Doomed for disaster?

[green plastic]

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If I am a non-URM with a 3.4 GPA and 8-8-9 (25) on the MCAT, should I pretty much forget about this application cycle? Anyone have success with these stats? I really want to be in med school next fall. 🙁

 

[skypilot]

Your GPA is fine but your MCATs may hold you back. Would you be happy as a D.O.? The light is really beginning to shining on the osteopaths lately. You could apply to every DO school and ten allopathic schools as well as SGU in Grenada. Retake the MCAT in August and update the schools with a personal letter when you get your stellar results back. If you really want to be a DOC you will get it!

 

[jennie 21]

The chances of getting in as a non-URM with a 25 MCAT aren't very good. Sorry 🙁 You can always try applying to some lower-tier schools plus your state schools, and see what happens. Occasionally people do get in with scores in that range, either because they have something amazing in their application (life story, work/volunteer experience, etc.) or are just really lucky. However, your chances would be much better if you could raise your MCAT a few points. Have you taken a prep course? It might give you what you need to score a 28-30, which would greatly improve your chances at allopathic schools. If you can re-take the MCAT this August and think you will do better, go ahead and apply; otherwise I would plan on taking the MCAT in April after extensive preparation and applying next year. If you really want to apply this year you might have better luck at D.O. schools.

 

[green plastic]

I really don't think I can raise my mcat score. The first time I took it, I got a 19. Then I worked very hard to raise it to a 25 and I feel like I gave it my all this April.

 

[wclubin]

lkajsdfasd

 

[All-Star14]

Underrepresented Minority (i.e. African American, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Native American, Native Alaskan/Hawaiian).

 

[All-Star14]

Originally posted by green plastic
If I am a non-URM with a 3.4 GPA and 8-8-9 (25) on the MCAT, should I pretty much forget about this application cycle? Anyone have success with these stats? I really want to be in med school next fall. 🙁

The answer to your question is yes--it has been done, but not without going through all types of hell getting there. The people who get in with your stats (who are non-URM) have either done some type of bizzare extracurricular stuff or have reapplied (more than once). You honestly have to take the MCAT again; I think by increasing your score by 3-5 points, you'll have a much better shot applying. Your GPA is okay, depending upon where you went to school. For now, focus on how to raise your MCAT score.

 

[jennie 21]

First of all, congrats on raising your MCAT from a 19 to a 25! That's quite a jump. I sympathize with you feeling that you can't raise it further; however, since the average MCAT for matriculants hovers around a 30 your chances would be much better if you could raise it. Have you tried taking a prep course? I really do believe that they help. I scored a 24 on the Princeton Review's diagnostic exam before their course and a 38-40 on the real thing after taking the course. So obviously, I'm a big believer that these courses can help people. I would recommend sinking the money into taking one and seeing if it helps you out. Although it's possible you could get in with a 25, raising it just a few points would make you much, much more competitive. I hope that helps!

 

[meanderson]

If you scored a 24 on tpr's diag, then you were probably actually starting off with about a 32-33. So going to a 38-40 is impressive, but TPR's diag is usually unreasonably low.

 

[All-Star14]

Yeah...I'm starting to believe the diagnostic is more of a motivation tool rather than an actual gauge of scientific knowledge. Maybe the scores are set so that you'll believe you need the $1500 prep course (when, in fact, you might not need it at all) and are willing to work your butt off to improve your score. Not to take away from your accomplishments, jennie21, but too many people who've taken prep courses have said basically what you've said. However (to the OP), it's ultimately up to you whether or not you want to take a prep course, study on your own, or not retake at all. 😀

 

[DD214_DOC]

These prep courses are somewhat deceiving. From my impressions, their first diagnostic is incredibly difficult. Essentially, you're scared to death and study your ass off. Near the end of the course, after countless hours of studying and lectures, the diagnostic they give you is a bit easier and more like the actual MCAT. The effect is, because of all the study time the course motivated you to put in, your MCAT scores end up being relatively decent.

I was going to take Kaplan, but have decided I don't need to spend $1400 to have the motivation to study. You can buy the same materials they use for much, much less.

 

[rjhtamu]

Pretty much same story here, I scored a 20 on the initial diagnostic and ended up in the mid 30's. However, I'm glad I took the review course because of the mandatory practice exams. I found they helped me more than anything.

 

[jennie 21]

Hey All-Star,
I think the fact that so many people claim the kind of improvement I showed is exactly the point; it supports the idea that the prep courses do work. It may be true that the scores people get on the diagnostic are artificially low because it's harder than the real MCAT; if that's the case, then maybe the course didn't help me as much as I think. I don't know. I was just trying to help the OP; it's up to him whether or not he thinks he will benefit from a prep course and/or retaking the MCAT at all. I'm just posting my own experience and opinion.