My MCAT scores

[Hellooooooo]

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Hey guys

I got a 27 the first time I took the mcats, so I decided to take them again. I was scoring 32's on my practice exams the second time and was pretty confident that I'd hit at least 30. However, I got a 26 the second time.
I don't really think it would be a good idea to take the test again. I have about a 3.7 GPA and pretty solid extra-curriculars and consider myself fairly outgoing. I have decided to take a year off as well.
What do you think are my chances of getting in? Do you think that because my scores are what they are, I should consider going into other fields because I just won't be able to make it in med school?

Please help! I'm agonizing with trying to make a decision

 

[liverotcod]

You may benefit from a post-baccalaureate program or a one year masters. Without that, your scores are borderline. I'm not saying that *you* are borderline, but the numbers do count. The "rule" is to take your GPA * 10 + MCAT. If the result is 65+ (some say 67+) then you are in pretty good shape. Your result is 3.7 * 10 + 27 = 64, which puts you a litle below the line, so you're looking for things to overcome the weakness in your numbers. How good are your extracurriculars? Do you have a disadvantaged background? What is your science GPA?

One option you should definitely consider is osteopathic schools, which aren't so numbers-driven. Your record is quite competitive for many osteopathic schools.

If you really want to be a doctor, you will definitely make it.

 

[Fusion]

Your GPA is solid. I don't think you need any post-bac work or a graduate program. Although a special master's program will certainly increase your chances, it will not necessarily offset a borderline MCAT. If you had a 28 or 29 MCAT, then maybe a graduate program would do the trick. But a 27 is still a little too low for most medical schools to be offset by anything else in your app. There are some general formulas floating around about an applicant's chances of getting in, but I don't buy into any of them because you just can't quantify the medical school admissions process, there are just too many variables in this game. A lot depends on your state of residence, URM status, etc. If you do something interesting or especially productive during your year "off" (i.e., working f/t in a hospital and/or some heavy-duty community service work), and apply early to a lot of schools (20+), you should definitely land some interviews. After that, it's up to luck/fate.

You shouldn't necessarily count out taking another shot at the MCAT. If you know in your heart that you gave it your absolute best effort, then yes, don't take it again. But if you think that it is possible to get even a couple points better, I think you would only be helping yourself to take it one more time.

 

[liverotcod]

I agree with Fusion about retaking the MCAT. As it stands right now, your 27 -> 26 scores just confirm your level of performance.

Did anything go wrong on test day? It's surprising when someone scores significantly difference--especially lower--than he/she was on the AMCAS practice tests.

But I disagree about grad or post-bacc work. It's not that they offset your MCAT, and in fact I think you might want to both retake the MCAT and do more school. But they just show additional capability to handle high-level academic work. This is especially true for post-bacc programs where you take classes with M1s.

 

[Hellooooooo]

You may benefit from a post-baccalaureate program or a one year masters. Without that, your scores are borderline. I'm not saying that *you* are borderline, but the numbers do count. The "rule" is to take your GPA * 10 + MCAT. If the result is 65+ (some say 67+) then you are in pretty good shape. Your result is 3.7 * 10 + 27 = 64, which puts you a litle below the line, so you're looking for things to overcome the weakness in your numbers. How good are your extracurriculars? Do you have a disadvantaged background? What is your science GPA?

One option you should definitely consider is osteopathic schools, which aren't so numbers-driven. Your record is quite competitive for many osteopathic schools.

If you really want to be a doctor, you will definitely make it.

From what I understood, a 27 is about the average score for students that apply to med school.
My extra-curriculars arent amazing, bit solid. I volunteered at a clinic for 2 years, two years of research, and a publication in a small, (PsiChi) journal, studied abroad, and volunteered at some other places for at least a year as a teacher's asssitant and intern. I also have some leadership positions in school clubs (v.p.). I do not have what med school might call a disadvantaged background, although i was not born here and english is not my first language, by might somewhat explain my score of 8 on verbal.
My science GPA is a 3.55.

 

[Fusion]

I think liverotcod has some good points. My whole take on the graduate school thing is because I speak from experience. I just finished the Master's in Medical Sciences program at Boston U. School of Medicine. I applied last year after completing 26 credits in the program with no grade less than a B. My August 2003 MCAT score was a 26Q, and I got no interviews. I did apply rather late, however. Most of my friends in the program with a similar MCAT score as mine did not get into any med schools this year (although a couple did get into other med schools, MD and DO, with a marginal MCAT). So my point is that extra coursework can only help, but the single most important thing in your application is your MCAT score. If you think you can get a better MCAT score at all, by all means go for it! Land a 30 and you're be golden. Good luck.

 

[camisho]

How about 3.2 and 32R from JHU? That adds up to 64 by that formula...I have solid EC's and good recs...doing Gtown SMP right now...how are my chances this year?

 

[liverotcod]

How about 3.2 and 32R from JHU? That adds up to 64 by that formula...I have solid EC's and good recs...doing Gtown SMP right now...how are my chances this year?

By the numbers, its borderline. They're not working for you, but also not working hugely against you. The Georgetown SMP updates your applied schools as grades come in, right? That will probably make the difference, assuming you're doing well in it.

I think you're OK, but in my opinion you should have 20+ schools and should already be done (or mostly) with secondaries.

 

[girlscallmepogi]

I thought the highest you could make on the MCAT was 15.

 

[kmnfive]

I thought the highest you could make on the MCAT was 15.

True, but...


15 on each section (bio, physical, and verbal) , three sections = 45 top score plus your writting sample which is graded from J to T (T being highest)

 

[Hellooooooo]

You may benefit from a post-baccalaureate program or a one year masters. Without that, your scores are borderline. I'm not saying that *you* are borderline, but the numbers do count. The "rule" is to take your GPA * 10 + MCAT. If the result is 65+ (some say 67+) then you are in pretty good shape. Your result is 3.7 * 10 + 27 = 64, which puts you a litle below the line, so you're looking for things to overcome the weakness in your numbers. How good are your extracurriculars? Do you have a disadvantaged background? What is your science GPA?

One option you should definitely consider is osteopathic schools, which aren't so numbers-driven. Your record is quite competitive for many osteopathic schools.

If you really want to be a doctor, you will definitely make it.

What does it mean to have a 65 and be in good shape? What do you mean by good shape? Do you mean that I have a very good chance of getting 5+ interviews, for example? Or is that the cut-off for some schools interms of whether they'll even look at your application? I just dont want to spend so much time and energy applying if my chances of getting into an M.D. program with a 27/3.7 are realistically too slim.

 

[cam22]

yes, mcat scores are important. we all know that. but it is also important to remember that med schools are looking at the applicant as a whole. you guys may be quick to say that a 26 or 27 on the mcat are not good enough scores to get into med school and retaking the test or applying to osteopathic schools are the only choice.......but you are wrong. there is so much more to it than that. i have had at least 5 friends in the past few years that had a 26 or below and all got into medical schools, and they were not bad schools. i myself took the mcat in april and again in august, and i only received a 26 the first time and even though i have not gotten my scores back from august yet i already have 3 interview offers. at good schools. so if you have a lower score......dont be discouraged. a 3.7 gpa is very good. there is not 'formula' for getting into med school. and overanalyzing the situation will get you no where. if you are passionate about becoming a doctor then things will fall into place.

 

[cam22]

What does it mean to have a 65 and be in good shape? What do you mean by good shape? Do you mean that I have a very good chance of getting 5+ interviews, for example? Or is that the cut-off for some schools interms of whether they'll even look at your application? I just dont want to spend so much time and energy applying if my chances of getting into an M.D. program with a 27/3.7 are realistically too slim.

just one thing to say.........if you feel that you are wasting time, then you dont want it bad enough. if it is important to you all the time and effort in the world are worth it.

 

[liverotcod]

What does it mean to have a 65 and be in good shape? What do you mean by good shape? Do you mean that I have a very good chance of getting 5+ interviews, for example? Or is that the cut-off for some schools interms of whether they'll even look at your application? I just dont want to spend so much time and energy applying if my chances of getting into an M.D. program with a 27/3.7 are realistically too slim.

I don't think the rule has the resolution to answer specific questions like that, and as everyone agrees, there are far more variables involved than just the numbers. But the idea is that, if you have 65+ (some say 67+), then your numbers are good. Meaning, you will probably get in somewhere, all other things being equal. On the other hand, if you have 64-, then you will need other parts of your application to be stronger. Or apply to more schools, or to lower-number schools, or to DO schools, or write a really good personal statement, or...

You get the idea. There's no formula that will predict your entire application process. For an example of another (similarly debatable) system, check out this calculator.

 

[huseyin]

yeah, it would be a good idea to go to a masters program. There is a guy in U of M med school with nearly the same schools but he got in after he got his masters and published a couple of papers.