Deciding on if I should send an AMCAS in with my MCAT score and GPA

[EternalEmber]

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I have a 27 and average GPA. Is the score too low?🙁

 

[Euxox]

What is an "average" GPA? What are your extracurriculars like?

Assuming you have a 3.5+, a 27 on the MCAT might be able to get you into a DO school.

 

[talinnlove]

MCAT 27 is quite low for MD programs. Rosalind Franklin, MC Wisconsin, TCMC, and GW are the only private schools for which a 27 is in their lowest 10th percentile range; all the rest have a lowest 10th percentile of 28 or higher. [This is besides Howard, Meharry, Morehouse, and Loma Linda; if you are an URM or SDA, then you have more options.] An unbalanced score is also worse than a 9/9/9.

Your state school will likely be more forgiving, unless you are from California.

That said, you are now very late in the application cycle if you haven't submitted your primary yet. Personally, I would wait another year and retake the MCAT in the meantime.

 

[Goro]

waste of time for MD schools; fine for DO

Avg MD matriculant has an MCAT of 32.

I have a 27 and average GPA. Is the score too low?🙁

 

[EternalEmber]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I have already done my research on DO and have applied accordingly just looking into MD as well.

What is URM/SDA and what other options are available for them?

 

[Goro]

Google is your friend.
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Medicine/diversity/urm_definition.html

Options? Playing field is easier because, well, we need more URM in Medicine.

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I have already done my research on DO and have applied accordingly just looking into MD as well.

What is URM/SDA and what other options are available for them?

 

[talinnlove]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I have already done my research on DO and have applied accordingly just looking into MD as well.

What is URM/SDA and what other options are available for them?

URM is underrepresented minority: "a member of a racial or ethnic group historically underrepresented in medicine—African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander." Three private schools - Howard, Meharry, and Morehouse - have a commitment to training URM students, or non-URM students who have strong demonstrated ties to underrepresented communities. Their metrics are quite low for US schools - like Howard, with an MCAT range of 24 - 31 and a cGPA range of 3.01 - 3.91. Thus, you would have three additional schools that you could apply to with your 27/average GPA if you had ties to underrepresented minorities in medicine.

SDA is Seventh-day Adventist. They have their own medical school for some reason, Loma Linda, which strictly observes SDA lifestyle guidelines. On their Website: "The School of Medicine is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church; therefore, preference for admission is given to members of the Church. However, it is a firm policy of the Admissions Committee to admit each year a number of non Seventh-day Adventist applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to Christian principles." Thus, if you happen to be SDA, then you would have an extra application option as well, especially since Loma Linda's MCAT range starts low and is quite broad (26 - 36). But your chances of acceptance are low if you have no SDA ties, and frankly (IMHO) I think a student who was not already committed to that lifestyle might have a bit of trouble adjusting there.

 

[EternalEmber]

URM is underrepresented minority: "a member of a racial or ethnic group historically underrepresented in medicine—African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander." Three private schools - Howard, Meharry, and Morehouse - have a commitment to training URM students, or non-URM students who have strong demonstrated ties to underrepresented communities. Their metrics are quite low for US schools - like Howard, with an MCAT range of 24 - 31 and a cGPA range of 3.01 - 3.91. Thus, you would have three additional schools that you could apply to with your 27/average GPA if you had ties to underrepresented minorities in medicine.

SDA is Seventh-day Adventist. They have their own medical school for some reason, Loma Linda, which strictly observes SDA lifestyle guidelines. On their Website: "The School of Medicine is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church; therefore, preference for admission is given to members of the Church. However, it is a firm policy of the Admissions Committee to admit each year a number of non Seventh-day Adventist applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to Christian principles." Thus, if you happen to be SDA, then you would have an extra application option as well, especially since Loma Linda's MCAT range starts low and is quite broad (26 - 36). But your chances of acceptance are low if you have no SDA ties, and frankly (IMHO) I think a student who was not already committed to that lifestyle might have a bit of trouble adjusting there.

Thank you so much for the info, very helpful and nice of you!! 🙂