minimum MCAT score for a sub 3.0 gpa

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smalldogman

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I've been through undergrad, dental school and am finishing up a general dentistry residency. My gpas were below a 3.0 in each school I went to.

I intend to apply to medical schools in the 2010-2011 application cycle so that I'll have some time to pay off educational debts and time for studying for the MCAT.

What MINIMUM MCAT score do you guys recommend for applying to US allopathic schools in my case?
 
With a GPA below 3.0, you will be automatically screened out by many schools. In order to be competitive at the schools that don't screen you out, you will need an MCAT score that really makes them say "Wow." That probably means 34+.
 
smalldogman said:
I've been through undergrad, dental school and am finishing up a general dentistry residency. My gpas were below a 3.0 in each school I went to.

I intend to apply to medical schools in the 2010-2011 application cycle so that I'll have some time to pay off educational debts and time for studying for the MCAT.

What MINIMUM MCAT score do you guys recommend for applying to US allopathic schools in my case?
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So you finished dental school and are currently in an AEGD? Why is it that you want to go to medical school? You're almost ready to step out into private practice dentistry and make some coin.
 
Alfred E Newman said:
So you finished dental school and are currently in an AEGD? Why is it that you want to go to medical school? You're almost ready to step out into private practice dentistry and make some coin.
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Actually, I have only one day of AEGD remaining.

Anyways, why I want to do medicine is a moot point and steers away from the topic of this thread.

I need frank and helpful advice on what I should do to make myself competitive. I know that no one here is supposedly on the adcom but I have asked the same questions to several med schools via email and I haven't gotten a single reply to date.

Again, some frank and thoughtful advice would be much appreciated.
 
firewall62 said:
With a GPA below 3.0, you will be automatically screened out by many schools. In order to be competitive at the schools that don't screen you out, you will need an MCAT score that really makes them say "Wow." That probably means 34+.
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What about a 30?
 
ChubbyChaser said:
40??
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what raw scores are we talking about for a 40 on the MCAT?

I have a DDS degree and have already taken basic sciences ( same as those for med students ) in the first two yrs of dental school. Would this count for anything good?

And suppose I really get a 40 on the MCAT. Now, this would make me competitive at the lowest ranking med schools, am I right?
 
smalldogman said:
What about a 30?
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Too low for sub-3.0 GPA
35+ would be good (impressive but not impossible). It will show that you have solid academic background even if your GPA doesn't reflect it.
 
AlbaMD said:
Too low for sub-3.0 GPA
35+ would be good (impressive but not impossible). It will show that you have solid academic background even if your GPA doesn't reflect it.
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If I get over a 35, what caliber of medical schools ( in terms of rankings and prestige ) would I be competitive for?

I also intend to move to another state in the short term. Which state is best for me if I want to get accepted to a state med school?
 
ChubbyChaser said:
with the average Allopathic matriculant at 3.7+ and 31+ a 2.9 and 30 is gonna be a hard sale.... honestly, there probably isnt an MCAT score that can make up for a 2.9
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umm...yea

try

Average Overall GPA: 3.65
Average Science GPA: 3.59
Overall Average MCAT: 30.8/P (PS: 10.3/VR: 9.9/BS: 10.6)
 
DON'T DO IT- stay a dentist! YOU ARE CRAZY!
 
just take the MCAT...see what you get after some hard prep. Do the best you can, you should know the drill.

What does the minimum score matter away? You get what you get. See what you come up with, apply and if you dont get in, you sure do have a nice back-up plan.
 
ChubbyChaser said:
with the average Allopathic matriculant at 3.7+ and 31+ a 2.9 and 30 is gonna be a hard sale.... honestly, there probably isnt an MCAT score that can make up for a 2.9
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You know, I never really understood these statements. Not to disrespect what you said, but that makes no sense whatsoever. I mean there are people with 2.9s who get in. Therefore, I'm sure there is some combination of factors that makes up for it. With regard to his situation, you might be right. But there is no way that someone with a 2.9 and a 40+ won't get in somewhere (assuming he/she has the basic cognitive/motor skills required by physicians)

The point is, medical schools are just trying to find people who will make good physicians, which is why numbers don't have exclusive authority / impact on chances at acceptance. A 2.9 with something like a 38+ simply shows a lack of motivation, but a far above-average level of problem solving and knowledge. If anything, a poor GPA with a high MCAT just makes them question your discipline and motivation. Now, if he is able to convince them that his motivation is up to par, I see no reason why he shouldn't be able to get in somewhere (provided he has a pretty good MCAT score)
 
I have a DDS degree and I am a few days away from completing my general dentistry residency. I am also Ivy-League educated.

Would any of this help? Any experiences to be shared?
 
smalldogman said:
I have a DDS degree and I am a few days away from completing my general dentistry residency. I am also Ivy-League educated.

Would any of this help? Any experiences to be shared?
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Have you tried talking to the pre-med advising office of your undergraduate institution? I realize you haven't been there for a long time but they will be able to give you a better perspective on how applicants from that school with GPAs similar to you have fared.
 
Food said:
You know, I never really understood these statements. Not to disrespect what you said, but that makes no sense whatsoever. I mean there are people with 2.9s who get in. Therefore, I'm sure there is some combination of factors that makes up for it. With regard to his situation, you might be right. But there is no way that someone with a 2.9 and a 40+ won't get in somewhere (assuming he/she has the basic cognitive/motor skills required by physicians)

The point is, medical schools are just trying to find people who will make good physicians, which is why numbers don't have exclusive authority / impact on chances at acceptance. A 2.9 with something like a 38+ simply shows a lack of motivation, but a far above-average level of problem solving and knowledge. If anything, a poor GPA with a high MCAT just makes them question your discipline and motivation. Now, if he is able to convince them that his motivation is up to par, I see no reason why he shouldn't be able to get in somewhere (provided he has a pretty good MCAT score)
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very good post. i also would like to add that people forget the numbers presented are AVERAGES - that means there were many people both above and below that number accepted.
 
What schools cut off applicants with GPAs below a 3.0?
 
I think having gone to dental school will also greatly hurt your application. But yeah, that aside, with less than a 3.0, you're screwed for medical school in the US. Especially given the current glut of applicants. I had better numbers than you, didn't have the dental school albatross around my neck, applied to ~40 schools (all US MD) and didn't get a single interview.
 
Why didn't you do an OMS residency and pick up your MD along the way?
 
piss ant said:
I think having gone to dental school will also greatly hurt your application. But yeah, that aside, with less than a 3.0, you're screwed for medical school in the US. Especially given the current glut of applicants. I had better numbers than you, didn't have the dental school albatross around my neck, applied to ~40 schools (all US MD) and didn't get a single interview.
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there anything I can do?

I was once at the pre-osteopathic forum and all the posters there said I should not apply to DO schools ( since I was talking about how DO degrees sound obscure ) but instead make myself competitive for MD ones instead.
 
A 34+ MCAT and maybe success at an SMP will do it. As far as state schools go, I would recommend Texas. Go there, establish residency, and work for awhile. Another option is an informal post-bacc, where you can take a few classes at the undergrad level and bring that GPA up to 3.0.
 
You may be more competative in DO schools with MCAT of 23 and above, given that you demonstrated that you can do science and pass all board exams required for dentistry it is reasonable to think that you could do passable work in DO schools... Good Luck!
 
piss ant said:
I think having gone to dental school will also greatly hurt your application. But yeah, that aside, with less than a 3.0, you're screwed for medical school in the US. Especially given the current glut of applicants. I had better numbers than you, didn't have the dental school albatross around my neck, applied to ~40 schools (all US MD) and didn't get a single interview.
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This doesn't make sense. How would having the ability to complete a professional degree (and probably the board exams) hurt one's application. I am in a similar situation - DDS applying to DO school with above ave Gpa's in both undergrad and dental school and an ave Mcat. Why can't someone want to change careers? Why should this hurt the application?
 
MoMoDO said:
You may be more competative in DO schools with MCAT of 23 and above, given that you demonstrated that you can do science and pass all board exams required for dentistry it is reasonable to think that you could do passable work in DO schools... Good Luck!
Click to expand...

OP his likely already made other plans at this point, the thread is from mid-2008.

FWIW, a 23 and a 2.9 does not a competitive DO applicant make.
 
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