Am I Completely Screwed?

[jjgrnak]

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I have a 3.4 GPA and a 28 MCAT Score, am I completely screwed for getting into med school?

 

[Nymphicus]

no

 

[Iliketoytles]

your fine bro. Just apply early and you should get plenty of interviews 👍

 

[ManBroDude]

Welcome to the land of the average matriculant. Hope you applied in June!

 

[gatorfann14]

Don't listen to the previous posters they are all pre-med and have no clue what they are talking about. Yes you are completely screwed. you should think about becoming a nurse or maybe getting a degree in health administration, you know something more on your educational level.

Now seriously cast a broad net and you should be more than fine on the DO side. Probably screwed on the MD side though.

 

[ksmajmudar]

You should note that the AAMC (MD allopathic) just released that data for 2011 applicants and first-year enrollees (ie matriculants) and found that the average GPA and MCAT was 3.5 and 29 respectively. You are more than fine towards DO and MD, despite the inflated misperception on SDN that makes acceptance to medical school (either allopathic or osteopathic) seem mythically impossible unless your near-perfect. I think that that perception has scared off good candidates who would make good doctors.

BTW, 2010 AACOM data shows mean matriculant GPA data with science as 3.36, non-science, 3.57, overall 3.47. The MCAT mean is 8.69 verbal, 9.27 biological sciences, 8.51 physical science, with overall at 26.48

Please keep in mind the 3.5 and 29 include URMs, schools that cater exclusively to URMs, and schools that favor in-state students (who will tend to have slightly lower stats than OOS students). Thus, unless he is a URM or IS to MD schools (except CA), he will need to have higher stats than that. Thus, I would say he is screwed for MD but has a very good shot at DO.

 

[El Dooderino]

You should note that the AAMC (MD allopathic) just released that data for 2011 applicants and first-year enrollees (ie matriculants) and found that the average GPA and MCAT was 3.5 and 29 respectively. You are more than fine towards DO and MD, despite the inflated misperception on SDN that makes acceptance to medical school (either allopathic or osteopathic) seem mythically impossible unless your near-perfect. I think that that perception has scared off good candidates who would make good doctors.

BTW, 2010 AACOM data shows mean matriculant GPA data with science as 3.36, non-science, 3.57, overall 3.47. The MCAT mean is 8.69 verbal, 9.27 biological sciences, 8.51 physical science, with overall at 26.48

The press release said 3.5 and 29 was the average APPLICANT, not enrollee. When you figure around 50 percent of applicants don't get in this guys numbers are pretty subpar. Not sure why you changed the press release quote to say enrollees

 

[El Dooderino]

I will have to disagree with the above and this goes to the misperception of the grades needed to make it into MD or DO. Quoted below is from the AAMC (MD) press release on the incoming 2011 enrollees (ie those who have been accepted and are matriculating into medical school)

"Even with greater numbers of applicants, medical schools continue to attract well-qualified individuals. The overall academic credentials of applicants remained strong, with an average GPA of 3.5 and an MCAT® exam score of 29." (emphasis mine)

Link to AAMC 2011 Applicant and Enrollee Data

If 3.5 GPA and 29 MCAT are average, then a large percentage below that average have been accepted into allopathic medical school..

BTW, this perception of grades may explain in part the increased rate of growth of the applicant pool to DO over MD. In 2010, 13,147 applied to DO with 5,031 matriculated for a 38% acceptance rate or 2.61 applicants per seat. For MD, there were 43,919 applicants with 19,230 1st year enrollees for a 43% acceptance rate or 2.23 applicants per seat. Historically (pre 2003), applicants per seat ratio has usually been lower for DO than MD but the past several years that ratio has been reversed. It appears that well qualified students are eschewing applying to allopathic under the misperception that without "near-perfect" grades they would be wholly uncompetitive academically. It would also that many of these students are applying to osteopathic school. Ironically, on an applicant to seat basis (not a grade basis), the above data shows it is more competitive to get into a DO program then an MD program.

Once again, you need to read the press release closer. Also, I'm sure I don't have to explain why applicant to seat ratio is a terrible way to evaluate competitiveness.

 

[UpwardTrend]

gonnif you're a good man. Not enough people around here know who you are. Quit hiding at the neighbors house (OPM) and come hang out more!

 

[bluezoom21]

All sarcasm and joking aside there are some things you need to know.
1. YOU ARE NOT SCREWED!!!!!!!!!!
I say this because as a presidency member of my local chapter of AMSA I see and hear MCAT and GPA's all day long of matriculates and applicants and you have a great chance.

2. You will have a harder time at an MD school vs a DO school. This is not because of a difference in who they recruit but a difference in the number of applicants. In both MD and DO schools the door opening qualification are your MCAT and GPA but as long as you fit their requirements you have a shot. And with your scores you have a shot at most schools.

3. The thing you have to do now is make your application POP as much as possible. One of my favorite examples of what I mean is the movie 21. You want to WOW the ADCOMS and make them see you beyond the scores. Your scores will get you interviews and your personality and experiences will get you in.

4. There are plenty of people who have never become doctors who wanted to and had 4.0 and over 30 on the MCAT. The reason why they did not was because they are socially inept. Perfect example is that of my chemistry department in my undergraduate. Half of the dept are professors that got rejected three years in a row from multiple schools due to not having any social skills.

5. Finally don't let SDN discourage you. You do not even qualify as an underdog. If you do not believe me go post your stats in the underdog thread and you will get told three ways to Sunday that you don't qualify as one.

The reason I can say any of this is that fact that I have been accepted this year with a ton of cancelled interviews and I have a 3.5 cGPA and a 3.4 sGPA with a 28M on the MCAT. Relax and enjoy the process as much as you can and one do we will see you practice along with the rest of us.

 

[dreamweaver1988]

Caribbean CNA

 

[DrShazam]

I have a 3.4 GPA and a 28 MCAT Score, am I completely screwed for getting into med school?

While I don't think you are screwed (especially if you come from a state that has forgiving medical schools), I do think you need to work on the GPA through some post-bacc work of if you're still in school, take more classes and ace them.

 

[Aaronsmith]

I have similar stats to yours and I have called several D.O. schools directly and MARS website shows all MD school mcats with what you would need to be above bottom 10% and 50% and 90th percentile. I think this forum is completely inflated. 40% of people or more get into med school, without adding the ones that miss MD and get in D.O. If you were to follow just this forum, anything less than 95th percentile on any area is doomsday. I would call the schools you are interested in and verify yourself. Much more reliable information that way.

 

[flodhi1]

I have a 3.4 GPA and a 28 MCAT Score, am I completely screwed for getting into med school?

You have a very good chance at DO schools and your chances at MD schools is not completely dead. I would apply to some DO schools but just know that it's pretty late in the cycle. Applying early and broadly is advised.

Important aspects of your application include:-

Strong LORs
Excellent and diverse ECs
Upward trend (major!)
Some what balanced score as long as all sections are close and above an 8 your MCAT score is okay for the time being.

 

[jjgrnak]

I am applying in the upcoming cycle for class of 2017, I have a 3.44 cGPA and a 3.398 sGPA, 28 MCAT and have volunteered at hospice and big brothers big sisters for a year each, also with volunteering at local hospitals, and have shadowed many doctors.

What are my chances??

 

[jjgrnak]

I am applying in the upcoming cycle for class of 2017, I have a 3.44 cGPA and a 3.398 sGPA, 28 MCAT and have volunteered at hospice and big brothers big sisters for a year each, also with volunteering at local hospitals, and have shadowed many doctors.

What are my chances??

 

[sector9]

Thread more appropriate for "What are my chances?" subforum

I added a MD/DO tag to this thread, since you posted the same thread in both pre-allo and pre-osteo.

Moving

 

[Northwesterly]

First, there's a whole forum for this. In fact, one of the mods will probably move this thread in about five minutes.

Second, your chances depend on your goals. are you applying MD or DO? Applying MD with those stats is going to be an uphill climb.

Third, three decimal places? Really?

 

[Iliketoytles]

I am applying in the upcoming cycle for class of 2017, I have a 3.44 cGPA and a 3.398 sGPA, 28 MCAT and have volunteered at hospice and big brothers big sisters for a year each, also with volunteering at local hospitals, and have shadowed many doctors.

What are my chances??

This thread is going to be moved since there is a section called, "What are my chances".

BUT, you have a shot at DO schools. Do you have any leadership experience and other non-clinical volunteering? Just continue with your ECs... try to get that GPA up a little more in the Spring... and most importantly, apply EARLY!

At least you don't have to retake your MCAT, so be happy about that! lol. A 28 is competitive for DO, even though your GPA is a bit on the low side (not by much though).

 

[Goro]

You're a lock for interviews at any DO chool, and should be fine for your state schools, and some of the lower-tier MD schools. Don't waste your time with Harvard or Hopkins and thier ilk.

Good luck!

I am applying in the upcoming cycle for class of 2017, I have a 3.44 cGPA and a 3.398 sGPA, 28 MCAT and have volunteered at hospice and big brothers big sisters for a year each, also with volunteering at local hospitals, and have shadowed many doctors.

What are my chances??

 

[ManBroDude]

The AACOMAS application service opens in May. Have your PS and everything ready so you can submit on the very first day, which is June 1st. Just by doing this, I'd say your chances increase 50% or more than those with your same stats who applied late. You'll get interviews no problem. In the meantime, don't fail any classes and get as much clinical experience and volunteering as possible. Good luck and have fun!

 

[sector9]

All three related threads merged together.

OP, please refrain from creating multiple threads in a variety of places. If you have additional questions regarding your circumstances, come back and bump this thread. Thank you for understanding