Late Application + Low MCAT = MSTP Rejection

[Yoshimi]

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I applied to 6 MST programs with a 32 MCAT, a 3.4 GPA from a top 10 small liberal arts college (no grade inflation), one year of neuroscience research for my senior thesis, and 2 1/2 years of solid full-time research w/n the SOM of a public univ. I did not submit my AMCAS until the first of Oct., and supplementals weren't complete until mid-December. Although I did interview w/ the MSTP at one school, I was not accepted and am currently on alternate lists for several MD programs.

Late Application + Low MCAT = MSTP Rejection

1.) I plan on submitting my AMCAS this week (ie. Late May), so schools should receive my application by the first of July. I believe this will enhance my chances immediately.

2.) I hope to increase my score to 36+ with the Aug. MCAT. (Ideally, I would have taken it in April, but I was interviewing.) I think that overall, this process is a numbers game (except for rare instances). A 36+, which I am confident I can achieve (I am taking 6 weeks leave to study and complete my supplementals), will further enhance my application.

What is my point? I am worried that even if schools already have my application and they know I am taking the August MCAT, the October score release will negatively affect my chances- too late in cycle. Would it be better to wait until the 2005 admission cycle, and apply 1.) w/ a 36+, 2.) w/n the 1st days of AMCAS availability, 3.) 2 published papers on which I am first author? I turn 26 this fall and really want to return to school, so I would prefer to apply now. On the other hand, I plan on applying to 20 MST/MD-PhD Programs and well, this is expensive. Should I email specific schools and explain my quandry over the Aug. MCAT?

Second Point- In only eight months, my AMCAS hasn't changed much (in the research world, that is little time), but I am now published (3rd author) in Journal of Neuroscience and will submit a paper in a month on which I am first author. Also, I (and my PI- a physician in basic science research) like my personal statement. So, can I just recycle it? Out of 20 schools to which I will reapply, 4 of those programs have already seen it.

Thanks for any advice in advance. I only discovered this site 2 weeks ago, and have already learned a great deal (like, few people apply to just 6 schools!)

 

[Andrew_Doan]

With a 32 MCAT, I do not recommend retaking the MCAT. If you stay the same or go down, that's a huge hurt.

I think the weakness of your application from the info you posted is the 3.4 GPA and late submission of your application. A higher MCAT would not really make-up for a low GPA.

Plenty of people with 32 MCATs have gotten into MD-PhD programs and received MSTP funding, including myself. I received 5 offers for MSTP.

I recommend that you apply to more schools. There are 20+ MSTP schools you can apply to. Six is not enough. Make sure your essay is good and give it a second shot with early submission of your application.

 

[Yoshimi]

Thanks for your comments.

Originally posted by Ophtho_MudPhud
With a 32 MCAT, I do not recommend retaking the MCAT. If you stay the same or go down, that's a huge hurt.

I will prepare for the test and if I do not consistently score higher on practice exams, then I will not take it. Do you really not think that a 4+ increase would help compensate for a lower than average GPA?

Originally posted by Ophtho_MudPhud
I think the weakness of your application from the info you posted is the 3.4 GPA and late submission of your application. A higher MCAT would not really make-up for a low GPA.

Yes, I realize that a 3.4 is a low GPA. However, it didn't keep me from interviewing at your alma mater 🙂. Do MD-PhD programs not consider the school when examining GPA? The MCAT is the only controlled testing system available to them. No one in my class graduated summa cum laude, and few of them received magna cum laude.

Originally posted by Ophtho_MudPhud
Plenty of people with 32 MCATs have gotten into MD-PhD programs and received MSTP funding, including myself. I received 5 offers for MSTP.

These words are nice to hear!

Originally posted by Ophtho_MudPhud
I recommend that you apply to more schools. There are 20+ MSTP schools you can apply to. Six is not enough. Make sure your essay is good and give it a second shot with early submission of your application.

I am applying 20+. Thanks again!

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Because you received interviews at Hopkins in the previous application cycle, I truly believe a 4+ increase in your MCAT will do little to your total application. The chances of doing the same or worse is higher than doing better on these exams.

I stick to my first piece of advice about applying to more schools first.

Good luck.

 

[Neuronix]

I agree with Ophtho. Retaking the MCAT COULD help, but it COULD hurt alot more. Reapply to a wide range of schools and try to do some things research and clinical to beef up your application.

About why you got an interview at Hopkins... Some schools look more at research experience than numbers. From what I gather, Hopkins is one of them, since I didn't get an interview there. Besides, it's hard to predict where one will get interviews and acceptances. It's better than MD-only programs, but there's still that randomness in the game. Nevertheless, your numbers aren't that bad. So apply early and I bet you'll get something this time around.

PS: I hope your personal statement is flawless and your LORs are excellent!

 

[isidella]

Originally posted by Yoshimi

Late Application + Low MCAT = MSTP Rejection

I applied even later than you did 😉 with an MCAT in your range. But to 17 programs. Yeah, try more programs.

 

[jmed]

Well, I scored a 34 the first time I took the MCAT and retook the test in spite of the odds. I did score a couple of points higher, but a couple of interviewers asked my why I bothered to re-take the test. My GPA is ~3.8, which is fine, but I am coming from a public school, so I was anxious to have a superior MCAT score. I don't know how much retaking the test really helped me in the end. If you didn't study very much for the first MCAT you took and got a 32, I don't think it is too unreasonable to expect an improvement if you take a test prep course and consistently score higher in practice before the August test. Good luck!

I also applied rather late- I think I got my AMCAS in around Nov 1. Compounded with the fact that I only applied to 6 MSTPs, I did not make the greatest showing, although I did interview at 3, was admitted to 1, and am still hanging on for a waitlist slot at the last one. I definitely don't think taking the MCAT in August justifies postponing your application until 2004-5, especially because of your age: almost everybody I met at interviews was coming straight out of the chutes from college, or perhaps from one extra year doing research full-time. I considered postponing my application another year so I could have a solid publication to my credit (when I applied I had none), but was strongly advised against this by an MSTP director because he said it would look like I lacked direction and commitment to MSTP adcoms.

If I were you, I would get your AMCAS in as soon as you can, apply to a healthy list of MSTPs, take the August MCAT and let the scores catch up with the application in October. It sounds like you should be very successful considering your extensive research and pubs!

 

[dr2loo]

My experience was much like yours. Applying to a larger number of schools will help while delaying your application in hopes of better MCATs coudl really hurt. Your MCATs are just fine. The MSTP process is not very straigth forward. I would encourage you to look at schools that aren;t even MSTP funded as well just to increase your chances if the dual degree is what you're really after. The big thing is to get everything in early. Turning in a complete application and getting yourself considered early is way more important than a few points. Good luck!

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Originally posted by dr2loo
My experience was much like yours. Applying to a larger number of schools will help while delaying your application in hopes of better MCATs coudl really hurt. Your MCATs are just fine. The MSTP process is not very straigth forward. I would encourage you to look at schools that aren;t even MSTP funded as well just to increase your chances if the dual degree is what you're really after. The big thing is to get everything in early. Turning in a complete application and getting yourself considered early is way more important than a few points. Good luck!

It's nice to see that all of us are giving the same advice: apply early, apply to numerous programs, and don't retake a 34 MCAT.

🙂

 

[Yoshimi]

Everyone who replied, thanks.

This week of decision making has proved tough, but I think that with your advice, my friends, and my supervisors, I feel a little more certain about my plans.

I am going to send in my AMCAS now, with ~20 schools (from a wide range). I am going to prepare for the MCAT, but not making a decision on the test until I see how well I am performing.

If you haven't already, please read my new post on school rankings, and let me know what you think.