High GPA low MCAT, retake or apply? 3.97 / 509

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Final decision: retake or not?

  • Yes, retake

    Votes: 18 17.8%

  • No, don't retake

    Votes: 83 82.2%
  • Total voters
    101
T

ttamiir

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Hey guys,

this is my first post on this website so I apologize if I'm doing something wrong.

I got my score yesterday and it was a 509 (130/125/127/127) which was significantly lower than my AAMC FLs (lowest being 514.) Needless to say it was (and still is) a tough pill to swallow.

I want to apply next cycle and I am really torn on whether I should retake in April/May or apply with the 509. People have been telling me mostly that the risks aren't worth the potential benefits. And realistically speaking, if I were to retake it'll probably be between 513-518

Here are my ECs for those who are interested

Year in school: Junior

Country/state of residence: USA, NYC

Cumulative GPA: 3.97

Science GPA: 3.98

Research – One semester in a atherosclerosis lab - gained a lot of experience but no pubs. Starting second semester in nanoparticle lab, finished project and wrote paper, no pubs or posters. and research associate at a hospital for a year (8 hours a week).

Volunteering (clinical) – 200 hours in the ER

Physician shadowing – ~50 hours combined ED + pediatrics shadowing

Non-clinical volunteering - I started 2 programs/ afterschool clubs, one at a high school and one at an elementary school. The high school program is aimed at helping underserved students with college applications. The elementary school program is aimed at introducing students to science experiments. These are my most significant experiences and are a big part of my PS

Extracurricular activities - Part of a Senior Legacy Committee at my school which is responsible for creating a "gift for the school" every year by doing fundraisers and stuff

Employment history: tutoring for an organization for over 4 years - also big part of my PS

Immediate family members in medicine? (y/n): no

Specialty of interest: Not sure yet

Interest in rural health (y/n): not really

URM (y/n): white male

I'd appreciate any advice on whether I should retake my MCAT this April/ May, or which schools to apply to (low, mid, high tier/ any schools in particular) or which not to apply to with a 509, or really anything you can advise me on

I also see this website has the option to add a poll so I'm guessing that can't hurt to add

Thanks a lot guys
 
ttamiir said:
I want to apply next cycle and I am really torn on whether I should retake in April/May or apply with the 509. People have been telling me mostly that the risks aren't worth the potential benefits. And realistically speaking, if I were to retake it'll probably be between 513-518
Click to expand...

Don’t retake on the hope that you will “probably” score better. What if you don’t? I don’t think it’s worth the risk nor the effort. Medical school applications are much more than your numbers (a 509 is great). Make sure your application and secondaries are great, and kill the interviews and you can get some acceptances without a doubt.
 
Don't retake. You probably won't do much better.

What undergrad do you attend?

Your research, volunteering, and extras aren't impressive. Better off working on those.
 
Your clinical hours are lacking.
Volunteering and research are both borderline ok.
Figure out what went wrong on test day.
Also depends where you are aiming to apply to.
 
How were your CARS scores in the practice tests you took?
 
I think adding some volunteer or patient contact is a better use of your time than more mcat studying. 509 with a nearly perfect GPA will get you consideration at most if not all schools. Your ECs are kind of bland right now.
 
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I think if you do more shadowing/get more clinical experience between now and June you could apply this cycle. Make sure you apply broadly (not just top 20 schools, not just in state). Use the MSAR to help formulate your school list. That plus strong LORs and you should be good!
 
stickgirl390 said:
I think if you do more shadowing/get more clinical experience between now and June you could apply this cycle. Make sure you apply broadly (not just top 20 schools, not just in state). Use the MSAR to help formulate your school list. That plus strong LORs and you should be good!
Click to expand...

Thank you for your input and congrats on your successful cycle. You were kind of in the same stats range as I am now, what do you think gave you an edge?
 
ttamiir said:
Thank you for your input and congrats on your successful cycle. You were kind of in the same stats range as I am now, what do you think gave you an edge?
Click to expand...
I’m a teacher and a non traditional student. I applied 5-6 years after I graduated with my BA so I have a lot of “real life” experience.
 
altblue said:
Only on SDN are 200 hours of clinical volunteering and 50 hours of shadowing low.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing... how is my clinical experience low? That really threw me off
 
ttamiir said:
I was thinking the same thing... how is my clinical experience low? That really threw me off
Click to expand...
Yeah clinical wise you'll be fine dude. I didn't score near my max either but I'll just ride it out and apply with what I have.

You have a solid, well rounded application. Just come up with a good school list and do your best with your ps, secondaries and interview prep.
 
Do NOT retake, unless you want me to reach through your computer screen and give you a dope slap.
I suggest:
Dartmouth
U VM
Rush
NYMC
Creighton
Albany
Rosy Franklin
Drexel
Temple
MCW
SLU
WVU
Jefferson
Tulane
Loyola
Wake Forest
Loma Linda (only if you are SDA or a very devout Christian)
VCU
Netter
EVMS
Oakland-B
Gtown
GWU
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)
Any DO program. I can't recommend Nova, Touro-NY, or LUCOM, for different reasons
All SUNYs
 
ttamiir said:
That's the thing, when you only see 515+ scorers around you, you start feeling like your 509 just won't cut it.. I'm really crossing my fingers to be proven wrong
Click to expand...

Can't rely on anecdotes from internet forums. Average matriculants have a GPA of ~3.7 and an MCAT of 509/510. By that metric you have an average MCAT and an above average GPA. With decent EC's, decent LORs and a good school list you should fair fine.

In short, if you can't get in it's not your stats, it's something else.

Source: https://www.aamc.org/download/321494/data/factstablea16.pdf
 
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I currently have less clinical hours than you and (will have similar amount by application) and was told I was fine by many people so I don't know what some of these guys are saying.

Just be careful not to make your personal statement seem like you'd prefer being a teacher (since you said a lot of those events are big parts of your personal statement). You wanna make sure it still tells why you wanna be a doctor (which can involve the teaching but just cautioning you as a fellow applicant on their millionth draft lol).
 
Goro said:
Do NOT retake, unless you want me to reach through your computer screen and give you a dope slap.
I suggest:
Dartmouth
U VM
Rush
NYMC
Creighton
Albany
Rosy Franklin
Drexel
Temple
MCW
SLU
WVU
Jefferson
Tulane
Loyola
Wake Forest
Loma Linda (only if you are SDA or a very devout Christian)
VCU
Netter
EVMS
Oakland-B
Gtown
GWU
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)
Any DO program. I can't recommend Nova, Touro-NY, or LUCOM, for different reasons
All SUNYs
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for the school list! What are your opinions on other NY schools such as Einstein, Hofstra, Stony Brook, and the NY top tiers (Columbia, NYU, Sinai, Cornell)? Obviously I'm not oblivious and understand my shot is low for the top tiers, but would it be worth applying just in case?
(My goal at this point is any MD school in NY)
 
freedoctor17 said:
I currently have less clinical hours than you and (will have similar amount by application) and was told I was fine by many people so I don't know what some of these guys are saying.

Just be careful not to make your personal statement seem like you'd prefer being a teacher (since you said a lot of those events are big parts of your personal statement). You wanna make sure it still tells why you wanna be a doctor (which can involve the teaching but just cautioning you as a fellow applicant on their millionth draft lol).
Click to expand...

Yea I'm scared of sounding like I'd rather be a teacher as well because I really wouldn't. I mean I have nothing against teaching but my passion is medicine!
 
Microbug said:
I don’t think 200 is enough to cut it these days
Click to expand...

I'm also doing research at a hospital in which I have extensive contact with patients (interviewing them, etc.) that's at least another 400 clinical hours by the time I apply. I put it under research in my original post but it's also clinical experience
 
ttamiir said:
Thank you very much for the school list! What are your opinions on other NY schools such as Einstein, Hofstra, Stony Brook, and the NY top tiers (Columbia, NYU, Sinai, Cornell)? Obviously I'm not oblivious and understand my shot is low for the top tiers, but would it be worth applying just in case?
(My goal at this point is any MD school in NY)
Click to expand...
I think your score is too low for those other schools. The median at NYU is 520; your score is < 10th%ile for them.

You also need to think beyond NY, and you also need DO schools on the list.
 
Goro said:
200 is fine. 300 is outstanding.
Click to expand...
I thought OP’s app is pretty average. Nothing outstanding except for GPA. some more clinical hours can’t hurt.

Also to OP: clinical hours from research is not always considered clinical hours. If you’re interviewing them for a research project, that doesn’t count as clinical hours. What entails your “clinical hours” in your research?
 
Microbug said:
I thought OP’s app is pretty average. Nothing outstanding except for GPA. some more clinical hours can’t hurt.

Also to OP: clinical hours from research is not always considered clinical hours. If you’re interviewing them for a research project, that doesn’t count as clinical hours. What entails your “clinical hours” in your research?
Click to expand...

I always thought patient contact is considered clinical hours, because in my research project we are mostly dealing with ED patients which we frequently visit and interview
 
ttamiir said:
I always thought patient contact is considered clinical hours, because in my research project we are mostly dealing with ED patients which we frequently visit and interview
Click to expand...
I think there’s a difference between interacting patient as a patient vs interacting with them as a research subject.
 
Microbug said:
I think there’s a difference between interacting patient as a patient vs interacting with them as a research subject.
Click to expand...

I found that to be much more significant than any other "real" ED volunteering I did in which all I did was make beds, serve lunch, and make small talk with the patients...
 
ttamiir said:
Sorry for bumping this but I just wanted to say that I ended up retaking and I'm glad that I did. I got a 519 (130/128/131/130) on the May 18, 2018 exam! If anyone has questions please message me or reply to this message
Click to expand...

Congrats!
 
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