Competitive MCAT Score for DO Programs

[deleted421268]

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In general what is a safe MCAT score at the minimum that one should feel confident they can at least get interviews to programs? If someone had a 500 MCAT score would they be fine? I have 7 withdrawals. Withdrawals are 1 W Biology 1 lecture Fall 2014, 1 W Biology 1 Lab Fall 2014, 1 W Biology 1 lecture Spring 2015, 1 W Biology 1 lab Spring 2015, 1 W Organic Chemistry 1 Fall 2015, 1 W Organic Chemistry 1 Lab Fall 2015, and 1 W Calculus 2.

I successfully passed Biology 1 lecture Fall 2017 B, Biology 1 Lab Fall 2017 with A, Biology 2 lecture Spring 2018 A, Biology Lab 2 Spring 2018 A-. Organic Chemistry Fall 2016 A, Organic Chemistry Lab Fall 2016 A+, Organic Chemistry 2 Spring 2017 A, Organic Chemistry Lab 2 Spring 2017 A.

In terms of upper level biology took Biochemistry finished with B and ecology with C Fall 2018 semester.

What score do I need based on my situation?

 

[Schwifty]

>500

 

[deleted421268]

>500

But based on my situation?

 

[Isoval]

I admit that it looks like a big case of GPA protection, but it really doesn't change the score that you need to be competitive. How your withdraws look to admissions members will vary from person to person.

It depends on the school you're looking to get into. A 500 makes you reasonably competitive for the new schools. A 505 makes you reasonably competitive for the middle-range schools. A 507-509 makes you reasonably competitive for all schools. Bump that 509 a little higher and it makes you competitive as an OOS applicant for the schools with regional bias (like MSU-COM and TCOM).

 

[Schwifty]

But based on my situation?

This pretty much sums it up, just make sure you have some decent EC's

I admit that it looks like a big case of GPA protection, but it really doesn't change the score that you need to be competitive. How your withdraws look to admissions members will vary from person to person.

It depends on the school you're looking to get into. A 500 makes you reasonably competitive for the new schools. A 505 makes you reasonably competitive for the middle-range schools. A 507-509 makes you reasonably competitive for all schools. Bump that 509 a little higher and it makes you competitive as an OOS applicant for the schools with regional bias (like MSU-COM and TCOM).

 

[Isoval]

This pretty much sums it up, just make sure you have some decent EC's

This too.

Oftentimes, particularly strong ECs can and will compensate for a poorer showing in your MCAT/GPA (within reason - good luck explaining a 485). Conversely, particularly poor ECs can and will get your application an express trip to the garbage bin even with stellar numbers.

 

[deleted421268]

This too.

Oftentimes, particularly strong ECs can and will compensate for a poorer showing in your MCAT/GPA (within reason - good luck explaining a 485). Conversely, particularly poor ECs can and will get your application an express trip to the garbage bin even with stellar numbers.

My ECs are respectable and very good that’s not my concern it’s the withdrawal and what score I need based on that.

 

[Isoval]

My ECs are respectable and very good that’s not my concern it’s the withdrawal and what score I need based on that.

In general, refer to the above for the numbers you should be looking to hit.

 

[hungrydoc710]

Regardless of your numbers, osteo schools love a good story and non-trad type student.
Do EC's!

GPA 3.4+ / 500+ MCAT number-wise

 

[dial1010usa]

W shouldn't be an issue as long as you have a reason, e.g sickness, death in the family or some other reasonable reason.
What is your c/sGPA?
Work hard and try to get MCAT >500.
All the best!

 

[Goro]

In general what is a safe MCAT score at the minimum that one should feel confident they can at least get interviews to programs? If someone had a 500 MCAT score would they be fine? I have 7 withdrawals. Withdrawals are 1 W Biology 1 lecture Fall 2014, 1 W Biology 1 Lab Fall 2014, 1 W Biology 1 lecture Spring 2015, 1 W Biology 1 lab Spring 2015, 1 W Organic Chemistry 1 Fall 2015, 1 W Organic Chemistry 1 Lab Fall 2015, and 1 W Calculus 2.

I successfully passed Biology 1 lecture Fall 2017 B, Biology 1 Lab Fall 2017 with A, Biology 2 lecture Spring 2018 A, Biology Lab 2 Spring 2018 A-. Organic Chemistry Fall 2016 A, Organic Chemistry Lab Fall 2016 A+, Organic Chemistry 2 Spring 2017 A, Organic Chemistry Lab 2 Spring 2017 A.

In terms of upper level biology took Biochemistry finished with B and ecology with C Fall 2018 semester.

What score do I need based on my situation?

505+

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

505+ if you want one of the established schools is a good rule of thumb.

 

[deleted421268]

W shouldn't be an issue as long as you have a reason, e.g sickness, death in the family or some other reasonable reason.
What is your c/sGPA?
Work hard and try to get MCAT >500.
All the best!

Cumulative 3.63 and Science 3.55ish

 

[yazmataz]

Shoot for a 510+ to be safe with all the Ws

 

[MustyElbow]

I was accepted to two schools with a 498 and lower GPAs than you. I didn't have any W's though

 

[dial1010usa]

My school has minimum gpa and mcat requirement of 3.0/500.

 

[Sleepingdoc]

In general what is a safe MCAT score at the minimum that one should feel confident they can at least get interviews to programs? If someone had a 500 MCAT score would they be fine? I have 7 withdrawals. Withdrawals are 1 W Biology 1 lecture Fall 2014, 1 W Biology 1 Lab Fall 2014, 1 W Biology 1 lecture Spring 2015, 1 W Biology 1 lab Spring 2015, 1 W Organic Chemistry 1 Fall 2015, 1 W Organic Chemistry 1 Lab Fall 2015, and 1 W Calculus 2.

I successfully passed Biology 1 lecture Fall 2017 B, Biology 1 Lab Fall 2017 with A, Biology 2 lecture Spring 2018 A, Biology Lab 2 Spring 2018 A-. Organic Chemistry Fall 2016 A, Organic Chemistry Lab Fall 2016 A+, Organic Chemistry 2 Spring 2017 A, Organic Chemistry Lab 2 Spring 2017 A.

In terms of upper level biology took Biochemistry finished with B and ecology with C Fall 2018 semester.

What score do I need based on my situation?

You need MCAT above average.. Those W's are seen as red flags regardless of MCAT score.. So many withdrawals have to raise so many questions... Regardless of MCAT, red flags are just red flags and schools will be very cautious before attempting to interview... Not trying to be pessimistic but this is just my opinion.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

New schools around 500 seems to be ok. Established schools average around 505. New schools have the disadvantage of working the bugs out of their curriculum and clinical sites along with getting faculty up to speed

 

[bears1992]

Every school is going to look at it differently. I applied with a 3.1 and 505. I had two withdrawals and a failed class my first year and it never came up in my 4 DO interviews. In fact, nothing about my GPA ever came up, my interview questions were mostly about character.

 

[Doctor-In-Training99]

Honestly there's really no way to know. Each school has an idea what they want their class to look like. In my opinion it's going to revolve around what they're looking for in an applicant which I believe is constantly changing. I agree with the posts above. Get the best MCAT you can and after that control what you can control. Get shadowing hours, scribing hours, health care related and non-health care related experiences. It will help show them that you're dedicated to medicine. That's what I did and schools respected me for it. I even told them that during my interviews.

 

[Blanky]

3.62/3.5 is solid although anyone will see the gpa protection it was better than taking the poor grades. 500+ will get you into some programs but if you grind out a 505+ you will get into excellent DO programs and that’s what I think you should work towards.

 

[On_The_Way_Up]

Try 505+