Mediocre score--apply anyway??

[plsaxepme]

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Hi all,
I registered just to ask these two questions which are killing me.

So, my scores from this April were pretty blah and I'm registered to take it again in August. Does this mean I should postpone applying until next year (class of '06)? Assuming (fingers crossed) that my August scores are good, what are my chances that med schools will hold on to my application until October (when the Aug. scores are ready)? What is the likelihood that they'll be looking for pure geniuses to fill those last spots?

Also--this is not an MCAT question, but...do I have a better chance at getting in state schools (like, in my state) than at schools in places "no one wants to be"? My friend says the latter is easier, but I've heard other opinions...

 

[willthatsall]

I guess it depends on how bad your MCAT is. If you think you can do better in August you might as well apply and see what happens this year and then there's always next year. As far as state school goes, again, depends on what state you are in.

 

[Medikit]

I have an average GPA, so I was planning to retake if I had a 27 and was considering retaking pending further advice with anything below 30 since I dropped out during my first and fourth semesters of college.

 

[bigdan]

OP-

Okay, here goes.

How are your other stats? If they suck, you may not be in good shape. Were you prepared fully for this MCAT? Were your practice test scores like your actual score? Don't retake if you aren't SURE you'll improve. And, by the way, how mediocre is your mediocre score. If you have a nice GPA and a 26 or 27, you need to apply.

I'm not sure which schools you mean by "places no one wants to be". Send me somewhere in the USA and I'll do med school. If you mean DO, they do tend to accept people with stats lower than allopathic, but you should want to do DO, not just look for a fallback. If you mean schools like Pritzker and Jefferson, lots of people apply there. State schools do typically favor instate residents.

Good luck

dc

 

[ms2209]

How are your other stats? If they suck, you may not be in good shape.

LOL! That's great...straight to the point 🙂

 

[bigdan]

ms-

Let's not lose anything in the translation here...

dc

 

[ms2209]

ms-

Let's not lose anything in the translation here...

dc

Sorry, I didn't mean to take it out of context. It's just that that first part cracked me up, because you didn't beat around the bush at all like some of the people on here do (and that's a good thing). I didn't mean to take anything away from your post, which was definitely very good advice for the OP.

 

[plsaxepme]

Thanks for the advice. My score was a 26P, which is annoying because I was doing much better on the practice tests. I just signed up for TRP, which I didn't do the first time around (trying to save money, ha!), so I'd better raise my score in August or else...
Anyway, I do need a good MCAT because my GPA is so-so...I did a post-bacc program and my science GPA was 3.3...The average of med students is something like 3.54, I heard. My undergrad, all-humanities GPA was an A-, so I guess that's around a 3.6-ish? So, not terrible but it is sadly below the 3.8s I've been seeing for med students.

I might post this as a new question, but I'll try here first. If you're taking the August MCAT, apply to schools and actually get secondaries, can you wait until after the MCAT to fill them out? I'm cloudy on the timeline of this. Thanks. I love this board!

 

[bigdan]

Sorry, I didn't mean to take it out of context. It's just that that first part cracked me up, because you didn't beat around the bush at all like some of the people on here do (and that's a good thing). I didn't mean to take anything away from your post, which was definitely very good advice for the OP.

No no! Ms...

I was chuckling along with you...I meant to say "yeah...gotta be straight to the point, so as not to lose anything in translation..." You know that if you pussyfoot around things, folks might not get the message... 😀

I didn't take you out of context, and I don't believe you did to me either. 🙂
I took your quote of my message as a compliment, if I may be so bold 👍

dc

 

[bigdan]

OP-

Your GPA isn't bad. Better would be good, but you're not dead in the water. I don't think you're in bad shape at all.

You can wait if you so desire, regarding secondaries. I might apply, take the MCAT, and see what comes of it. You'll get Aug MCAT results in October. Remember, if you get an interview, your statistical chance for acceptance skyrockets. If you have a good overall package (did you do any research or publications?), you may get an interview with your scores as is. I'd say fill out the secondaries when you get them, if money isn't a huge issue...some schools will send you secondaries even if they have no intention of ever taking you...send in those secs ASAP, and see who calls you.

dc

 

[ms2209]

No no! Ms...

I was chuckling along with you...I meant to say "yeah...gotta be straight to the point, so as not to lose anything in translation..." You know that if you pussyfoot around things, folks might not get the message... 😀

I didn't take you out of context, and I don't believe you did to me either. 🙂
I took your quote of my message as a compliment, if I may be so bold 👍

dc

LOL! I need to work on my ability to interpret responses 😎 At any rate, my quote of your message most definitely was a compliment 🙂

 

[thewzdoc]

Apply to all of your state schools?.yes they do favor residents over out-of-state applicants. Your MCAT isn?t that bad and your GPA is OK. If your EC?s and LOR are good you should have a chance you shouldn?t count yourself out before you start. Apply to private schools too as they don?t give the same weight to residents that state schools do.

Do you have an MSAR or access to one? If not get one.... this will assist you.