MCAT and MSTP

[Pandora's Box]

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hi all,
I'm going to be taking my MCAT in 2 weeks and was wondering about MCAT scores in regards to MSTP admission. Is it true that for MD/PhD programs, the science section's score is weighted more? What about the verbal? For those who are already admitted to a MD/PhD program, did you all do very well on the MCAT?

Any additional advice on the test would also be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[md_student10021]

a good score is very important because competition is so fierce. strong MSTP applicants have at least a 34. 36+ is what you should aim for.

keep in mind that if you don't get in to MSTP, you can always apply internally, which is easier.

 

[Neuronix]

I agree with md_student10021. I'd like to make a few additions to their post. I have seen applicants get in with scores around 30, however they had a good GPA (3.6+) and ALOT of research experience (several years with publications). So, the MCAT is not going to break you if you don't get over a 34, but it will break you if your research experience or GPA is not strong.

As for which section is weighted more, the advice to MD applicants is that verbal is weighted more. However, I have not heard it discussed for MD/PhD applicants. I suggest that you get a balanced score (say at least a 10 in each), because a low score in any one section could be a big red flag. In general, if someone is going to have a low score in one subsection, it's going to be in verbal (I've seen some 7,13,13), and this is a pretty bad thing.

Nobody here is going to post their personal application information in public, but if you're curious, if you e-mail me at [email protected], I will tell you more details about my application.

Good luck on the MCAT!!!

 

[Sonya]

I highly doubt the VR is rated more even for MD applicants.

I know the MCAt books say VR is rated m ore. I have a feeling maybe it may have been that way several years ago, if at all.

Open MSAR and stare at the graph of admission vs. VR score, admisssion vs. PS score, and the admission vs. BS score. there is so much more of a trend with BS score. I'm not saying anything about that neccesarily implying they care for BS the most.... but if gives me good reason to suspect they do.
Besides, since they care about science GPA the most, why wont they care about science MCAT the most?

Those 36+ #'s seem high. But, again, it depends on everything else.... (if i can break that 35 barrier by the 26th... i may change my mind....). I think they look for around to 10% of applicants, for MD PhD, so look up the 10% rank in mcat. I'm guessing (by skimming thru AMCAS 6 score table), that's around 34-35 (hard to tell).

I know someone who got in with 33 and around 3.6-3.7, to Univ of Ill chic. He had good research, but no recs, b ut lot of research.

Regarding the mcat, my strategy has been get a 10 in each, at least, then devote my efforts to wherever i will see the most improvement. so... know, i'm 10 (vr) 11(BS) 12 (PS) on low days, and have frequently but not often acheived as 11/12/13 ... not all at once.

hope this is helpful...
(and not just nonsense rattling from my brain)
Sonya