Low MCAT

[WHOOP8002]

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I was just wondering if anyone knows anybody that got accepted to medical school with a mediocre MCAT score. Does a high GPA balance the score out a little? I took it again in April, so hopefully I will see a dramatic improvement. Also, I am a paramedic, volunteer at two clinics, have worked during the summer for four years as an EMT, and I am doing research this summer. Which schools outside of Texas emphasize clinical experience?

 

[Doctora Foxy]

What do you consider a mediocre score?

In any case, check out <a href="http://forums.studentdoctor.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=000045;p=1" target="_blank">this thread</a> about interviews with mcats below 25.

I was accepted with a 27, and I think undergrad, GPA, ECs, and everything else can definitely set off a mediocre mcat score.

 

[Bradleyp]

I agree with Foxy on this, many people consider many different scores mediocre, to help you out we will need more info.
Full Name, Socially security number, copy of valid drivers license, and two major credit card numbers will do for starters.
If you don't want to give us those, your MCAT score will do.

 

[xoomn]

Unfortunately, that did not work for me. I had a pretty good undergrad GPA (3.2 in Bio and 3.4 in Chem), had 2 years of ER volunteering, 6 months ER tech work, 2 years of research @ FDA (worked on 3 papers but my name was not added), 1.5 years of research for Airforce on Jet fuel combustion (got a paper published), did a postbac @ MCV and still did not get in this year. So I think a 27 on the MCAT doesn't cut it. Well, this is the last time I'm going to try and if all fails 🙁 ---&gt; I guess I've to leave medicine. :wink:

 

[P60001]

You have to do some research before you apply to get an idea of where your numbers give you a theoretical chance to get in. A 27 is a decent MCAT score, as Foxy has stated. She is going to med school, right! However, you cannot expect to get iin a top school that has an average much higher than what you have. Moreover, the MCAT is only one element of you application. Strong candidates generally have a well rounded application.

 

[Mr.D]

Having a low MCAT or GPA balanced by strong EC's can only go so far. Remember that all these numbers we hear (av GPA 3.5 , 29 MCAT)of people who matriculate are all averages, meaning there are people above and below these numbers getting in. For the most part, a school is looking to compensate with your numbers - high GPA to offset low MCAT, or vice versa. EC's are more like icing on the cake so to speak. The main point is that you have to think of your entire application, not just your MCAT or GPA, when asking yourself this question. Also, take into account the kinds of schools you want to get into. Example, a 27 is a decent score (a little on the lower side) for a second tier school, but pretty much no good for a top tier school. If this is your case hypothetically, then you better have a strong GPA, letters of rec, and EC's to hope for an interview at such a school. By the inverse, does this mean having a 34 MCAT will get you in a top school? No, it does not. So having a low MCAT or GPA works against you, but having a strong MCAT and GPA is a requirement but not sufficient to getting into a top school. The higher you go up on the medical school echelons the stiffer the competition and the more "perfect" you have to be in the minds of the adcoms to get in. Good luck.

 

[candybits]

I had an awesome GPA but a rather low MCAT score, but i didn't get very far with the American med schools. They certainly tend to heavily favor the MCAT scores above everything else. I believe this because few of my fellow Canadian friends with pretty high MCAT scores and not-so-great GPAs (3.2-3.4) made it to really awesome top-tier schools. Heck, I even selectively applied to a lot of low-tier schools, but I didn't have much luck in the US. So I'll continue to remain in Canada... sucks to be an international applicant sometimes...

 

[Explosivo]

Me 2 years ago:

High GPA + low MCAT + 7 schools + 1 crappy interview= Quick rejection letters.

First, 7 is too few as far as schools are concerned. The crappy interview didn't help either (too nervous).

Mainly, the MCAT score killed my app. Get it to 30 and you'll be fine. 27-29 you're on the bubble...make sure you have good ECs and a good interview. MCAT&lt;27, you're going to have problems getting an interview...think about retaking the MCAT.

I spoke with a Dean at Northwestern and basically what he told me is that adcoms look for question marks in a person's application. If the MCAT score is suspect its a question mark. Adcoms want to be absolutely sure you will make it in medical school because they invest a lot of money in each medical student. They want to make sure they are making a good investment. He also said that the MCAT is given more weight and that he thinks it's not a particularly good test but he has no choice but to use it as a standardized measure of students from a variety of educational institutions.

 

[apocalypse3678]

hey whoop,
every single one of my friends that got into the university of miami had awesome gpas 3.7 and above and very low mcat scores, 25 being the highest...so don't but your eggs into just one basket, like everyone else in here said try to balance it out with other stuff...always willing to opinionate,
me

 

[Nuclearrabbit]

also being from a "underrepresented minority in medicine", doesn't hurt either. i've seen some dinky mcat scores from people in this category get into medical school.

i have to agree with one of the other posts saying that schools give more weight on the MCAT. it's the only standardized qualification available to the committee, with so many people coming from different establishments, majors, and reputations,.....this score becomes key in assessing potential to deal with the first two years of medical school. Studies have shown that there is a much stronger correlation with MCAT scores versus GPA in performing well in medical school.
of course, neither MCAT or GPA have any correlation of predicting who will be a kind and compassionate doctor, happy with their decision to enter medicine. That takes something else completely. I WONDER WHAT THAT IS!