Can I get in with a 27 MCAT?

[spellie11]

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Just wondering if anyone has been accepted with a 27 MCAT, and if so where? I have been waitlisted everywhere I interviewed and I guess I am just looking for some reassurance.

 

[Mobius1985]

I know folks who've been accepted at my fairly-forgiving allopathic state schools with 27 and lower. But they are residents of Illinois and all had high GPAs and very-good extracurriculars. What is your GPA and home state? Did you also apply to osteopathic schools?

 

[spellie11]

Home state is Ohio. sciGPA 3.77 cumGPA 3.89. I think I have good EC's lots of shadowing, working for a PT, lots of volunteer work. And I was a varsity athlete and 2 year captain. No osteopathic schools.

 

[virusgirl]

No one has ever gotten in with a 27 MCAT. You are doomed.

(I am completely kidding -- sorry, baklava makes me a little giddy)

A 27 is doable, but I think you need to be pretty amazing in all other respects unless, as Mobius mentioned, you happen to be from a state with a fairly forgiving state school system. I don't know if that is the case with Ohio. Your GPA seems very good, and your ECs seem to be solid. Did you apply to all the Ohio schools? While your MCAT isn't stellar, I don't think that that is the major issue for you -- you seem to have gotten multiple interviews, and all of those places knew your scores before you applied, so you obviously have a fairly compelling application. So I'm not sure what's going on with the wait-lists... it could just be one of those unfortunate and sucky things.

If you do end up reapplying, I would definitely include some osteopathic schools, because I think they'll love you. Your 27 is right around the average, and frankly your grades are way ABOVE their average, so I wouldn't anticipate any problems there. Apply broadly to allopathic schools as well -- again, since you got interviews, they must think you're worth interviewing!

 

[Mobius1985]

Ohio is a great state to be from when applying to med school. You have a solid application package, other than the low MCAT score. Were your Secondaries completed late? Did an advisor assure you that your Letters of Recommendation are good? Did the interviews go well?

 

[spellie11]

I applied to all the state schools in Ohio and others throughtout the country that I thought I had a chance at. Secondaries were pretty late. Didn't submit the primary until mid-July and secondaries mid-August. I know my LOR's were good, serveral interviewers even commmented about how impressive they were. I felt like the interviews went very well. I like to think of myself as social, outgoing, engaging kind of person. So even knowing my MCAT was sub-par, I still felt fairly confident after the interviews. But now with being waitlisted everywhere, I am feeling very insecure.

 

[Mobius1985]

Completing Secondaries by mid-August is fine (not late). It sounds like the other factors are in your favor. I understand your feeling insecure, but there is hope until the first day of class (I know someone who got "the call" on the second day of orientation). Those who hold multiple acceptances are required to release all but one by May 15, so there will be a lot of waitlist movement then.

Having hope doesn't mean you should not make a plan in case you are faced with another application season. Have you thought about this?

 

[spellie11]

I have def given thought to reapplying. But if I don't know for sure if I'll be in until early August, I am thinking that would be too late to apply again. Especially since I would need to improve my MCAT. I can't imagine starting the whole app process again this spring while I am still waitlisted and spending all that money AGAIN if I still have a chance of getting in. I have considered taking an extra year off and applying for the '11 cycle. What do you think? Any advice?

 

[SB25]

I got into my state school with a 27N and the only osteopathic school I applied to, so it's not impossible. The rest of my application was pretty strong, but it sounds like yours is, too. I also applied way after you did, so I don't think that was an issue. You could still get pulled from a waitlist, so try and stay positive. If it doesn't work out this year, you might want to consider retaking the MCAT, but only if you really think you can do better. I think you can definately get in with a 27 given the rest of your app. I'd recommend looking into a couple osteopathic programs because there are some really good ones out there. I have to put my plug in for DMU now, because I think it's program is top notch. I'd go there before a lot of MD programs. So think about it. It's a legit option and you wouldn't have any problem getting in.

Good luck with the rest of the season. Hope it works out!

 

[Mobius1985]

It won't hurt you to wait the extra year provided you have a good answer to the inevitable question, "What have you done to improve your application sisnce you last applied?" And it is the common wisdom of these forums to "apply early."

Besides an improved MCAT score (hopefully. And perhaps with the help of a formal classroom prep course), at the least you''d want to continue with gaining clinical experience, perhaps in a different venue, and doing more community service, or combining the two in a single experience for 3-4 hours per week. Gaining leadership and research experience if you don't have them is a good idea. If you have enough shadowing, there's no need to continue.

 

[spellie11]

Can't tell you guys how much I appreciate the advice and encouragement. Thanks a lot!

 

[Mobius1985]

Could luck. Come back and post here if you get an acceptance this cycle.