How to get into Stanford with a 28 MCAT

[MOMusicianMPH]

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🙂

 

[iA-MD2013]

You should probably remove Wash U...there's a very little chance for you to get in. I don't think Stanford would be worth applying to either, but you could always try if it's your dream school! I think you should apply to a couple more low-tier schools as well, just to be on the safe side.

 

[MOMusicianMPH]

Thanks.

 

[iA-MD2013]

No problem...are you interested in any specific area to live?
I'm not an expert in medical schools...and I'm sure other people can give you more/better choices, but here are some "low-tier" med schools that come to mind: Drexel, Temple, Rush, Rosalind Franklin, Jefferson. Maybe you could add a couple more and remove Wash U, but your chances will be high if you apply broadly/wisely. Aim for 15ish schools because you're applying a little late (if you're in fact applying this cycle).

 

[MOMusicianMPH]

thanks

 

[MilkmanAl]

I hear Mizzou is really heavy on PBL. In my admittedly limited experience, PBL is totally useless. If you're very self-directed and can handle reading about everything on your own, it might be a reasonable fit for you.

 

[pingouin]

I hear Mizzou is really heavy on PBL. In my admittedly limited experience, PBL is totally useless. If you're very self-directed and can handle reading about everything on your own, it might be a reasonable fit for you.

The difference between PBL at Mizzou and PBL at most places is that it's completely integrated into the curriculum and has been for well over a decade.

 

[MOMusicianMPH]

thanks.

 

[MilkmanAl]

The difference between PBL at Mizzou and PBL at most places is that it's completely integrated into the curriculum and has been for well over a decade.

Arkansas's is integrated, too. Mizzou must do it way differently than we do or something because it's totally useless here, integrated or not.

 

[Narmerguy]

Any other insight from the near 500 visits to this post?? Your 2 pennies mean a lot!🙂

Honestly...I looked at this post because I thought you were going to show how you had gotten into Stanford with a 28 MCAT. Sorry 🙁

 

[mrmilad]

mmmmmmmmmmmm .... That's the million dollar questions now. I would use the school selector to maybe find some low to mid tier schools. 28 and Stanford are gonna be tough to mix, but good luck buddy!👍

 

[bep207]

PBL at Mizzou is different
according to research done at the school, they take below average MCAT scores and put out above average Step 1 scores
it is by far the most worthwhile part of the curriculum and where the biggest gains in learning take place... I was skeptical prior to experiencing it as well

 

[pingouin]

PBL at Mizzou is different
according to research done at the school, they take below average MCAT scores and put out above average Step 1 scores
it is by far the most worthwhile part of the curriculum and where the biggest gains in learning take place... I was skeptical prior to experiencing it as well

to add, PBL at Mizzou is 10 hours per week in the first year (3 hrs/day MWF + 1hr case wrapup on Fri). lecture and anatomy lab time also is about 10 hours, so PBL is fully 1/2 of the curriculum.

so when I used "integrated", what I meant was "fully established as a primary curriculum for the last 15-ish years and producing above-the-natl-avg Step 1 scores on a consistent basis".

Mizzou is very proud of what they've done, and they have a right to be. much different than 1 PBL session per week because everyone else is doing it and oh gee, I guess we should, too.

 

[DrMattOglesby]

well...for what it's worth--I'm currently applying to Stanford with my 'piddling' MCAT score.

To top it off, I have no publications and had to leave question #8 BLANK! Boy did that make me feel bad.

Just wondering how long you guys think my application will survive in limbo before they reject me???

 

[JaggerPlate]

well...for what it's worth--I'm currently applying to Stanford with my 'piddling' MCAT score.

PFFFF??? 31. No 'piddling' there Matt!!! 👍

 

[Decicco]

Hi all,

Anyone else have any input on schools I should/should not check out? What's your favorite 'safety' school (low/mid-tier) and why? Realistically, my preference is to land at Mizzou - I'd go there in a heartbeat. With so many of you all being equally/more competitive, I'm not wanting to limit my application to a few schools.

I really don't think there are any MD "safety" schools (or "low tier" schools) in the US. I think you have a strong application depsite the 28 MCAT and the school I could see you most likely to get into would be SLU since it was also your Ugrad school. Apply to the other Jesuit schools as well, because I think they are more likely to give someone an interview who has experienced Jesuit education. Your MCAT is below these schools, but your GPA is above their averages and you have excellent research experience, so I think you could get some love from these schools. But, I wouldn't say that they are "safety schools."

 

[DrMattOglesby]

PFFFF??? 31. No 'piddling' there Matt!!! 👍

lol thanks jagger, but i think stanford is kinda crazy with their standards of what deems someone smart and capable of tackling medical school! we'll just have to wait and see how it goes with them...

Apply to the other Jesuit schools as well, because I think they are more likely to give someone an interview who has experienced Jesuit education

Very good advice. When i interviewed at Creighton, I met some students who told me they had low MCAT scores (a 27 comes to mind, as well as people who took it multiple times)...
I am making a huge assumption that they got the opportunity to become a doc cuz they had a Jesuit background and/or connections to Creighton or other Jesuit based schools such as SLU. In truth though, there could have been some crazy ECs that made them desirable.

And on a personal note, I was not raised with a religion and actually mentioned Buddhism in my secondary application, yet they still invited me to come in for an interview. In fact, after learning a little about the Jesuits being academic leaders and putting a high value on service to humanity--I felt those goals were right in line with my own, and that made me feel very comfortable at Creighton.

 

[alibai3ah]

Yea, you have a very good app overall, but that 24/28 is a concern....i really think you should add other schools.....here is a list I think that might help. You are applying to some really hard schools (i.e. WashU..stanford?)
Try these....NYMC, Albany, Tulane, Tufts, Drexel, VCU, UofI ...those are good OOS's, and then apply to your state schools (the easiest ones). I'm not trying to put you down, but stanford is amazingly compeititive. I'm from Palo Alto (Stanford's location), and I know students who go there...they have some ridiculous stats