The other day I met a 3rd year med student from UNE and he said he had several students in his class including himself who scored in the low 20's? I thought 24 was the cut-off?
Any thoughts
Any thoughts
(nicedream) said:There's people everywhere that got in with scores like that.
DireWolf said:That would be a false conclusion.
(nicedream) said:I disagree - I know of students at UNECOM, NSUCOM, and LECOM who got in with sub-20 scores. I think it's a fair conclusion that other schools probably have the same - I don't see why these schools would be exceptions.
(nicedream) said:I disagree - I know of students at UNECOM, NSUCOM, and LECOM who got in with sub-20 scores. I think it's a fair conclusion that other schools probably have the same - I don't see why these schools would be exceptions.
DireWolf said:I don't want this thread to spiral into a MCAT score war. I simply answered the OP's question. Some UNECOM students have posted their stats in previous threads, and a couple had MCAT scores in the 19-22 range. I did not attach any negative comments to my statement.
Your statement that all schools have students with MCATS in the 19-22 range is false. Some schools have minimum requirements and actually stick to them. The only exceptions would be if an applicant has strong political/family ties to the school. I can only speak for my school, OSU-COM. We do not accept people with MCAT's below 24 or 25.
(nicedream) said:Actually you're wrong - OSUCOM's requirement is an average score of 7 on each section...ie a 21.
http://www.osu-med.com/center/student/entrance.htm
(nicedream) said:Actually you're wrong - OSUCOM's requirement is an average score of 7 on each section...ie a 21.
http://www.osu-med.com/center/student/entrance.htm
DireWolf said:I thought the requirement was bumped up to 8 on each section starting last year. DrMom would know if this is true or not.
(nicedream) said:I know of students at UNECOM, NSUCOM, and LECOM who got in with sub-20 scores.
DrMom said:That is the minimum requirement in order to submit an application...and someone getting in with that kind of score is quite the rarity (I'm told that it can happen in rare situations, but the rest of the application has to make up for it). The average for matriculants is currently something like a 27-28.
(nicedream) said:I disagree - I know of students at UNECOM, NSUCOM, and LECOM who got in with sub-20 scores. I.
DireWolf said:I told myself I wouldn't hijack this thread and post on it again, but I agree with Homunculus and drlexygoat. There has to be a minimum level of competency for medical school. I'm not sure where the line should be drawn, but there has to be a line. Just like you need to be 16 to get a driver's license. That's not to say all kids under 16 can't be responsible drivers- but there has to be a cutoff.
It's necessary to look at other parts of one's application, but the MCAT score should be an integral part. Not everyone is cut out to be a physician. Just like not everyone is cut out to be a navy seal, lawyer, pilot, etc. Minimum requirements have to be met to ensure some degree of competency.
DireWolf said:It's necessary to look at other parts of one's application, but the MCAT score should be an integral part. Not everyone is cut out to be a physician. Just like not everyone is cut out to be a navy seal, lawyer, pilot, etc. Minimum requirements have to be met to ensure some degree of competency.
(nicedream) said:As smgilles suggested, the MCAT is just one aspect of the preliminary screening of people trying to become doctors. Once they get into medical school they have to pass preclinicals, clinicals, step I, step II, step III etc. I don't have any personal interest in this - I scored well over a 20 - but I don't think that the MCATs are that crucial of a step in requirements to become a doctor.
DireWolf said:I think you are being unreasonable by suggesting that the MCAT is not important in selection. If not MCAT, then offer something else to compare applicants.
It is the most objective tool available to compare applicants. Just like Step 1 is used to screen for residency interviews. It may not be fair or right, but it's the best we've got. If you don't agree with it, then come up with something better.
Schools don't have the time or resources to do a "full" evaluation of every applicant. When you have several thousand applicants and a few months to pick a class, you have to use numbers to weed people out.
I think you might be trying to live in an ideal world where applicants can be thoroughly evaluated and accepted based on everything they've done their whole life. Unfortunately, the real world cannot operate that way.
BACMEDIC said:But if the MCAT is so important, why is there only a .26 correlation between MCAT score and board scores? Given your arguments, one would think that the correlation would be much higher.
I agree that there has to be a minimum, but there also has to be SOMETHING that really does correlate to how one will do on the boards.
PACtoDOC said:A&P is taught is high schools all over the country. Most undergrad schools (hec even community colleges for that matter) offer A&P and it has no cadaver component at all. Its just the best course for learning terminology and basic human stuff. It just makes no sense to require physics when A&P is such a huge issue the first year. I think there were like 2 physics formulas in cardiology and 2 in renal, but except for that, physics was a big waste of a year!! Let the physics geeks take this mess.
DireWolf said:I think you are being unreasonable by suggesting that the MCAT is not important in selection. If not MCAT, then offer something else to compare applicants.
WannabeDO said:Interestingly enough, acording to my Kaplan MCAT instructor, studies show that the SAT is a better predictor of medical school success than the MCAT. This is heresay and I can't cite any sources other than him. But it is interesting, nonetheless.
DireWolf said:To all you insecure asshats with low MCAT scores that can't deal with a legitimate discussion, take some reading comprehension classes and some antidepressants. It's called Paranoid Personality Disorder - you take legitimate arguments and spin them as personal attacks because you have no self-esteem. (FYI, this is a personal attack) No wonder you scored so low on the MCAT; your verbal reasoning was probably a 4. I'm embarrassed to have you as future colleagues. Hopefully you'll be weeded out by the boards.
I guess that's what I get for talking with a bunch a premeds who don't their ass from their face.
And if you're going to leave negative comments, at least have the balls to sign your name.
Amy B said:How dare you come on here and attack posters the way you have. That is not what SDN is all about. We are here to help people. You have absolutely NO right to pass judgement on anyone who may or may not have a lower than average MCAT. Thank God you aren't on any medical school admissions commitee. The MCAT is just a piece of the overall puzzle. It is ONLY a PIECE.