Need some advice

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Chickfila0771

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Alright guys I have an mcat score of 497, I have taken it twice. I have a gpa of 3.4 and a science gpa of 3.3. I have over two years of experience working in a clinic and have been scribing in the ER for about 6 months. I have over 100 hours of volunteering, and over 100 hours of shadowing physicians in various specialties. My letter of recs came from my bio and organic chem professors and the medical director of the clinic I work at. Obviously MD is out the window and I’ve recently applied to a few DO schools. What do y’all think? Is there a shot at DO or am I wasting my time applying to DO rn. I would appreciate any help that would be offered to me.
 
I was in a similar position as you last cycle and it didn't work out for me. I had a 496 and about the same GPA as you and I had no interview invites. This cycle all that changed was my MCAT score (brought it up to a 501) and I am sitting with two acceptances so far. I would suggest retaking the MCAT and getting at least a 500. With that score, you should be in a relatively safe position.
 
Chickfila0771 said:
Alright guys I have an mcat score of 497, I have taken it twice. I have a gpa of 3.4 and a science gpa of 3.3. I have over two years of experience working in a clinic and have been scribing in the ER for about 6 months. I have over 100 hours of volunteering, and over 100 hours of shadowing physicians in various specialties. My letter of recs came from my bio and organic chem professors and the medical director of the clinic I work at. Obviously MD is out the window and I’ve recently applied to a few DO schools. What do y’all think? Is there a shot at DO or am I wasting my time applying to DO rn. I would appreciate any help that would be offered to me.
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How recently is "recently applied"? Like this cycle in general but over the summer, or in October? And how many is a few DO schools? I would guess (not an expert) that if you didn't apply by the end of the summer, your odds are not great for this year. But there's really nothing you can do about this cycle at this point, except for maybe write some update letters and try to let the admissions offices know how super interested you are in their school. In spite of what schools may say about application deadlines, it's too late. I agree you should work on your MCAT. I took it twice, and improved my score by 4 points the second time. If I were a younger student (like in my 20's) I would have gone for the 3rd try, but I knew I was a solid DO candidate and still possibly an MD candidate with my stats. From what I know, you're at a serious disadvantage with an overall MCAT score below 500 or any individual section score below 125. At 497 you must be hitting both those points. Keep your fingers crossed for this cycle, but start exam prepping to take the MCAT in May and make that application killer, and submitted as soon as it opens! The other place you can stand out is in your letters. Are you sure they're the best they can be? Do you have a letter from a DO? If you're aiming DO be sure you do. I know schools accept MD letters but I'm pretty sure DO schools prefer DO letters.

Also, for perspective: if this is what you really believe you're meant to do, then you should absolutely give it another go. Look at where your weaknesses are on the MCAT, maybe take another class or 2 in those topics and improve your subject knowledge and sGPA while getting to know new professors intentionally to get some better letters, or more letters (I think I submitted 5 letters with my application plus a DO letter for those schools that required one). It's not so much that you're wasting your time...it's that you may need to take more time to beef up your application.

Podiatry seems like a reasonable option if you want to be in medicine but don't think you can move your stats at all. There are direct entry Nurse practitioner programs if you want to be a primary care provider: they do not require the MCAT or a BSN/RN. In many places NPs can now practice under their own license, so it seems like a reasonable option.
 
never-too-late said:
How recently is "recently applied"? Like this cycle in general but over the summer, or in October? And how many is a few DO schools? I would guess (not an expert) that if you didn't apply by the end of the summer, your odds are not great for this year. But there's really nothing you can do about this cycle at this point, except for maybe write some update letters and try to let the admissions offices know how super interested you are in their school. In spite of what schools may say about application deadlines, it's too late. I agree you should work on your MCAT. I took it twice, and improved my score by 4 points the second time. If I were a younger student (like in my 20's) I would have gone for the 3rd try, but I knew I was a solid DO candidate and still possibly an MD candidate with my stats. From what I know, you're at a serious disadvantage with an overall MCAT score below 500 or any individual section score below 125. At 497 you must be hitting both those points. Keep your fingers crossed for this cycle, but start exam prepping to take the MCAT in May and make that application killer, and submitted as soon as it opens! The other place you can stand out is in your letters. Are you sure they're the best they can be? Do you have a letter from a DO? If you're aiming DO be sure you do. I know schools accept MD letters but I'm pretty sure DO schools prefer DO letters.

Also, for perspective: if this is what you really believe you're meant to do, then you should absolutely give it another go. Look at where your weaknesses are on the MCAT, maybe take another class or 2 in those topics and improve your subject knowledge and sGPA while getting to know new professors intentionally to get some better letters, or more letters (I think I submitted 5 letters with my application plus a DO letter for those schools that required one). It's not so much that you're wasting your time...it's that you may need to take more time to beef up your application.

Podiatry seems like a reasonable option if you want to be in medicine but don't think you can move your stats at all. There are direct entry Nurse practitioner programs if you want to be a primary care provider: they do not require the MCAT or a BSN/RN. In many places NPs can now practice under their own license, so it seems like a reasonable option.
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I appreciate the help and the insight. I think I will maybe try one more time and try again. That’s better than the carribean right?
 
Chickfila0771 said:
Alright guys I have an mcat score of 497, I have taken it twice. I have a gpa of 3.4 and a science gpa of 3.3. I have over two years of experience working in a clinic and have been scribing in the ER for about 6 months. I have over 100 hours of volunteering, and over 100 hours of shadowing physicians in various specialties. My letter of recs came from my bio and organic chem professors and the medical director of the clinic I work at. Obviously MD is out the window and I’ve recently applied to a few DO schools. What do y’all think? Is there a shot at DO or am I wasting my time applying to DO rn. I would appreciate any help that would be offered to me.
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Chances will be best with the newest DO schools. You'll be auto-rejected at mine and many others. Even LUCOM has a floor, it seems.

Unless CARS was your biggest hindrance, you are in a risk zone for failing boards and /or frailing out of med school.

I suggest a SMP to prove that you can handle med school.

Don't even think about going to the Carib!
 
Last edited:
Goro said:
Chances will be best with the newest DO schools. You'll be auto-rejected at mine and many others. Even LUCOM has a floor, it seems.

Unless CARS was your biggest hindrance, you are in a risk zone for failing boards and /or frailing out of med school.

I suggest a SMP to prove that you can handle med school.

Don't even think about going to the Carib!
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can u explain your reasoning on Lucom?
And yeah my gpa isn’t the best but my important science classes such as biochem, organic and labs I have As. I’m just assuming they don’t look that hard at individual classes.
 
Chickfila0771 said:
can u explain your reasoning on Lucom?
And yeah my gpa isn’t the best but my important science classes such as biochem, organic and labs I have As. I’m just assuming they don’t look that hard at individual classes.
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The GPAs are not the issue. Being a 2x MCAT taker and still being < 500 is. Significantly.

What were your scores and breakdowns?

Even LUCOM has a standards:
Matriculation Requirements
To be considered by LUCOM you must at least have a:

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher. Or, you must have completed no less than 75% of the credits needed for a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Accreditation must be recognized by the United States Department of Education.
  • 3.0 GPA and a 3.0 GPA in sciences. LUCOM has a preferred cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher and a preferred science GPA of 3.4 or higher. This reflects greater probability for success in LUCOM and with the national board of examinations.
  • 501 on the MCAT. No individual score of less than 123 will be considered for admissions. In very rare circumstances an exception may be made. LUCOM has a preferred MCAT standard of 504 or greater (cumulative) with no individual score of less than 125. Scores must be less than three years old. An average of the highest scores on multiple MCAT examinations will not be considered.
 
Goro said:
The GPAs are not the issue. Being a 2x MCAT taker and still being < 500 is. Significantly.

What were your scores and breakdowns?

Even LUCOM has a standards:
Matriculation Requirements
To be considered by LUCOM you must at least have a:

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher. Or, you must have completed no less than 75% of the credits needed for a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Accreditation must be recognized by the United States Department of Education.
  • 3.0 GPA and a 3.0 GPA in sciences. LUCOM has a preferred cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher and a preferred science GPA of 3.4 or higher. This reflects greater probability for success in LUCOM and with the national board of examinations.
  • 501 on the MCAT. No individual score of less than 123 will be considered for admissions. In very rare circumstances an exception may be made. LUCOM has a preferred MCAT standard of 504 or greater (cumulative) with no individual score of less than 125. Scores must be less than three years old. An average of the highest scores on multiple MCAT examinations will not be considered.
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Yeah I understand. My breakdown was 123,123,125,126 for my recent exam. Which schools would you recommend to still try to apply to this cycle for best chances. I know you said maybe new schools. Just wondering if you had an idea.
 
Chickfila0771 said:
Yeah I understand. My breakdown was 123,123,125,126 for my recent exam. Which schools would you recommend to still try to apply to this cycle for best chances. I know you said maybe new schools. Just wondering if you had an idea.
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Both AR schools
CalH&S
BCOM
ICOM
KYCOM
WVCOM
ACOM
LECOM (all)
VCOM (all)
 
Chickfila0771 said:
I appreciate the help and the insight. I think I will maybe try one more time and try again. That’s better than the carribean right?
Click to expand...

If you are going to take it for the 3rd time, you better take it well, another sub-500 score and your chance of getting into med school is "puff".

Also, was your 1st score lower or higher than your 2nd?
 
Whysoez said:
If you are going to take it for the 3rd time, you better take it well, another sub-500 score and your chance of getting into med school is "puff".

Also, was your 1st score lower or higher than your 2nd?
Click to expand...

Yes it was higher
 
Chickfila0771 said:
493 lol it sounds bad but all my practice scores were 500 so I was confident in doing at least decent. I still don’t know what happens the second time
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Practice 500, actual 497, I do not see anything abnormal about that though, you scored right within your range.
 
Chickfila0771 said:
No for my first time I scored a 493 with practice scores of 500
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Test anxiety is a real thing. My practice test scores immediately before my MCAT tracked almost exactly with my exam day score. So knowing your pattern, I would say don’t take another real exam until your practice scores are around 508... and in spite of A’s in chem, your chem/phys scores are low, so maybe another Chem class and/or a physics refresher if you didn’t have A’s in physics.
Or an SMP is great too.
 
what is the opinion on the pcom schools? think there is a shot there along with the other above list provided?
 
I don’t think it’s a waste of time but it will certainly be tougher. @Goro gave you the best school list, which was quite similar to mine. With a lower GPA and MCAT, your best bet is apply as early as possible as long as the rest of your application is solid. I would normally say to retake the MCAT but like it was stated above, a third MCAT that could potentially be <500 could sink you.

Don’t apply to matriculate for this upcoming fall - take a year off, volunteer, make some moolah, relax a bit and hit the ground running at the beginning of the next application cycle.
 
Honestly you should take an MCAT prep course! I took the Altius bronze course and went from my first 497 baseline to 516 on the real thing. You have A’s in your classes so unless your undergrad school is somehow giving A grades out like candy you are intelligent and hardworking. You just need to learn how to take the test and what you really need to know for the exam. Disclosure: I have no financial affiliation with Altius test prep.
 
That’s a terrible MCAT score. The answer is obviously to retake it and then apply. I know someone will give some anecdotal evidence of someone succeeding with that score. Quite frankly, I’d be worried about passing medical school classes and board exams with that kind of MCAt, I.e if you have put your best effort. If you haven’t put your best effort, you know the answer.
 
Chickfila0771 said:
Alright guys I have an mcat score of 497, I have taken it twice. I have a gpa of 3.4 and a science gpa of 3.3. I have over two years of experience working in a clinic and have been scribing in the ER for about 6 months. I have over 100 hours of volunteering, and over 100 hours of shadowing physicians in various specialties. My letter of recs came from my bio and organic chem professors and the medical director of the clinic I work at. Obviously MD is out the window and I’ve recently applied to a few DO schools. What do y’all think? Is there a shot at DO or am I wasting my time applying to DO rn. I would appreciate any help that would be offered to me.
Click to expand...

497 is a very low score, even for DO schools. With an MCAT that low, you're either a horrendously bad test taker, or you have horrendously bad study skills, or both.

In any case, get your hands on Berkeley Review Series (BRS), sit down for 2-3 months, and really push yourself to get a better score. Practice questions are key, which BRS is full of. If you have pushed yourself to the max and you still come back with a very low score, I will be surprised.
 
Chickfila0771 said:
Alright guys I have an mcat score of 497, I have taken it twice. I have a gpa of 3.4 and a science gpa of 3.3. I have over two years of experience working in a clinic and have been scribing in the ER for about 6 months. I have over 100 hours of volunteering, and over 100 hours of shadowing physicians in various specialties. My letter of recs came from my bio and organic chem professors and the medical director of the clinic I work at. Obviously MD is out the window and I’ve recently applied to a few DO schools. What do y’all think? Is there a shot at DO or am I wasting my time applying to DO rn. I would appreciate any help that would be offered to me.
Click to expand...
Don't spend more money this cycle and instead work on MCAT review and more ECs, like volunteering. If you are not considering an SMP to boost your GPA, you need a higher MCAT.
 
Chickfila0771 said:
Alright guys I have an mcat score of 497, I have taken it twice. I have a gpa of 3.4 and a science gpa of 3.3. I have over two years of experience working in a clinic and have been scribing in the ER for about 6 months. I have over 100 hours of volunteering, and over 100 hours of shadowing physicians in various specialties. My letter of recs came from my bio and organic chem professors and the medical director of the clinic I work at. Obviously MD is out the window and I’ve recently applied to a few DO schools. What do y’all think? Is there a shot at DO or am I wasting my time applying to DO rn. I would appreciate any help that would be offered to me.
Click to expand...
I don't think it's a complete waste of money to send out DO apps but I wouldn't say that it's realistic to expect an interview this late in the cycle. I took altius and had a great experience. My brother had a similar GPA to the one you had and scored a 520 after taking altius. I don't know if you're planning on applying this next cycle, but my recommendation would be to take altius, take the MCAT again in May after doing their winter short track program and then send out your application. Most students that do everything in the program score a 515.
 
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