do MCAT scores matter for residency placement?

[DannGee]

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so i was curious about this, and haven't seen any other topics about it. do MCAT scores matter in residency placement, or are they something like ACT/SAT for med school applications, where they're rarely mentioned nor taken into account?

 

[upitt]

Your mcat scores are only good for when you apply to medical schools or any other graduate science program.

usmle I and II, lor's, academic record, research, ec's related to healthcare are important in residency placement.

 

[priscy921]

that would be really ******ed if they cared about your mcats for residency.... but i also thought it was ******ed though that so many med school secondaries asked for our SAT scores so i wouldn't put it anything past them for sure...

 

[priscy921]

yeah, some of them did, it was so funny! i filled so many secondaries out that i can't remember exactly which schools asked for the SAT scores since it was a couple of months ago, but i do remember for a fact that i laughed and rolled my eyes several times while i filled in the scores so i know that it happened more than once... i think that maybe every year med schools try and find new things to ask to keep you on your toes and maintain the annoyingness of the process

 

[carrigallen]

some applicants read ur applications. sat scores are only used for education-research purposes. help out the next generation.

 

[medhopeful08]

i remember baylor and washu asking for them. but i think they were optional.

 

[NYCheartlMD]

from the applications that i filled, penn state asked for SAT scores. i was sort of concerned myself, but i think that this info is used for research purposes only.

 

[subtle1epiphany]

actually, i believe jefferson requested my SAT score, including the breakdown in to verbal and math. i had to talk to my advisor to get them, i couldnt remember the breakdown...just the total...

i thought it was kinda weird...

oh well, here's hoping it did some good...

*crosses fingers*

 

[andwhat]

some even look at youre high school stats can you believe it?? I know of Anesthesia programs that do look at MCATs.. unbelievable.. like USMLE scores dont count enough... wow..

 

[docmemi]

Originally posted by andwhat
some even look at youre high school stats can you believe it?? I know of Anesthesia programs that do look at MCATs.. unbelievable.. like USMLE scores dont count enough... wow..

what?? anyone else know bout that??

 

[oldtimer]

Some of the competitive specialties like neurosurgery require your college info including your college transcripts. Don't know how much weight residency directors put on college performance though.

 

[omores]

I've heard rumours (can't confirm) that specialties using the San Francisco match (also know as the early match), require MCAT scores. This would include neurology, neurosurgery, maybe ENT, anesthesia?

 

[jhk43]

unlikely

 

[docmemi]

bump

 

[exmike]

I'm pretty sure several specialty matches require your college transcripts as well as any graduate transcripts you may have. Ophtho comes to mind in this case. Great, my college grades will come back to haunt me in the match. By then it'll be 12 years old!! 🙁

 

[Ms.Doctor]

Additionally, SAT scores can be used to see if students are "poor test-takers". i.e. if you scored a 1550 on the SAT and then a 26 on the MCAT, you can't blame it on "I'm a bad test-taker" Same goes for when you get 10+ on the sciences and then a lower verbal... that excuse doesn't cut it.

For information on the early match: http://www.sfmatch.org/

 

[docmemi]

this is weird. what if you have a low mcat but do amazing on the boards and have other stuff (lor's, research, etc). is that not good enough??

 

[omores]

Ophtho's part of the SF match, so that would make sense. I'll post the question on the residency board to see if anyone knows.

 

[uclabruin725]

Originally posted by priscy921
yeah, some of them did, it was so funny! i filled so many secondaries out that i can't remember exactly which schools asked for the SAT scores since it was a couple of months ago, but i do remember for a fact that i laughed and rolled my eyes several times while i filled in the scores so i know that it happened more than once... i think that maybe every year med schools try and find new things to ask to keep you on your toes and maintain the annoyingness of the process

VCU asked for my SAT scores on the secondary... and my interviewer even brought them up in my interview!
"It says here you got x on your SATs..."
me: "Well, if that's what it says..."
"Yep, that's what it says! That's a pretty good score."
me: "Thanks...."
and then off we went to my MCATs.. I didn't really know what to say in response to my SATs!

 

[SJBX]

My Jeff interviewer mentioned my SAT scores AND my high school class rank. My rank was higher than what he thought someone with my SATs would have in his opinion.

 

[omores]

So, yes, it does look as if MCAT and transcripts are required for the SF match, but whether anybody pays attention to them is another matter.

Link

 

[docmemi]

what is the SF match?? i know it has some of the top residencies. but for what institutions??

 

[omores]

Though the name makes it sound as if it's location-based, the San Francisco match is just an alternative to NRMP, and some fields use it instead. It is not limited to California programs.

The San Francisco match covers neurosurg, neurology, plastics, ENT and ophtho at all institutions that offer those programs.