Chances for Nontraditional student in MD/PhD pool?

[sportsfan07]

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Hi all:

I would love some advice since everyone seems to be so knowledgeable. I am a non traditional student, doing a post bac for premed, because I thought I wanted to do a PhD. Thus, I did a ton of research beforehand. Here are my stats, what do you guys honestly think my chances are?

GPA: Overall: 3.65 from an Ivy with a double major, some research awards, Science is a 3.6 as well.
MCAT: I am registered to be taking this in May or July but doing a couple of MCAT courses to help boost my scores.
Done a bunch of shadowing, have good clinical experience.
4 years of research, with 4 publications (3 first author), two poster presentation, and a talk.
Good letters, good extracurriculars.
I am also a woman, which I hear helps a slight bit.

Although I know I just sound like a bunch of numbers, does anyone have any idea if I have a chance?

thanks!

sportsfan07.

 

[GliaGirl]

You're fine. Just do well on the MCAT. But you have so much else going for you you could probably get away with doing not stellar on the MCAT. Aim for top tier schools when you apply!

I don't really know what you're worried about...

 

[Neuronix]

But you have so much else going for you you could probably get away with doing not stellar on the MCAT. Aim for top tier schools when you apply!

Top tier only with an above average MCAT (37+) is my guess, though I could be wrong. When the GPA is below the matriculant average (3.8x), the MCAT also being below the matriculant average (typically 36.x) hurts. The excellent research credentials will definitely help regardless, and probably top 20 with a MCAT 34+ is my crystal-ball style prediction.

I agree, I don't know what the op is worried about.

 

[computerdorkdan]

Don't worry, you're not the only non-trad looking to do a MD/PhD.

Your stats are fine, as everyone else has mentioned.

 

[Neuronix]

Out of curiosity, how old are you? 20s probably won't make any difference, 30s or higher may, but it's going to depend on who's doing the evaluating.

 

[sportsfan07]

Hey all, thanks for the feedback. Just feeling a bit worried since my GPA and science GPA are a bit lower than the normal averages (a slight bit above 3.6 vs. 3.8s).

I am 23 though, so not too old, although an MD/PhD track is loooong.

You guys make me feel a bit better, although I guess I will have to find some way to rock the MCAT in order to stand a chance. Just out of curiosity, do I lose all chance if I get a 33 or something? Hopefully won't happen, but just curious.

 

[Neuronix]

Hey all, thanks for the feedback. Just feeling a bit worried since my GPA and science GPA are a bit lower than the normal averages (a slight bit above 3.6 vs. 3.8s).

A high MCAT will make up for that. Your research experience will be a big help.

I am 23 though, so not too old, although an MD/PhD track is loooong.

You sure you're non-trad 😉

You guys make me feel a bit better, although I guess I will have to find some way to rock the MCAT in order to stand a chance. Just out of curiosity, do I lose all chance if I get a 33 or something? Hopefully won't happen, but just curious.

The lower the MCAT score, the lower your chances. There's no strict cutoff. If you had a 3.9 GPA, a 33 MCAT would not be damning, but with a 3.6 GPA it will sting substantially more. But who is to say you would or would not get in with that MCAT? How much does one point really matter? This is a subjective odds game, depending on how much the adcoms who review your application care about certain things versus other things. I wrote my little guide to give a set of guidelines to try to give applicants some idea of what's expected, but they shouldn't be used as definite numbers. This is same with any advice anyone can give you here.

Though if you get a 24, you're screwed 😉 That's about all we can really say. Would a 30 damm you? It would make it look improbable, but not impossible.I can only say--the higher, the better. A 34+ would make me feel comfortable saying you'll get in. A 37+ makes me think top-tier. Am I right? I dunno, I'm just a random student who likes to run his mouth a lot. You could see if you could find a local MD/PhD adcom who will give you their perspective for more concrete (maybe) and official advice.