Low MCAT justification

[FloresMD]

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For those of you who got low mcat scores and were still able to get accepted to medical schools, how did you justify your poor mcat score in your application and in your interview? (By low mcat I mean < 25)

 

[AlteredScale]

For those of you who got low mcat scores and were still able to get accepted to medical schools, how did you justify your poor mcat score in your application and in your interview? (By low mcat I mean < 25)

I wouldn't justify a poor MCAT on my primary application nor my secondary unless there was specific area in which they allow you to explain specific aspects of your application on the supplemental app.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

You don't.

You provide evidence that you're an effective candidate through other means.

 

[asdf123g]

I think he means how did you compensate for it. Like...super high GPA....incredible EC's....etc

 

[FloresMD]

You don't.

You provide evidence that you're an effective candidate through other means.

Well what about during the interview? The reason I got a poor mcat score is because I went into the test with the wrong mentality. I was super nervous and I hyped it up too much and it was just a disaster. I couldn't think correctly. Towards the end of the test I didn't really care and I just answered what I knew. I got a 23 (7PS/6VR/10BS). I learned how not to go into a standardized test. I think the rest of my application is competitive (3.67 GPA and lots of clinical experience). So I guess my question is will schools be okay with that Explanation or will they still question my academic abilities ?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

If your interviewer asks you why you did poorly on the mcat it better be followed by I improved my score and it was a process of maturing and becoming a better prepared student for studying. Honestly though, chances are if they ask you why you did poorly there are few really good ways of answering it because they will be excuses and excuses are always negatives in the interview dynamics.

 

[AlteredScale]

If you have an interview you don't want to bring it up unless they do. And as described above: state your weakness, how you addressed it, and how you've grown from it.

And agree with @serenade . If you are at the interview then chances are they already consider that you will do fine in med school.

 

[FloresMD]

@Goro

Do you have advice on how to address a poor mcat score in an interview without sounding like you are making up excuses? ( I do not plan on retaking because I will not be able to find a seat for the old one).

 

[FloresMD]

If you have an interview you don't want to bring it up unless they do. And as described above: state your weakness, how you addressed it, and how you've grown from it.

And agree with @serenade . If you are at the interview then chances are they already consider that you will do fine in med school.

The only problem I have is that I can't technically address the problem because I won't be able to retake the test in time before it changes.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

The only problem I have is that I can't technically address the problem because I won't be able to retake the test in time before it changes.

Better start prepping for 2015 edition then. Sorry, you really aren't leaving yourself much option here. Sure, you can take your chances with a 23 and chances are some school will accept you because plenty of them aren't picky enough. So if getting accepted anywhere is your main goal then stay where you are at and try to beef up medical related volunteering and pose a huge story of maturation and growth.

 

[user3]

Better start prepping for 2015 edition then. Sorry, you really aren't leaving yourself much option here. Sure, you can take your chances with a 23 and chances are some school will accept you because plenty of them aren't picky enough. So if getting accepted anywhere is your main goal then stay where you are at and try to beef up medical related volunteering and pose a huge story of maturation and growth.

I think we finally see eye to eye now.

But why is having stats that are likely enough to net a few interviews and 1-2 acceptances somewhere fine for MD, but seem to be discouraged for DO?

 

[AlteredScale]

Better start prepping for 2015 edition then. Sorry, you really aren't leaving yourself much option here. Sure, you can take your chances with a 23 and chances are some school will accept you because plenty of them aren't picky enough. So if getting accepted anywhere is your main goal then stay where you are at and try to beef up medical related volunteering and pose a huge story of maturation and growth.

Yep. I really don't think there much to do to justify an MCAT (quote by gyngyn I believe). You either take the chance or wait it out, take the new one and do better.

Good luck!

 

[FloresMD]

Better start prepping for 2015 edition then. Sorry, you really aren't leaving yourself much option here. Sure, you can take your chances with a 23 and chances are some school will accept you because plenty of them aren't picky enough. So if getting accepted anywhere is your main goal then stay where you are at and try to beef up medical related volunteering and pose a huge story of maturation and growth.

Honestly I would be content with getting in anywhere. I just want to be a doc. I don't care much about how prestigious a school is. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I think we finally see eye to eye now.

Why is having stats that are likely enough to net a few interviews and 1-2 acceptances somewhere fine for MD, but seem to be discouraged for DO?

Because I can genuinely acknowledge that I occasionally have my head up my ass sometimes. I won't deny that it's still a shot and it gets better with higher stats. I just think it's an opening that can be very readily and easily missed at low stats.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Honestly I would be content with getting in anywhere. I just want to be a doc. I don't care much about how prestigious a school is. Thanks for the advice!

Again, it's an issue of probability. If you're happy with some moderate assurance of a probably then stay where you are. If I were you and I believed that it wasn't representative then i'd aim to try again.

 

[FloresMD]

Again, it's an issue of probability. If you're happy with some moderate assurance of a probably then stay where you are. If I were you and I believed that it wasn't representative then i'd aim to try again.

Well I think that I have a good shot. I'll apply on day 1 and see what happens. If I don't get any love from any schools I will definitely take the new MCAT.

 

[Goro]

I would not be OK with that explanation because it tells me that you approach career-deciding, high stakes events with at best, a frivolous manner, and worse, unprepared. We view poor choice-making in candidate with a jaundiced eye.

A 23 is in the red zone for being at higher risk for failing out of med school and/or failing Boards. If you leave the room having planted the seed of "poor standardized test taker" in the mind of the interviewer, then you're at high risk for rejection.

There's no easy way around this. I strongly recommend that you retake the MCAT, but only when ready. Go see your school's counseling center for help with test taking anxiety.

If you don't want to take the new MCAT, then it might be best to find other career venues. The new test is NOT going to be written in Korean, y'know?

Well what about during the interview? The reason I got a poor mcat score is because I went into the test with the wrong mentality. I was super nervous and I hyped it up too much and it was just a disaster. I couldn't think correctly. Towards the end of the test I didn't really care and I just answered what I knew. I got a 23 (7PS/6VR/10BS). I learned how not to go into a standardized test. I think the rest of my application is competitive (3.67 GPA and lots of clinical experience). So I guess my question is will schools be okay with that Explanation or will they still question my academic abilities ?

A 23 is lethal for MD schools.
But why is having stats that are likely enough to net a few interviews and 1-2 acceptances somewhere fine for MD, but seem to be discouraged for DO?

 

[s5260205]

I would think since MCAT is a standardized test, a low score could never be justified since all applicants are on equal footing. Better compensate with high GPA or retake.

 

[user3]

I received a PM not long ago from someone with almost identical scores. They have received 4 interviews and have been accepted. Good GPA/23 is enough to put you in the running for schools like WVSOM, VCOM, LMU, etc.

 

[edgerock24]

I received a PM not long ago from someone with almost identical scores. They have received 4 interviews and have been accepted. Good GPA/23 is enough to put you in the running for schools like WVSOM, VCOM, LMU, etc.

Yep. Heck, LUCOM would even consider a 23 an impressive score.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Well what about during the interview? The reason I got a poor mcat score is because I went into the test with the wrong mentality. I was super nervous and I hyped it up too much and it was just a disaster. I couldn't think correctly. Towards the end of the test I didn't really care and I just answered what I knew. I got a 23 (7PS/6VR/10BS). I learned how not to go into a standardized test. I think the rest of my application is competitive (3.67 GPA and lots of clinical experience). So I guess my question is will schools be okay with that Explanation or will they still question my academic abilities ?

Then re-take the test and do well. That's how you justify your bad score.

 

[kalat]

If I was in a position in an interview and this came up I'd say something to the effect of "I'm not going to make excuses for my performance on MCAT, but I believe given my performance in x y z I believe that I have what it takes to succeed as a physician." Shift the topic away from a weakness and back to a strength. The school invited you to interview so there's things there they are interested in. For the MCAT, you either did well you or you did poorly; there's no interpretation. Let's preview the responses and potential outcomes:

• "I didn't prepare enough." - Shows you don't prepare adequately.
• "I wasn't thinking straight." - Shows you cannot handle standardized tests.
• "I will do better next time." - Inability to take responsibility. (NB: This applies to any excuse.)
• "If I took it again I'd do significantly better." - Naïveté or overconfidence.
• "I don't think it's important." - Inability to work within a structured system.
• "I'm not good at it." - Lack of confidence.

The list goes on. It's just not a good question. Why invite someone for an interview if you're not happy with their MCAT score? If an interviewer asked me I'd assume they didn't like me very much. What would they expect as a "good" answer? There isn't one.

 

[FloresMD]

A 23 is in the red zone for being at higher risk for failing out of med school and/or failing Boards. I

 

[Goro]

I congratulate you on your success, and wish you to be the best doctor that you can be.

That said, you do understand the concept of risk factors, right?

 

[FloresMD]

I congratulate you on your success, and wish you to be the best doctor that you can be.

That said, you do understand the concept of risk factors, right?

I do. I know you guys have to make the best decision you can based on the current data right in front of you. If I was in your position I would've rejected myself based off my MCAT score. I just wanted post for those who feel discouraged by their low MCAT score and to let them know that they can still rock med school despite what the data says.

 

[Goro]

I do. I know you guys have to make the best decision you can based on the current data right in front of you. If I was in your position I would've rejected myself based off my MCAT score. I just wanted post for those who feel discouraged by their low MCAT score and to let them know that they can still rock med school despite what the data says.

What did you do in the years between MCAT and matriculation?

 

[FloresMD]

What did you do in the years between MCAT and matriculation?

I finished up college and applied to as many DO schools as I could and I ended up getting into two. I had a ton of clinical volunteer experiences and pretty good GPA . I'm super grateful that they took a chance by accepting me though. Right now I'm into my third year rotations and I'm looking at possibly applying to emergency medicine as a specialty.

 

[smurfin57]

I had a low MCAT and applied with it... I didn't get any interviews. I retook it and did better but still was not where I wanted to be. Adcoms like to see that you are trying to improve and what you have learned from doing poorly so I think I was able to justify my first poor score and showed improvement. I am actually performing really well in med school now so don't let a low MCAT score defeat you. If you really want it, you will work for it and prove to the adcoms that you deserve a seat in their class.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

I finished up college and applied to as many DO schools as I could and I ended up getting into two. I had a ton of clinical volunteer experiences and pretty good GPA . I'm super grateful that they took a chance by accepting me though. Right now I'm into my third year rotations and I'm looking at possibly applying to emergency medicine as a specialty.

Let me also congratulate you. GRIT is considered by many to be the most important quality for a student to have. There is no MCAT for GRIT. Schools are risk averse for losing students who can't pass boards. Congrats again