Insecure about MCAT

[brainsforlunch]

I intend to apply this June, and I am trying to figure out which schools to apply to. I am a CA resident graduating in May. I am taking the year off to work as a junior specialist on pediatric stroke research, as well as learn phlebotomy and Spanish.

I would like to attend a CA school if possible (so much cheaper). Does that sound like a realistic goal?

*My MCAT is a 32S, but the run-down is 11V 9P 12B. Is that 9 in the physical sciences going to be a problem, or will most schools look at the "32" total?*

GPA: 3.77
sGPA: 3.73
3 years of patient research (+ honors thesis and working on paper for publication).
Volunteered at a variety of clinics: university clinic, community clinic, free clinic.
Teaching experience (tutoring; taught a 2-unit course for a year).
Wrote for the student newspaper for 2 years.
Science major and art history minor.
I am told (by doctors) that my PS is very strong.

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[987]

It seems most schools are actually more worried about the Verbal score. So you should be just fine! Best of luck!

 

[Mobius1985]

Your numbers give you a decent chance of an acceptance somewhere, but you are not a shoo-in for California schools which seem to like candidates that are outstanding in some way. Now it seems to me that your research puts you in that above-the-usual category, even though your stats do not, but no one can predict how adcomms will view your application. You can only try to make it the best it can be. You have teaching, and good clinical experience/community service. Do you have leadership experience and physician shadowing as well?

A 9 in the PS portion is the best category you could have gotten a 9 in.

 

[brainsforlunch]

Thanks for your responses.

The PI I have worked with the past 3 years is a neurologist, and partly the reason how I began to think about medicine in the first place. I have not interacted with him at an actual hospital, but I have shadowed neurological exams with the patients we run experiments on.

As for leadership, I helped develop a mental health group on campus, and I am also involved in projects at our local free clinic. This is probably where I am lacking the most.

 

[JJMrK]

I think you're good to get in somewhere, and you've got a shot at a CA school. Good luck.

 

[Mobius1985]

Be sure the activity description includes the fact that you shadowed this doctor, but really you should try to set up a more formal shadowing situation with a doc or two. Eight to forty hours for each is fine.

And those are good leadership activities.

 

[drizzt3117]

I intend to apply this June, and I am trying to figure out which schools to apply to. I am a CA resident graduating in May. I am taking the year off to work as a junior specialist on pediatric stroke research, as well as learn phlebotomy and Spanish.

I would like to attend a CA school if possible (so much cheaper). Does that sound like a realistic goal?

I think you have a shot at some CA schools. I don't think you're going to find that they're much cheaper than going to school out of state though.