Hi all! 3.45 GPA 27 MCAT

[jefflikescake]

Hey fellow SDNers,

I have recently just got my score back (took the test the third time) and got a disappointing PS: 8 VR: 7 and BS:12 for a combined score of 27. The issue I have is that I got a 12 on my PS during my last sitting (12, 7, 9). I have a Master's degree in biological sciences now too and a cumulative GPA of 3.45 and a sGPA of 3.4. I don't think retaking the MCAT is an option for me as I've taken the test three times already. I honestly just underperform every single time during the real thing and now I am running out of options. Should I apply this upcoming cycle? I am also looking into some SMPs but got the gist that it was only for people with a low GPA. What do ya'll think? Is there any way I can improve my chances?

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[preMedDonut]

State of residence and EC's please. You could squeak into some low tier md schools dependent on those two stats.

 

[Mako555]

you need to do something to improve your application for MD. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but a 3.45 is a low GPA. an SMP would help you a lot if you got a 4.0, and getting a better MCAT would obviously be great, but you need to make sure you will improve. As it stands with a 3.45/27, your chances of getting into any MD school are very slim.

have you thought about DO school? If not, do some research. It might be your best bet.

 

[jefflikescake]

State of residence and EC's please. You could squeak into some low tier md schools dependent on those two stats.

California and I just finished up my masters in biological sciences this past fall. I am also working on a publication at the moment. Shadowed two doctors in 2010, have three years of experience working in a lab (through my master's program) and also done consistent volunteering (albeit nothing impressive). If there was a combined set score on the MCAT I should be in better shape since I would have a 31 (12, 7, 12) in the last two sittings. Thanks for your input! Also, if anyone knows of any post bacc programs that would be helpful in my situation that would be awesome.

 

[jefflikescake]

you need to do something to improve your application for MD. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but a 3.45 is a low GPA. an SMP would help you a lot if you got a 4.0, and getting a better MCAT would obviously be great, but you need to make sure you will improve. As it stands with a 3.45/27, your chances of getting into any MD school are very slim.

have you thought about DO school? If not, do some research. It might be your best bet.

Thanks for your input Mako. I do have a 3.75 in my master's program but which SMPs are you referring to? To my knowledge most of these schools are helpful for people with way lower GPA than mine..but I could be wrong. I think the biggest hole in my application would be my MCAT and my GPA isn't stellar either. Don't mind the bad news, I just want some solutions 🙂. Also, I wouldn't be considering DO schools..Thanks for any help!

 

[mcat45454545]

what state are you from? do you have any medline publications/laboratory research experience, time as volunteer in hospital?

If you are looking to go out of state-forget it;; not being mean, just realistic; I am older student (DVM and PHD with 4.00 and 42 mcat) and have been around the admissions to med, vet, dental etc schools since 1984; this is the nastiest pool nationwide I have seen (worked for princeton review so I watch this closely).

In state? depends on where you are. for you is your advanced coursework; mediocre grades and frankly horrid 3 time mcat. I have seen people "in all situations" admissions wise and you are WRONG not to try mcat again-cannot get any worse and you might hit it this time.

Back in late 80's early 90's, your MCAT would be "good", not great, but you'd get in in state I'd bet $500. Now, under 33-36 and I bet against you with average (under 3.8) grades. The pool is so much tougher now.

I sense someone has told you "forget the mcat after 3 tries" hogwash. at auburn (I got in 3 med schools the year I got in vet school ) CVM they asked you to quit applying after 3 times; yet one of top grads in my class applied 4 times and got in. A 36+ MCAT would show tenacity and focus; 3 poor ones just shows you are rated below 90% of the secondary applicants.


Good future to you and try mcat again!
jcm

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks for your input Mako. I do have a 3.75 in my master's program but which SMPs are you referring to? To my knowledge most of these schools are helpful for people with way lower GPA than mine..but I could be wrong. I think the biggest hole in my application would be my MCAT and my GPA isn't stellar either. Don't mind the bad news, I just want some solutions 🙂. Also, I wouldn't be considering DO schools..Thanks for any help!

The fact that you have taken the MCAT three times leads me to believe that you realize that there are no CA schools at which you have a fair chance at matriculation. Frankly, there are relatively few OOS MD schools where I would bet on you getting an interview.

Master's degree gpa is expected to be close to 4.0. It is not averaged into your UG grades and is separated by AMCAS.

If you are focussed on MD and do not speak and understand Spanish fluently, you have one LCME option: retake the MCAT and get >30.

Admissions deans in my experience find the idea of choosing the highest score in each sitting disingenuous and it is not considered "best practice."

 

[Mako555]

Thanks for your input Mako. I do have a 3.75 in my master's program but which SMPs are you referring to? To my knowledge most of these schools are helpful for people with way lower GPA than mine..but I could be wrong. I think the biggest hole in my application would be my MCAT and my GPA isn't stellar either. Don't mind the bad news, I just want some solutions 🙂. Also, I wouldn't be considering DO schools..Thanks for any help!

woops sorry i missed your masters degree. As someone said, retaking the MCAT and doing very well is all that can give you a good shot at MD. I don't know why you're so opposed to DO. That's not a topic of discussion for this thread but if you really wanted to be a doctor you wouldn't dismiss the idea of it like that.

 

[jefflikescake]

what state are you from? do you have any medline publications/laboratory research experience, time as volunteer in hospital?

If you are looking to go out of state-forget it;; not being mean, just realistic; I am older student (DVM and PHD with 4.00 and 42 mcat) and have been around the admissions to med, vet, dental etc schools since 1984; this is the nastiest pool nationwide I have seen (worked for princeton review so I watch this closely).

In state? depends on where you are. for you is your advanced coursework; mediocre grades and frankly horrid 3 time mcat. I have seen people "in all situations" admissions wise and you are WRONG not to try mcat again-cannot get any worse and you might hit it this time.

Back in late 80's early 90's, your MCAT would be "good", not great, but you'd get in in state I'd bet $500. Now, under 33-36 and I bet against you with average (under 3.8) grades. The pool is so much tougher now.

I sense someone has told you "forget the mcat after 3 tries" hogwash. at auburn (I got in 3 med schools the year I got in vet school ) CVM they asked you to quit applying after 3 times; yet one of top grads in my class applied 4 times and got in. A 36+ MCAT would show tenacity and focus; 3 poor ones just shows you are rated below 90% of the secondary applicants.


Good future to you and try mcat again!
jcm

Dear mcat454545, thank you for the sobering yet very instructive feedback. I reside in the state of California (I know this makes everything a lot harder) and I agree with your claim regarding tenacity and focus. I just don't know if I have it in me to take this test another time before this application cycle. You mention that this is the nastiest pool nationwide so what would you suggest my next course of action to be? I honestly am not even ruling out Caribbean medical schools and maybe even a post bacc. However, I am determined to try applying this cycle..even if my chances are small. But, I would just like to hear from you and get some more advice from you. Thanks!

Jeff

 

[mcloaf]

What are your undergrad cGPA and sGPA separate from your masters classes?

 

[jefflikescake]

The fact that you have taken the MCAT three times leads me to believe that you realize that there are no CA schools at which you have a fair chance at matriculation. Frankly, there are relatively few OOS MD schools where I would bet on you getting an interview.

Master's degree gpa is expected to be close to 4.0. It is not averaged into your UG grades and is separated by AMCAS.

If you are focussed on MD and do not speak and understand Spanish fluently, you have one LCME option: retake the MCAT and get >30.

Admissions deans in my experience find the idea of choosing the highest score in each sitting disingenuous and it is not considered "best practice."

Dear gyngyn,

so you recommend me taking the test for the fourth time? Isn't that frowned upon? Is there not another equally practical way of doing this? Do you really advise me not to apply? Obviously residing in California puts even more burden on my situation...do you know of the few OOS MD schools that are lenient to California residents? Thank you for your input, I do very much appreciate it!

 

[jefflikescake]

What are your undergrad cGPA and sGPA separate from your masters classes?

hey mcloaf, I haven't filled out the AMCAS application yet so I am not exactly sure what my numbers are but my cGPA as listed is a 3.47 and my sGPA is probably a little lower although it should be approximately 3.4. Thank you for your input I appreciate it. Also, the quote you have is awesome and is definitely how I should be gearing my mentality now.

 

[gyngyn]

Dear gyngyn,

so you recommend me taking the test for the fourth time? Isn't that frowned upon? Is there not another equally practical way of doing this? Do you really advise me not to apply? Obviously residing in California puts even more burden on my situation...do you know of the few OOS MD schools that are lenient to California residents? Thank you for your input, I do very much appreciate it!

The majority of CA applicants accepted into MD schools must leave the golden state to go to medical school. It is not in this way that you are disadvantaged, it is in your gpa and MCAT. I recommend that you purchase the MSAR and identify the OOS schools where your scores are near the median and choose those where you think you may be interviewed (significant OOS acceptance). Very few of them have a median MCAT of 27.

There is nothing magical about 3 MCAT sittings. With every test the screener expects you to have assessed your weaknesses and improved. When that doesn't happen, they realize that no matter how many times you try there is little or no improvement. This doesn't make them more likely to interview you.

27 isn't a terrible score. It's not a very good outcome for a third try, however. For an MD school they can easily fill the class with folks who have done better with fewer tries. It doesn't mean you would not be a good physician, just that the risk is lower with other applicants.

Though you are not at this time open to the DO option, you would find them much more willing to take a chance on you!

 

[catrunnels]

Hello,
I just joined the site today and am here seeking as much info as possible about medschool. You seem to know a great deal about what is needed to get in. I am searching for some answers to help me get started on the right track. I will also be contacting my career advisor at the college.
I have an undergrad degree in Education and I am currently working on a MA in Public Health. I graduated with honors with a 3.6 gpa and currently have a 3.8. I worked for 15 years in healthcare as a certified nurses aide/certified medication aide and currently work as a prevention specialist for a drug and alcohol rehab. I volunteer with a local HIV/AIDS org as well. I do not have the required science so many of the colleges want to see( organ Chem,etc) and I have not taken the MCAT. I should have my masters completed within the next year. Any advice of what I could do to get into med school?

 

[Goro]

Apply to DO programs and you're fine. Your GPAs are below avg for MD programs, and the well-below avg MCAT (on the 3rd time, no less), makes it not worth your while applying to MD programs. Frankly, this is, I think, as good as you're going to get.

Hey fellow SDNers,

I have recently just got my score back (took the test the third time) and got a disappointing PS: 8 VR: 7 and BS:12 for a combined score of 27. The issue I have is that I got a 12 on my PS during my last sitting (12, 7, 9). I have a Master's degree in biological sciences now too and a cumulative GPA of 3.45 and a sGPA of 3.4. I don't think retaking the MCAT is an option for me as I've taken the test three times already. I honestly just underperform every single time during the real thing and now I am running out of options. Should I apply this upcoming cycle? I am also looking into some SMPs but got the gist that it was only for people with a low GPA. What do ya'll think? Is there any way I can improve my chances?

 

[user3]

you need to focus on DO schools. 3.45/27 is simply NOT competitive for US MD these days, let alone for a CA resident. and considering you have taken the MCAT three times, odds of going up to a competitive score on another take are quite slim at this point. If DO does not interest you, you should switch careers.

 

[Noggin]

OP I am sorry that you have had such a terrible experience taking the MCAT. If I were you, I would go the DO route. You can still be a physician! However I think your chances at MD are slim to none unfortunately.

 

[DoctorDachshund]

Nursing.