anyone with <30 MCAT get interviews

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I have a 29 P and 3.77...I applied to 16 schools...submitted AMCAS on June 5, received secondaries from late June to August...I returned them within 3 days and pumped out all the essays...was complete at all the schools sometime in August...I got seven interviews and went to five of them (UW-Madison, U of Vermont, Eastern Virginia, Wake Forest, and Med. College of WI). I received two acceptances (U of Vermont and MCW)...I'm a WI resident so that helps...I turned down two interviews at Mich State and NYMC...I have not heard back from seven schools and withdrew. Completing my secondaries ASAP and doing everything early really helped. I'm Chinese, so I that definitely didn't help me!
 
I have 30MCAT, 3.9GPA, good EC's, applied to 15 schools with an average MCAT of 30 and some 29, submitted most of my secondaries in August and September and some in October. My stat's are not that bad. Yet, I have not had any interview invites. This process has been so frustrating and depressing.......... I wish someone can tell me why I did not have any interivew invites. I called schools, but all I get is that my application will be reviewed in Dec (delayed rejections!!!).
 
You have got to get some interviews soon Door...if not some acceptances b/c you have excellent stats! Hang in there...your GPA is so competitive for most schools with a 30 MCAT.
 
Chuckwalla said:
I smell someone who doesn't look at statistics. Sure it isn't all about numbers but there are some things that would normally kill an application outright, a 24 MCAT is one of those for most people.
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So what statistics are you looking at that says people with 24 don't get in? If you know (as you well admit) that the admissions process wasn't all about numbers then why did you say that that guy's 24 was "too low for an MD acceptance"? Your logic doesn't add up. 😕 Generally people think before they talk but I smell someone doing it the other way round. 😉
 
I have a 29 and a 3.44 GPA and just got my first interview. It feels so darn good to have at least one! Hopefully some more come!
 
29 with about a dozen interviews and 6 acceptances so far.
 
27 (7V) with 1 interview and 2 holds. Theres hope.😛
 
Y_Marker, your stat's are amazing. I have not had any interviews although I have 30 MCAT, lot of EC's including TA positions, research, etc and 3.9GPA. Can you help me ---tell us what made you a strong candidate with so many interivews and acceptances so that we all can learn from you for the next round (I hate to think that I have to take the MCAT again!!!). Tell us aspects that made you stood out from the 10,000 applicants when someone read your applications and offered you interviews.
 
I have a 27M with a 3.3...applied to about 15 schools...completed only 3 secondaries out of about 10...had 2 interviews...one waitlist and one acceptance(Louisville)...I am actually a TN resident..but ties to KY. So that helped.
Have about 2 years of research, no publications...hopefully one by spring...and nurse tech exp. I am a 25 year old white male...for those who might be interested in that info.

Good luck!
 
Y_Marker, your stat's are amazing. I have not had any interviews although I have 30 MCAT, lot of EC's including TA positions, research, etc and 3.9GPA. Can you help me ---tell us what made you a strong candidate with so many interivews and acceptances so that we all can learn from for the next round (I hate to think that I have to take the MCAT again!!!). Tell us something that made you stand out when someone read your applications and offered you interviews.
 
QofQuimica said:
WTG, Y_Marker! :clap: I'm really happy for you. You need to post your story for the non-trads.
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When the dust settles - sure. Thanks for your help along the way Q 👍

DoOrDoom said:
Y_Marker, your stat's are amazing. I have not had any interviews although I have 30 MCAT, lot of EC's including TA positions, research, etc and 3.9GPA. Can you help me ---tell us what made you a strong candidate with so many interivews and acceptances so that we all can learn from for the next round (I hate to think that I have to take the MCAT again!!!). Tell us something that made you stand out when someone read your applications and offered you interviews.
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Your MCAT/GPA are great. I wouldn't bother retaking. Honestly, I don't know what the big deal is. None of the schools I interviewed at ever brought up the fact that my MCAT was < 30. If the schools didn't think I was qualified to handle the courseload they wouldn't have invited me for an interview. On the issue of EC's you've done some great things - TA, research, etc. I didn't have any of these, but they should all help your application (to some degree).

Currently I work as a consultant which requires extensive travel. I'm home only for weekends. My work has nothing to do with science / medicine. I'm as non-trad as they come. So I'm not sure much of what I've done applies to others as a key to some sort of success. What I did show was that I was successful in what I accomplished in my previous career.

I did apply widely - perhaps more than I needed to.

Sounds like you're doing the right things. Make sure you're app is well rounded (i.e. clinical experience - shadowing, volunteering, etc).

Good Luck. :luck:
 
Y_Marker, thanks for your input.

This process has been so depressing to me. The problem is that I cannot see anything wrong to work on improving my profile. I can retake the MCAT, but I am not sure whether I will get a higher score. My stat's are average (30MCAT/3.9GPA). My EC's are quite good compared with other candidates (TA, student government, shadowing, research at University, clinical experience for 3 years, community services for the last 5 years, etc). I submitted most of my secondaries in August/Sept and I only submitted to 20 schools at or below my stat's. I think I did all the "right things", yet NO INTERVIEWS. I called schools and they said my applications will be reviewed in December (i.e., delayed rejections).

As I analyze my situation, I don't know what to do and how I can improve my chances for this cycle or the next cycle. I did everything I could do. If I don't get in this year, my chance for getting in next year would be nil, again. I would not go to the reapplicaton process if there is no significant improvement. Please advise.
 
DoOrDoom said:
Y_Marker, thanks for your input.

This process has been so depressing to me. The problem is that I cannot see anything wrong to work on improving my profile. I can retake the MCAT, but I am not sure whether I will get a higher score. My stat's are average (30MCAT/3.9GPA). My EC's are quite good compared with other candidates (TA, student government, shadowing, research at University, clinical experience for 3 years, community services for the last 5 years, etc). I submitted most of my secondaries in August/Sept and I only submitted to 20 schools at or below my stat's. I think I did all the "right things", yet NO INTERVIEWS. I called schools and they said my applications will be reviewed in December (i.e., delayed rejections).

As I analyze my situation, I don't know what to do and how I can improve my chances for this cycle or the next cycle. I did everything I could do. If I don't get in this year, my chance for getting in next year would be nil, again. I would not go to the reapplicaton process if there is no significant improvement. Please advise.
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Hang in there. Like I said sounds like you're doing the right things. Continue to follow up with the schools. Some of the OOS schools did say they'll review me in December. I don't think that's a delayed rejection. Some OOS schools particularly those that are state supported have delayed reviews for OOS applicants. When you call them ask them if they review all OOS in December. Another suggestion - create an MD Apps profile. It's easier to comment on that since we can see where all you applied and other details. BTW are you an August MCATer?
 
I took the MCAT in April. Thanks for your help. I have not given up yet, but I start to feel hopeless, gloom, and wonder whether being an Asian hurts my prospect.
 
This thread is totally obnoxious.

www.mdapplicants.com

29 is not a "bad" MCAT score. There are lots of applicants who get in to MD schools with 28/29/30. So quit freaking. There are people who have 30+ on the MCAT and don't get in. The MCAT is not everything.

Kids, I thought we'd had this talk a million times! :laugh:
 
jackieMD2007 said:
This thread is totally obnoxious.

www.mdapplicants.com

29 is not a "bad" MCAT score. There are lots of applicants who get in to MD schools with 28/29/30. So quit freaking. There are people who have 30+ on the MCAT and don't get in. The MCAT is not everything.

Kids, I thought we'd had this talk a million times! :laugh:
Click to expand...

SHe is right. Good job young-in!
 
jackieMD2007 said:
This thread is totally obnoxious.

www.mdapplicants.com

29 is not a "bad" MCAT score. There are lots of applicants who get in to MD schools with 28/29/30. So quit freaking. There are people who have 30+ on the MCAT and don't get in. The MCAT is not everything.

Kids, I thought we'd had this talk a million times! :laugh:
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Seriously to all those that received a 27-29, way to go. The MCAT is a tough beast to slay, and all that bravely fight have a chance to succeed if they are willing to consistently work hard and keep jumping through the flaming hoops...even if this means pursuing an SMP/post-bac program, retaking the MCAT, or doing more research/clinical work. If you want to be a doctor, you must have a balanced application and a lower MCAT itself will not kill an application (27+ =not low!!! Jackie's correct).

I had a 29 (balanced) score though I retook it (raised it by 5 points). And, I've been accepted by GW--a dream come true. So, to those that are waiting for interviews, keep your chin up. And, if the app cycle doesn't go well, don't give up.
:luck: :luck: :luck:

😍
~minijoy
 
29 P No interviews yet. 3 rejections. Although, at least Florida had the decency to do it BEFORE I paid them my secondary fee. Kind hearted bastards.
 
There have been numerous people.
 
If you are in the same boat with us, who have not had any interviews, you would understand our position and freak out too!!! I am sure about this. I just wanted to know what attributes made you stand out among 10,000 +applicants while your MCAT <31? Some may be luck. However, if you have more than one acceptance, cannot be just luck. Of course, if I retake the MCAT, it would not be an issue to talk about, but I don't want to unless I absolutely have to.
 
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