How much MCAT lead way do I have with my GPA

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Columbia09

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So I have a cumulative GPA of around 3.7 and I have a science GPA at around 3.6. So what what's the lowest MCAT score I can get and still have a chance at D.O just based on my current GPA.
 
What are your EC's? any gpa trend? current state residence? What was your major?

Asking because if you have your gpa + a 35 MCAT with no shadowing/clinical exp/etc...then I would say less than 5% chance. Gotta have the full picture!
 
Honestly, not much I would say.

Your slightly "above average". I think you have a MCAT between 26-29, with your GPA and decent EC's, you'll have a good chance at most schools. Score 30+ and you will have a very good chance at some of the more reputable osteopathic schools and will be competitive at most allopathic schools.

But again, as the previous poster mentioned, being a well-rounded applicant is critical. If its one thing i've learned from applying, it is that this adcoms look well beyond the numbers, particularly at osteopathic schools.
 
gmcguitar4 said:
What are your EC's? any gpa trend? current state residence? What was your major?

Asking because if you have your gpa + a 35 MCAT with no shadowing/clinical exp/etc...then I would say less than 5% chance. Gotta have the full picture!
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Well I'm shadowing a D.O this summer, I'm volunteering at a rehab center with hands on patient experience. I'm a NY resident, and I'm a double major in biology and geology with a minor in history. Some other ECs, Vice President of Science club, THON member, lion ambassador, and I also was involved in a couple of other clubs at my old school, Italian club, colleges against cancer, biology club, and health professions organization. My GPA at my old school was 3.61 and that was with 34 credits. I currently carry a 3.86 GPA with 36.5 credits at my current school. And I also have a 3.5 GPA from a school I took summer classes at with 8 credits. Oh and I'm also an Eagle Scout and I continue to be an assistant scout master when ever I'm home
 
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gonnif said:
That is all well and good but schools also use MCAT to compare students across the spectrum. With your background, why are you worried about MCAT? are you not preparing for them well? do you have a thing about standardized exams? Or are you just be a neurotic New York preme? (I was one once so I understand)
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This........
 
I had a 3.91 sGPA and 3.83 cGPA. I scored a 25R (sciences doubled my verbal) and interviewed at 2 DO schools (1 acceptance, 1 WL). I was rejected from 3 DO schools (LMU-DCOM, AZCOM, Pike) and rejected from all of my allopathic state schools. I was a biology major, graduated summa cum laude, 1 year TA for OCHEM I, 2 years volunteer in the ED, volunteer at several non-medical organizations, 1 semester microbiology research (no pub), and worked part time during my entire college career. I was told during both my interviews by my interviewers that my PS and the LOR from a DO sent with my committee packet were excellent. So, I had a pretty well balanced app. The big red flag was my VR on the MCAT.

So, I really don't feel that it is pessimism. Sure, every applicant is different but me and the OP have similar GPA and it just shows that a 3.5+ GPA doesn't guarantee anything. I feel that if OP gets 26-29, he will interview and nearly all DO schools he applies to and will likely get accepted at most. 30+ and I feel he is competitive at a lot of allopathic schools. Also, it obviously helps to have a balanced mcat score.

Either way, best of luck OP. my advice: STUDY FOR THE VERBAL!
 
IH8ColdWeath3r said:
I had a 3.91 sGPA and 3.83 cGPA. I scored a 25R (sciences doubled my verbal) and interviewed at 2 DO schools (1 acceptance, 1 WL). I was rejected from 3 DO schools (LMU-DCOM, AZCOM, Pike) and rejected from all of my allopathic state schools. I was a biology major, graduated summa cum laude, 1 year TA for OCHEM I, 2 years volunteer in the ED, volunteer at several non-medical organizations, 1 semester microbiology research (no pub), and worked part time during my entire college career. I was told during both my interviews by my interviewers that my PS and the LOR from a DO sent with my committee packet were excellent. So, I had a pretty well balanced app. The big red flag was my VR on the MCAT.

So, I really don't feel that it is pessimism. Sure, every applicant is different but me and the OP have similar GPA and it just shows that a 3.5+ GPA doesn't guarantee anything. I feel that if OP gets 26-29, he will interview and nearly all DO schools he applies to and will likely get accepted at most. 30+ and I feel he is competitive at a lot of allopathic schools. Also, it obviously helps to have a balanced mcat score.

Either way, best of luck OP. my advice: STUDY FOR THE VERBAL!
Click to expand...

And you got rejected from D.O schools........
 
VinceViegel said:
I wager that if you had a 25 with at least a 7 verbal then you would have received at least twice as many interviews as you did. Also, it didn't seem like you applied all that broadly. But you still ended up getting in so you help me prove my point. What month did you apply/ had completed apps?
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submitted beginning of June, verified at end of June. I am from Texas so there are quite a few allopathic schools in my state (A&M, UTMB, UTSW, UT San Antonio, UT Houston, Texas Tech, Paul Foster)
 
IH8ColdWeath3r said:
submitted beginning of June, verified at end of June. I am from Texas so there are quite a few allopathic schools in my state (A&M, UTMB, UTSW, UT San Antonio, UT Houston, Texas Tech, Paul Foster)
Click to expand...

Isn't Paul foster and Tech the same school? But yeah, there are a number of med schools in Texas
 
HalfListic said:
Isn't Paul foster and Tech the same school? But yeah, there are a number of med schools in Texas
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There is Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Lubbock and then there is Texas Tech Paul Foster School of Medicine which is in El Paso.
 
Columbia09 said:
So I have a cumulative GPA of around 3.7 and I have a science GPA at around 3.6. So what what's the lowest MCAT score I can get and still have a chance at D.O just based on my current GPA.
Click to expand...

23 and you will be good. maybe even less! hopefully this relieves your anxiety.
 
Zero unless you somehow get enough credits to finish your degree before matriculation, you only have 78 credits. Or did you leave out a some credits?
 
25-26. Any lower and people will wonder about the discordant results. In essence, you'd be saying you don't do well with standardized tests.


Columbia09 said:
So I have a cumulative GPA of around 3.7 and I have a science GPA at around 3.6. So what what's the lowest MCAT score I can get and still have a chance at D.O just based on my current GPA.
Click to expand...
 
user3 said:
23 and you will be good. maybe even less! hopefully this relieves your anxiety.
Click to expand...

Im an optimist, but this is a bit too lenient.

I always say you need a 24 MCAT minimum to be accepted without being an exception to the rule.

Even with a 4.0...a 23 usually has at least one really weak sub-score, which can get you pre screened out of many schools, if the <24 didn't get you screened out already


edit: And Goro beat me to it and upped it to 25+. I obviously agree with him....
 
IH8ColdWeath3r said:
I had a 3.91 sGPA and 3.83 cGPA. I scored a 25R (sciences doubled my verbal) and interviewed at 2 DO schools (1 acceptance, 1 WL). I was rejected from 3 DO schools (LMU-DCOM, AZCOM, Pike) and rejected from all of my allopathic state schools. I was a biology major, graduated summa cum laude, 1 year TA for OCHEM I, 2 years volunteer in the ED, volunteer at several non-medical organizations, 1 semester microbiology research (no pub), and worked part time during my entire college career. I was told during both my interviews by my interviewers that my PS and the LOR from a DO sent with my committee packet were excellent. So, I had a pretty well balanced app. The big red flag was my VR on the MCAT.

So, I really don't feel that it is pessimism. Sure, every applicant is different but me and the OP have similar GPA and it just shows that a 3.5+ GPA doesn't guarantee anything. I feel that if OP gets 26-29, he will interview and nearly all DO schools he applies to and will likely get accepted at most. 30+ and I feel he is competitive at a lot of allopathic schools. Also, it obviously helps to have a balanced mcat score.

Either way, best of luck OP. my advice: STUDY FOR THE VERBAL!
Click to expand...

So I'm going to guess you got a 10/5/10? How early did you apply? I also feel like you could have applied more broadly too? I'm in a similar MCAT situation as you were (6 in verbal), but with a 3.66 gpa.
 
I should have about a cGPA 3.4; 3.3 sGPA when I graduate...what kinda MCAT score do you think ill need. I have a pretty substantial upward trend...
 
Oh something else, I asked my organic chem teacher for a letter of rec. I got an A- in organic 1, an A in the organic chem lab (2 credits). But I got a B in organic 2. Will this be a good letter since i know the general rule is to ask for letters of rec from classes you got As in?
 
Lor's don't carry much weight unless they are bad. They seem to just be formalities.
 
user3 said:
Lor's don't carry much weight unless they are bad. They seem to just be formalities.
Click to expand...

I had 2 interviews at MD programs that commented on how strong 2 of my letters were. Since my GPA was weak ,they said the description of me in the letters made them want to meet me...ended up getting rejected though. My AMCAS GPA was just too low. But I think that says somethnig about the letters.
 
Leeway. Sorry to be overly grammatical and pedantic. Feel free to 🙄
 
This all makes me nervous... I am more or less a sophomore, and my only ECs are 60+ hours in the ER, and triple that with teaching high school students science and math in an after-school program funded by the Army National Guard. I also have 6 years of military service, with a bit of medical experience through CLS certs. I am trying to find a DO to shadow, but it is seemingly pretty difficult to do here in Arlington, Va. Any quick advice while I sincerely try not to hijack this thread?
 
user3 said:
23 and you will be good. maybe even less! hopefully this relieves your anxiety.
Click to expand...

Seriously, you post this on every wamc thread where the op has a 3.3+ and quite frankly it is complete bull. A 23 is not a good score and will not make anyone competitive. A 25 makes any applicant at least decent for do schools, and a 27+ is where I would start to call someone truly competitive.

Competitive =\= has a mediocre chance at a few DO schools
Competitive = can apply broadly, to many established schools, with confidence

OP based in your gpas a 25 will make you odds on for an acceptance somewhere but really you should be aiming at the upper twenties and beyond. That would make you an excellent candidate at any do school and potentially even a borderline candidate at some md schools if you wanted.
 
Oh and LEEWAY







Leeway





leeway


Gl with your verbal reasoning goals of 2013 😛
 
user3 said:
Lor's don't carry much weight unless they are bad. They seem to just be formalities.
Click to expand...

Not exactly what I would call a formality. Who writes them and how they are written can have huge impacts on your chances at individual schools, especially for borderline applicants.
 
as1212559 said:
Seriously, you post this on every wamc thread where the op has a 3.3+ and quite frankly it is complete bull. A 23 is not a good score and will not make anyone competitive. A 25 makes any applicant at least decent for do schools, and a 27+ is where I would start to call someone truly competitive.

Competitive =\= has a mediocre chance at a few DO schools
Competitive = can apply broadly, to many established schools, with confidence

OP based in your gpas a 25 will make you odds on for an acceptance somewhere but really you should be aiming at the upper twenties and beyond. That would make you an excellent candidate at any do school and potentially even a borderline candidate at some md schools if you wanted.
Click to expand...

if someone applies with 3.7/3.6/23 to 15 low-mid tier schools by July, I bet they would get at least 5 interviews. In fact, lets find somebody with approximately these numbers, and check back in a few months. You will take back everything you said.

anyway, I there is one guy in the WAMC who applied with 3.11/3.24/25 this FEBRUARY and got interviews to 4/8 schools. So if the decent GPA / 23 applies early, I doubt they would have much problem scoring 5/15 (or more) interviews. You can fuss over using the word "competitive" but the bottom line is that would be enough to get in! Thats what matters.
 
My mother says lead way instead of leeway so it's stuck in my brain like that lol. I have a very bad habit also of saying all of yous. God help me when that VR comes
 
IH8ColdWeath3r said:
....here we go again. Somewhat like the comment you posted the other day about polls.
Click to expand...

girl-fight.jpg
 
I had a similar GPa (sGPA 3.8 and cGPA 3.7) and I got a 30Q on my MCAT. I did not get accepted into any MD schools, although I did get an interview from one. I had good EC's and shadowing experiences but not much research. I am going to an Ostoepathic school starting in July. Don't knock a DO school. It will get you where you need to go in the end and that's all that matters. Good luck and God speed to you.
 
mmbrink6 said:
This all makes me nervous... I am more or less a sophomore, and my only ECs are 60+ hours in the ER, and triple that with teaching high school students science and math in an after-school program funded by the Army National Guard. I also have 6 years of military service, with a bit of medical experience through CLS certs. I am trying to find a DO to shadow, but it is seemingly pretty difficult to do here in Arlington, Va. Any quick advice while I sincerely try not to hijack this thread?
Click to expand...

I had a tough time finding a DO to shadow too. I ended up emailing someone from the American Osteopathic Association (www.osteopathic.org) to get help from any DOs in the area that I lived. A DO emailed me and got set up that way. Do you have any research experience?
 
Tapoona said:
I had a tough time finding a DO to shadow too. I ended up emailing someone from the American Osteopathic Association (www.osteopathic.org) to get help from any DOs in the area that I lived. A DO emailed me and got set up that way. Do you have any research experience?
Click to expand...

I applied for an NIH biomedical research internship this summer, but didn't get accepted. That was my first attempt. I will follow that suggest for finding a shadowing position. Any other helpful advice for research, while we're at it??
 
I'm going to a three week trip for my geology major and we are doing field research. I also have to write a thesis as a requirement. Is this considered research ? The only research I have so far is looking at the WBC of birds with one of my professors. Who btw wrote a letter of rec for me. How much research is really necessary to be competitive
 
Tapoona said:
I had a tough time finding a DO to shadow too. I ended up emailing someone from the American Osteopathic Association (www.osteopathic.org) to get help from any DOs in the area that I lived. A DO emailed me and got set up that way. Do you have any research experience?
Click to expand...

That's what I did and I got one &#128516;
 
I went to the biology building at my university and looked at the bulletin board and emailed professors that were asking for help with research. I only got one affirmative email, but that is all it took. I spent ten hours per week for six months studying rat ultra sound vocalizations.
 
I am just now considering applying to P COM GA, but I have never shadowed a DO? I have over 600 hours of ECs and 3 LORs from MDs and continue to shadow, volunteer at free clinic, and work in emergency dept. i am going to try to find a DO to shadow in my area this summer- my GPA currently 3.4 and will be 3.5 when I graduate with a biology major chem minor in December. I am taking my MCAT June 20th but so far my practice tests are low 20s :/. I am applying to a state MD program early decision and will know by October- I know that is late in the cycle. What is the minimum MCAT I could have in this situation? aside from shadowing a DO any other suggestions ? I haven't looked at what other DO programs I might apply to.
 
mmbrink6 said:
Are you talking about the mentor program they have?
Click to expand...

No my hospital doesn't have a program like that. You have to contact the doctor and get medically cleared through volunteering services.
 
23 first take (9/5/9) 25 second take (7/7/11) crappy ECs, 3.4cGPA/3.5sGPA

GOT 7 interviews and only went to three (I fell in love with the first school I interviewed and got accepted to) and I got accepted to all 3.

25 will get you in somewhere but don't aim low. Go into the MCAT aiming for 30+
 
MuggleMeow said:
23 first take (9/5/9) 25 second take (7/7/11) crappy ECs, 3.4cGPA/3.5sGPA

GOT 7 interviews and only went to three (I fell in love with the first school I interviewed and got accepted to) and I got accepted to all 3.

25 will get you in somewhere but don't aim low. Go into the MCAT aiming for 30+
Click to expand...

Wow, this is inspiring. How many secondaries did you fill? How early did you apply? Did you have your retake score prior to submitting your application, or did you apply with the 23 and later updated your application with the new score? URM?

Thanks
 
Ibn Alnafis MD said:
Wow, this is inspiring. How many secondaries did you fill? How early did you apply? Did you have your retake score prior to submitting your application, or did you apply with the 23 and later updated your application with the new score? URM?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I went nuts when i applied and sent in 17 secondaires but in retrospect i wouldnt do that now. I knew close to nothing about how competitive each school was i just knew i was gunna get in somewhere if it was the last thing i did in life, so i applied everywhere. I submitted in july and was verified at the end of august. Most of my secondaries were in by september and i got 2 interviews in october for november and got accepted to both schools so i cancelled the two interviews i had for december. I then got an interview in january for my top choice and was accepted and cancelled the two other interviews i got in january
 
Ibn Alnafis MD said:
Wow, this is inspiring. How many secondaries did you fill? How early did you apply? Did you have your retake score prior to submitting your application, or did you apply with the 23 and later updated your application with the new score? URM?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Oh and im a white female. Not even close to urm. I took my first mcat in 2011 and my second in april of 2012 and then when i got my scores back i immediately scheduledma retake for september but in june i decided to take my chances at DO school and cancelled my mcat cuz i couldnt stand the thought of tacklling that beast again
 
VinceViegel said:
What state are you from? Are you from a rural area? That matters here. But congrats on your success regardless!

EDIT: You're from Florida. That's a pretty good state to be from lol.
Click to expand...

I don't think being Floridan is nearly as a bless as being Texan.
 
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