Is an MCAT of 34 good enough to apply anywhere I want?

[student113]

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In other words, is that score enough to say:
At the places I DON"T get into, it's not because the MCAT was not high enough?

 

[dw2158]

an MCAT of 34 certainly won't eliminate any options for you; it won't be the single reason you get rejected. however, you need to have excellent credentials in all other areas to be taken seriously at the top tier schools. good luck!

 

[ezsanche]

A 34 is good! That should get you into a lot of schools. But the really top schools have MCAT average in the 36 to 38 range. But MCAT is only one portion of your application. A lot of other factors are considered by the adcom such as your GPA, Curriculum, EC, LORS, Personal statement, interview.

 

[student113]

Thanks guys (SO FAST too)


Yeah according to the MSAR, the top schools all have a median of exactly 36. Median, not average, which means exactly half the people who go there got below 36.

I will work hard to build a solid application around it, but I just wanted to make sure I'm not wasting my time applying to some places. My number 1 is a "median 36" school, although not one of the more high profile ones.

I'm hoping I can get them to look at my app with the score and then let the rest intrigue them hahahaha.

 

[dw2158]

I'm hoping I can get them to look at my app with the score and then let the rest intrigue them hahahaha.

exactly. (my MCAT is not that much higher than yours, and that's kind of what i'm banking on as well. so far, so good... at least with interviews 🙂)

 

[muhali3]

Only school where your MCAT might be a problem is WashU. Their median is a 38 I think.

 

[student113]

Only school where your MCAT might be a problem is WashU. Their median is a 38 I think.

Wow really?? I don't have the MSAR with me, but I know Harvard is 36. Hopins is 36 too (maybe 37?). Why is WshU so high?

 

[BlueElmo]

34 is great score. It's definitely a competitive score.

btw, muhali, Oldboy is awesome.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

apply? sure. will you get in? different story

 

[student113]

apply? sure. will you get in? different story

Is your comment true? Sure. Does it answer my question? Not really...haha jk couldn't resist.

But yes, I'm not a complete ***** so I OBVIOUSLY know it's only one part, I need other stuff, etc etc.

My question was only that all other things considered, assuming the rest of my app is solid, is 34 high enough so that I don't waste my time and money anywhere. Or, would they not consider my app as seriously because the score is not a 36.

My top choice, even though it has a 36 median, is a huge "fit" school. I just want to get through the pre-screen parts with my score so they can actually consider if I "fit." That's what I meant by can I apply anywhere. And no I don't want to go to Harvard.

Thanks guys

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Is your comment true? Sure. Does it answer my question? Not really...haha jk couldn't resist.

touche, mon frer

 

[Compass]

Reapplicant applying broadly with a 34. Secondaries done before September, plenty of ECs. 5 rejections, no interviews, 3 holds.

 

[ChiDO]

Apply to your state school; save money.

 

[dw2158]

Reapplicant applying broadly with a 34. Secondaries done before September, plenty of ECs. 5 rejections, no interviews, 3 holds.

🙁 i bet you'll get some love soon. is there a red flag anywhere on your app? GPA, lack of a certain type of EC? i'm sure there's not, because you're reapplying and probably tried to fix any problems... good luck, dude

 

[student113]

🙁 i bet you'll get some love soon. is there a red flag anywhere on your app? GPA, lack of a certain type of EC? i'm sure there's not, because you're reapplying and probably tried to fix any problems... good luck, dude

Yeah good luck to you. I know I asked the question, but I meant for the very top tier with median 36 ish, since a 34 is right at the median for a lot of schools and well above for others. So if you applied broadly and still haven't gotten good responses, hopefully you'll hear soon or it's time to de-bug the red flags.

 

[ezsanche]

Reapplicant applying broadly with a 34. Secondaries done before September, plenty of ECs. 5 rejections, no interviews, 3 holds.

Funny you didn't mention your GPA.........

 

[Longshanks]

Funny you didn't mention your GPA.........

Wow, we're really going to start calling people out on that now just because he hasn't gotten an invite yet? Guess now that applications are sent out its that time of year to start bashing each other. (OP didn't mention GPA either, you going to confront him about that?)

Maybe he does have a lower GPA, his MCAT show he has the capability for improved academics and barring his ECs are great and LORs, who gives a damn? Its more than just a numbers game, otherwise the near perfect gpa and near perfect mcat kids wouldn't be teetering out in the 80% range for acceptance rates.

In regards to the OP, sure a 34 is a great score and is competitive across the board, but the rest of your application is important as well. Remember to apply to your state school as well, and broadly. Don't be that poster that thinks a great MCAT score entitles them to top tier schools, apply only top 20 and then be SOL come April trying to figure out where things went wrong.

 

[bannie22]

^
y so see ri yus?

 

[Compass]

Funny you didn't mention your GPA.........

This is a thread about the MCAT score. My cGPA is 3.65. If you want, you can criticize my lack of research (2.5+ years), lack of volunteering, (1000+ hours), lack of leadership (1000+ hours), lack of health-related ECs (1000+ hours), and lack of hair (40,000+ strands 2" long, I just got a haircut today).

OP asked about what it was like hunting for medical school with a 34. I show life as it is with a 34. It may be prettier for other people, but it is by no means a free ticket to med school.

 

[NotSur]

.

 

[266202]

34 here. I applied early, broadly:

I volunteered, researched, no clubs, no conventional leadership, didn't start a clinic, didn't present/publish any research... fairly average applicant GPA (~3.7)

A 34 won't necessarily limit you, but you won't be turning heads at top tier schools either.

 

[PDtoMD]

You've gotten some very solid advice on this thread. A 34--especially a balanced 34--will get you a serious look at every school in the country: assuming that everything else is near perfect (e.g. near 4.0, research, great ECs). Not a single school (OK, maybe WashU) is going to screen you out.

That being said, if everything else is not absolutely perfect, more MCAT points may be needed to balance out your application at some top schools, as they average around 36 TTL.

 

[muhali3]

Wow really?? I don't have the MSAR with me, but I know Harvard is 36. Hopins is 36 too (maybe 37?). Why is WshU so high?

Yeah, they even ask for your SAT scores from high school. I don't know why it's so high. I guess its because they value critical-thinking skills more than your conscientiousness; it's a very research-oriented school.

 

[muhali3]

34 is great score. It's definitely a competitive score.

btw, muhali, Oldboy is awesome.

Yeah, Oldboy is the one of the best movies that barely anyone has ever seen.

 

[LiveUninhibited]

This is a thread about the MCAT score. My cGPA is 3.65. If you want, you can criticize my lack of research (2.5+ years), lack of volunteering, (1000+ hours), lack of leadership (1000+ hours), lack of health-related ECs (1000+ hours), and lack of hair (40,000+ strands 2" long, I just got a haircut today).

OP asked about what it was like hunting for medical school with a 34. I show life as it is with a 34. It may be prettier for other people, but it is by no means a free ticket to med school.

It's pretty surprising things aren't going better for you so far. I guess it could be 1 or more LORs, essays, or just really bad luck. 🙁

 

[Compass]

It's pretty surprising things aren't going better for you so far. I guess it could be 1 or more LORs, essays, or just really bad luck. 🙁

Meh, it's October. I'll start panicking in November.

 

[JJMrK]

A 34 is high enough that you won't be wasting your money applying to top schools.

 

[JJMrK]

Meh, it's October. I'll start panicking in November.

You'll be fine dude. I think you haven't heard about interviews because your secondaries weren't done in July. I'd be really surprised if you don't pick up some interviews in the next month.

 

[PritzkerHopeful]

Meh, it's October. I'll start panicking in November.

if you would like to share:

1. is your score balanced?
2. was your first try really low?

Important components of the score right?


And yeah thank you guys, really impressed with the advice. I am not planning on making the score the best or stand-out part of my application. Just wanted to make sure that number alone is not going to keep me out of my dream school. The rest will depend on fit and luck!

 

[JJMrK]

if you would like to share:

1. is your score balanced?
2. was your first try really low?

Important components of the score right?


And yeah thank you guys, really impressed with the advice. I am not planning on making the score the best or stand-out part of my application. Just wanted to make sure that number alone is not going to keep me out of my dream school. The rest will depend on fit and luck!

Don't be fooled by the level of applicants on SDN. A 34 is a great score and far above average at a ton of schools. At top schools it probably puts you on a level playing field.

 

[BlueElmo]

Don't be fooled by the level of applicants on SDN. A 34 is a great score and far above average at a ton of schools. At top schools it probably puts you on a level playing field.

Yeah, I think 34 is like 94th percentile of all scores.

 

[halekulani]

In other words, is that score enough to say:
At the places I DON"T get into, it's not because the MCAT was not high enough?

gpa + ECs
if you have a 4.0 + ECs i would say it's good enough.

if you don't get in it's not because your score wasn't high enough. they just found a better candidate than you.

 

[Compass]

if you would like to share:

1. is your score balanced?
2. was your first try really low?

Important components of the score right?


And yeah thank you guys, really impressed with the advice. I am not planning on making the score the best or stand-out part of my application. Just wanted to make sure that number alone is not going to keep me out of my dream school. The rest will depend on fit and luck!

11,11,12,R - BS was 12.

My first try was a 30. I settled with a 4 point increase.

 

[flip26]

In other words, is that score enough to say:
At the places I DON"T get into, it's not because the MCAT was not high enough?

It could affect the number of interviews you will get, particularly this early in the cycle, at Top 20ish schools. Thus, it could also limit the number of acceptances you will get at these same schools, certainly at the rolling and semi-rolling schools.

Regardless, apply broadly with a healthy number of schools where your 34 is above the matriculant average. But don't fall into the trap of thinking that your 34 will be viewed as much the same as a 36+ because it won't be at many schools, and some schools place more value on the numbers than do others.

 

[flip26]

11,11,12,R - BS was 12.

My first try was a 30. I settled with a 4 point increase.

They will see that score, too, and it may slightly color their judgment of you, along with your being a reapplicant.

Hard to say why you have no interviews without seeing the list of schools where you applied. If you have been rebuffed by your instate publics, then you may be in trouble...

 

[student113]

They will see that score, too, and it may slightly color their judgment of you, along with your being a reapplicant.

Hard to say why you have no interviews without seeing the list of schools where you applied. If you have been rebuffed by your instate publics, then you may be in trouble...

Definitely true. 34<36.
Honestly though, I am not interested in schools that place too much value on numbers (as MCAT score > rest of application). Sure, it should be reasonable, and for a school with median 36, since half of the matriculants scored below 36, I would expect them to seriously consider every from at least 33+. If, after looking at the rest of the application, decisions are still made mostly depending on the MCAT score, then their philosophy doesn't really appeal to me. I would rather go to school with interesting, well-rounded people than people whose talent is test taking or people whose goal in life is an MCAT score.

Of course, I am perfectly aware that people with insane scores can be and often are totally awesome and interesting. In fact, I'm not even suggesting there's a correlation between lower scores and more well-rounded people. I'm just saying, the school's philosophy of acceptance influences the kind of potential classmates you could have. And personally, all I want is a shot for the rest of my app to be read.

I think halekulani answered my question very well, that's exactly what I wanted to make sure: if I get rejected, it won't be because my MCAT score was out of their range but because they found a better overall candidate.
I guess if they did reject me simply because my score was lower, than I personally have nothing to lose in not getting in there.

 

[flip26]

I think halekulani answered my question very well, that's exactly what I wanted to make sure: if I get rejected, it won't be because my MCAT score was out of their range but because they found a better overall candidate.

But in some cases, you won't even get a chance to interview because of that lowly MCAT score, so you won't get the chance to prove that you were every bit as good a candidate as the 36+.

Sucks, I know.

 

[Jolie South]

zomg, I can't believe we're actually having a discussion about a 34 being low.

OP, apply. If you don't get in, it won't be because of your MCAT score. Apply to places with average stats similar to yours. When it comes down to it, a US allo med school is a med school.

 

[mdquestion]

MCAT 34 here with a 3.7 GPA (science and overall). I have some interesting ECs and extensive research experience.

Currently 11 interviews, 3 interview holds (Penn State, UChicago, and GW), 1 rejection. These include interviews at Hopkins, Columbia, and UPenn so you definitely have a chance everywhere. Write some well thought out essays and knock em dead in the interviews. MCAT isn't everything.

 

[student113]

But in some cases, you won't even get a chance to interview because of that lowly MCAT score, so you won't get the chance to prove that you were every bit as good a candidate as the 36+.

Sucks, I know.

Actually, I think it doesn't suck at all. Schools like that fall into what I said about caring about numbers too much. Seriously, if you only get to prove you're a good candidate if you have a 36+, then I feel sorry for the school for losing a huge chunk of interesting people.
In that case, I guess it's a mutual rejection.

 

[orange4me]

MCAT 34 here with a 3.7 GPA (science and overall). I have some interesting ECs and extensive research experience.

Currently 11 interviews, 3 interview holds (Penn State, UChicago, and GW), 1 rejection. These include interviews at Hopkins, Columbia, and UPenn so you definitely have a chance everywhere. Write some well thought out essays and knock em dead in the interviews. MCAT isn't everything.

I'm actually in a similar situation, however, I have a 32 MCAT. Though I was absolutely stunned to receive some of the interview invites I did, it goes to show that if the rest of your application is balanced, even top tier schools will look at you seriously.

At my Wash U interview, I was pleased to hear (from the Chairperson of the Admissions Committee and from one of the deans) that while the school emphasizes research and academics, its primary goal is training excellent clinicians. I think we all can agree that this is something that cannot be predicted from MCAT scores. A 34 certainly won't hold you back...as has been stated on this thread several times, the rest of your application just needs to compensate. Good luck to all!

 

[student113]

I'm actually in a similar situation, however, I have a 32 MCAT. Though I was absolutely stunned to receive some of the interview invites I did, it goes to show that if the rest of your application is balanced, even top tier schools will look at you seriously.

At my Wash U interview, I was pleased to hear (from the Chairperson of the Admissions Committee and from one of the deans) that while the school emphasizes research and academics, its primary goal is training excellent clinicians. I think we all can agree that this is something that cannot be predicted from MCAT scores. A 34 certainly won't hold you back...as has been stated on this thread several times, the rest of your application just needs to compensate. Good luck to all!

Haha do you mean complement? thanks for the advice.

 

[orange4me]

Haha do you mean complement? thanks for the advice.

eh, sure...i think either word works...

mr. webster says that to compensate=to counterbalance/offset, which i guess is what i meant. meh *shrugs* diction shmiction 😳

 

[dw2158]

eh, sure...i think either word works...

mr. webster says that to compensate=to counterbalance/offset, which i guess is what i meant. meh *shrugs* diction shmiction 😳

i think student113 was taking issue with your implication that a 34 is something that needs to be "counterbalanced" or "offset."

 

[LAman10]

If you've got a solid gpa and ECs, a 34 is perfectly fine to apply to the top schools. The only exception, as others have noted, is WUSTL because they put waaay more weight on numbers than other schools. Obviously you won't be vieweed the same way as someone with a 39, but every school in the country will look at your application and give it serious consideration. I mean, seriously, you're in the top 6-7% of MCAT testtakers; schools would be ridiculous not to look at a 34.

 

[orange4me]

i think student113 was taking issue with your implication that a 34 is something that needs to be "counterbalanced" or "offset."

ahh gotcha wow i feel stupid for not catching on...my apologies, student113. i completely misinterpreted your response!

i didn't mean to imply that a 34 is a bad score by ANY means...it's a fantastic score (and definitely better than mine)!! by using the word "compensate" i was just referring to the fact that ANY score below a 36 at most of the top tier schools is below the median. that's not to say that any score below a 36 is not excellent. considering the topic and general conversation of the thread, i was just agreeing that those of us with "sub-median" statistics have a chance...we just have to stand out more in other aspects of our application. if i can do it with a 32, it can certainly be done with a 34!

once again, i apologize for any offense taken to my comment...didn't mean to come across in a negative way!