low mcat worries

[rjj2136]

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Hello, SDN world, this is my first post. For all of you who are currently worried about getting interview invites/accepted etc. I am here to tell you that there is plenty of hope for you considering the experience I have had w/ my application process. I have read SDN for the past year now typing in the search bar "what are my chances?", only to read negative comments on the stats I typed in. I also got negative comments from my prehealth advisor about my mcat score, which was very discouraging at the time, and made me worry more than I already was. I have taken the mcat twice, my first score was a 21 (9, 7, 5) and my second score was 23 (9, 8, 6). Both of which are poor scores, no doubt. However, I have two interviews already. A lot of the comments I read on here that made me worry so much, made me start thinking that I wouldn't even have a chance. My gpa on the other hand is a 3.98. So, I am here to tell everybody with mcats and gpas similar to mine, an mcat higher and gpa lower than mine that there is definitely hope for you. Don't listen to all these other posters about if you have a low mcat that you don't have a chance b/c if you work hard in undergrad and have a high gpa, I promise you have a chance. I am living proof.
The moral to the story is that its not how smart you are, its how hard you work. The mcat definitely test a person's cognitive ability in that you have to read fast and be able to apply concepts quickly. The thing is, applying concepts that I get time to think about has never been a problem for me, b/c I generally make the highest grade in all of my classes, the mcat, on the other hand, test concepts that you have studied but in a different way than expected. However, I will be successful in medical school due to my work ethic, not my cognitive ability.

 

[Saxappeal1]

I love your mentality. I take pride in my work-ethic over most of my other qualities, and I have heard from my friends that most of the time, it just comes down to a work ethic on whether or not you can do medical school, residency, etc. Great job getting those interviews!

 

[elisa1901]

What school did you applied to?
PS: thank you for the hope though

 

[SkipJunior]

wow, a 21 and a 23 and 2 interviews already!! Very impressive, chettiar!! Are they MD interviews? any crazy ECs??

 

[Faha]

Your high GPA is undoubtedly compensating for your low MCAT. The GPA-MCAT grid shows a 20% MD acceptance rate for applicants with a MCAT of 21 to 23 and a GPA above 3.6. Even after accounting for the higher rate of acceptance for URM the acceptance rate would be 15% so some are being accepted with these stats. Those accepted may disproportionately include applicants who have Masters and PhDs. For DO schools the stats are even better. AACOM released a report for the class admitted in the fall of 2013. There were 3,954 applicants with a MCAT of 20 to 24 and 1,274 matriculated at DO schools. Since a small number may have attended MD schools it appears that 1/3 of applicants with MCAT scores in the range of 20 to 24 are accepted to either DO or MD schools. This may be skewed by URM and those with post graduate degrees and those with the GPA's above 3.6 are most likely to be included in that group of 1/3 accepted.

 

[DreamMed]

Hello, SDN world, this is my first post. For all of you who are currently worried about getting interview invites/accepted etc. I am here to tell you that there is plenty of hope for you considering the experience I have had w/ my application process. I have read SDN for the past year now typing in the search bar "what are my chances?", only to read negative comments on the stats I typed in. I also got negative comments from my prehealth advisor about my mcat score, which was very discouraging at the time, and made me worry more than I already was. I have taken the mcat twice, my first score was a 21 (9, 7, 5) and my second score was 23 (9, 8, 6). Both of which are poor scores, no doubt. However, I have two interviews already. A lot of the comments I read on here that made me worry so much, made me start thinking that I wouldn't even have a chance. My gpa on the other hand is a 3.98. So, I am here to tell everybody with mcats and gpas similar to mine, an mcat higher and gpa lower than mine that there is definitely hope for you. Don't listen to all these other posters about if you have a low mcat that you don't have a chance b/c if you work hard in undergrad and have a high gpa, I promise you have a chance. I am living proof.
The moral to the story is that its not how smart you are, its how hard you work. The mcat definitely test a person's cognitive ability in that you have to read fast and be able to apply concepts quickly. The thing is, applying concepts that I get time to think about has never been a problem for me, b/c I generally make the highest grade in all of my classes, the mcat, on the other hand, test concepts that you have studied but in a different way than expected. However, I will be successful in medical school due to my work ethic, not my cognitive ability.

As someone in a similar situation to you (high gpa, low mcat), your post is extremely inspiring! Major congratulations on your interview! I wish you the best of luck-though I've found that people with an excellent work ethic seldom need it, and truly hope you get an acceptance early in the cycle. Do let us know how it turns out! 🙂 Also, as someone asked, do you mind sharing where you applied?

 

[SkipJunior]

yes, which schools? are you URM??