My first time mcat is 495. If i retake it what score I need to get into med school for sure.

[Ki-100]

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Just wonder. My gpa is 3.5. Please advise me. I heard that your score will be averaged. I just want to know what score I need for my second attempt or am I done with my chance. Thank you. BTW i am Asian so I am not the med school favor.

 

[Deecee2DO]

Just wonder. My gpa is 3.5. Please advise me. I heard that your score will be averaged. I just want to know what score I need for my second attempt or am I done with my chance. Thank you. BTW i am Asian so I am not the med school favor.

If you want a shot at DO youll need a 505 to be competitive at all DO schools and 500+ for newer DO schools (i dont recommend new DO schools for certain reasons but its better than carribbean MD). Your GPA is competitive for most DO schools. If youre shooting for MD I’d shoot for a 512+ with a 3.5 gpa. Bottom line work your butt off and shoot for as high of an MCAT as possible. You got a 495 first go, but your grades arent bad so you have a second chance. study hard! Retaking the MCAT isnt a HUGE deal like having to retake your medical boards, but make sure your second try you show some major improvement

 

[Ki-100]

If you want a shot at DO youll need a 505 to be competitive at all DO schools and 500+ for newer DO schools (i dont recommend new DO schools for certain reasons but its better than carribbean MD). Your GPA is competitive for most DO schools. If youre shooting for MD I’d shoot for a 512+ with a 3.5 gpa. Bottom line work your butt off and shoot for as high of an MCAT as possible. You got a 495 first go, but your grades arent bad so you have a second chance. study hard! Retaking the MCAT isnt a HUGE deal like having to retake your medical boards, but make sure your second try you show some major improvement

Is there something wrong with the newer DO schools?

 

[Faha]

If you score 500 on the MCAT there are at least 15 DO schools that I am aware of where you could receive interviews. Post your new score here in the future.

 

[reinita]

Hey bud, don't be discouraged, that was my first score as well. Actually, I took it a second time (literally no studying at all, because I was an idiot and thought a year of ochem and biochem was good enough) and scored even lower at 492. Had a quarter life crisis, wondered if I even wanted it anymore, and then third time around I got the Kaplan 528 book and ran through that baby. Scored a 505 which was good enough for me since I wanted to go D.O. I got plenty of interview invites and acceptances. I did have a slightly higher GPA, but if you can score around a 507 you'll be gucci.

Edit: given you have pretty decent ECs

 

[Dr. Basketball]

I did not study at all the first time because of my own ignorance and my first score was south of 490. Study hard and take all the practice tests you can and you will do fine.

Best of luck!

 

[Goro]

Just wonder. My gpa is 3.5. Please advise me. I heard that your score will be averaged. I just want to know what score I need for my second attempt or am I done with my chance. Thank you. BTW i am Asian so I am not the med school favor.

I would shoot for 505+

 

[Deecee2DO]

Is there something wrong with the newer DO schools?

Yes they haven't had enough time to tweak their curriculum, and their clinical rotation sites typically won't be as strong. They also haven't had enough time to build a strong foundation for connections (residency etc) and for those schools that are really really new you'll have no idea what their board pass rate is or their match list so you don't know if their curriculum is working or not. Of course if you are down to going to a new DO school vs caribbe or not being able to be a doctor at all do the smart thing and go to the new DO school. You'll still be a physician. Oh and it is never ok to go caribbean

 

[reinita]

Yes they haven't had enough time to tweak their curriculum, and their clinical rotation sites typically won't be as strong. They also haven't had enough time to build a strong foundation for connections (residency etc) and for those schools that are really really new you'll have no idea what their board pass rate is or their match list so you don't know if their curriculum is working or not. Of course if you are down to going to a new DO school vs caribbe or not being able to be a doctor at all do the smart thing and go to the new DO school. You'll still be a physician. Oh and it is never ok to go caribbean

I agree with his post but think it's also important to give consideration to new DO schools who are adding a campus and using the same + boosting faculty (eg RVU) vs new schools popping up without any track record of outcomes whatsoever (ICOM). Maybe that's just my opinion, but I would 10/10 take a new campus splitting a decently reputable program between locations over a 100% new program altogether.

 

[Deecee2DO]

I agree with his post but think it's also important to give consideration to new DO schools who are adding a campus and using the same + boosting faculty (eg RVU) vs new schools popping up without any track record of outcomes whatsoever (ICOM). Maybe that's just my opinion, but I would 10/10 take a new campus splitting a decently reputable program between locations over a 100% new program altogether.

Yes this is true. When I say new schools I mean brand new starting from scratch not satellite campi (not a word but whatever lol). Overall US MD>established/state US DO>new satellite campus US DO>brand new US DO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>carrib MD

 

[Goro]

Just wonder. My gpa is 3.5. Please advise me. I heard that your score will be averaged. I just want to know what score I need for my second attempt or am I done with my chance. Thank you. BTW i am Asian so I am not the med school favor.

Just to clarify something, getting accepted is 100% on you. Not even a 525 score can guarantee acceptance.

All we can advise on is the likelihood of getting IIs.

EDIT: just noticed the super cool avatar. Not many people would know about the Kawasaki Ki-100 Type-5.

 

[Ki-100]

Just to clarify something, getting accepted is 100% on you. Not even a 525 score can guarantee acceptance.

All we can advise on is the likelihood of getting IIs.

EDIT: just noticed the super cool avatar. Not many people would know about the Kawasaki Ki-100 Type-5.

Yet I play war thunder so i know some WWII airplane lol.

 

[yazmataz]

I can speak on my experience with applications. I had a GPA a little lower than yours and a 512 MCAT score. I was able to get multiple MD interview invitations and multiple DO acceptances. Even with a good MCAT I still received a lot of silence from many DO programs so I would shoot for as high as possible on your score. Try to really build a great application and create a clear and cohesive story. That is why I believe my application was succesful despite a lower GPA.

 

[DocSMA617]

Just wonder. My gpa is 3.5. Please advise me. I heard that your score will be averaged. I just want to know what score I need for my second attempt or am I done with my chance. Thank you. BTW i am Asian so I am not the med school favor.

I was in the same boat as you with the MCAT score and I brought it to a 509. If I can do it, so can you!

 

[JohnDorian92]

Just wonder. My gpa is 3.5. Please advise me. I heard that your score will be averaged. I just want to know what score I need for my second attempt or am I done with my chance. Thank you. BTW i am Asian so I am not the med school favor.

I agree with the other posts on this thread. Somewhere north of 505 for most DO schools. If your score is lower, You could look into masters programs that feed into medical schools. I know KCUMB has the bioscience 1 years masters. I believe if you get above a 3.5 in that program, you only need a 501 to apply to their school, and get an automatic interview. There are still many options open for you with a 3.5 gpa. I took the mcat three times with a 494,496,509 and got multiple DO and MD interviews this cycle with a Similar gpa. Feel free to DM if you have any questions. Good luck

 

[Magus5454]

I had a 495 and was accepted to every DO I applied to

Are you URM?

 

[Magus5454]

Nope. Med schools are looking for a great story. I have one. You’re more than your numbers.

I have a great story. Unfortunately my numbers kept me out of UAMS.

 

[HaveAnOsteoblast]

I had a 495 and was accepted to every DO I applied to

how many did you apply to? 1?

 

[alprazoslam]

Lol at above post “a great story”


Retake mcat 495 sucks don’t bank your luck a a snowflake saying they have a great story

 

[alprazoslam]

I can speak on my experience with applications. I had a GPA a little lower than yours and a 512 MCAT score. I was able to get multiple MD interview invitations and multiple DO acceptances. Even with a good MCAT I still received a lot of silence from many DO programs so I would shoot for as high as possible on your score. Try to really build a great application and create a clear and cohesive story. That is why I believe my application was succesful despite a lower GPA.

I got mid 5 teens and had silence from a few DO. Then I called and ask why and they thought I was just using them as a back drop

 

[Magus5454]

how many did you apply to? 1?

From his post history, yes. One of his MD interviews doesnt really count since UAMS interviews all residents

 

[alprazoslam]

I never gave anyone advice just stated my truth.
I definitely wouldn’t advise anyone else to apply with my score and I know that n=1 but it can happen you never know.
Furthermore yes I do have a great story. And part of that story is overcoming the odds coming from a rough neighborhood where we don’t do a lot of internet talking. So I would advise you to refrain from calling me a “snowflake” unless you’re ready to call me one to my face.

Ok tough guy. I think half of us in my class are from turd holes but we don’t proclaim self determined greatness. U do u tho brah

 

[Blanky]

Med schools do push metrics. Anyone who says their story was just "good" is going off anecdotal experiences or being actively deceptive.

 

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

(Subjectively) "Competitive" Scores: (assuming the rest of your app is solid) Based off of reading around, my experience with the application cycle, & people I know in different med schools (esp. in/from the state of Michigan.)

New DO school: 500+
Any DO School & "State" MD Schools: 505+
Non-"State" MD School in your State: 507+
OOS MD School: 509+

Exceptions to these blanket generalizations would obviously be schools known to be more competitive.

e.g.) a Michigan resident applying to CMU's med school is in great shape with 505+, but applying to the University of Michigan needs 509+

Keep grinding OP. If you put in the time, you will see the results. Retaking the MCAT is very common nowadays. Don't retake until you are scoring at or near your goal.

 

[FutureDPM123]

You should consider applying to podiatry school. You have competitive stats for it. However, if it's something you're not interested in, then you got to retake the MCAT for sure.

 

[CaroTedArtery]

If I were you I would try going to a post bacc program, a lot of them have similar classes as med schools. They're generally only a year-long (don't go to an expensive out of state program). If you have something local it'd be better. Many post-bacc courses help with MCAT review since they have biochem, anatomy, cell biology, immunology courses that go into more detail then you'll need for the MCAT.