Is MD still possible?

[dondeP]

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Disregarding my app as a whole and just talking about my MCAT, am I screwed when it comes to MD?

1st attempt: 500 (126, 123, 127, 124)
Taken at a time where my familial pressure was at its highest and I kept getting bombarded by the "WHAT IFS" instead of the reality of the situation, still took it and unfortunately didn't void it.
2nd attempt: 507 (128, 123, 130, 126)
Changed my study strategy and it worked stellar for the science sections even though I have a natural affinity towards them, but not for CARS, and barely for P/S
3rd attempt: 508 (129, 124, 128, 127)
Made the mistake of not changing my study strategy and it came to bite me, but hey, at least CARS improved a point!

MD has been a lifelong dream for me, and I want to know if it is still possible for me to achieve that dream. I feel like my MCAT scores are holding me back.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Previously

Thread 'Need advice on my app!'

Aug 15, 2025

Hello all, long time lurker here. I have been extremely stressed out ever since I have submitted my applications to all my schools and I was wondering if I could get some insight into whether or not my app is competitive enough. Here are all my stats below + EC's.

MCAT(s):
1st: 500 (126, 123, 127, 124)
2nd: 507 (128, 123, 130, 126)
3rd: 508 (129, 124, 128, 127)

cGPA: 3.78
sGPA: 3.72

ECs:
1500 Non-clinical research; 1 third author publication
Currently 800 hours as a surgical technician, working full time so will be over 1500 hours by next year.
Hospice Care Volunteer with 30 hours
25...

• dondeP
• Replies: 16
• Forum: Pre-Medical (MD)

and you said

Thank you for all the insight. I agree that it needs work, and since medicine is my passion, I will stop at nothing to achieve that dream.

Sounds like something has stopped you. MD is your passion... not medicine.

 

[dondeP]

Previously

Thread 'Need advice on my app!'

Aug 15, 2025

Hello all, long time lurker here. I have been extremely stressed out ever since I have submitted my applications to all my schools and I was wondering if I could get some insight into whether or not my app is competitive enough. Here are all my stats below + EC's.

MCAT(s):
1st: 500 (126, 123, 127, 124)
2nd: 507 (128, 123, 130, 126)
3rd: 508 (129, 124, 128, 127)

cGPA: 3.78
sGPA: 3.72

ECs:
1500 Non-clinical research; 1 third author publication
Currently 800 hours as a surgical technician, working full time so will be over 1500 hours by next year.
Hospice Care Volunteer with 30 hours
25...

• dondeP
• Replies: 16
• Forum: Pre-Medical (MD)

and you said


Sounds like something has stopped you. MD is your passion... not medicine.

You can still have a passion for medicine and want to go the MD route. I just wanted advice to know whether or not it’s realistic considering my scores. I’m just stressed and panicking throughout this whole app process and need more insight.

 

[Obnoxious Dad]

You can still have a passion for medicine and want to go the MD route. I just wanted advice to know whether or not it’s realistic considering my scores. I’m just stressed and panicking throughout this whole app process and need more insight.

What is your state of residence?

 

[dondeP]

What is your state of residence?

Massachusetts

 

[Mr.Smile12]

You can still have a passion for medicine and want to go the MD route. I just wanted advice to know whether or not it’s realistic considering my scores. I’m just stressed and panicking throughout this whole app process and need more insight.

You were told you have a shot at medicine provided you have a strong passion that aligns with a program's mission fit. However, if your point is going to focus solely on your scores, becoming a doctor would include going through DO to maximize your chances.

 

[polymerization]

I am receiving interviews at MD T20s with stats lower than yours. Others have shared that your primary problem is not your MCAT score, but the rest of your application. What I think that you are missing is the realization that these activities are evaluated not only in terms of frank hours but with the expectation of longitudinal involvement. I think that's why there seems to be a disconnect: the advisors have been giving you advice that is only actionable with a reapplication, but you seem to be more interested in rescuing your 2025-2026 application. I can't blame you for that, but your application is already in... nothing to change now, even if you wanted to.

The people reading your application want to know that leadership, community, and clinical interaction are fundamental touchstones to who you are. You can't claim that if you pack a bunch of hours into your application year, since you would've been new to those activities and make the poetic reflections you might have written into your application seem insincere. For example, can you really say a ton about volunteering somewhere for 30 hours? We've all been volunteers before... we know that what you're actually doing is mostly standing around. Even in your surgical role, the patient is asleep. Schools want to know you can establish rapport with patients and enjoy caring for the sick... and it's hard for me to imagine how you are able to make that claim based on your limited patient-facing experiences. You do have a great start, MD just expects a little more than what you're offering.

There really is nothing wrong with applying DO. I plan on doing so if I don't receive more interviews by the holidays. At the end of the day, no matter what it is that you end up doing as a physician (yes, even in primary care), it will be better than continuing to work your surgical tech job forever. Trust me on that one.

 

[dondeP]

I am receiving interviews at MD T20s with stats lower than yours. Others have shared that your primary problem is not your MCAT score, but the rest of your application. What I think that you are missing is the realization that these activities are evaluated not only in terms of frank hours but with the expectation of longitudinal involvement. I think that's why there seems to be a disconnect: the advisors have been giving you advice that is only actionable with a reapplication, but you seem to be more interested in rescuing your 2025-2026 application. I can't blame you for that, but your application is already in... nothing to change now, even if you wanted to.

The people reading your application want to know that leadership, community, and clinical interaction are fundamental touchstones to who you are. You can't claim that if you pack a bunch of hours into your application year, since you would've been new to those activities and make the poetic reflections you might have written into your application seem insincere. For example, can you really say a ton about volunteering somewhere for 30 hours? We've all been volunteers before... we know that what you're actually doing is mostly standing around. Even in your surgical role, the patient is asleep. Schools want to know you can establish rapport with patients and enjoy caring for the sick... and it's hard for me to imagine how you are able to make that claim based on your limited patient-facing experiences. You do have a great start, MD just expects a little more than what you're offering.

There really is nothing wrong with applying DO. I plan on doing so if I don't receive more interviews by the holidays. At the end of the day, no matter what it is that you end up doing as a physician (yes, even in primary care), it will be better than continuing to work your surgical tech job forever. Trust me on that one.

First of all, thank you for the advice! And wow, your ECs are incredible! No wonder you’re getting interviews beyond your score.

I understand what you mean by packing everything into my application year and it makes sense. Beyond research, I haven’t gained clinical exposure until January 2025 and have been building it up, and I have little volunteering and or leadership experiences that would scream to ADCOMs I’d be a good fit. Comparing my app to yours, I’m average and you’re excelling. I’ve been posting a lot of the same thing because I’m just super stressed and worried and continually seeking some sort of way to relieve that stress, but to be honest you did it for me. Maybe I’m just rushing too much into this. Thank you again, and I believe you’ll become a great doctor in the near future!

 

[polymerization]

First of all, thank you for the advice! And wow, your ECs are incredible! No wonder you’re getting interviews beyond your score.

I understand what you mean by packing everything into my application year and it makes sense. Beyond research, I haven’t gained clinical exposure until January 2025 and have been building it up, and I have little volunteering and or leadership experiences that would scream to ADCOMs I’d be a good fit. Comparing my app to yours, I’m average and you’re excelling. I’ve been posting a lot of the same thing because I’m just super stressed and worried and continually seeking some sort of way to relieve that stress, but to be honest you did it for me. Maybe I’m just rushing too much into this. Thank you again, and I believe you’ll become a great doctor in the near future!

I'm happy to help, and I really do wish you the best. I really don't think comparing is helpful; I've been on the pre-med grind for roughly a decade. It hasn't exactly felt like excelling. Mostly it felt like total failure punctuated by delusional attempts to move forward anyway. I'll let you know in a few months whether or not it pays off.

I understand the stress more than you know. I had parents who thought becoming a doctor was as simple as checking a box on your undergrad application form and were insistent despite not really knowing anything about anything (my family has no formal education and all adults are functioning at a middle school level; I wish I were kidding—I am being generous). It's been 10 years of trial and error, just trying to white-knuckle my way into opportunities and figure things out as I go.

Just trying to pay it forward and offer what I've learned to the place I turned to all of those years ago. Good luck!

 

[dondeP]

I'm happy to help, and I really do wish you the best. I really don't think comparing is helpful; I've been on the pre-med grind for roughly a decade. It hasn't exactly felt like excelling. Mostly it felt like total failure punctuated by delusional attempts to move forward anyway. I'll let you know in a few months whether or not it pays off.

I understand the stress more than you know. I had parents who thought becoming a doctor was as simple as checking a box on your undergrad application form and were insistent despite not really knowing anything about anything (my family has no formal education and all adults are functioning at a middle school level; I wish I were kidding—I am being generous). It's been 10 years of trial and error, just trying to white-knuckle my way into opportunities and figure things out as I go.

Just trying to pay it forward and offer what I've learned to the place I turned to all of those years ago. Good luck!

I just want my effort to not be in vain. I know I’m young with plenty of time but I’m being told otherwise. If I were to take the mcat a 4th time I’d have to drastically improve from that 508 to a 518 to make it look meaningful which isn’t even worth it. I’m going to just try for the next 1-2 years to build up my app instead of caring so much about a score.

 

[polymerization]

Your parents sound a lot like mine. They think that I should take the MCAT a fourth time because with a 508 they said “no medical school will accept you” and they just think it’s all about scores and nothing else. What’s worse is my mom is a dentist saying this stuff!

I just want my effort to not be in vain. I know I’m young with plenty of time but I’m being told otherwise. If I were to take the mcat a 4th time I’d have to drastically improve from that 508 to a 518 to make it look meaningful which isn’t even worth it. I’m going to just try for the next 1-2 years to build up my app instead of caring so much about a score.

They mean well, I'm sure. Dentistry is close, but it's not medicine, and applying to dental school however long ago does not compare to applying in 2025. At the end of the day, you're the only person that needs to make peace with whatever you decide—so thank mom for being so diligent, but you can take over from here.

You could see that I had a similar reaction with the MCAT. I could've delayed my cycle and tried my hand at a retake, but I think I would've been even more nervous knowing how far my first score fell below my last FL. To be fair, you showed considerable progress going from 500 to 508, plus you need to be mindful that your score can expire and you don't want to find yourself retaking in a hurry after letting Poiseuille and Archimedes and Henderson-Hasselbalch dump out of your head over the course of the year.

If you're really asking what I'd do in your situation, apply DO now! Goro said you are competitive everywhere. Remember that for every year you're not working as a physician, you're basically losing 300k in opportunity cost. Is the extra year worth another shot at MD, if the odds are not significantly better? You said that you wanted certainty that your effort would not be in vain: this is as close to that certainty as you will get. So take it and see what happens...you might even be surprised to find that once you have an A, this conversation is going to feel hilariously irrelevant.

Go be a doctor! You already did the things. Don't hold yourself back. (P.S. if you're really itching to keep competing, you will continue to do so for the rest of your life as a physician, but residency is going to feel even more high-stakes, start preparing for that instead!)

 

[Goro]

Disregarding my app as a whole and just talking about my MCAT, am I screwed when it comes to MD?

1st attempt: 500 (126, 123, 127, 124)
Taken at a time where my familial pressure was at its highest and I kept getting bombarded by the "WHAT IFS" instead of the reality of the situation, still took it and unfortunately didn't void it.
2nd attempt: 507 (128, 123, 130, 126)
Changed my study strategy and it worked stellar for the science sections even though I have a natural affinity towards them, but not for CARS, and barely for P/S
3rd attempt: 508 (129, 124, 128, 127)
Made the mistake of not changing my study strategy and it came to bite me, but hey, at least CARS improved a point!

MD has been a lifelong dream for me, and I want to know if it is still possible for me to achieve that dream. I feel like my MCAT scores are holding me back.

Whatever your parents say, ignore it. Out of love and ignorance, parents will do their best to try and derail your medical career.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Your parents sound a lot like mine. They think that I should take the MCAT a fourth time because with a 508 they said “no medical school will accept you” and they just think it’s all about scores and nothing else. What’s worse is my mom is a dentist saying this stuff!

I just want my effort to not be in vain. I know I’m young with plenty of time but I’m being told otherwise. If I were to take the mcat a 4th time I’d have to drastically improve from that 508 to a 518 to make it look meaningful which isn’t even worth it. I’m going to just try for the next 1-2 years to build up my app instead of caring so much about a score.

Show your mom how much it costs to go to dental school now (point over to our pre-dental forums where we talk about $500K+ overall costs of attendance). There are also many more medical schools than dental schools, and apparently there's no slowing down a growth spurt (D'Youville DO just announced they're open for applications in AACOMAS today!).

 

[Obnoxious Dad]

Massachusetts

Just like politics, MD med school admissions are decidedly local. Every year about 60% of MD med school matriculants attend medical school in their respective states of residence. You hail from the worst state in the USA for MD med school applicants.

2024 FACTS: Applicants and Matriculants Data

These FACTS tables present data on U.S. medical school applicants and matriculants.

www.aamc.org

See table 20 and you will find that the average MCAT score among Massachusetts matriculants in 2024 was 515! The national average was 511.8. Subscribe to MSAR and apply to the private MD schools with the lowest average MCAT scores so that you at least gave MD schools a shot. You should also apply to the best DO schools like Philadelphia, AT Still and LECOM. LECOM is cheap, its graduates match and it will more than likely accept you. If you don't want to be a DO under any circumstances, maybe you don't really want to be a physician.

Goro is right about ignoring your parents. They mean well but they probably don't know that much. The reason I know something about this is that I am a CPA who has been staring at the numbers for almost 20 years. People love narratives and hate data, but the data tell the story.