How will the new mcat be looked at?

[Brandonh131]

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Hello, I recently got my score for the 2015 MCAT and I got a 492 (124, 121, 125, 120) Do i have a chance of getting into any DO school with a 3.7 GPA and 600 hours of various community service activities including research, clinical and non-clinical? If so, what schools would you recommend applying to, I live in MI and have no problem going anywhere.

 

[deleted407021]

That's between a 20 and 21 on the old scale. It's very unlikely that you'd gain acceptance anywhere.

Are you URM?

 

[SlugMD]

No you don't. That is ~21 on the old scale. Study up and retake it. With a 3.7, you seem intelligent enough to score much higher the second time around. It seems like your big weakness is psychology and sociology so put much more time into it. Just for a point of reference, the DO average will likely be ~504 so plan on 126+ in everything, some schools like KCU, will screen you for any section below a 124.

New MCAT percentiles : https://www.aamc.org/students/download/434504/data/percentilenewmcat.pdf

 

[Goro]

Sorry OP, you're DOA. Retake, but not unless you fix your deficits first.

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

@user3

 

[ChrisMack390]

Medical schools are aware of percentiles and Z-scoring. You aren't going to slip by because its a new scoring system.

 

[Giovanotto]

Medical schools are aware of percentiles and Z-scoring. You aren't going to slip by because its a new scoring system.

I made the mistake of thinking it would of given me an advantage. I really regret not taking the old one after 2 months of studying, vs taking the new one after 4 months. I over studied and was under prepared for the new sections of the exam.

 

[OrdinaryDO]

I made the mistake of thinking it would of given me an advantage. I really regret not taking the old one after 2 months of studying, vs taking the new one after 4 months. I over studied and was under prepared for the new sections of the exam.

I have a buddy who tried to rush the last sitting for the old MCAT in January and he didn't do so hot. He retook the new exam in June and apparently he felt the same way you did, because he said it was MUCH harder than the old MCAT. So, he is retaking in a few weeks for the 3rd and final time for a whole year.

 

[Giovanotto]

I have a buddy who tried to rush the last sitting for the old MCAT in January and he didn't do so hot. He retook the new exam in June and apparently he felt the same way you did, because he said it was MUCH harder than the old MCAT. So, he is retaking in a few weeks for the 3rd and final time for a whole year.

Yeah, I feel his pain, completely. I say that also because 4 months was way too much time. I felt burned out after about 2.5 months and started losing rather than gaining information. Plus, I was stubborn and ignored the new social sciences section. Big mistakes.

I am trying to avoid what he is doing however. I am not planning a retake. I hope that the new percentiles somehow recenter to a lower score, if that makes ANY sense at all.

 

[GypsyHummus]

VERY danger zone, although there are people who get accepted with a 21, usually off of a waitlist. It is very rare though, mostly those with service to the Military or URM, and at predominantly Mission Based schools where the average is closer to a 24 MCAT.

Keep in mind that the success stories with a 21-23 MCAT, the absolute minimum IMO to get into a DO program, are ussually from waitlists. I talked to a gal who retook her MCAT FIVE TIMES before getting off of the waitlist, with a 22, 23, 22, 22 and then a 498. It does happen, but it is extremely rare.

OP, I suggest that if you do not fit into any of these categories, you retake the MCAT and try to get a 500+ on it. That seems to be the magic number as of now.

 

[TrueWolverine]

I talked to a gal who retook her MCAT FIVE TIMES before getting off of the waitlist, with a 22, 23, 22, 22 and then a 498. It does happen, but it is extremely rare.

I just threw up in my mouth a little....