Lowest MCAT accepted for DO School?

[HarMegido]

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first of all, no one should be looking at the lowest MCAT scores to get into med school. that's just shows you are only willing to do the minimum work required to get in. Second, if you don't do well in the MCATs and your GPA is subpar, what makes you think you will do well in medical school? people's lives are on the line so just passing in medical school is not good enough, this isn't undergrad. frankly, my MCAT score is disgraceful and i'm really ashamed of it. i'm lucky that med schools are even willing to look at me and to have the opportunity for a shot at medicine. if i didn't get in to med school or fail out, it is because i didn't deserve it. don't worry about the numbers and just give it all you got. if it happens then congratulations, if not, too bad. it will probably be better for society that you didn't get in and it is beneficial as well to u because now u have new opportunities opening up in your life (if u want to still do health care, try a PA or a physical therapist or an RN, because obviously you don't have what it takes to get into medical school). sorry, this wasn't meant to be mean but u need to be realistic.

 

[a817]

first of all, no one should be looking at the lowest MCAT scores to get into med school. that's just shows you are only willing to do the minimum work required to get in. Second, if you don't do well in the MCATs and your GPA is subpar, what makes you think you will do well in medical school? people's lives are on the line so just passing in medical school is not good enough, this isn't undergrad. frankly, my MCAT score is disgraceful and i'm really ashamed of it. i'm lucky that med schools are even willing to look at me and to have the opportunity for a shot at medicine. if i didn't get in to med school or fail out, it is because i didn't deserve it. don't worry about the numbers and just give it all you got. if it happens then congratulations, if not, too bad. it will probably be better for society that you didn't get in and it is beneficial as well to u because now u have new opportunities opening up in your life (if u want to still do health care, try a PA or a physical therapist or an RN, because obviously you don't have what it takes to get into medical school). sorry, this wasn't meant to be mean but u need to be realistic.

Why the sudden anger? Is it because Tourocom gave you biochem hw? jk😛

 

[Dedikated2liftn]

first of all, no one should be looking at the lowest MCAT scores to get into med school. that's just shows you are only willing to do the minimum work required to get in. Second, if you don't do well in the MCATs and your GPA is subpar, what makes you think you will do well in medical school? people's lives are on the line so just passing in medical school is not good enough, this isn't undergrad. frankly, my MCAT score is disgraceful and i'm really ashamed of it. i'm lucky that med schools are even willing to look at me and to have the opportunity for a shot at medicine. if i didn't get in to med school or fail out, it is because i didn't deserve it. don't worry about the numbers and just give it all you got. if it happens then congratulations, if not, too bad. it will probably be better for society that you didn't get in and it is beneficial as well to u because now u have new opportunities opening up in your life (if u want to still do health care, try a PA or a physical therapist or an RN, because obviously you don't have what it takes to get into medical school). sorry, this wasn't meant to be mean but u need to be realistic.

Wow bro...I think you should drop your acceptance and go into motivational speaking, haha.

 

[Kanna15]

I'm applying this year...and my mcat scores have been all over the board. Some people are just good at standardized tests. I have a friend who has a 3.2 gpa and got a 37 on the mcat. The DO I am currently shadowing is an orthopedic surgeon. He even told me that he did not do that well on the MCAT and he was even on academic probation for two years at his undergrad. Now he's AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON, and he did his residency at Cleveland Clinic, and was offered a Hand fellowship at Duke University. What is the bottome line? For all those people who are being so damn critical, just ease up a bit. Not everyone is perfect. Everyone has difficulties at somepoint in their life, and for somepeople like me, it is the MCAT. For others, its a low gpa. So I don't understand why you guys get critical when someone has a high gpa and low mcat score, or vice versa. Everyone is different. When I asked the surgeon what he thought of the mcat, he said it was very vague and obtuse. And now he's a orthopedic surgeon in the end. I'm one of those people who have a high gpa, great leadership ship etc., but my mcat score is struggling. One thing that the surgeon said to me was that the osteopathic schools liked the fact that he showed drive and motivation to improve during his two year probation. That is the whole point of osteopathic medicine, "understanding the human as a whole, not just their organ system". Same thing goes for admission, they know that you'll bumps in your life, but you have to have the drive. My father is a DO, and has a PhD. They had a program back in the day when he didnt have to take the MCAT since he had a PhD. Only two DO schools, no MD schools, had this program. And he's now a successful doctor, passed Boards, both the DO and MD boards first time around. So again, ease up on the criticism. If your passion is to become a doctor, then you'll do whatever it takes. Does not mean everyon will go through the proccess with flying colors, as long as you keep your chin up and keep pushing forward.

 

[demayette]

Personally, If I was in the adcoms, I would give more consideration to a candidate with a high MCAT low GPA rather than a candidate with a high GPA low MCAT because the MCAT is somewhat more standardize than GPAs.

Here is two examples: Candidate X cGPA 3.1 sGPA 3.5 MCAT 27P
Candidate Y cGPA 3.7 sGPA 3.5 MCAT 22N
Which one of these candidates is better suited for med school (DO school)assuming all the others admission factors are somewhat similar .. ie LORs, ECs, interview etc.. Think about it Guys... again I might be bias because the first scenario is me ..ahahaahahha

 

[JaggerPlate]

Let me be Frank here for a second ....

The MCAT is tough, and difficult, and unlike any other test you'll have to take. This is on purpose. Medical schools want to see you endure through the beast, and they also want you to be able to think outside of the box. Verbal Reasoning, for example, exists on the mcat because it is a critical thinking exercise ... not memorization, or a blue print. However, despite how tough, or 'obtuse' the whole exercise feels like ... it exists for a reason. Does it predict whether or not you'll be a good physician or have the drive to become an orthopod??? No, absolutely not. BUT it is a good indicator of your critical thinking skills, endurance, drive, preparation, time management, etc ... which are all qualities medical schools are looking for.

About the MCAT vs GPA thing ... in my opinion, it's high MCAT >>>> high GPA. Here is why ... not everyone goes to the same undergrad, but everyone takes the same MCAT. Say, for example ... someone goes to a JC for a few years, takes multiple science courses there, aces them, then transfers to a state university and continues doing 'well.' Compare this to someone who started at a highly rank, competitive, big university, who had to fight against 10,000 other pre-meds on pre-set curves and tough, tough courses. Who do you think is going to have the higher gpa??? It's also not surprising when, in some cases, the second person does much higher on the MCAT than the first person, which leads to all kinds of theories, and stories, and threads like these. MCAT = great equilizer.

Bottom line, do the best on everything you can for med school. Try not to make excuses, own up to where you're good and where you aren't, and do NOT try to get the minimum of anything to squeak by ... it won't happen.

 

[123165]

I totally agree with MCAT>GPA. DO applications are a little better than MD, because of the retake policy. I had a bad first year due to family issues, and my AMCAS GPA really never recovered, despite 3.6 GPA for the last 140+ credit hours or so.

Not to mention that not all undergrad institutes grade the same, and not all teachers are the same. Some people talk about there biochem courses being cake, and for others they are ridiculous, with the determining factor of this being the curriculum. Other schools give out more A's. It is just too difficult to compare GPA's from different degrees and institutions.

On the other hand, some people are intelligent and poor test takers.

 

[mic2377]

I would also say that MCAT >>> GPA. This is undoubtedly proven at several top SMP programs, where the students are low GPA/high MCAT. I can state than many of these students bust the curve of the medical school classes, because they are motivated, hard working, and already have strong test-taking and logical thinking skills.

I cannot imagine how it is possible to get a 20 after a 3.7+. That is a colossal joke. I never got under a 27 even on a practice test. The MCAT is a test of critical thinking and being able to think under stress, and I think it is reflective of deficiencies in test taking and logic processing which would have to be fixed prior to attending medical school. What happens when you hit COMLEX and USMLE? You better have it all figured out then!

I went to one of those highly ranked, hyper competitive public research universities. Guess what? My GPA is mediocre, but even without alot of effort, I scored great on the MCAT.

Thank God for the great equalizer!

 

[Chocolate Bear]

I cannot imagine how it is possible to get a 20 after a 3.7+. That is a colossal joke. I never got under a 27 even on a practice test.

I'm not sure why it would be a "joke." I know several students who used to wipe the floor with me when it came to classes like OChem and Physics, only to get smoked by me when it came to MCAT prep time. They were all high SAT scorers and good test takers. No ADD nor test taking anxiety. However, they weren't going about their studying the right way, and they didn't just have this intuitive grasp of the test format and how you can score a lot of your points just by eliminating the trick answers. Their prep course didn't teach them these things, and in fact, led them down the wrong paths which I had to personally teach them how to correct.

They were all making low to mid-20's, and none of us thought it was a funny "joke." They all took the test multiple times over a couple of years and eventually made it to med school, which they have since done very well in.

So just open up your mind a little bit to the possibility that your own personal test taking experience isn't the same as everyone else's. The best way to do this is by taking your MCAT skills and tutoring some people who are in desperate need of some. I promise you'll meet some very bright, motivated individuals who will eventually be great docs, even though they're having a much harder time than you during this stage of their application.

 

[ColoradoCSU]

A standardized test shows the ability of the taker to think within general conventions, but to be truly great in any discipline of science you need to forget everything about the conventional approach. Applied to the MCAT, do well enough you can show you have the basic cognitive skills to function, beyond that the test doesn't display any prediction of how well you can do in medicine. I know people who scored 37s and above who dropped out after failing boards, and I know someone with a score in the 20s who is now a respected attending. A better score gives you a better chance to get in, but just like IQ, SAT, or any other test it displays an arbitrary value, that some see as important. Good luck.

 

[premedmind]

I would also say that MCAT >>> GPA. This is undoubtedly proven at several top SMP programs, where the students are low GPA/high MCAT. I can state than many of these students bust the curve of the medical school classes, because they are motivated, hard working, and already have strong test-taking and logical thinking skills.

I cannot imagine how it is possible to get a 20 after a 3.7+. That is a colossal joke. I never got under a 27 even on a practice test. The MCAT is a test of critical thinking and being able to think under stress, and I think it is reflective of deficiencies in test taking and logic processing which would have to be fixed prior to attending medical school. What happens when you hit COMLEX and USMLE? You better have it all figured out then!

I went to one of those highly ranked, hyper competitive public research universities. Guess what? My GPA is mediocre, but even without alot of effort, I scored great on the MCAT.

Thank God for the great equalizer!

MCAT > GPA?

Someone sounds bitter that they messed up during 4 years of undergrad. The GPA is, if anything, a reflection of your work ethic, while the MCAT is more indicative of inherent test taking abilities and critical thinking skills.

I would say they are both equal.

 

[JaggerPlate]

MCAT > GPA?

Someone sounds bitter that they messed up during 4 years of undergrad. The GPA is, if anything, a reflection of your work ethic, while the MCAT is more indicative of inherent test taking abilities and critical thinking skills.

I would say they are both equal.

I agree with premedmind ...

One person completes 1/2 their units at a JC where the standards for admission are opening the door, then other half at state school.

Other person completes all units at the hyper-competitive, grade deflation university.

How could these possibly be equal??

 

[Murphy Brown]

I cannot imagine how it is possible to get a 20 after a 3.7+. That is a colossal joke. I never got under a 27 even on a practice test.

Aren't you special? Me, I got a 3.8 after busting my butt in school and ended up with a 20 MCAT. After I posted about it, I was PM'd by someone on SDN (a well known poster) who admitted they got a 19 MCAT first time taking it. This person is now in residency at Yale in anesthesia. Don't ridicule people for performing below you. Some day, they could be your boss.

 

[swamprat]

IMO, unfortunately:

MCAT >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> GPA

I believe this because I have a better gpa than mcat score (based on allopathic standards) and have had no luck thus far at any of the allopathic schools i applied to but have seen people (my friend included) who are high MCAT/low gpa and and currently have interviews at the same schools when we were complete at similar times.

for example:

me with a 3.83/29 = application on hold for re-review
friend: 3.49/33 = interview

Oh well I don't really care at all I applied DO as well and I am greatly looking forward to attending the current interviews I have and hopefully matriculate somewhere next fall 👍

 

[mic2377]

Well, there is always much more to the picture than "messing up" 4 years of undergrad. There are many different reasons for bad grades, which vary widely in validity.

Really, though, some schools are just hyper-competitive. I recall several courses where only 10% of the class received A's or AB's, and the pass rate was ~65%. Even really smart people were getting B's in these classes.

I apologize to other posters for my derogatory language about it being a "colossal joke," which was too critical. It certainly is possible to succeed despite having a low MCAT, but just as in people with low GPA, it is perhaps the exception not the rule.

I would indeed be happy to share study tips if interested.

 

[supras2kracer]

The DO I am currently shadowing is an orthopedic surgeon. He even told me that he did not do that well on the MCAT and he was even on academic probation for two years at his undergrad. Now he's AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON, and he did his residency at Cleveland Clinic, and was offered a Hand fellowship at Duke University.

Did he play college sports? Just curious

 

[demayette]

Well, there is always much more to the picture than "messing up" 4 years of undergrad. There are many different reasons for bad grades, which vary widely in validity.

Really, though, some schools are just hyper-competitive. I recall several courses where only 10% of the class received A's or AB's, and the pass rate was ~65%. Even really smart people were getting B's in these classes.

I apologize to other posters for my derogatory language about it being a "colossal joke," which was too critical. It certainly is possible to succeed despite having a low MCAT, but just as in people with low GPA, it is perhaps the exception not the rule.

I would indeed be happy to share study tips if interested.

Please share these study tips because I am not happy with my 27P

 

[Iowa2009]

Just curious what you guys think..
I have good LOR's, great experience (EMT, worked on a psych unit with a DO and in the ER with 2 DO's and 2 MD's for over 2 years), but only a 25Q on my MCAT. My cGPA is 3.3 and sGPA is 3.2. Is a 25Q and my GPA too low to get into DO school?

 

[n618ft]

I guarantee if threads like this were deleted off SDN, applications to DO school would rise lol.

 

[n618ft]

Just curious what you guys think..
I have good LOR's, great experience (EMT, worked on a psych unit with a DO and in the ER with 2 DO's and 2 MD's for over 2 years), but only a 25Q on my MCAT. My cGPA is 3.3 and sGPA is 3.2. Is a 25Q and my GPA too low to get into DO school?

Apply broadly and you should be okay - is this GPA calculated by your or AACOMAS? Did you retake any classes? If so, don't count the first bad grade.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Just curious what you guys think..
I have good LOR's, great experience (EMT, worked on a psych unit with a DO and in the ER with 2 DO's and 2 MD's for over 2 years), but only a 25Q on my MCAT. My cGPA is 3.3 and sGPA is 3.2. Is a 25Q and my GPA too low to get into DO school?

DO all around average is 3.5 and a 26/27 I think. However, in applying I have seen far more schools advertising their averages as 3.5+ and 28. With that being said, your gpa and mcat are average, if not a little low, but some good ECs and applying broadly should get you a few responses. If your applying this season though, hopefully you already have the ball rolling, if not ... I might retake the mcat and apply really early next year.

 

[n618ft]

DO all around average is 3.5 and a 26/27 I think. However, in applying I have seen far more schools advertising their averages as 3.5+ and 28. With that being said, your gpa and mcat are average, if not a little low, but some good ECs and applying broadly should get you a few responses. If your applying this season though, hopefully you already have the ball rolling, if not ... I might retake the mcat and apply really early next year.

Some schools advertise acceptances, not matriculations.

 

[Iowa2009]

Thanks guys..Yeah, I have submitted my primary and got 12/13 supplementals. I have submitted 2 of my supplementals and will hopefully submit 3 others by the end of this week. I obviously have my top choice of school but I will, in reality, go wherever takes me. I applied to only schools that I would be interested in...so hopefully when I have all 12 supplemental applications submitted I should get at least a couple interviews...

 

[DRIN]

What is the bottome line?

Bottom Line: The MCAT is BS and has very little predictive capabilities as far as one's ability to handle the medical school curriculum. They say the same thing about the ACT and how it can predict "college readiness" Well, I didn't do well at all on the ACT, and had a 3.8 college GPA. Now, if the ACT was any sort of indicator as to how well I would have done in college, it fails completely, at least for me.

 

[DRIN]

How in the world do you have a 3.7 but you can't score above an 18 on the MCAT?

Bad preparation??

 

[mic2377]

a

 

[Van Chowder]

Bad preparation??

Pot..

 

[Phosphorus Ylide]

I'm not sure why it would be a "joke." I know several students who used to wipe the floor with me when it came to classes like OChem and Physics, only to get smoked by me when it came to MCAT prep time. They were all high SAT scorers and good test takers. No ADD nor test taking anxiety. However, they weren't going about their studying the right way, and they didn't just have this intuitive grasp of the test format and how you can score a lot of your points just by eliminating the trick answers. Their prep course didn't teach them these things, and in fact, led them down the wrong paths which I had to personally teach them how to correct.

They were all making low to mid-20's, and none of us thought it was a funny "joke." They all took the test multiple times over a couple of years and eventually made it to med school, which they have since done very well in.

So just open up your mind a little bit to the possibility that your own personal test taking experience isn't the same as everyone else's. The best way to do this is by taking your MCAT skills and tutoring some people who are in desperate need of some. I promise you'll meet some very bright, motivated individuals who will eventually be great docs, even though they're having a much harder time than you during this stage of their application.

Chocolate Bear for the win.

 

[Donvb]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if you guys know anyone or someone who had a really low mcat score and still got into a DO school. I've heard of stories but maybe u guys can give me some hope! I really hope so. I have a 3.7 GPA and everything else is good with my application, just my sucky mcat score! So, I'd like to hear some stories or people who have gotten in with low scores. And can you guys tell me what DO schools should I apply to that accept low mcat scores or are the easiest to get into so I have an idea??

Was accepted to LECOM-Erie, WVSOM, and Touro-CA, and put on waitlist for Des Moines with a 21 MCAT and 3.4 GPA... Apply early, beef up your resume, and nail your interviews! I have done very well in medical school and the match is coming up and I feel fairly confident in matching into Radiology with great board scores and grades! So don't lose hope, get in and you get to start with a clean slate in medical school! I know how scary it is to go into the application process with a low MCAT score, but make everything else as solid as you can, prepare for interviews, and you should turn out successful!

 

[Bacchus]

Was accepted to LECOM-Erie, WVSOM, and Touro-CA, and put on waitlist for Des Moines with a 21 MCAT and 3.4 GPA... Apply early, beef up your resume, and nail your interviews! I have done very well in medical school and the match is coming up and I feel fairly confident in matching into Radiology with great board scores and grades! So don't lose hope, get in and you get to start with a clean slate in medical school! I know how scary it is to go into the application process with a low MCAT score, but make everything else as solid as you can, prepare for interviews, and you should turn out successful!

A 21 is fairly low, especially now. You matriculated over 3 years ago. Stats have risen since then. Congrats, though and best of luck in the match!

 

[AMEHigh]

I got in with a 23. I attend PCOM and also had interviews at UMDNJ and VCOM (didn't go to those interviews because I had been to their open houses and PCOM was my #1 choice). I also had an allopathic interview. I think my overall GPA was about a 3.8 and science 3.5. I applied to approximately 15 schools (I can't remember the exact number)

 

[swamprat]

I got in with a 23. I attend PCOM and also had interviews at UMDNJ and VCOM (didn't go to those interviews because I had been to their open houses and PCOM was my #1 choice). I also had an allopathic interview. I think my overall GPA was about a 3.8 and science 3.5. I applied to approximately 15 schools (I can't remember the exact number)

wow that's awesome, how in the world did you get an allopathic interview with a 23?!

 

[neurome]

please please tell me where did you apply to?
This is my situation

Please , illd love to hear from actual medical school students or people who have gone through this...

Really depressed right now and i dont know what to do🙁. Just got my second mcat scores back and they were pitifull espeacially after 6 months of studying.. i have no idea how else to study for this exam and i really dont want to take it a 3rd time.

Educational Info: Biology major, cgpa 3.5, scigpa 3.7

Stats
1st try: 16N... B7,P6,V3
BTW: I offered a merp position in Ross u with this score but didn't accept it.
2nd try: 18Q...B5,P6,V7.

Ive been doing a lot of thinking and here is what i have come up with
1. Apply to 8 low tier allopathic US schools.. with some major faith..
2. Apply to 6 osteopathic schools.. Also with some major faith..
3. Apply to SGU and AUC.. Faith required..
4. Do a accelarated BSN somewhere
5. Apply for a PA somewhere

Note: number 4 and 5 are my absolute last resort but i dont know if they make any sense because i have no interest in becoming anything else but an MD or DO. The only reason i am even considering is because i think they might help with my application in the future.

I am burnt outta ideas and sick of staying home. Really need help and advise.

Thank you

 

[Dr Yiot]

^^^I always knew I liked you

 

[DO1987]

I know of a 3.9 and a 16. Average EC's. Didn't apply super early either.

 

[shinny04]

Really? Which school accept with a MCAT score of 16? I called a few schools and told that need at least 24 to be competitive.

I know of a 3.9 and a 16. Average EC's. Didn't apply super early either.

 

[Honze55]

I agree with premedmind ...

One person completes 1/2 their units at a JC where the standards for admission are opening the door, then other half at state school.

Other person completes all units at the hyper-competitive, grade deflation university.

How could these possibly be equal??

I took my first two years at a community college, and then transferred to UCSD (one of the top biology programs in the country) and I can say without a doubt community college was harder. UCSD curves were a joke. Classes were curved to a "B-", top 20% got A's. Answers were practically given out to students at discussion sections. I cant speak for every college, but for me, my community college was definitely harder than my prestigious university.

Also, the university is full of brunt out high school nerds who got a 4.4. A lot of them have great study habits, but really aren't that smart. They can memorize, but can't think critically. I felt my community college classmates in my biology classes were just as intelligent and capable as my classmates at the university.

At UCSD, I was a TA for mammalian physiology, and you wouldn't believe how little upper division biology students actually knew about biology. The questions they would ask shocked me.

Again, this is just my experience/opinion. It may be far from the norm...

 

[DJack]

From what I've seen, if you have a low GPA and low MCAT, one of the best options for you would be to apply early, broadly, and wisely. Obviously, other options help a lot- but this seems to be a big difference maker too.

 

[Flapjacks]

Wow bro...I think you should drop your acceptance and go into motivational speaking, haha.

You aware?

 

[lolbacon]

Yes, the MCAT is given nationally. That's probably the only good thing about it. It leaves too much open to chance.

1. Did you get a test with a lot of material you knew well?
2. Did you get a test that was calculation heavy? Or rather, concept heavy?
3. Were you feeling well that day?
4. Are you a traditional student who dedicated your undivided time to studying for the MCAT?
5. As Chocolate Bear mentioned, did you know the "tricks" of the MCAT?

I would much rather have a student with a good track record than the several possibilities leading to an MCAT score.

I'm not sure how the MCAT could leave more open to chance than the varied curriculum among the nearly 2400 4yr schools and 1700 2yr schools in the US and the different emphasis different instructors place on certain material.

Statistically, what do you think the chances are that the MCAT would just happen to test material you knew well, AND, not test material you didn't know well? Probably almost zero. The math on the MCAT is very basic algebra, so I don't see how, even if there was a "calculation heavy" MCAT, this would be a disadvantage. It's hard to imagine they don't have a lot of professionals that take a lot of time to make sure they have a balanced exam.

3 is a valid point, but, then again, just about every school will only look at your highest score, so even if you do have a bad day, you can essentially wipe out that previous score. And to the extent that there are 'tricks' to the MCAT, this is true of colleges as well. Probably every college has some teachers that are easier than others, there are always people at college that took a class before you that can tell you what exams are like or even give you old exams. For example, the honors college at my undergrad school had a repository of old exams from almost every class that wasn't open for everyone to see.

The MCAT, it seems to me, is as close at it gets to an even playing field. Everyone knows what material is on it, and everyone can take it when they feel they're best prepared for it. Undoubtedly some colleges are easier than others, some people have to work to get through school, etc, etc.

 

[wolverinepwns]

MCAT > GPA?

Someone sounds bitter that they messed up during 4 years of undergrad. The GPA is, if anything, a reflection of your work ethic, while the MCAT is more indicative of inherent test taking abilities and critical thinking skills.

I would say they are both equal.

Yes, cuz some of us ended up in schools that are very competitive and a 3.5 from there is comparable to a 4.0 from some other schools! mcat is the equalizer! not to mention that someone thats a history major would have an easier time getting a higher gpa than some doing neuroscience, so again, mcat is the equalizer!

 

[AAAmazing]

I haven't been on here since 2008 bc i have been worried about retaking the MCATs. I have taken it 3 times since then and just got my latest scores back (BS9 PS8 VR2)....wtf..a 2??? my all time low. I didn't know you can even get a 2. Is it time to give up this dream?

btw I didn't learn english until i was 8 when my family immigrated here. My undergrad cumGPA is 3.75 and sGPA is 3.5.

I think im going to go kill myself now.....😡

 

[Lukat]

I haven't been on here since 2008 bc i have been worried about retaking the MCATs. I have taken it 3 times since then and just got my latest scores back (BS9 PS8 VR2)....wtf..a 2??? my all time low. I didn't know you can even get a 2. Is it time to give up this dream?

btw I didn't learn english until i was 8 when my family immigrated here. My undergrad cumGPA is 3.75 and sGPA is 3.5.

I think im going to go kill myself now.....😡

I understand that one can struggle with verbal especially if they're not native speaker. But you need to push yourself harder if this is what you really want. My native language is not English as well and I didn't come here till I was 18. I studied for it and I ended up with a 9. It's really doable, you just have to want it really bad.

 

[AAAmazing]

I understand that one can struggle with verbal especially if they're not native speaker. But you need to push yourself harder if this is what you really want. My native language is not English as well and I didn't come here till I was 18. I studied for it and I ended up with a 9. It's really doable, you just have to want it really bad.

The odd thing is that i was averaging no less than a 5 on the practices, usually 6s and 7s. My very first time ever taking a practice MCAT (free Kaplan practice offered at school)...i scored an 8...and four years later it's a 2. And what is the max number of times you can take the MCAT before schools won't even look at you? Three times? I know I've taken it wayyy more than I should have.

DAMN IT VERBAL!!!!

 

[Lukat]

The odd thing is that i was averaging no less than a 5 on the practices, usually 6s and 7s. My very first time ever taking a practice MCAT (free Kaplan practice offered at school)...i scored an 8...and four years later it's a 2. And what is the max number of times you can take the MCAT before schools won't even look at you? Three times? I know I've taken it wayyy more than I should have.

DAMN IT VERBAL!!!!

I don't think there is an "official" limit on the number of times you can take the MCAT. But the more you take it (and don't get a higher score), the worse situation it is. Not to mention it's expensive too (take it 5 times and it's >1k right there!).

I'm not by any means saying that you shouldn't re-take the exam. But you should take it whenever you are really ready for it. Take your time to study really well. Take a prep course if you have to and shoot for as high as you can get.

There are some very inspiring pre-meds on SDN here, they took the MCAT multiple times, applied a few cycles and finally got in. Don't be discouraged.

 

[jellybean13]

IMHO, if you are scoring around 18 and can't seem to get any higher, but are intelligent enough to pull a 3.7+ you are doing something wrong in test prep.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with super low scores early on your prep, but it takes lots of work, studying and practice to get your score where you would like it to be. I scored a 13 on my first diagnostic, reviewed content and practiced incessantly for months, spending about 2 hrs/day, 6 days a week preparing. I am now scoring 35+ consistently on practice tests and will take the MCAT soon.

Don't give up! If you can ace courses in college and comprehend the basic science concepts you can do better on the MCAT than an 18! 🙂

 

[Bigz]

cGPA 3.34
sGPA 3.60
MCAT 22O

1 year ER volunteer, non trad and a other volunteers. No research and a non science major

My primary application has been ready for months due to some mishap with my prior education overseas i am now ready to submit. I question is that is too late this cycle and do i have any hope with my numbers. any suggestion o schools?

Thanks

 

[drgioiadds]

I agree. And most of these people are struggling, many repeating years due to too many failed classes. I don't want to sound mean, but med school is not a walk in the park. If you have difficulty on something as straight forward as the MCAT (unless there are significant extenuating circumstances that are not ongoing issues), there is a high probability you will have significant problems in medical school and on boards.

Now before y'all go flaming me on that, there are of course exceptions. In my pitiful sample size (n~20-25), I'd say 10% are successful, not needing to repeat courses and passing boards first time. There are of course people who are successful in medical school despite an MCAT under the median. But they are not the norm.

I would have to disagree with the fact that an MCAT score will predict board scores. As a dentist I can tell you that I did mediocre at best on the DAT and scored in the 90% percentile in both part 1 and 2 of the NDBE!

I think there is something to be said about testing relevant knowledge. I can see how the Mcat tries to test reasoning abilities - but most of the material is irrelevant for a doctor. Same with the DAT - I think I scored 18 in the sciences and 16 on the PAT, but in problem solving sections of the dental boards I scored well above the national average.

 

[panasonic52]

I would have to disagree with the fact that an MCAT score will predict board scores. As a dentist I can tell you that I did mediocre at best on the DAT and scored in the 90% percentile in both part 1 and 2 of the NDBE!

I think there is something to be said about testing relevant knowledge. I can see how the Mcat tries to test reasoning abilities - but most of the material is irrelevant for a doctor. Same with the DAT - I think I scored 18 in the sciences and 16 on the PAT, but in problem solving sections of the dental boards I scored well above the national average.

I also agree that the MCAT probably will not predict much for you in the future. Of course, you should still try to do well just to get into the school you want, but I think a low score is not going to predict how well you do in med school.
Like the above poster said, the MCAT is not really relevant material. I think doing well on it all comes down to nerves. A couple of my friends from undergrad studied for ages yet they have so much test anxiety. None of that material they studied really helped because they couldn't manage above a 25. They were even majoring in the sciences. But now that they're in med school, they're doing really well on the tests. That's because doing well there has more to do with what you know than the MCAT did. I studied for 1 week for the 1st MCAT and got a 27. I didn't learn my lesson the next year and only studied 2 weeks. That brought me up to a 29. But I was so chill during the test. I had my leg up on the chair and didn't feel an ounce of nervousness. I only majored in bio for a year. In no way would I say I knew more material for the MCAT than my friends. I attribute my score more to my relaxed state. I do regret that I didn't study more though. I might have been able to break a 30 with the combo of being relaxed and prepared.

 

[Daedra22]

I also agree that the MCAT probably will not predict much for you in the future. Of course, you should still try to do well just to get into the school you want, but I think a low score is not going to predict how well you do in med school.
Like the above poster said, the MCAT is not really relevant material. I think doing well on it all comes down to nerves. A couple of my friends from undergrad studied for ages yet they have so much test anxiety. None of that material they studied really helped because they couldn't manage above a 25. They were even majoring in the sciences. But now that they're in med school, they're doing really well on the tests. That's because doing well there has more to do with what you know than the MCAT did. I studied for 1 week for the 1st MCAT and got a 27. I didn't learn my lesson the next year and only studied 2 weeks. That brought me up to a 29. But I was so chill during the test. I had my leg up on the chair and didn't feel an ounce of nervousness. I only majored in bio for a year. In no way would I say I knew more material for the MCAT than my friends. I attribute my score more to my relaxed state. I do regret that I didn't study more though. I might have been able to break a 30 with the combo of being relaxed and prepared.

I had a very similar experience, except that I never happened to retake my MCAT (must be a TCOM thing 😉 ). The MCAT is a tool to help you get into med school, and I don't see it as anything more than that. Once you get in, the MCAT becomes an almost-silly memory. The USMLE and COMLEX test very different skillsets years after you've taken the MCAT; not only do the tests change, but so do you.

So, do your best on the MCAT so you can use it to get into med school. Any meaning you attach to it beyond that is conjecture, and probably not very useful.