Decent Application, Bad MCAT Score... am I totally out?

[ccuvb3]

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Hello everyone,

So I've submitted my primary applications, but after receiving my MCAT retake score, I'm feeling pretty skeptical about my chances. I bombed the physical sciences section and got a 28 (PS: 7, VR: 10, BS: 11). Will it make any difference that I was just really, really bad in one section as opposed to being below average across all three sections?

I think I have a pretty good application, other than my MCAT score, but I'm not sure if it will be enough to get me an interview. I have a 3.91 cumulative GPA and 3.90 science GPA. I have played on a division 1 volleyball team for the past 4 years where I served as team captain for my last 2 years. I have received several awards and recognitions for athletics and academics and I completed a semester of research for the honors program. I have around 150 clinical observation hours, 40 hours of volunteer work for a hospice, and 20 hours of other community service projects.

All that being said, do I have any kind of chance to get into a good med school? I have applied to a range of schools with avg. MCAT scores between 28 and 33... should I be looking at more schools that have lower MCAT scores, or is there a chance I could still be considered? Can anyone recommend decent schools that I might have a shot at?

Thanks so much!!

 

[thegypsyqueen]

The unbalanced MCAT will be viewed negatively, as will the lower composite score. Your GPA and ECs will be viewed very positively though, and it really comes down to where you applied. I think you have a shot, and if you have to reapply, go DO and you will be a shoo in.

 

[Goro]

Concur

The unbalanced MCAT will be viewed negatively, as will the lower composite score. Your GPA and ECs will be viewed very positively though, and it really comes down to where you applied. I think you have a shot, and if you have to reapply, go DO and you will be a shoo in.

 

[verynice]

Agreed

 

[Catalystik]

Hello everyone,

So I've submitted my primary applications, but after receiving my MCAT retake score, I'm feeling pretty skeptical about my chances. I bombed the physical sciences section and got a 28 (PS: 7, VR: 10, BS: 11). Will it make any difference that I was just really, really bad in one section as opposed to being below average across all three sections?

I think I have a pretty good application, other than my MCAT score, but I'm not sure if it will be enough to get me an interview. I have a 3.91 cumulative GPA and 3.90 science GPA. I have played on a division 1 volleyball team for the past 4 years where I served as team captain for my last 2 years. I have received several awards and recognitions for athletics and academics and I completed a semester of research for the honors program. I have around 150 clinical observation hours, 40 hours of volunteer work for a hospice, and 20 hours of other community service projects.

All that being said, do I have any kind of chance to get into a good med school? I have applied to a range of schools with avg. MCAT scores between 28 and 33... should I be looking at more schools that have lower MCAT scores, or is there a chance I could still be considered? Can anyone recommend decent schools that I might have a shot at?

Thanks so much!!

I agree with JHUp that your MCAT score does not put you out of the game, particularly since you have a strong GPA, and especially if you have a lenient state school. But I do find that your active clinical experience and nonmedical community service are on the skimpy side. At some schools the outstanding passive shadowing activity will compensate, but not at all. I suggest you continue to augment those experiences through the application year for the sake of update letters and interview conversations. And also so your application is better if you end up reapplying next cycle.

 

[alpinism]

Completely depends on how competitive your state schools are.