MCAT average for MD/PhD

[silvermuse]

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I'm trying to decide whether to retake the MCAT or not, since I'm interested in MD/PhD programs and I know the average is usually higher for those programs. Does anyone know what the range is for MD/PhD programs (especially top 20)?

 

[yeastfan21]

I'm trying to decide whether to retake the MCAT or not, since I'm interested in MD/PhD programs and I know the average is usually higher for those programs. Does anyone know what the range is for MD/PhD programs (especially top 20)?

Yes, MD/PhD programs do tend to be more competitive in terms of the MCAT. Most if not all of the top 10 schools, for instance, tend to have an average of 35 or 36 among matriculants. At the same time, all of the MD/PhD programs that list statistics like that always emphasize that they accept some applicants with much lower scores.

My advice would be that if you scored below a 34 and are confident you can score a few points higher by taking it again, then it's definitely a good idea to do so. 34 seems like a reasonable cutoff to me: if you get that score, you're within the range of all the top 20s; below that your odds are stacked somewhat against you.

It's also worth paying attention to the balance of your subscores. My guess is that, for a borderline MCAT score, it's better to have solid BS and PS scores and a medium VR score than the other way around. In other words, 12BS 12PS 10VR is probably better than 11BS 11PS 12 VR.

 

[Neuronix]

Does anyone know what the range is for MD/PhD programs (especially top 20)?

The range is quite broad, typically due to URMs or certain students with excellent connections combined with an otherwise excellent application. I think it's WashU's site that states their range starts at 29. But, if you have a 29, I'm going to be the first to tell you your chances aren't good. I've always maintained that a 34 is a reasonable cutoff for a "good" score, though you can get in with less than that (see the forum FAQs/my admissions guide). A 36 should be your aim for top-20 schools, as that is approximately the average.

Otherwise I agree with yeastfan, except about the subscores. Most people don't pay attention to subscores, unless one is disproportionately bad (try to get 10+ on each subsection).

 

[MSTPlease]

It's also worth paying attention to the balance of your subscores. My guess is that, for a borderline MCAT score, it's better to have solid BS and PS scores and a medium VR score than the other way around. In other words, 12BS 12PS 10VR is probably better than 11BS 11PS 12 VR.

Interesting. I've heard that VR score correlates most strongly with USMLE Step 1 score...

 

[Doctor&Geek]

Interesting. I've heard that VR score correlates most strongly with USMLE Step 1 score...

Read this:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=618046
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=625123