low mcat, high gpa: need advice for applying next cycle..

[squirrel33]

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Hello all,
I'm planning on applying mainly to Osteopathic schools this summer but I'm concerned about my low MCAT score (23K: 8PS, 7VR, 8BS). My practice MCAT scores were hovering around a 29 (still not outstanding, but competitive for a D.O. school I believe). I knew I had scored poorly when taking the real exam (very little sleep, brain wasn't in the game) but I didn't want to void.
I have a 3.8-3.9 GPA so I know that helps a bit, but I'm not sure how much it will help with such a low MCAT score. I have 2 years of research experience, roughly 25 hours of shadowing, and I plan to finish an internship in phlebotomy at a local hospital when I'm done with school in May (and get some additional shadowing experience as well). My volunteering has been here and there; nursing homes, soup kitchens, blood drives, relay for life, etc.- nothing too consistent though.
I've just been questioning on whether or not its worth it to take the MCAT over, if I would have a chance of getting into a D.O. school with my current stats. I don't think I would question retaking if I wasn't so burnt out...but I'm definitely in need of a break.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

You are very competitive for DO schools IF you get a 29 MCAT score so yes, it is best if you retake.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

I wouldn't say you are competitive, but you could probably get in if you applied broadly and on day one. You should really retake the MCAT. Your GPA is way above average, but with a way below average MCAT. So you may get into one or two mildly competitive DO schools and maybe some very low competitive one. But if you retake the mcat, which is an easy fix, you can get into the best and most established DO schools (especially with a 29) and possibly even MD. If you get above 30, you could probably get into MD. Check my MD apps. I had a 23, raised to a 28, had a lower gpa than you, and got secondaries from every school I applied to, and interviews at every school I sent a secondary to. Raising the MCAT is an easy fix and it open up so many more doors.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

I would agree with ^
Two extremes WON'T cancel out. You may even be screened out from the 23K.

 

[gmcguitar4]

K on writing?? 23??

You need to retake asap while the material is fresh. Best thing you could do is study hard for an additional 2-3 months and aim for 28-30. Doing so will make the difference of you attending medical school or not.

 

[HotandCold]

I wouldn't say you are competitive, but you could probably get in if you applied broadly and on day one. You should really retake the MCAT. Your GPA is way above average, but with a way below average MCAT. So you may get into one or two mildly competitive DO schools and maybe some very low competitive one. But if you retake the mcat, which is an easy fix, you can get into the best and most established DO schools (especially with a 29) and possibly even MD. If you get above 30, you could probably get into MD. Check my MD apps. I had a 23, raised to a 28, had a lower gpa than you, and got secondaries from every school I applied to, and interviews at every school I sent a secondary to. Raising the MCAT is an easy fix and it open up so many more doors.

I don't think the statement in bold is valid for anyone with a 23. Some schools will simply toss your application aside, and you getting in will be a very, very, very, very long shot.

23 is too low. Study and take it again. Don't entertain the notion that you might get in. You most likely wont. Since you're getting 29's on the practice MCATs, take it again. You might cheat yourself out of a year of your life and kick yourself for it down the road.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

I don't think the statement in bold is valid for anyone with a 23. Some schools will simply toss your application aside, and you getting in will be a very, very, very, very long shot.

23 is too low. Study and take it again. Don't entertain the notion that you might get in. You most likely wont. Since you're getting 29's on the practice MCATs, take it again. You might cheat yourself out of a year of your life and kick yourself for it down the road.

Clearly you have never been in the DO Underdog thread.

 

[411309]

Friend of mine just got into WCU with a 23, but he had a high gpa with really awesome ECs.

 

[octupus]

if you've been hovering around a 29, there's no reason not to retake. Sign up now while there's still time.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Friend of mine just got into WCU with a 23, but he had a high gpa with really awesome ECs.

This statement illustrates my point. Your gpa is rocking but with that low of an MCAT, you are looking at newer DO schools that aren't overly established. But retaking the MCAT puts you in a much better position for the older, more established DO schools.

 

[HotandCold]

Clearly you have never been in the DO Underdog thread.

You realize a minority of people get in, and the people who just make accounts to see if they'll get in or not don't post back when they get rejected, right?

Why advise this person to be an "underdog"? He/she is getting 29's. It'd be insane not to take the MCAT again to get a more comforting score.

 

[DoctorDachshund]

This is a troll post. No way you have a 3.9+ and a K in writing. A 3rd grader could get a K.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

You realize a minority of people get in, and the people who just make accounts to see if they'll get in or not don't post back when they get rejected, right?

Why advise this person to be an "underdog"? He/she is getting 29's. It'd be insane not to take the MCAT again to get a more comforting score.

Did you read my first post past the first sentence? Clearly not. I said he could probably get in. I also go on to say that he should retake the mcat. I also don't see where I say that he is an underdog. He has a 3.9 gpa with a 23 mcat, and you will see in the underdog thread that people are getting into the newer schools with 3.5s and 22s. So based on that, he could PROBABLY get in SOMEWHERE. But I also recommended that he recommended that he retake the mcat.

 

[squirrel33]

Thanks for the advice guys,

I know I would be better off re-taking, but I just thought I'd see if I had a chance with my low score because taking the MCAT again is the last thing I want to put myself through after I graduate this May and after being so burnt out. I know I would have a chance to get in somewhere, considering my scores are close to the averages of some osteopathic schools. But yes, I do feel as if though I would be cheating myself if I didn't apply with a score that best reflected my ability. I've decided I will probably re-take sometime between late May and early July.


...And no, DoctorDachshund, this is not a "troll post". Ha, I am actually a pretty decent writer (obviously not reflected in my score- and not sure I've ever heard of anyone scoring that low either). Without much sleep before testing (on top of having a sleeping disorder) I just wasn't all there.

 

[25SJCA]

I applied to MD schools this past cycle with same gpa and mcat score ( 1 point higher) and received 15 interview invites and 3 acceptances so far. I ended up interviewing at 8 schools (still have UCI interview on 4/2).
I have strong ECs, majored in social work. And since I know peeps will be curious I am URM. It's possible to get into allopathic med schools with low mcat and high gpa but chances are low. Look up mcat/gpa combos on AAMC data to see how many students are accepted each year.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

I applied to MD schools this past cycle with same gpa and mcat score ( 1 point higher) and received 15 interview invites and 3 acceptances so far. I ended up interviewing at 8 schools (still have UCI interview on 4/2).
I have strong ECs, majored in social work. And since I know peeps will be curious I am URM. It's possible to get into allopathic med schools with low mcat and high gpa but chances are low. Look up mcat/gpa combos on AAMC data to see how many students are accepted each year.

You received 15 interview invites from allo schools with a 24 mcat? And people are having no luck with 3.8, 31 apps? Not to sound racist, but that just doesn't seem right. Congrats.

 

[411309]

You received 15 interview invites from allo schools with a 24 mcat? And people are having no luck with 3.8, 31 apps? Not to sound racist, but that just doesn't seem right. Congrats.

welcome to our politically correct nation; say the wrong thing and you're being "intolerant". A girl (URM) that went to my college graduated with a 3.1 gpa, and scored a 26 mcat. Guess how many interview invites she scored for MD? A lot more then I will score with a higher mcat/gpa. Some people seem to think this is fair for some reason; I can't seem to figure out why. I doubt they know why either.

 

[572776]

OP, I agree with couple people above that you might get in, and into more than one school if you apply very early and to a bunch of schools. My mcat was a tiny bit higher than yours and my gpa was a bit lower than yours, and even thought I sent out my primary in mid september, I still got into a couple of schools. It also depends on what you write in your essays. I would also recommend retaking the mcat if you can because I think even a couple of points can place you in a better spot for "more established schools". AZCOM screens out anything below 25mcat, just an fyi. I don't know about other schools though. Good luck👍