How important is a CARS score for medical schools in general?

[dalamon]

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Hi all, thanks for your time.




I just finished receiving the scores of the 2nd attempt at the 2015 MCAT. I'm a 2015 U of Alberta (Canada) graduate who finished his undergrad with a cGPA of 3.75 (3.77 if you ignore the first year).

My extracurriculars are okay. Not amazing, but not bad either.

My first MCAT (after 2nd year) I got 11/10/10. Didn't apply with it.
My 2nd MCAT I got 516 -- 131/126/130/129. Applied, didn't get interviews at any 8 of the medical schools I applied to here in Canada. I think my letters of reference and application itself could have been done better.

My 3rd attempt I got 521. 132/126/131/132. Unfortunately I couldn't improve my CARS score, which is the reason I re-wrote it. Several schools here in Canada (especially U of Calgary, likely the one I have the highest chance of getting into thanks to my GPA) solely consider the CARS section of the MCAT in their calculations when inviting students over for interviews.

I have a few months left-- I was wondering if it was worth it to rewrite the MCAT simply to boost the CARS mark, if it meant a significantly higher chance of getting an interview.

Thanks for your help guys. Feel free to also contribute if you think this MCAT mark helps me to some particular American Medical schools

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

You re-wrote widely accepted scores twice now; even if your CARS score improves *significantly* the fourth time you take the test I don't think anybody is really going to care that much about it. As long as you're not being screened out for a low CARS score(you aren't) I don't think anyone would advise you to retake the test.

 

[dalamon]

You re-wrote widely accepted scores twice now; even if your CARS score improves *significantly* the fourth time you take the test I don't think anybody is really going to care that much about it. As long as you're not being screened out for a low CARS score(you aren't) I don't think anyone would advise you to retake the test.

it'll screen me out of U Sask, McMaster, Queens for certain. For Calgary, maybe not. Prayer will hopefully help :')

 

[Wowmcwow]

Why does Canada care so much about CARS? Is there any data that suggests Canadian doctors who wiggle by with CARS are so superior?

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

Prayer will hopefully help :')

Well you did only apply to 8 schools. Maybe just apply broader and boost the other portions which you seem to acknowledge as lacking. Show them your dedication in other ways than repeatedly retaking the MCAT.

 

[dalamon]

Well you did only apply to 8 schools. Maybe just apply broader and boost the other portions which you seem to acknowledge as lacking. Show them your dedication in other ways than repeatedly retaking the MCAT.

That's the idea for the next few years I think. I'll apply to every Canadian school possible this year for one last time, and then if I don't have any luck I'll expand my options for next year (US, maybe Europe). In the meantime, I'll beef up the ECs. If not, start a Masters and re-load. Thanks for the brutal honesty, seriously. It's so darn helpful.

 

[dalamon]

Why does Canada care so much about CARS? Is there any data that suggests Canadian doctors who wiggle by with CARS are so superior?

apparently internal studies from some of the schools shows that high CARS scores beget high board exam scores. I dunno, i guess I can kinda see the logic behind it. It just drives me up the ****ing wall because i got 128 on the scored MCAT, 96% on the unscored, and >80% on both volume packs of CARS practice from the AAMC website. Brutal.

 

[starspells]

Why does Canada care so much about CARS? Is there any data that suggests Canadian doctors who wiggle by with CARS are so superior?

I am seriously confused about this too. He had to retake a 516 🙁

 

[ace_inhibitor111]

I am seriously confused about this too. He had to retake a 516 🙁

They take a different boards exam than US students.

 

[dalamon]

I am seriously confused about this too. He had to retake a 516 🙁

I know dude, it's ****ing brutal. Lol. I'm so sick of studying for the MCAT

 

[starspells]

They take a different boards exam than US students.

They don't take the USMLEs?

I know dude, it's ****ing brutal. Lol. I'm so sick of studying for the MCAT

What are your GPAs? I think you stand a good chance at plenty of US schools. Unless you really hate the US that much I would go ahead and apply to a couple this cycle.

A 126 is like a 10! Who the hell screens out a 10?

 

[bcemslayer]

I got into U of A this year with a 514, 131/125/131/127, and my GPA was 3.80. If you have questions about ECs or MMI information just PM me.
U of C admissions is such a black box, it actually makes no sense who they interview and accept.

Well you did only apply to 8 schools. Maybe just apply broader and boost the other portions which you seem to acknowledge as lacking. Show them your dedication in other ways than repeatedly retaking the MCAT.

Applying to 8 schools in Canada is A LOT. Getting into out of province schools is next to impossible. And unless you're in Ontario, there is only 1 med school/province (with the exception of Alberta)

 

[bcemslayer]

They don't take the USMLEs?...

A 126 is like a 10! Who the hell screens out a 10?

Some schools require a 128 CARS minimum for OOP students.

 

[starspells]

Some schools require a 128 CARS minimum for OOP students.

Sounds like they are going to be missing out on some great students.

 

[bcemslayer]

Sounds like they are going to be missing out on some great students.

It's very frustrating.
Most schools take about 10-15 students from out of province.

 

[dalamon]

I got into U of A this year with a 514, 131/125/131/127, and my GPA was 3.80. If you have questions about ECs or MMI information just PM me.
U of C admissions is such a black box, it actually makes no sense who they interview and accept.


Applying to 8 schools in Canada is A LOT. Getting into out of province schools is next to impossible. And unless you're in Ontario, there is only 1 med school/province (with the exception of Alberta)

God bless you

They don't take the USMLEs?



What are your GPAs? I think you stand a good chance at plenty of US schools. Unless you really hate the US that much I would go ahead and apply to a couple this cycle.

A 126 is like a 10! Who the hell screens out a 10?

I'm really not that well off-- US would be so hard on my finances unless I could swing a scholarship with a 521 and a 3.75 GPA

 

[dalamon]

I got into U of A this year with a 514, 131/125/131/127, and my GPA was 3.80. If you have questions about ECs or MMI information just PM me.
U of C admissions is such a black box, it actually makes no sense who they interview and accept.


Applying to 8 schools in Canada is A LOT. Getting into out of province schools is next to impossible. And unless you're in Ontario, there is only 1 med school/province (with the exception of Alberta)

You have no idea how much I appreciate this.

 

[starspells]

I'm really not that well off-- US would be so hard on my finances unless I could swing a scholarship with a 521 and a 3.75 GPA

Ah I'm sorry, I do hope things work out for you this cycle though! CARS is a POS.

Is applying broadly in Canada an option for you? 8 schools would not be enough for American students. I'm not too familiar with med admissions in Canada. I am happy I am not from Canada though.

 

[dalamon]

Ah I'm sorry, I do hope things work out for you this cycle though! CARS is a POS.

Is applying broadly in Canada an option for you? 8 schools would not be enough for American students. I'm not too familiar with med admissions in Canada. I am happy I am not from Canada though.

8 is quite a bit in Canada, as mentioned above. More than most apply to, thanks to the strong in-province biases that students work against.

And a srs thanks for your wishes. Gotta make some lemonade outta these lemons