MCAT Scores

[RLK]

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I haven't taken the MCAT yet, but I was just wondering what type of score you need to get an interview. A professor of mine was telling me that some DO schools aren't all that concerned with your MCAT score. Is that true or doesn't she know what she's talking about?
Thanks

 

[Krazykritter]

To get an interview at any of the medical schools you need (for the most part) to have an MCAT score somewhere around the mean for that school. Most DO schools average btwn 23-27 (I have the stats somewhere, but can't find them). If you have a score somewhere around the national average you should be in the right area.

That being said, when I look at an interviewee's application prior to interviewing them, TO ME, the Personal Statement and LOR's are more important. If you are invited to an interview, the school has decided that you are close enough to their stats that you could be part of their class on paper.

But that is off topic...MCAT score is "important" to all med schools. You can't expect to have your choice of schools w/ a 20.

 

[kutiecg]

I haven't taken the MCAT yet, but I was just wondering what type of score you need to get an interview. A professor of mine was telling me that some DO schools aren't all that concerned with your MCAT score. Is that true or doesn't she know what she's talking about?
Thanks

DO schools are known to look at the entire applicant, as well as their devotion to the osteopathic philosophy. Average MCAT scores for DO schools are increasing (about 1 pt from last years application cycle) and are now around 26. Some schools are lower, some are higher, but it's not all about the MCAT score. You also need good LORs, GPA, and volunteer extracurriculars. Hope this helps 🙂

 

[box29]

I think it is critical to be a well rounded student, but sometimes people downplay the importance of numerical scores (MCAT, sci GPA, and cum GPA). Sure the adcoms look for the well rounded student, but don't think that they glance over the MCAT and GPA. I can speak from my experience at Touro-NV in that we do screen for minimal MCAT of 23 and GPA along with the rest of the application. Other schools do screen as well and may not place as much emphasis on one or the other, but then I am not familiar with all of their processes.

My suggestion to the OP is to try your hardest to do the best that you can GPA wise and MCAT wise. This can only help you in the long run. Try to shoot for 26 - 27 + on the MCAT. Good luck!

 

[BubbleHead]

Scores much lower than those posted here are routinely granted interviews. <20 and you still have a shot at getting in. I know a few people that are current Osteopath Students and they never broke 20 on the MCAT. There are plenty of 30s also, so on average these numbers are correct, but don't freak out over the MCAT, it isn't Harvard where you need a 42-43.

 

[Taus]

While I do agree that it has happened where a score of less then 20 got an interview somewhere, I have to disagree that it is anything close to routine. Most interviewees are in the mid-to-upper 20's, as far as I am aware. Of course there are exceptions to any rule, but with a score below 20, you would have to be the extreme exception to the rule and have something else in your application that is absolutely unbelievable.

 

[Jamers]

While I do agree that it has happened where a score of less then 20 got an interview somewhere, I have to disagree that it is anything close to routine. Most interviewees are in the mid-to-upper 20's, as far as I am aware. Of course there are exceptions to any rule, but with a score below 20, you would have to be the extreme exception to the rule and have something else in your application that is absolutely unbelievable.

You would be suprised as to how many of us are actually in the lower 20's (below 24).

 

[JasonUD]

I got an interview at NYCOM with low 20's and a Q, but have great EC's and LOR's. Don't shoot for a 20 but it is possible with that score to interview. I still haven't heard back from my interview yet.

 

[Nate]

I have yet to meet anyone who didn't have "great ECs and LORs".

Having said that, the MCAT is important and the higher you score the better your chance for attending a US medical school. Beware of the opinions you read on an anonymous internet forum. There is no secret code here, do your best.

 

[PlasticMan]

I have yet to meet anyone who didn't have "great ECs and LORs".

Having said that, the MCAT is important and the higher you score the better your chance for attending a US medical school. Beware of the opinions you read on an anonymous internet forum. There is no secret code here, do your best.

👍

 

[DrBowtie]

I have yet to meet anyone who didn't have "great ECs and LORs".

Having said that, the MCAT is important and the higher you score the better your chance for attending a US medical school. Beware of the opinions you read on an anonymous internet forum. There is no secret code here, do your best.

The SDN standard of good EC's, good PS, good LORs.

 

[jx2sx2]

kj

 

[jx2sx2]

I haven't taken the MCAT yet, but I was just wondering what type of score you need to get an interview. A professor of mine was telling me that some DO schools aren't all that concerned with your MCAT score. Is that true or doesn't she know what she's talking about?
Thanks

Ok here is the deal in my peticular postion. I scored in the low 20's on the MCAT. My Science GPA was a 3.8 and overall was a 3.8. My first year of applying I was granted only one, yes one, interview and didn't get in. This year I applied very early, opening day to be exact. I was granted seven interviews this time and have been accepted into five schools so far. The MCAT is important as well as the GPA. This year I had a strong EC' and LOR's especially my DO letter. For me the difference was applying much earlier with roling admit and strong letters and EC's. MCAT and GPA will grant interviews but your personality wins them in the end. Good Luck

 

[JasonUD]

I have yet to meet anyone who didn't have "great ECs and LORs".

Having said that, the MCAT is important and the higher you score the better your chance for attending a US medical school. Beware of the opinions you read on an anonymous internet forum. There is no secret code here, do your best.

I wanted my post to be a sign of hope to those in similar circumstances as I was in a year ago meaning that you can still get an interview with a low MCAT score, I am NOT saying 'don't worry about the MCAT, just have good LORs and ECs.' I def. agree with doing your best and if I don't get in this round I will be sure my MCAT is much higher for the next round, I took a huge risk not preparing well enough for the MCAT...sorry if this gave the 'wrong message' to anyone

 

[BubbleHead]

No matter how much people want to make themselves and schools look better, you can get into DO and FMG programs with really low MCAT scores. I know LECOM accepts people with mid and high teens on the MCAT. IUPUI, an Allopathic school in Indiana posts on their website that if you are an Indiana resident or graduated from an Indiana High School and got a 22 on the MCAT you get an interview. LSU is another US Allopath school with low criteria.

Here is my point. If you want to practice medicine and have a LOW MCAT, then apply to DO, FMG, and the weaker US Allopathic programs. Don't listen to people tell you how high they scored, everyone with a 40+ gets interviews and any school will have one of those students. 40+ is only the norm at Harvard, not at DO programs. You can get interviews and seats with mid to high teens on the MCAT in Oseopath programs... this is a fact!! LECOM is an example.

 

[drjds]

When did thy take the test?

Scores much lower than those posted here are routinely granted interviews. <20 and you still have a shot at getting in. I know a few people that are current Osteopath Students and they never broke 20 on the MCAT. There are plenty of 30s also, so on average these numbers are correct, but don't freak out over the MCAT, it isn't Harvard where you need a 42-43.

 

[Raven Feather]

No matter how much people want to make themselves and schools look better, you can get into DO and FMG programs with really low MCAT scores. I know LECOM accepts people with mid and high teens on the MCAT. IUPUI, an Allopathic school in Indiana posts on their website that if you are an Indiana resident or graduated from an Indiana High School and got a 22 on the MCAT you get an interview. LSU is another US Allopath school with low criteria.

Here is my point. If you want to practice medicine and have a LOW MCAT, then apply to DO, FMG, and the weaker US Allopathic programs. Don't listen to people tell you how high they scored, everyone with a 40+ gets interviews and any school will have one of those students. 40+ is only the norm at Harvard, not at DO programs. You can get interviews and seats with mid to high teens on the MCAT in Oseopath programs... this is a fact!! LECOM is an example.

Ahh yes, but the average MCAT of those accepted is a 30. They have to interview people from Indiana b/c it is a state school per contract.

 

[drjds]

I'm from Louisiana and LSU is not a school with low criteria. I'm not saying this because of the reputation, I'm saying this because of their standards, I did not continue with my application. I believe their average is like 24-27 at the N.O. school and 26-28 for the Shreveport school.

No matter how much people want to make themselves and schools look better, you can get into DO and FMG programs with really low MCAT scores. I know LECOM accepts people with mid and high teens on the MCAT. IUPUI, an Allopathic school in Indiana posts on their website that if you are an Indiana resident or graduated from an Indiana High School and got a 22 on the MCAT you get an interview. LSU is another US Allopath school with low criteria.Here is my point. If you want to practice medicine and have a LOW MCAT, then apply to DO, FMG, and the weaker US Allopathic programs. Don't listen to people tell you how high they scored, everyone with a 40+ gets interviews and any school will have one of those students. 40+ is only the norm at Harvard, not at DO programs. You can get interviews and seats with mid to high teens on the MCAT in Oseopath programs... this is a fact!! LECOM is an example.

 

[box29]

...you can get into DO and FMG programs with really low MCAT scores. I know LECOM accepts people with mid and high teens on the MCAT. ...You can get interviews and seats with mid to high teens on the MCAT in Oseopath programs... this is a fact!! LECOM is an example.

This is absolutely not true for ALL DO schools, just look at the individual's schools MCAT averages. Sure, there may be a couple in the low 20's or a couple in the high high teens but there probably is not as many as those in the mid to upper 20's. LECOM may be your example with some others - great, WOO HOO 🙄 Having MCATs in the teens is not the norm. There are schools that do have cutoffs in order to get an interview. I can only relay my experience on Student Government with involvement for admissions at my school Touro-Nevada, a new school, who at this point will not interview you without a minimum of 23 on the MCAT. This applies to the next incoming class for Touro-NV. If you do not believe me at all, you can contact the department of admissions 702-777-8687 and ask for Roger Corbman, Anne Zimmer, or Elizabeth Cammarata.

My point is to prepare for the MCAT well and try your hardest to get a high score. Keep trying and don't give up!

 

[BubbleHead]

I'm from Louisiana and LSU is not a school with low criteria. I'm not saying this because of the reputation, I'm saying this because of their standards, I did not continue with my application. I believe their average is like 24-27 at the N.O. school and 26-28 for the Shreveport school.

THAT IS LOW for a US Allopathic School

 

[BubbleHead]

This is absolutely not true for ALL DO schools, just look at the individual's schools MCAT averages. Sure, there may be a couple in the low 20's or a couple in the high high teens but there probably is not as many as those in the mid to upper 20's. LECOM may be your example with some others - great, WOO HOO 🙄 Having MCATs in the teens is not the norm. There are schools that do have cutoffs in order to get an interview. I can only relay my experience on Student Government with involvement for admissions at my school Touro-Nevada, a new school, who at this point will not interview you without a minimum of 23 on the MCAT. This applies to the next incoming class for Touro-NV. If you do not believe me at all, you can contact the department of admissions 702-777-8687 and ask for Roger Corbman, Anne Zimmer, or Elizabeth Cammarata.

My point is to prepare for the MCAT well and try your hardest to get a high score. Keep trying and don't give up!

You say study hard, try your best... Blah, Blah, Blah...

I will redirect my comments to those who took the MCAT and have LOW SCORES and still want to go to med school and become doctors.

1) Apply far and wide.
2) Apply to a couple of the weaker US Allo schools, all DO schools, and the Caribbean Schools
3) Don't pay attention to people quoting average scores or cut-off scores or the good scores a couple people got
4) The schools listed in 2, are accepting WEAKER MCAT scores every single year.
5) Good luck!

 

[drjds]

What year(s) did the people w/ less than 20 get in?

Scores much lower than those posted here are routinely granted interviews. <20 and you still have a shot at getting in. I know a few people that are current Osteopath Students and they never broke 20 on the MCAT. There are plenty of 30s also, so on average these numbers are correct, but don't freak out over the MCAT, it isn't Harvard where you need a 42-43.

 

[dr.kicia]

most of the time people who get accepted with weaker scores are minorities....
check out www.mdapplicants.com

 

[NonTradMed]

No matter how much people want to make themselves and schools look better, you can get into DO and FMG programs with really low MCAT scores. I know LECOM accepts people with mid and high teens on the MCAT. IUPUI, an Allopathic school in Indiana posts on their website that if you are an Indiana resident or graduated from an Indiana High School and got a 22 on the MCAT you get an interview. LSU is another US Allopath school with low criteria.

Here is my point. If you want to practice medicine and have a LOW MCAT, then apply to DO, FMG, and the weaker US Allopathic programs. Don't listen to people tell you how high they scored, everyone with a 40+ gets interviews and any school will have one of those students. 40+ is only the norm at Harvard, not at DO programs. You can get interviews and seats with mid to high teens on the MCAT in Oseopath programs... this is a fact!! LECOM is an example.

I guess you are not aware of the fact that while Indiana University may be required by law to interview all Indiana residents with a MCAT >22 and GPA >3.2, that it doesn't mean it accepts these students. Further down on their website, they also have a stats pdf file that states their average MCAT for matriculating students is 30 and their average GPA is 3.68. Low tiered? Perhaps. Get in with low MCAT score? Probably not.

I've also had a couple of friends who were Indiana residents who interviewed there and asked what their chances are for entry after giving their MCAT/GPA and the interviewer told them flat out it's not possible. So it seems the school interviews students who have little or no chance of getting in. Unlike other med schools, Indiana does not have control over who they interview.

As for osteo schools, I don't doubt that some do get interviewed with low 20's, but it's also highly unlikely they would get in unless they have other things going for them. People may say that osteo schools look 'beyond the numbers' but that doesn't mean they will take 'anyone'. I suggest to anyone who has low MCATs/GPAs to look at the school's averages and see if your scores far within their range. If either MCAT or GPA is below average, the other has to be above the average to been deemed competitive....for any med school in this country. So for those with low MCATs, that means high GPAs. Med school may be a crapshoot, but there is a definite pattern in who they choose to admit.

To the OP, I suggest you do as well as you can on the MCAT. DO schools typically look for around the mean, so ~25 to be considered competitive if your GPA is decent. For MD schools (in the US), a ~30 would be good. Low 20's may be doable for DO schools if you have everything else lined up right. I wouldn't suggest applying to MD schools with low 20's unless you know someone on the adcom.

 

[notdeadyet]

most of the time people who get accepted with weaker scores are minorities....
check out www.mdapplicants.com

I'd be very careful about using mdapplicants as any sort of yardstick. Aside from the dubiousness of self-reported data, lots of folks have spammed it in the past. There have been numerous incidents of folks making up profiles, identifying themselves as URM, then inputting very low scores with great acceptances to use as anti-AA fodder. It's a dodgey source of information at best.

 

[mtDNA]

I'd be very careful about using mdapplicants as any sort of yardstick. Aside from the dubiousness of self-reported data, lots of folks have spammed it in the past. There have been numerous incidents of folks making up profiles, identifying themselves as URM, then inputting very low scores with great acceptances to use as anti-AA fodder. It's a dodgey source of information at best.

I agree that MDapplicants is a sketchy source. However, I definitely agree with Dr. K's main premise that most of the applicants who get in with weak scores are under represented minorities. Honestly, people do not point this out often enough. It is misleading to tell a white person that they will have a chance with scores that are way below average. I am sure there are a few exceptions out there, but based on what I have observed in this application process, it seems that the vast majority of people getting in with very low scores are URMs. For example, I have heard of several African Americans getting into allopathic schools with MCAT of 25-26. I have yet to hear of anyone who is white accomplishing this feat. Yes ECs and LORs are important, but there is more to the story...

 

[Raven Feather]

👍

I guess you are not aware of the fact that while Indiana University may be required by law to interview all Indiana residents with a MCAT >22 and GPA >3.2, that it doesn't mean it accepts these students. Further down on their website, they also have a stats pdf file that states their average MCAT for matriculating students is 30 and their average GPA is 3.68. Low tiered? Perhaps. Get in with low MCAT score? Probably not.

I've also had a couple of friends who were Indiana residents who interviewed there and asked what their chances are for entry after giving their MCAT/GPA and the interviewer told them flat out it's not possible. So it seems the school interviews students who have little or no chance of getting in. Unlike other med schools, Indiana does not have control over who they interview.

As for osteo schools, I don't doubt that some do get interviewed with low 20's, but it's also highly unlikely they would get in unless they have other things going for them. People may say that osteo schools look 'beyond the numbers' but that doesn't mean they will take 'anyone'. I suggest to anyone who has low MCATs/GPAs to look at the school's averages and see if your scores far within their range. If either MCAT or GPA is below average, the other has to be above the average to been deemed competitive....for any med school in this country. So for those with low MCATs, that means high GPAs. Med school may be a crapshoot, but there is a definite pattern in who they choose to admit.

To the OP, I suggest you do as well as you can on the MCAT. DO schools typically look for around the mean, so ~25 to be considered competitive if your GPA is decent. For MD schools (in the US), a ~30 would be good. Low 20's may be doable for DO schools if you have everything else lined up right. I wouldn't suggest applying to MD schools with low 20's unless you know someone on the adcom.

👍 Now that's a good post.

 

[NonTradMed]

I agree that MDapplicants is a sketchy source. However, I definitely agree with Dr. K's main premise that most of the applicants who get in with weak scores are under represented minorities. Honestly, people do not point this out often enough. It is misleading to tell a white person that they will have a chance with scores that are way below average. I am sure there are a few exceptions out there, but based on what I have observed in this application process, it seems that the vast majority of people getting in with very low scores are URMs. For example, I have heard of several African Americans getting into allopathic schools with MCAT of 25-26. I have yet to hear of anyone who is white accomplishing this feat. Yes ECs and LORs are important, but there is more to the story...

I agree. Go here:
http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2005/mcatgparaceeth.htm

This is the stats as it pertains to matriculants' GPA/MCAT as separated by race. It sucks to be overrepresented in med school LOL.

There are *always* exceptions to this nebulous process called medical school admissions. But do not look at outliers when assessing your own situation unless *you* also share the same quality that made the other person stand out. If you have unexceptional MCAT scores or mediocre grades, don't think 'hey, so-and-so got in here last year, I think I have a shot!'. That was my thinking last year and I was sorely disappointed. When people say 25 MCAT and 3.5 GPA to get into DO, they don't mean 20 MCAT and a 3.1 GPA. Yes, people with those stats gets in, but that's unusual, and statistically, you will have an uphill battle. I wish someone had given me that advice when I first decided to apply for medical school.

 

[HunterGatherer]

I ran a search on all AAs accepted with GPA between 1.00 and 4.00 and MCAT between 1 and 40. Average GPA is 3.57 and MCAT 30 for the 93 with an acceptance. Be careful of what you use to back up your claims.

interesting how this degenerated into a URM thread based on the OP.

most of the time people who get accepted with weaker scores are minorities....
check out www.mdapplicants.com

 

[HunterGatherer]

Excellent more data. What was the OP?

I agree. Go here:
http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2005/mcatgparaceeth.htm

This is the stats as it pertains to matriculants' GPA/MCAT as separated by race. It sucks to be overrepresented in med school LOL.

 

[Jamers]

I agree that MDapplicants is a sketchy source. However, I definitely agree with Dr. K's main premise that most of the applicants who get in with weak scores are under represented minorities. Honestly, people do not point this out often enough. It is misleading to tell a white person that they will have a chance with scores that are way below average. I am sure there are a few exceptions out there, but based on what I have observed in this application process, it seems that the vast majority of people getting in with very low scores are URMs. For example, I have heard of several African Americans getting into allopathic schools with MCAT of 25-26. I have yet to hear of anyone who is white accomplishing this feat. Yes ECs and LORs are important, but there is more to the story...

22Q MCAT, 7 interviews, white as Irish blood lets me be.