MCAT 34 vs 35

[harposnarpo]

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Is there a significant difference between a 34 and 35? I noticed lots of schools seem to have 35 median MCAT accepted, and about the same average matriculated. 1 school has a median accepted of 34 and all others are below that.

 

[VoiceofReason]

lots of top schools, you mean?

and no, theres almost no difference. all other things equal you won't be openning any more doors by getting a 35 over a 34.

 

[Raryn]

Only if the 35 is 11-12-12 and the 34 is 15-15-4 or something equally unbalanced.

 

[gplex86]

Only if the 35 is 11-12-12 and the 34 is 15-15-4 or something equally unbalanced.

Right. All things being balanced, anything above a 33 is top 10%. After that, you're pretty much just splitting hairs.

 

[GZA]

Right. All things being balanced, anything above a 33 is top 10%. After that, you're pretty much just splitting hairs.

I don't think most adcoms view the difference between a 34 and 38 as splitting hairs even if it may be that.

 

[PreMD86]

I always thought of a 35 as the symbolic point of diminishing returns. A 34 (for my exam date) was 90.6-93 percentile, while a 35 is something like 93-95 percentile. If you think about MCAT scores as exam scores, a 34 is an A-, while a 35 is the first score to be considered an A. Past a 35, there's no real difference aside from bragging rights.

That being said, I'm sure the 35 averages you see for most top schools are really just 34.6 or 35.4 rounded off. I doubt there's anything more significant about 34 and 35 than there is about any other 1 point difference.

 

[GZA]

The MSAR reports 35 as the median, not average, for many top schools. However, this past year I believe many top schools are now reporting 37 to be their median (11, 13, 13).

 

[Raryn]

The MSAR reports 35 as the median, not average, for many top schools. However, this past year I believe many top schools are now reporting 37 to be their median (11, 13, 13).

One school has an MSAR accepted median of 38, six schools have a median of 37, and another 18 have a median of 35.

 

[Green Penguin]

It doesn't seem like there's a big difference when you look at the percentiles scoring in those ranges, but when you translate the percentage into a score it makes it look like a more significant difference, especially when it's say, 35 vs. 37 vs. a 40. Maybe it's just a psychological effect, still, ad-coms see the number, not the percentile.

 

[TheRealMD]

It doesn't seem like there's a big difference when you look at the percentiles scoring in those ranges, but when you translate the percentage into a score it makes it look like a more significant difference, especially when it's say, 35 vs. 37 vs. a 40. Maybe it's just a psychological effect, still, ad-coms see the number, not the percentile.

The difference between the higher scores may be 2-3 questions at most. Not really something to harp about.

 

[Green Penguin]

I wasn't saying that it's something to brag about. My point was that to someone looking at the scores, it can look more significant than it is, largely because of the way scores are reported (i.e. as a converted number rather than a percentile), and if it looked like a significant difference to an ad-com (even though they should know that the difference between those ranges is minimal), it could mean something for your admissions decision.

 

[bozz]

To me ... when I was studying for my MCATs, it was a psychological issue. My "wow" score was a 36. That mindset is not based on logic or admission stats.. it was based on my own abilities and limitations. For us, 1 or 2 points seem to matter lot b/c we're all going through this process together right now.

Adcoms may not care at all... they've been through this a while ago.. or they may have their own psychological reasons/preferences.. who knows?

 

[mbic19]

I'm sitting on a 37 with NO admission offers, so high MCAT scores may be a bit overrated.

 

[chris1264]

but all you applied to were UC's and an out of state school...bad example

 

[p30doc]

It doesn't seem like there's a big difference when you look at the percentiles scoring in those ranges, but when you translate the percentage into a score it makes it look like a more significant difference, especially when it's say, 35 vs. 37 vs. a 40. Maybe it's just a psychological effect, still, ad-coms see the number, not the percentile.

I believe the schools receive the accompanying percentile breakdown from the aamc with your scores. On one of my online secondaries, under the "MCAT" section it showed my score and percentiles so they definitely have it to look at if they so choose.

 

[iluvpuppies]

Dont waste time worrying if you could have scored one point higher! A 34 is a GREAT MCAT score and its going to be up to other factors as well. A lot of ppl r accepted with less (myself included). Be proud of urself! Good luck!

 

[DoctorPardi]

As with anything there is a point of diminishing returns. Once you get past 30 the single point differences don't matter much. That is the difference between 33-34 isn't nearly the difference than 26-27 is.

If you have a 25 on the MCAT and the rest of your application is great 5 more points on the MCAT will allow you to go to medical school. If you have a 30 and the rest of your application is great 5 more points might get you a scholarship of some kind or might get you some more acceptances.

Basically no difference if the two mcat scores are the same except there is only one point difference.

 

[Green Penguin]

I believe the schools receive the accompanying percentile breakdown from the aamc with your scores. On one of my online secondaries, under the "MCAT" section it showed my score and percentiles so they definitely have it to look at if they so choose.

Oh interesting, please ignore my ignorance then 😳

 

[bcat85]

Is there a significant difference between a 34 and 35? I noticed lots of schools seem to have 35 median MCAT accepted, and about the same average matriculated. 1 school has a median accepted of 34 and all others are below that.

No. It may tip the scales in your favor if it comes down to it, but with any distribution there is very little difference.

 

[GZA]

One school has an MSAR accepted median of 38, six schools have a median of 37, and another 18 have a median of 35.

Hard to believe how competitive it is getting.

 

[Textuality]

One school has an MSAR accepted median of 38, six schools have a median of 37, and another 18 have a median of 35.

Yikes! I'm happy I applied with the 2007 MSAR where the medians pretty much topped at 35. I think if I had seen this last MSAR while applying, I would have cried and hid in a corner.

Seriously, isn't a 37 like top 2% or something like that? (Better wording Mr. Mod? 😛 Hehe)

 

[HumidBeing]

Seriously, isn't a 37 like top 98% or something like that?

So is a 22. 😉
(You may want to consider rewording that reply. 🙂)

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

I'm sitting on a 37 with NO admission offers, so high MCAT scores may be a bit overrated.

Holy crap. You're like my twin. 37 two wls, no acceptances. And let's be honest, Jefferson's non HP list is a soft-rejection.