499 mcat :( What are my chances?

[pinky246]

I just found out I got a 499 on the mcat 🙁 I would like to apply in the upcoming cycle but do I even have a chance of getting in? Should I still plan on submitting my application in May if I retake the mcat?

• 3.82 cGPA and 3.77 sGPA (upward trend in both)
• 499 MCAT 124/122/124/129
• Illinois Resident
• White Female
• First-generation college student
• I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in May 2022
• 180+ clinical hours as a student volunteer in a hospital
• ~860 hours of undergraduate research where I am listed in 2 publications and worked on an independent project
• 100+ shadowing
• ~1400 hours as a research and development intern at a medical company
• ~75 hours teaching a course to help freshman transition to college
• I performed lots of community service through organizations in my undergrad

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[gyngyn]

This format really helps! *~*~*~*IMPORTANT: How to Format Your WAMC Thread for Optimal Results and More!!*~*~*~*

 

[LunaOri]

Don’t retake the MCAT until you are certain you can significantly improve your score. Repeating the MCAT with a similar result would be a significant negative.

 

[drthedude]

finally a thread I can contribute to! I also am an Illinois resident (UIC Grad) and had a 3.44/3.37, 496 and 498 MCAT with a lot of EC's and a 3.9 upward trend in both my GPA's. I only applied DO and received 6 DO II:

LECOM (WL)
KCU (Post R)
BCOM (Declined II)
RVU-MCOM (WL)
WCUCOM (Pending)
Noorda-COM (A)!

It is def possible!

 

[chilly_md]

Getting a DO letter would help if you happened to shadow one. You can still shadow a DO as there is time before you would need to submit. More clinical hours and community service (especially off campus) would also help your app.

I suggest:

LECOM (all campuses)
VCOM (all except Monroe)
PCOM GA and South GA
WCU
UIWSOM
WVSOM
KYCOM
ACOM
VCOM
NYIT-AR
KCOM

The newer DO schools (eg Orlando) come with their own risk of higher attrition and difficulties as the school sorts out things.

 

[Faha]

You could receive interviews at DO schools with your MCAT of 499 and I suggest these:
LECOM (all schools)
VCOM (all 4 schools)
UP-KYCOM
WVSOM
LUCOM
LMU-DCOM
WCU-COM
UIWSOM
NYIT-AR
ARCOM
ACOM
PCOM Georgia and South Georgia
BCOM
Noorda-COM
KHSC-COM (new school)
Touro-Montana (new school)
RVU-Montana (new school)
ICOM
Orlando (new school)
The newer schools are less desirable but with a MCAT of 499 you go wherever you are accepted.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I would check with Midwestern-Chicago COM, Southern Illinois, and UIC rural tracks if you are a mission fit. Your MCAT may still block you, but consider your mission and how these tracks as an in-state applicant could resonate.

Until then, I don't really see you emphasize your community service, so that makes me worry you don't have much to offer in mission fit.

 

[AN16]

I had a 497 Mcat and 3.9 gpa (Asian male) but was fortunate enough to have a really successful cycle given the stats.

7 II (6 DO/1MD)

DO
MUCOM (A)
WCUCOM (A)
ARCOM (A)
KCUCOM (WL)
LECOM (WL)
UIWSOM (Post II rejection)

MD
USUSOM (WL)

I know how disheartening it is to receive a bad Mcat score as I was in your position. However, in my case, I did not care about MD/DO and determined to apply and not retake the Mcat despite my very slim odds. If I could do it, so can you! If you look on this forum as well as the responses you already got, even with a sub 500 Mcat , you still have a chance. However, make sure to polish the rest of your application to maximize your chance!

 

[eturch]

I’m currently a senior at UIUC and applied with a 501 (124/124/127/126) and cGPA 3.8. I got 12 II and 10 As! Feel free to message me!

 

[hopefulfuturedoc32]

I only applied to four schools after I got my 500 mcat. I had a 3.73 cum gpa, 3.64 sgpa. I am also in a masters with a 3.9 something GPA and had a year of clinical experience working as a nurse tech on a neuro unit. I got into WVSOM off a waitlist and am waitlisted at LECOM. I also applied to william carey who ghosted me and MSUCOM because it was in state. Your stats can go to DO school!

 

[theoceanman]

I think you have an okay shot at DO schools, but go with Faha’s list. Your lack of community service will screen you out at most DO schools however as you don’t seem specifically mission-fit for anything, but you should receive some II’s given you submit your secondaries as soon as you receive them.

 

[pinky246]

Getting a DO letter would help if you happened to shadow one. You can still shadow a DO as there is time before you would need to submit. More clinical hours and community service (especially off campus) would also help your app.

I suggest:

LECOM (all campuses)
VCOM (all except Monroe)
PCOM GA and South GA
WCU
UIWSOM
WVSOM
KYCOM
ACOM
VCOM
NYIT-AR
KCOM

The newer DO schools (eg Orlando) come with their own risk of higher attrition and difficulties as the school sorts out things.

Is KCOM Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine or Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine?

 

[chilly_md]

Is KCOM Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine or Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine?

Kirksville, but as Faha said, a 499 likely necessitates newer schools like the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Touro MT, and Orlando's new school.

 

[pinky246]

Thank you to everyone for your input and for putting together lists of schools for me. I'm thinking of applying to 10-12 DO schools. Of the schools that have been mentioned in this post, which ones should I apply to?

 

[theoceanman]

Thank you to everyone for your input and for putting together lists of schools for me. I'm thinking of applying to 10-12 DO schools. Of the schools that have been mentioned in this post, which ones should I apply to?

Use this list that Faha gave you.

You could receive interviews at DO schools with your MCAT of 499 and I suggest these:
LECOM (all schools)
VCOM (all 4 schools)
UP-KYCOM
WVSOM
LUCOM
LMU-DCOM
WCU-COM
UIWSOM
NYIT-AR
ARCOM
ACOM
PCOM Georgia and South Georgia
BCOM
Noorda-COM
KHSC-COM (new school)
Touro-Montana (new school)
RVU-Montana (new school)
ICOM
Orlando (new school)
The newer schools are less desirable but with a MCAT of 499 you go wherever you are accepted.

These are the schools that you should apply to.

I had a 497 Mcat and 3.9 gpa (Asian male) but was fortunate enough to have a really successful cycle given the stats.

7 II (6 DO/1MD)

DO
MUCOM (A)
WCUCOM (A)
ARCOM (A)
KCUCOM (WL)
LECOM (WL)
UIWSOM (Post II rejection)

MD
USUSOM (WL)

I know how disheartening it is to receive a bad Mcat score as I was in your position. However, in my case, I did not care about MD/DO and determined to apply and not retake the Mcat despite my very slim odds. If I could do it, so can you! If you look on this forum as well as the responses you already got, even with a sub 500 Mcat , you still have a chance. However, make sure to polish the rest of your application to maximize your chance!

You can also try these schools as well. You should apply to practically every school that fits you.

 

[Faha]

Thank you to everyone for your input and for putting together lists of schools for me. I'm thinking of applying to 10-12 DO schools. Of the schools that have been mentioned in this post, which ones should I apply to?

With a MCAT of 499 you need to apply to more than 10 to 12 schools. 25 schools would be a better strategy.