Hey Everybody, I am a second semester junior getting ready to apply for MSTP programs next year. I will happily attend any program where I can get an engineering doctorate--ideally in biomedical engineering.
I am slightly nervous of my MCAT scores however, getting me accepted, I took the MCAT twice.
Aug 06 - PS:13 VR:6 BS:11 W:M
I obviously retook this because of the writing/verbal.
Jan 07 - PS:14 VR:8 BS:10 W:Q
I think my verbal may still be low, but I how much consideration do you think will be put in because I received a verbal test where the questions didn't match the passage for a passage. AAMC has agreed to send letters to medical committees explaining the situation for all students who received this test glitch.
What does everybody think of my MCAT score situation for MSTP? Thanks a bunch.
TP
For a MSTP admissions committee as well as Med school admissions committee your MCAT scores will send up flags. You do have a great GPA, and good research experience, but the wide range of scores in your MCAT signals to them that you may have difficulty passing the USMLE exams. I would advise you not to apply to programs such as Duke or Stanford, since these programs traditionally have an automated screening process for MSTP /MD admissions, that I do not believe you would pass. Now understand it has been 10 years since I applied to medical school, so more schools may be using computerized screening, so do your research.
Because you have a background in Engineering you have a slight advantage over your peers who have similar grades and MCAT scores. However, unless the competiton has similar disparities in their MCAT scores, this will not help you.
So here is the advise. Research MSTP programs with a strong emphasis on biomedical engineering research. ( example.. Harvard MIT HST program, Johns Hopkins, Case Western..etc) Do you know any alumni from these programs, do you have any professors who have close contacts from these programs, does your research professor have any close contacts in these programs? These kind of contacts won't get you in, but they will get your application seen and past the intial screening. Also look at non-traditional MD PhD programs such as U of Illinois Urbana-Champange or local State University. These programs often allow you to "apply" to a PhD program during your 2nd year of Medical school. These programs tend to be less competive and still offer stipends and tuition waivers. Some programs such as Vanderbilt also have matching programs. (For example they may have MSTP funding for 6 MD PhD's, but they also have private funding for 6 more "non traditionals")
Finally, take a year out, talk to the dean of admissions at the program you most would like to go to. (except Duke, because they tend to be less helpful than most of the big programs) Discuss your CV and find out what actions you can take to strengthen your application. You may be suprised how helpful they can be. Two exceptionally friendly admissions departments are found in Boston and St. Louis. ( I leave the rest to you).
I hope this is helpful and I hope you get accepted. There are far to few BME MD PhD's in medicine and surgery.
