509 MCAT with low CARS

[Lomology]

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Hi everyone, long time lurker so apologies if this is the wrong place to post this. I recently received my MCAT scores and got a 509 (126/123/131/129). I'm a Texas resident (Hispanic) with a 3.94 gpa and 4.0 sgpa and am planning to apply this cycle but I was wondering if this CARS score would hurt me significantly enough that I should retake.

 

[Tchotchke]

Are you only applying with TMDSAS? or AMCAS and AACOMAS as well?

 

[Lomology]

Are you only applying with TMDSAS? or AMCAS and AACOMAS as well?

All the schools in TMDSAS and only Baylor under AMCAS.

 

[SpoiledMilk]

That is a decent MCAT score. Depending on whether you are URM, then as a TX resident with those metrics, I wouldn't worry and would apply to all the TMDSAS schools since CARs is given the most leeway.

 

[Lomology]

@Goro It seems you have a lot of insight into Texas schools, any thoughts? To be more specific, I'm Mexican American.

 

[gyngyn]

Hi everyone, long time lurker so apologies if this is the wrong place to post this. I recently received my MCAT scores and got a 509 (126/123/131/129). I'm a Texas resident (Hispanic) with a 3.94 gpa and 4.0 sgpa and am planning to apply this cycle but I was wondering if this CARS score would hurt me significantly enough that I should retake.

Language skills? Commitment to service?

 

[Lomology]

Language skills? Commitment to service?

I'm fluent in both English and Spanish and have close to 500 hours of clinical volunteering/shadowing in my hometown. I'm from a very rural part of Texas and is part of the reason I'd like to do something in primary care.

 

[gyngyn]

I'm fluent in both English and Spanish and have close to 500 hours of clinical volunteering/shadowing in my hometown. I'm from a very rural part of Texas and is part of the reason I'd like to do something in primary care.

You should receive several interviews in TX.

 

[Lomology]

You should receive several interviews in TX.

Thank you so much for more reassurance. It's been kind of eating at me since I got my score.

 

[Goro]

You should receive several interviews in TX.

Agree with my learned colleague

 

[time2ski]

I have seen both sides of this... I know someone who did well in 3/4 sections and was rejected because 1 section was low. On the other hand it would appear that some schools disregard the breakdown and only look at the overall score

 

[Isoval]

Agree with the above. I think you’re in good shape for Texas.

Anecdotal: I received 4 TMDSAS interviews with a 508 (130/125/129/124), and, unlike me, you actually have a compelling background and far more clinical volunteering than I had.

 

[Lomology]

Agree with the above. I think you’re in good shape for Texas.

Anecdotal: I received 4 TMDSAS interviews with a 508 (130/125/129/124), and, unlike me, you actually have a compelling background and far more clinical volunteering than I had.

If you don't mind me asking, which schools did you receive interviews from? I'd obviously love to just get in somewhere, but I would prefer somewhere like Galveston or A&M.

 

[Isoval]

I interviewed at the following:
UTMB Galveston (8/11)
UNTHSC TCOM (9/8)
UT Houston McGovern (9/28)
UT Southwestern (1/6)

If you don't mind me asking, which schools did you receive interviews from? I'd obviously love to just get in somewhere, but I would prefer somewhere like Galveston or A&M.

 

[Lomology]

I interviewed at the following:
UTMB Galveston (8/11)
UNTHSC TCOM (9/8)
UT Houston McGovern (9/28)
UT Southwestern (1/6)

Oh, awesome! I hadn't held out too much hope for schools like Southwestern, but it's good to hear that it isn't impossible.

 

[Lomology]

Apologizes for commenting again after getting my questions answer, but I just wanted to give an update in case anyone finds themselves in a similar situation. I was fortunate enough to interview at 7 Texas schools and was offered prematches to 4 of them, including UTSW! Just want to thank you guys again for the hope you guys gave me which made this cycle a lot less stressful!

 

[libertyyne]

your are going to be fine. Texas loves high gpas compared to the rest of the country.

Edit. Opps. just read above.

Congrats OP.

 

[MyOdyssey]

your are going to be fine. Texas loves high gpas compared to the rest of the country.

Edit. Opps. just read above.

Congrats OP.

Computing GPAs the TMCAS way tends to boost GPAs vis a vis the AMCAS way of computing.

 

[libertyyne]

Computing GPAs the TMCAS way tends to boost GPAs vis a vis the AMCAS way of computing.

It might be the cause, their median MCAT on the other hand tends to be a bit lower compared to the national average, which is not surprising considering the large instate bias they have and the large number of schools.

 

[ThatAggieGuy]

Apologizes for commenting again after getting my questions answer, but I just wanted to give an update in case anyone finds themselves in a similar situation. I was fortunate enough to interview at 7 Texas schools and was offered prematches to 4 of them, including UTSW! Just want to thank you guys again for the hope you guys gave me which made this cycle a lot less stressful!

Congrats! Mexican american here as well with a 510 mcat, 124 cars. I'll see you at UTSW if you end up going there next year prematched as well 🙂

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Apologizes for commenting again after getting my questions answer, but I just wanted to give an update in case anyone finds themselves in a similar situation. I was fortunate enough to interview at 7 Texas schools and was offered prematches to 4 of them, including UTSW! Just want to thank you guys again for the hope you guys gave me which made this cycle a lot less stressful!

Congrats!