MSTP with avg MCAT??

[nuttyp3]

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Dear All,

Until last nite I was a fairly hopefull MSTP candidate. I just graduated from Penn State with a BS in Mech. Engr. (GPA 3.8) and a MS in Bioengr. (GPA 3.9). I have several second, third author pubs with a hopeful first author by the end of the summer. Also I have numerous presentations/abstracts at conferences. I have excellent EC's - leadership, public health volunteer, sports, honor societies, corp. internships. Dr. shadowing. Also, I have a plentiful amount of (hopefully) good rec. letters. My question is, could I still be a good MSTP candidate with a 30Q MCAT score (11BS, 10PS, 9VR). I was averaging 2 points higher without even having studied for the MCAT - I just dont know what happened test day (maybe it was because my MS thesis was due the following Monday - 2 days post MCAT). Anyway, any words of wisdom or helpful advice out there?

Also, anybody hear of any MSTP programs where one could study orthopedics? It'd be my speciality of choice, especially due to my Mech. Engr. and biomechanics background.

 

[Gfunk6]

My advice is to apply to a broad range of MSTPs as well as fully-funded MD/PhD programs. Fortunately for you, you are not a run-of-the-mill candidate. You have a wealth of research experience and bio-engineering is an increasingly popular PhD choice for MSTPs.

However, I think you will find it difficult to get an interview at the top programs though an MSTP is certainly not out of the question.

 

[nuttyp3]

Thanks Gfunk 6, I will definatly heed your advice. Anybody else have any insight????

 

[NDESTRUKT]

hoot hoot (like an owl)

 

[drdr2010]

i think you are still a great MSTP candidate. aside from schools that may screen based on numbers alone, you should be good.
my mcat was a 30R with a 3.9 GPA and one first author pub (no master's degree like you though!) and i interviewed at 5 schools and was accepted at 1 MSTP and 2 non-MSTP Md/PhD programs. just make sure you apply to good mix of schools.

 

[coldchemist]

I know at least one person who was succesful with a 30. I imagine there are quite a few out there...

 

[tedrik]

I have a friend who was a non-traditional applicant with good research and good letters. He had a 30 and got into many great schools including UCSF. You should still apply with confidence, but have you considered retaking it in August?

 

[vixey1230]

Apply to a wide range of schools... including non-MSTPs. Some schools definitely will screen based on MCAT pre-interview (as I've mentioned before in other threads). But don't rule out applying to any school (unless you have financial need to limit your applications) because of your MCAT... you definitely have other strong aspects to your application that may compensate. But nobody can say for sure what the ADCOMS will think. So if you can afford the time and the money, apply everywhere you'd ever hope to go, and to others where you're pretty certain you'll get the interview as well.

 

[nuttyp3]

Thanks Vixey, I think thats going to be my plan...currently I am thinking of submitting AMCAS to ~27 schools, just to see from where I get secondaries. Thanks for the reply though.