Chem grad student with low MCAT for DO

[IslandStyle808]

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Only one school in the whole nation will replace your uGPA with gGPA that I am aware of and I believe it is Wayne State (? Someone is free to correct me, I could be wrong)

There are more, however, you would need to really search the forums to find this thread (there were around at least 10 MD schools that weigh the gGPA into their calculations). The admissions at my state school have said they weighed both equally. They also have a point system where you get 1 point for having an MS and 2 points for a PhD for interviews. I believe even UC Irvine also gives 1 point used for the interview. Really read the forums because there are so many blanket statement being thrown around. However, I do agree as a whole the majority of schools mainly look at ugGPA.

EDIT MADE

 

[ChemKing01]

You have to realize that reapplicants get judged harsher than just first-time applicants from adcoms. All your essays, secondaries, etc have to be rewritten. You also have to show the school how much you've "grown" or changed which made you a poor applicant earlier.

Improving on your MCAT is good, but in a year, there should be more. If you've only improved your MCAT by like 2-3 points in one year and reapplied, it would look bad because adcoms are going to see that you've taken one whole year to study on your MCAT just to improve 2-3 points from a 21-22. There has to be more done than just improving your MCAT if you're a reapplicant.

Interesting. I guess before I started this thread, I didnt know re-applicants were just so much harsher than first time applicants. I figured it would be the other way around. I am kind of sad though because I wanted to test the waters applying for next cycle. =/

I also dont have time to start studying again for the MCAT until July. I just have so much thesis writing and research to attend to for my last 3-4 months here. Then what do I do? Get an industry job and study for the MCAT for a year?

 

[ChemKing01]

There are more, however, you would need to really search the forums to find this thread (there were around at least 10 MD schools at least weigh the gGPA into their calculations). The admissions at my state school have said they weighed both equally. They also have a point system where you get 1 point for having an MS and 2 points for a PhD. I believe even UC Irvine also gives 1 point used for the interview. Really read the forums because there are so many blanket statement being thrown around. However, I do agree as a whole the majority of schools mainly look at ugGPA.

Thank you guys so much for this advice! This will be very beneficial to finding a good med school for me considering my chem. grad GPA is higher.

 

[mathnerd88]

Interesting. I guess before I started this thread, I didnt know re-applicants were just so much harsher than first time applicants. I figured it would be the other way around. I am kind of sad though because I wanted to test the waters applying for next cycle. =/

I also dont have time to start studying again for the MCAT until July. I just have so much thesis writing and research to attend to for my last 3-4 months here. Then what do I do? Get an industry job and study for the MCAT for a year?

Maybe for graduate schools reapplicants are welcomed more, but medical school is extremely competitive. You have to show that you're better than the 5000 other applicants with good stats and lots of clinical experience.

 

[IslandStyle808]

Thank you guys so much for this advice! This will be very beneficial to finding a good med school for me considering my chem. grad GPA is higher.

However, remember that these are the exceptions more than the rule (there are 140+ MD schools). MD schools in general will still be looking for extremely high MCAT scores, having a good gGPA doesn't negate this. I highly suggest not applying yet and getting the MCAT up.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Thank you guys so much for this advice! This will be very beneficial to finding a good med school for me considering my chem. grad GPA is higher.

Yes but remember they might be state schools or have a strong regional bias. Not to mention they are probably all MD, no DO school does this to my knowledge. For MD schools you will need to retake and score 512+. Like really improve to have a chance. Remember it isn't a sprint, it's a marathon and you want to put your best foot forward. Put the time into making your application the best you can and you will be rewarded. Goodluck

 

[mathnerd88]

I agree with what youre saying about the low MCAT score. I see your point about not applying to med schools because it would be harder to show vast improvement, but if the MCAT is the only real weak point in my admissions, then I have a hard time seeing that when its increased, then it wont be good enough because "I needed more improvement", regardless of being a fine applicant for all else.

I have talked one on one in personal with well respected med schools and have talked by phone, and by quote, a respectable MD school said "your grad. gpa matters equally, if not more". This general concept seemed consistent with adcoms.

The problem with MD is that many schools average your MCAT score. Some do take the highest score, but why apply and risk becoming a physician because of just one deficit? You know your chances of acceptance with a 21-22 is literally less than 1%, unless you donated millions to the school.

 

[el_duderino]

Yes, you have a single-digit (less than 5%) chance of gaining an acceptance to an MD school if you're white or Asian.

It would be a display of poor judgment to apply right now and then reapply next year. You would be decreasing your overall chances of acceptance. You'd be rather unlikely to succeed, frankly, with that kind of MCAT. People with MCATs that low don't tend to pass the board exams.

You need to do better on the MCAT first.

 

[Goro]

This has nothing to do with mercy. DO schools want students who will pass Boards and/or not fail out of med school. Your MCAT score is a big risk factor for this. No school will be doing you any favors with such a risk.

Retake the MCAT, but only when you are 100% ready. If you have test taking anxiety, that can be fixed.

A 22 is autoreject at my school, and a good number of others.

But I failed to do well on my MCAT, and dont know how a 22 will look. I was kind of hoping one DO school would take mercy on my soul and accept me.

I do plan on applying to every DO I can for next cycle early, and if I do not get accepted, Im retaking the MCAT. I'll retake it the maximum amount of times before considering dentistry, etc. I scored an average of 499 between 6 or 7 practice tests. 493 on the real thing.

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I reall do appreciate it, but still am unsure if applying everywhere is worth it (lets assume money isnt an issue in applications when I ask this). Thanks!

 

[DrMikeP]

I actually did try very hard to study for the MCAT. Chemistry graduate school took up a lot of time, even during the summers. Im not sure if lack of time had anything to do with it. I did watch 1,000+ Khan videos on normal speed, read the biochem. kaplan book, and took 6-7 MCAT practice tests beforehand (averaged 499.6), so basically 25. I thought I was ready, but I wasn't.

Maybe I should take a Kaplan course. What do you think? Thanks!

Study more. Focus on Kaplan or whatever but don't try to study too many different materials at once and get the practice score to 510+. If you need the course take it. Biochemistry is the key, but spend more time on where you are weakest. Devote time to studying vs applying and you would have a very strong chance at placing this coming cycle. You waste time if you do anything else. Goro is right you'll be auto eliminated at many and those who get in with low MCATs have a good reason it is ignored like money, connections, etc and nothing you said makes me think you have those. This late in the cycle most slots are reserved for the stellar applications. Being a reapplicant hurts you and some schools ask on sec applications what you did to improve. So don't make your chances worse just to gamble.

Seriously though, get off of sdn debating as it is a time sponge, and study.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Ho0v-man]

OP, please listen to us. We're only trying to help. Check out the underdawgs thread. I think the lowest acceptance was a 496 which I think is a 22-23. That applicant lists like >15 years military service and several years of clinical research. He was lucky.

I believe your score is a 20 on the old scale.


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[ChemKing01]

Study more. Focus on Kaplan or whatever but don't try to study too many different materials at once and get the practice score to 510+. If you need the course take it. Biochemistry is the key, but spend more time on where you are weakest. Devote time to studying vs applying and you would have a very strong chance at placing this coming cycle. You waste time if you do anything else. Goro is right you'll be auto eliminated at many and those who get in with low MCATs have a good reason it is ignored like money, connections, etc and nothing you said makes me think you have those. This late in the cycle most slots are reserved for the stellar applications. Being a reapplicant hurts you and some schools ask on sec applications what you did to improve. So don't make your chances worse just to gamble.

Seriously though, get off of sdn debating as it is a time sponge, and study.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Ya, I just dont have time to study until July. I need to get a publication out soon, and then I need to defend my thesis, among teaching, "graduate" quantum chem., etc.

I plan on studying 6+ hours a day in the summer until I get a job as an instructor/industry, and then just study during that since I should have much much more time than I do in chem. graduate school.

 

[ChemKing01]

OP, please listen to us. We're only trying to help. Check out the underdawgs thread. I think the lowest acceptance was a 496 which I think is a 22-23. That applicant lists like >15 years military service and several years of clinical research. He was lucky.

I believe your score is a 20 on the old scale.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I will check that out and plan accordingly. Thanks for the thread!

 

[mathnerd88]

Ya, I just dont have time to study until July. I need to get a publication out soon, and then I need to defend my thesis, among teaching, "graduate" quantum chem., etc.

I plan on studying 6+ hours a day in the summer until I get a job as an instructor/industry, and then just study during that since I should have much much more time than I do in chem. graduate school.

If you're getting a PhD in Chemistry, why do you want to do medicine? It seems that you are already in a good track in your field of study. There's a lot of good jobs out there for people like you. I'm not trying to deter you from trying to go into medicine or anything. It just seems like you're a really busy person.

You don't have to answer if you feel that it is too personal.

 

[ChemKing01]

Study more. Focus on Kaplan or whatever but don't try to study too many different materials at once and get the practice score to 510+. If you need the course take it. Biochemistry is the key, but spend more time on where you are weakest. Devote time to studying vs applying and you would have a very strong chance at placing this coming cycle. You waste time if you do anything else. Goro is right you'll be auto eliminated at many and those who get in with low MCATs have a good reason it is ignored like money, connections, etc and nothing you said makes me think you have those. This late in the cycle most slots are reserved for the stellar applications. Being a reapplicant hurts you and some schools ask on sec applications what you did to improve. So don't make your chances worse just to gamble.

Seriously though, get off of sdn debating as it is a time sponge, and study.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Ya, I just dont have time to study until July. I need to get a publication out soon, and then I need to defend my thesis, among teaching, "graduate" quantum chem., etc.

I plan on studying 6+ hours a day in the summer until I get a job as an instructor/industry, and then just study during that since I should have much much more time than I do in chem. graduate school.

 

[DrMikeP]

Ya, I just dont have time to study until July. I need to get a publication out soon, and then I need to defend my thesis, among teaching, "graduate" quantum chem., etc.

I plan on studying 6+ hours a day in the summer until I get a job as an instructor/industry, and then just study during that since I should have much much more time than I do in chem. graduate school.

I can empathize as I've been there but there are always things you can eliminate that free up an hour or two and treating studying for the MCAT as a marathon vs sprint can help. Even 1 hr a day over a month can beat 10hrs in 3 days. Listen to tapes while driving, etc.

 

[ChemKing01]

If you're getting a PhD in Chemistry, why do you want to do medicine? It seems that you are already in a good track in your field of study. There's a lot of good jobs out there for people like you. I'm not trying to deter you from trying to go into medicine or anything. It just seems like you're a really busy person.

You don't have to answer if you feel that it is too personal.

Unfortunately, I wont be getting a Ph.D in chemistry, I'll be earning my Masters. I enjoyed my time here very much and I've also learned I'm passionate about teaching as well, which makes sense, since I'm also passionate about helping people in healthcare (I like to "help" people I guess lol). I am very busy, but so is anyone in a hard science graduate school, professional school, etc.

I want to do medicine for the aforementioned reason, helping people and I enjoy the science as well. I have always been decent with academics, but standardized testing has just been a different ball game for me. But I do plan on taking the MCAT as much as I can, and the best I can, until I can't anymore.

 

[ChemKing01]

I can empathize as I've been there but there are always things you can eliminate that free up an hour or two and treating studying for the MCAT as a marathon vs sprint can help. Even 1 hr a day over a month can beat 10hrs in 3 days. Listen to tapes while driving, etc.

I think you may be right. I might free up some time for a passage every other day, and then bio memorization, etc. since those are the only two subject I scored under average on (verbal and bio). But I absolutely bombed bio.

But to seriously sit down and study passages every day is something I cannot do until July.

 

[mathnerd88]

Unfortunately, I wont be getting a Ph.D in chemistry, I'll be earning my Masters. I enjoyed my time here very much and I've also learned I'm passionate about teaching as well, which makes sense, since I'm also passionate about helping people in healthcare (I like to "help" people I guess lol). I am very busy, but so is anyone in a hard science graduate school, professional school, etc.

I want to do medicine for the aforementioned reason, helping people and I enjoy the science as well. I have always been decent with academics, but standardized testing has just been a different ball game for me. But I do plan on taking the MCAT as much as I can, and the best I can, until I can't anymore.

Fair enough. Take your time and study, and make sure you do as many practice problems as you can.