caribbean worse than DO? If the OP wants to go md, wouldn't Caribbean ultimately be the better option

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

lol no

 

[RC4L]

Why is Caribbean worse than DO? If the OP wants to go md, wouldn't Caribbean ultimately be the better option

DO grads have a much better chance of getting residency and especially competitive residency. US MD schools are taking more students, the number of US med schools is increasing, and DO schools are becoming a much more viable option yet the number of residency positions is at a stand still. The effect is that competition for residency between US med students is increasing and Carrib students are getting shafted. The frequency of Carrib students that are unable to obtain US residency is increasing despite average GPA/Steps and even the students at the top of the class rarely get competitive residencies. Risking that chance and narrowing your opportunities is just not a good idea in this field. You also have to realize that students go to the Carrib because they can't score competitively. They are the community college of med schools if you will. You wouldn't expect their competitiveness to be near that of US MD schools or US MD schools and be honest, would you be more comfortable hiring a doctor mastered his studies or one who could barely pass? This is the reality of Carrib schools. Now on the bright side, the OP could get into a DO with current stats and could get into an MD school with a better MCAT. Take the time to kill the mcat and apply MD. It will be very much worth the trouble.

@littleme,
I can totally sympathize with your situation. My graduating GPA was lower than yours due to three semesters of foolishness(2.8, 1.6, 2.7). When I finally decided I was determined to be a doctor, I turned things around and made consecutive 4.0s for the rest of college and did everything I could to obtain an outstanding EC resume. The first time I took the MCAT I made a 21. The following year(this year) I took it twice and made a 30 then 38 after an incredible amount of studying. I applied this round and got interviews at all the schools I applied to. If I could make something out of my resume you definitely can because mine was worse than yours. Don't sell yourself short, do everything you can to make yourself more competitive and things will work out for you.

 

[Czarcasm]

Why is Caribbean worse than DO? If the OP wants to go md, wouldn't Caribbean ultimately be the better option

The problem is, it's extremely difficult to get into residency programs as is. Most caribbean MD's don't get matched. I've had a few friends unfortunately that had to seek out alternative careers because they weren't getting anywhere. It's really depressing.