Advice for MD/DO with MCAT retake

[medschoolplease123]

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[Faha]

Before you make any further decisions about your application you need to wait for the results of your June MCAT which will be available in mid to late July. Post your score here when available and then it will be easier to advise you about schools. A second MCAT in September is far too late for MD schools.

 

[Goro]

With a 504, I'd recommend these schools:

Quinnipiac

Oakland U Beaumont

WVU

EVMS

Rosy Franklin

MCW

Creighton

NYMC

VCU

Rush (note: very service/experience oriented with a 150hr service requirement. Avg student has 800 hours of community service, and >1800 hours of health care exposure.)

Loma Linda (but read their list of don'ts)

Albany

Netter

Your state school(s).

Any DO school.

Hi everyone,

I would like some advice please. So I took the MCAT on June 18 and I felt pretty good about it except the CARS section and maybe a little of the psych/soc. But anyways I am worried I wont be were my score should be (504+). But anyways I have submitted my primary app for both MD and DO schools. I am signing up for the either Sept. 10 date so scores released around Oct. 12. I am wondering if I should even bother applying to the MD and DO schools during this cycle if I get my MCAT score is back and its not 504+. So basically I am wondering; if I submit my primary application to both MD and DO schools in Oct. 12 (having been verified in July) is it even worth it? I know I would be at a disadvantage because of sending my application to my school list in Oct. but exactly how much would that hinder my chances? Please let me know! (Note: both my MD and DO applications are currently in the process of being verified). Please don't sugarcoat it I can take it! And in this time I would primarily focus on raising my CARS score to 126+... @gonnif @Faha @Goro @Catalystik

Also: if I submit my application using a throwaway school for both MD and DO this cycle but realize I would rather wait and raise my mcat score so I decided to withdraw my application for the 1 school each (1 for MD and 1 for DO) and use the primary essay for the next cycle will the schools know that? and if I used the same experiences and activities etc. (also adding to them obviously)... will they know that (the other schools I mean; not the throwaway schools) or will they see me as a reapplicant? Will they see me as a reapplicant even if I did not apply to their school or will they see me as a reapplicant if I apply to any medical school?
Thank You

 

[Waillin]

@Goro

The MSAR shows the average MD applicant has a 501 MCAT. Considering the average matriculated medical student has a 509 it seems absurd so many people apply with such a low score. Do you think a 504 is within striking range for the average applicant or wasting their money like people applying with a 501? (For MD schools)

 

[Goro]

Keep in mind that 60% of applicants never get accepted to MD schools.

The numbers I gave are what I consider striking distance for those schools, and they're above the 10th %iles for them with a 504.

For someone with a 501, I can't recommend applying to an MD school (and some DO schools like CCOM), unless they live in a "lucky" state like LA, FL, ND, SD NM, AL, etc.

@Goro

The MSAR shows the average MD applicant has a 501 MCAT. Considering the average matriculated medical student has a 509 it seems absurd so many people apply with such a low score. Do you think a 504 is within striking range for the average applicant or wasting their money like people applying with a 501? (For MD schools)

 

[medschoolplease123]

With a 504, I'd recommend these schools:

Quinnipiac

Oakland U Beaumont

WVU

EVMS

Rosy Franklin

MCW

Creighton

NYMC

VCU

Rush (note: very service/experience oriented with a 150hr service requirement. Avg student has 800 hours of community service, and >1800 hours of health care exposure.)

Loma Linda (but read their list of don'ts)

Albany

Netter

Your state school(s).

Any DO school.

That's assuming i get a 504+ on the June MCAT. But if i don't and take the sept. 10 MCAT would it even be worth it to apply to any of the MD or DO programs this cycle? And if i withdraw my application - and use my personal statement for the next cycle will schools see me as a reapplicant for the entire application or only for those schools which i applied to last cycle?

 

[Goro]

A September MCAT is too late for MD schools but will still be okay for DO schools.

That's assuming i get a 504+ on the June MCAT. But if i don't and take the sept. 10 MCAT would it even be worth it to apply to any of the MD or DO programs this cycle? And if i withdraw my application - and use my personal statement for the next cycle will schools see me as a reapplicant for the entire application or only for those schools which i applied to last cycle?

 

[medschoolplease123]

A September MCAT is too late for MD schools but will still be okay for DO schools.

And the personal statement issue if i decide to wait till next cycle and apply?

 

[Goro]

You can tweak it for next year. Schools are known to keep copies of apps for reapplicants

And the personal statement issue if i decide to wait till next cycle and apply?

 

[medschoolplease123]

You can tweak it for next year. Schools are known to keep copies of apps for reapplicants

But that's just the schools you apply to right? So say i used my PS this cycle and only applied to say to MSUCOM and then i realized that i would rather apply next cycle. So next cycle if i use the same PS and say apply to CCOM will CCOM see that i used my PS from the previois cycle and will CCOM know i was a reapplicant? I know MSUCOM will know i was a reapplicant but will CCOM or BCOM know (if i did not apply the first cycle to those specific schools). And is that the same with MD schools... @gonnif

 

[Goro]

If you apply to a different school then there's obviously no need to rewrite the PS.

But that's just the schools you apply to right? So say i used my PS this cycle and only applied to say to MSUCOM and then i realized that i would rather apply next cycle. So next cycle if i use the same PS and say apply to CCOM will CCOM see that i used my PS from the previois cycle and will CCOM know i was a reapplicant? I know MSUCOM will know i was a reapplicant but will CCOM or BCOM know (if i did not apply the first cycle to those specific schools). And is that the same with MD schools... @gonnif

 

[medschoolplease123]

If you apply to a different school then there's obviously no need to rewrite the PS.

Okay yeah i just didn't know if you reapply then everyschool sees you as a reapplicant or only the schools which you applied to the first time. Thank you very much!

 

[medschoolplease123]

two different questions

1) no school will ever see your previous app except those you actually applied to.

2) any school can ask if you have previously applied to any school

But that can be simply answered with, i would like to make my application the strongest possible so i withdrew. Right?