Minimum MCAT to get into PCOM-GA?

[HenryH]

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If I apply with a GPA between 3.5 - 3.6, what do you estimate would be the lowest MCAT score I could get accepted with? (for PCOM-GA)

 

[DocInProgress]

26 at the least. But remember there is no magic number. They look at the whole picture before making their decision.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

I got in with a 33, but I think I got bonus points for being good-looking.

 

[vickfan1]

24 or higher and you will be ok. correct me if i am wrong but their avg is ~24 and ur gpa is fine.

 

[HenryH]

I got in with a 33, but I think I got bonus points for being good-looking.

LOL; I will increase my running mileage and get more serious at the gym, if that's the case! 🙂

I just checked their (PCOM-GA's) website and read that, for the class of 2007, the average accepted GPA was 3.38, while the average accepted MCAT was 24. If the statistics are similar the year I apply, would it be feasible to hope for an acceptance with a GPA that is above-average (3.5 - 3.6) and an MCAT score that is slightly below average (e.g., 22)?

 

[a817]

i had a 3.63 and got rejected by PCOM-PHILLY when i had a 22R. They told me that since i am out of state it is rare that they accept anyone out of state under a 24. Not sure about GA, though. Study hard and try to get a 25-26 at least so you can be safe.

 

[HenryH]

i had a 3.63 and got rejected by PCOM-PHILLY when i had a 22R. They told me that since i am out of state it is rare that they accept anyone out of state under a 24. Not sure about GA, though. Study hard and try to get a 25-26 at least so you can be safe.

I'm actually a Georgia in-stater -- Columbus, to be specific -- and would love to stay relatively "close to home" without having to haul *** all the way to Augusta. Also, it just seems like a great school!

As an aside -- do they place a heavy emphasis on volunteering/community service hours, or is extensive shadowing of various physicians sufficient?

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Honestly, its really hard to answer this question. Since GA-PCOM is a new school, but apparently is establishing itself quickly, it will get more and more competitive every year. On top of that, med school admission has gotten more competitive lately, in general. The numbers listed on the website are, I believe, 2-3 years old.

I believe that most DO schools place a huge emphasis on clinical experience, so you should get as much as you can. Its important to have anyway, even if they didn't care about it for your application

 

[JaggerPlate]

If I apply with a GPA between 3.5 - 3.6, what do you estimate would be the lowest MCAT score I could get accepted with? (for PCOM-GA)

Absolutely no one can answer this because there is nothing in the world of med schools that says: x gpa + y mcat = admission. Do yourself a favor and don't think in terms of how low you potentially can do, this just isn't a good mindset. Do your best!

 

[scpod]

Like has already been said, the minimum is not something to aim for. How many marathon runners think, "How slow can I run and still win?" How many pitchers think, "How many hitters can I walk and not get pulled from the game?" How many airline pilots think, "How close can I come to taking out that Cessna and not crash my 757?"

Besides the inherent problems with aiming low you have to realize that each case is very individual and very different. There will be other people with exactly your GPA and MCAT. Some will get in and some won't. There's just way, way more to medical school admissions than those two numbers. There will be people with higher numbers who don't get in and people with lower numbers who do.

Your "job" as an applicant is to make your application as well-rounded as possible. You've got to look for any difficiencies at all and work on correcting them. MCAT and GPA scores are overemphasized by too many applicants. It's true that good scores will often get you an interview....but they will not get you an acceptance. There are so many applicants these days with similar scores that LORs, ECs and other unquantifiable factors really come into play. Keep in mind that the number of applicants for DO schools have doubled in the last five years- doubled!!! You have to prepare even better and try even harder every single year to get those coveted spots. Mediocrity will not work.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

So far, you're on the right track. If you keep taking care of business, your MCAT should turn out fine. Try to get some good EC's and clinical experience. Try and get a DO letter somewhere in there too.

 

[MossPoh]

Like has already been said, the minimum is not something to aim for. How many marathon runners think, "How slow can I run and still win?" How many pitchers think, "How many hitters can I walk and not get pulled from the game?" How many airline pilots think, "How close can I come to taking out that Cessna and not crash my 757?"

I'm thinking the 757 can get as close as he wants to the cessna and not worry about crashing. The cesna better be ready for the ride though. 😉

 

[TheLegendofEdel]

Man...some of the people here are regulating on this kid for no reason...a simple question really deserves a simple answer...not a bashing because he asked how low of a score he needs to get...

As for the MCAT...aim high...if it says average is around 24...shoot for like a 27...your GPA is great so you shouldn't have much trouble getting in...Do some ECs and some clincal/shadowing and you're in like Flint

 

[David958]

LOL; I will increase my running mileage and get more serious at the gym, if that's the case! 🙂

I just checked their (PCOM-GA's) website and read that, for the class of 2007, the average accepted GPA was 3.38, while the average accepted MCAT was 24. If the statistics are similar the year I apply, would it be feasible to hope for an acceptance with a GPA that is above-average (3.5 - 3.6) and an MCAT score that is slightly below average (e.g., 22)?

Bad idea. Heres the deal.. my father is on the board of admissions at Penn Med.. so my answer is legit. Med schools look at your MCATS strongly compared with your gpa because it says one of two things. Say your GPA is a 3.0... and you got a 30 on the mcat. It shows you know your stuff and your school might have just been harder to obtain higher grades. If your gpa is a 3.5 and you have a 24. It shows your school is easier and you do not necessarily know your stuff. This is fact. Your gpa and MCAT should ethier make sense together or your MCAT should be higher than what your GPA would show about you. Hospital setting experience is very important. And not that you did just one hospital thing your sophmore year and that was it. Also, volunteering in general. For instance say you did an inside out program at a jail.. or even tutored at a school in a low income area. The point is. Dont look fake on your application. They will question your experience and see what you got from it. Med school admission is probably the hardest and most serious. They get to many students that think I wanna be a doctor for money and following the foot steps of parents that are a doctor. Its wise to make sure the med school understands that you will do anything to get into med school. Very common question they ask is what if you do not get accepted into med school? Students always say well i'll try for nursing or law school, etc. They want to hear that you'll keep applying until you get in. DO schools aren't as strict as MD but its still very competitive

 

[JapaneseSakura]

I got in with a 33, but I think I got bonus points for being good-looking.

You too????? LOL, but not for PCOM (^*^)

 

[JapaneseSakura]

Man...some of the people here are regulating on this kid for no reason...a simple question really deserves a simple answer...not a bashing because he asked how low of a score he needs to get...

As for the MCAT...aim high...if it says average is around 24...shoot for like a 27...your GPA is great so you shouldn't have much trouble getting in...Do some ECs and some clincal/shadowing and you're in like Flint

Thank you!!! Or, people would misunderstood and changing it around to something negative or something someone did not say but by assuming. 👍

 

[MedicineMike]

Bad idea. Heres the deal.. my father is on the board of admissions at Penn Med.. so my answer is legit. Med schools look at your MCATS strongly compared with your gpa because it says one of two things. Say your GPA is a 3.0... and you got a 30 on the mcat. It shows you know your stuff and your school might have just been harder to obtain higher grades. If your gpa is a 3.5 and you have a 24. It shows your school is easier and you do not necessarily know your stuff. This is fact. Your gpa and MCAT should ethier make sense together or your MCAT should be higher than what your GPA would show about you. Hospital setting experience is very important. And not that you did just one hospital thing your sophmore year and that was it. Also, volunteering in general. For instance say you did an inside out program at a jail.. or even tutored at a school in a low income area. The point is. Dont look fake on your application. They will question your experience and see what you got from it. Med school admission is probably the hardest and most serious. They get to many students that think I wanna be a doctor for money and following the foot steps of parents that are a doctor. Its wise to make sure the med school understands that you will do anything to get into med school. Very common question they ask is what if you do not get accepted into med school? Students always say well i'll try for nursing or law school, etc. They want to hear that you'll keep applying until you get in. DO schools aren't as strict as MD but its still very competitive

Why did you feel the need to answer an almost 3 yr old thread? Was that just to show that your dad is important?

 

[LifeTake2]

Why did you feel the need to answer an almost 3 yr old thread? Was that just to show that your dad is important?

LOL, I'd bet good $$ that dear old dad works at Jiffy Lube and our friend David is looking for attention 🙂

 

[GSUMATERIAL14]

Why did you feel the need to answer an almost 3 yr old thread? Was that just to show that your dad is important?

Seriously lol....

 

[KnowledgeSeek]

Why did you feel the need to answer an almost 3 yr old thread? Was that just to show that your dad is important?

...umm, maybe his intent was to help anyone else that might be interested in understanding admissions criteria? ...kinda the point of forums right?

Is being on an admissions board so "important" that it would get called out in a post? Hmm, some folk are easily impressed I guess 🙂

 

[DrWily]

...umm, maybe his intent was to help anyone else that might be interested in understanding admissions criteria? ...kinda the point of forums right?

Is being on an admissions board so "important" that it would get called out in a post? Hmm, some folk are easily impressed I guess 🙂

Good first post. Necrothreadophilia.

 

[user3]

I've seen people with 22's and 23's get into this school and 34's and 37's rejected from this school.

 

[MedPR]

45.

 

[LifeTake2]

I've seen people with 22's and 23's get into this school and 34's and 37's rejected from this school.

As a point of reference, nobody with 22/23 gets into GA-PCOM.

Not to say it has never happened, but they openly state that below 24 is rarely (if ever) even interviewed.

GA-PCOM, like most DO programs are more holistic in their admissions standards, but they still have standards. More-so their match lists into ACGME programs show that they do a good job maintaining those standards.

 

[Poliscidoc]

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[FCMike11]

I have a friend who matriculated this year, 24 MCAT.

 

[Poliscidoc]

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