Chances for CA Resident??

[hiltxan]

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Just received my MCAT score today, 34Q. (12P, 9V, 13B) I'm somewhat debating whether or not I should bother with a retake if I want to get into a California school. (UCSD, UCSF, UCLA, USC).

UC Berkeley
Major: MCB and Haas (Business)
BCPM: ~3.8
Overall: ~3.75

I'm currently a senior, so those numbers may change after the next two semesters. I will apply next year and take a year off.

EC:
ER Room volunteer - 100 hours, about 1 year
Health center, urgent care volunteer - summer
Research - 1 year, maybe published
Physician shadowing - 1 semester
Clinic volunteer for minorities in the area - 1 year

What are my chances for these California schools and should I bother with a retake or spend time elsewhere? I'm trying to think of something that would make me a unique applicant. Would being a business major in a top-ranked program help (since not many applicants have a business background) or do they not care much about what you major in at all?

 

[Catalystik]

Your numbers are fine. California schools seem to like candidates that stand out in some way. A strong leadership experience might serve you well. Your major doesn't matter, but why not use the skills learned in business school in some way to become a unique appplicant? Let your application be the one adcomms remember as, maybe, that person who raised $10,000 for the free clinic in ________?

 

[J ROD]

I think you have a good shot and would not retake MCAT. Maybe try to find a "unique" EC....

 

[hiltxan]

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess I'm just kind of worried because I see all of these great statistics on studentdoctor and mdapplicants. I'm guessing it's not an unbiased representation of the actual medical students. Still, I can't help but feel a little uneasy that the LizzyM score is already below average for some of my schools.

Is it true that once you reach a certain point on the MCAT, that the medical admissions office look past that and at other factors such as EC's, research, initiative in medicine? I've heard that MCAT is like a screening process, and will a 34Q be enough to get my foot in through the door at, let's say, the top 30 schools?

 

[DirtyJustice]

There is a large gap in the LizzyM score..... ECs. While the spreadsheet is generally useful for deciding which range of schools is best for you, it does not factor in ECs.

For example, if you have some experience that in the med school's mind makes you an above average application (ie a strong leadership experience, etc) then you might be 1sd above the schools average in total but 1 sd below on straight statistics.

Don't give up hope. You are pretty strong.

DirtyJustice