Accepted with Low Scores

[iLovePancakes]

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Hey all,

Just wondering how many people you know of who've been accepted with low GPA and or MCAT scores. The lowest I've come across for American med schools is a 3.4 and 27 with very few extracurricular activities. Another person I know got accepted to a top 20 school with a 2.5 and a 42. But both of these were non-traditional older students in late 20s and early 30s.

This can't be very common?

 

[MilkmanAl]

Supposedly there's a person in my class who got accepted with a 18 on the MCAT, but I'm not sure what his/her GPA is. There are probably some other low ones at UAMS due to the weird way they accept IS students.

 

[Hifey]

The worst part of my app was my MCAT which was under 30 and I was accepted. However, I did have an acceptable GPA and good ecs

 

[DocMcCoy]

Hey all,

Just wondering how many people you know of who've been accepted with low GPA and or MCAT scores. The lowest I've come across for American med schools is a 3.4 and 27 with very few extracurricular activities. Another person I know got accepted to a top 20 school with a 2.5 and a 42. But both of these were non-traditional older students in late 20s and early 30s.

This can't be very common?

I am surprised that SDN members think getting into medical school with a 3.4 and a 27 is a freak occurrence. From 2005-2007, 6,257 applicants applied with similar numbers and 2,873 got into an allopathic school. Darn near half! (roughly 90% acceptance rate for those self identified as African American and 46% for those self identified as white, all other ethnicities fell somewhere in between)

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/table24-mcatgpa-grid-3yrs-app-accpt.htm

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/table25-b-mcatgpagridblack.pdf

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/table25-w-mcatgpagridwhite.pdf

 

[iLovePancakes]

@ DocMcCoy: Wow. I'm actually very surprised. I mean most people I've talked with on SDN and in general have been offering their advice and most think those scores will get an applicant nowhere. As far as people I know who already have been matriculated--well, I've always found those numbers to be falsified-- inflated as I've come to find out. So I've stopped believing those stats.

Thanks for your post...learned something new 😛

 

[iLovePancakes]

@ MilkmanAl: wow!! 18!! thats...insane. they must've had a stellar GPA and/or ECs.

@Hifey: I think your GPA & Ecs probably counteracted the sub-30 MCAT. Congratulations on the acceptance!👍

 

[MilkmanAl]

It's important to remember that lots of those applicants wind up at schools like the HBCU's and those in Puerto Rico that typicall accept applicants with lower scores. Also, note that 3.4/27 is on the extreme low end of the bin it's in. I doubt many people would argue that a 3.59/29 and a 3.4/27 are anywhere near each other, and I'd wager that most of those acceptances are probably at the high end of the bin.

@ MilkmanAl: wow!! 18!! thats...insane. they must've had a stellar GPA and/or ECs.

You might be surprised. One of the congressional districts in Arkansas reportedly topped a 70% admission rate for my class.

 

[FutureScaresMe]

I am surprised that SDN members think getting into medical school with a 3.4 and a 27 is a freak occurrence. From 2005-2007, 6,257 applicants applied with similar numbers and 2,873 got into an allopathic school. Darn near half! (roughly 90% acceptance rate for those self identified as African American and 46% for those self identified as white, all other ethnicities fell somewhere in between)

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/table24-mcatgpa-grid-3yrs-app-accpt.htm

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/table25-b-mcatgpagridblack.pdf

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/table25-w-mcatgpagridwhite.pdf

The acceptance rate is for a range of stats, 27-29 and 3.4-3.59. I'm willing to bet the majority of the applicants accepted that fit this category have numbers on the upper end of that range.

 

[iLovePancakes]

Yeah, I bet you guys are on point. But I guess the important thing to remember is to not count yourself out of the running at 3.4/27 or something similar. The person who had these stats had a 3.0 science GPA. Thats why I wondered if those stats were average or a rare occurrence.

 

[allie1361]

I am surprised that SDN members think getting into medical school with a 3.4 and a 27 is a freak occurrence. From 2005-2007, 6,257 applicants applied with similar numbers and 2,873 got into an allopathic school. Darn near half! (roughly 90% acceptance rate for those self identified as African American and 46% for those self identified as white, all other ethnicities fell somewhere in between)

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/table24-mcatgpa-grid-3yrs-app-accpt.htm

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/table25-b-mcatgpagridblack.pdf

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/table25-w-mcatgpagridwhite.pdf

I think people on SDN find it surprising because a lot of us on here have GPAs and MCAT scores above, if not well-above those you listed. Those who are really dedicated to becoming a doctor and put the time and effort into really doing well academically represent many of the people searching for information and guidance on sites like this one.

 

[4X4MD]

I think people on SDN find it surprising because a lot of us on here have GPAs and MCAT scores above, if not well-above those you listed. Those who are really dedicated to becoming a doctor and put the time and effort into really doing well academically represent many of the people searching for information and guidance on sites like this one.

agreed

 

[Morsetlis]

I think people on SDN find it surprising because a lot of us on here have GPAs and MCAT scores above, if not well-above those you listed. Those who are really dedicated to becoming a doctor and put the time and effort into really doing well academically represent many of the people searching for information and guidance on sites like this one.

Definitely a self-selecting population commenting on its own awesomeness 😛

 

[Brigade4Radiant]

It's important to remember that lots of those applicants wind up at schools like the HBCU's and those in Puerto Rico that typicall accept applicants with lower scores. Also, note that 3.4/27 is on the extreme low end of the bin it's in. I doubt many people would argue that a 3.59/29 and a 3.4/27 are anywhere near each other, and I'd wager that most of those acceptances are probably at the high end of the bin.

I got accepted with a 3.4 and a 28 to a state school. It isn't impossible. I also know of people who got in with a 26 and 3.2 who were not URMs. However it is hard to get into any MD school. Puerto Rico accepts no out of state and the HBCUs get around 5000+ applicants each and look beyond the numbers. However their numbers are going up around a 26 and 3.5 according to MSAR.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I didn't say it was impossible and wasn't making any value-based statements on URMs or anything like that. Incidentally, I was incorrect since it seems like the average matriculant stats for HBCU's and Puerto Rican schools would likely be below the category we're talking about, if we're assuming that the numbers for average acceptees are higher than those for matriculants.

edit: The table linked above says there are 153 acceptees self-identifying as black within the 3.4-3.59/27-29 range, so I was clearly wrong on the HBCU front.

 

[mediterranean]

I think the consesus is that the higher your stats the short the app process/cycle is to you.

Lower stats = higher the chance that you need to prove yourself or apply more than once.

 

[DocMcCoy]

The acceptance rate is for a range of stats, 27-29 and 3.4-3.59. I'm willing to bet the majority of the applicants accepted that fit this category have numbers on the upper end of that range.

Fine, then take the next set of data for MCAT (24-26) and it is still almost 30 percent.

The Puerto Rico argument raised earlier does not make a lot sense since the majority of those applicants are self identified Hispanic. The 46% originally quoted is for self identified caucasian that applied. I picked this as the representative population because it is generally agreed upon to not have any benefit in the application process.

Yes, the data is for all allopathic schools in the US. Things will obviously vary state to state. The point is that it is not a rare to get in with a sub 30 MCAT and a sub 3.5 GPA. All hope is not lost if you don't have perfect stats, even if other premeds think you aren't 'good enough' for medical school.

 

[iLovePancakes]

I got accepted with a 3.4 and a 28 to a state school. It isn't impossible. I also know of people who got in with a 26 and 3.2 who were not URMs. However it is hard to get into any MD school. Puerto Rico accepts no out of state and the HBCUs get around 5000+ applicants each and look beyond the numbers. However their numbers are going up around a 26 and 3.5 according to MSAR.

Oh alright. Yeah most of the things I looked up on SDN people have pretty high scores and I wondered if the sub-3.5 GPA and sub-30 MCAT applicants were just unheard of. Thanks for your response...helps out a lot. Congratulations on the acceptance 😎

 

[iLovePancakes]

Fine, then take the next set of data for MCAT (24-26) and it is still almost 30 percent.

The Puerto Rico argument raised earlier does not make a lot sense since the majority of those applicants are self identified Hispanic. The 46% originally quoted is for self identified caucasian that applied. I picked this as the representative population because it is generally agreed upon to not have any benefit in the application process.

Yes, the data is for all allopathic schools in the US. Things will obviously vary state to state. The point is that it is not a rare to get in with a sub 30 MCAT and a sub 3.5 GPA. All hope is not lost if you don't have perfect stats, even if other premeds think you aren't 'good enough' for medical school.

Yes, this is precisely what I wanted to know when I started this thread. I appreciate your comments and the links you posted earlier with the stats. The data is right there so anyone who questions your comment can look it up. But you are right, bottom line is all hope is not lost. Thanks a bunch for your input!🙂

 

[thesauce]

I know a 3.3/18 who graduated DO school

 

[J ROD]

18 MCAT is too low to be accepted.....

 

[Morsetlis]

It's a test that can be studied for...

I find the low-scoring people rather funny. Then I get mad that they get accepted. Then I go back to playing WoW.

 

[cgk]

It's important to remember that lots of those applicants wind up at schools like the HBCU's and those in Puerto Rico that typicall accept applicants with lower scores. Also, note that 3.4/27 is on the extreme low end of the bin it's in. I doubt many people would argue that a 3.59/29 and a 3.4/27 are anywhere near each other, and I'd wager that most of those acceptances are probably at the high end of the bin.

You might be surprised. One of the congressional districts in Arkansas reportedly topped a 70% admission rate for my class.

Sorry to sound stupid, but what are the HBCU's?

 

[J ROD]

Sorry to sound stupid, but what are the HBCU's?

Historically Black Colleges....

 

[Morsetlis]

But what does the U stand for?

Redundant 🙄

 

[mybubbles14]

historically black colleges and universities

 

[davidsomsen]

i'm #5 on the waitlist at one school with a 28 and a 3.65 and have two more interviews in a few days.

 

[J ROD]

But what does the U stand for?

Redundant 🙄

not all are universities.....

 

[vc7777]

...Another person I know got accepted to a top 20 school with a 2.5 and a 42. But both of these were non-traditional older students in late 20s and early 30s.

This can't be very common?

Hmmm...I'm skeptical...Is this an 'Urban Legend'? Or do you actually know this person? Common? Sheesh...Very rare...you may never find another person like this, certainly not on SDN.

 

[thesauce]

But what does the U stand for?

Redundant 🙄

Ummm, "redundant" doesn't start with a "U" 😉

 

[lcr2108]

3.55 gpa
3.4 bcpm
29 mcat

really good ECs, personal statement, and i definitely had a great interview

 

[iLovePancakes]

i'm #5 on the waitlist at one school with a 28 and a 3.65 and have two more interviews in a few days.

Ohh nice. Thanks for your input. Good luck to you!! Hope you get into the school of your dreams👍

 

[iLovePancakes]

Hmmm...I'm skeptical...Is this an 'Urban Legend'? Or do you actually know this person? Common? Sheesh...Very rare...you may never find another person like this, certainly not on SDN.

Yes, I actually know this person. He was super lazy in undergrad but hes a smart guy.

 

[iLovePancakes]

3.55 gpa
3.4 bcpm
29 mcat

really good ECs, personal statement, and i definitely had a great interview

Thanks for your response!! Good luck to you!🙂

 

[vc7777]

Yes, I actually know this person. He was super lazy in undergrad but hes a smart guy.

Super lazy eh? I resemble that comment! 🙂

Sounds like he is a non-traditional student and has been out of his undergrad for quite some time (you said late 20s early 30s, right?), like me...there must have been more to his story than just being 'lazy' in undergrad, but so be it. 42 is a smashing MCAT! I only personally know a few confirmed 40+ MCATs. I wonder if he had to bring up his GPA at all, and if there was a 'upward trend'? Was he a 'golden tongued' individual? Personable? Articulate?

My curiosity stems from the fact that generalizations about complex systems, such as medical school applications, can often be 'teased out' by examining "extreme outliers", which I have heard people like your friend labelled on SDN.

I suspect there was more to his story than just a high MCAT?