Nontrad with 502

[mjourdan]

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HELP! I am a nontrad student. I have taught high school science for 7 years in a high needs, under-served community. I will interview well and want to practice in a under-served community. I am a CNA. I completed an Honors thesis and fellowship during undergrad, lots of EC's. I completed Teach for America. I got a 3.5 undergrad GPA. 3.8 masters (edu) gpa.

Overall I have a 3.6 gpa with a 3.5 science gpa.

I got a 502 on the MCAT 124, 128, 124, 126. What do you think my chances are of getting into an MD program? I am an Illinois resident. I plan on having my application submitted in May/June.

 

[toedrag]

ORM/URM?

 

[stayathomemom]

Try DO, too.

 

[mjourdan]

I am a white female

 

[toedrag]

I am a white female

I'd apply broad DO and select/state MD

 

[mjourdan]

Do you think that I will get any MD interviews with these mcat scores?

I am not sure if I should retake the mcat. I don’t know that I could get my scores up

 

[DOgdad23]

Do you think that I will get any MD interviews with these mcat scores?

I am not sure if I should retake the mcat. I don’t know that I could get my scores up

Per the MSAR, SIU Medicine had a 10th percentile mcat of 501 for accepted students, and a 499 10th percentile for matriculated students. I would say you may have a shot at their MD program.

Edit: my concern with your score would be that you have two sub 125 scores and both are in the hard sciences. In my opinion, those are the easiest section scores to raise. It is more about understanding how to take the test than the content. I’m not saying that you don’t need a solid science foundation, but more often than not the passage will indirectly tell you the answer. Unfortunately, the answer is usually 1-2 sentences, or even 1-2 words, among several paragraphs.

 

[Talkbirthytome]

Per the MSAR, SIU Medicine had a 10th percentile mcat of 501 for accepted students, and a 499 10th percentile for matriculated students. I would say you may have a shot at their MD program.

Edit: my concern with your score would be that you have two sub 125 scores and both are in the hard sciences. In my opinion, those are the easiest section scores to raise. It is more about understanding how to take the test than the content. I’m not saying that you don’t need a solid science foundation, but more often than not the passage will indirectly tell you the answer. Unfortunately, the answer is usually 1-2 sentences, or even 1-2 words, among several paragraphs.

Agree with the issue of sub 125 scores in the sciences. Psych/soc is also not that hard to raise. I recommend watching and listening to Khan Academy's psych/soc videos. I would do this when I was cleaning, cooking and driving to and from places.

If you didn't use UWorld, you may want to do so if you're going to retake the exam. Great explanations. If you review all your answers, even the correct ones, you can find where your foundation may be shaky. Then you can look up those specific concepts. Then move on to AAMC material and get through the qbank in the same way but time yourself. Pacing is huge on the exam as well.

You are going to have a hard time getting through some screens. If you want to maximize your chances for MD, a higher MCAT is ideal.

 

[snowcrawler85]

To increase chances of MD, increase MCAT. if you chose not to retake MCAT make sure your application is in the day AMCAS opens, that will improve your chances. And please, if you don’t want to be a DO then don’t apply, because if May rolls around next year and it’s your only acceptance would you accept?

 

[mjourdan]

To increase chances of MD, increase MCAT. if you chose not to retake MCAT make sure your application is in the day AMCAS opens, that will improve your chances. And please, if you don’t want to be a DO then don’t apply, because if May rolls around next year and it’s your only acceptance would you accept?

I’m looking for some clarification. Do you mean don’t apply to any schools? Or don’t apply to DO school?

 

[whorobbedthewoods]

I am not sure if I should retake the mcat. I don’t know that I could get my scores up

Just wondering: why do you feel you wouldn't be able to improve? IMO, your sGPA suggests that you're capable of doing better in the science subsections. What were your practice scores like? How long did you study, and what was your study plan like? If you wanted to retake, you still have several months left to study & improve your score before application season.

 

[snowcrawler85]

I’m looking for some clarification. Do you mean don’t apply to any schools? Or don’t apply to DO school?

Sorry if you don’t retake your MCAT apply as early as possible to MD schools. I’m saying if you don’t want to be a DO then don’t apply DO. A lot of people apply to both and then when they get a DO acceptance they believe it to be second rate.

If you only want to be an MD then you will most likely need to retake your MCAT to increase those chances.

 

[Goro]

HELP! I am a nontrad student. I have taught high school science for 7 years in a high needs, under-served community. I will interview well and want to practice in a under-served community. I am a CNA. I completed an Honors thesis and fellowship during undergrad, lots of EC's. I completed Teach for America. I got a 3.5 undergrad GPA. 3.8 masters (edu) gpa.

Overall I have a 3.6 gpa with a 3.5 science gpa.

I got a 502 on the MCAT 124, 128, 124, 126. What do you think my chances are of getting into an MD program? I am an Illinois resident. I plan on having my application submitted in May/June.

Chances for MD? Pretty much zero, unless you live in a very luck state like KS, GA or MS.

OK for DO, but apply broadly.

If you're boning for the MD, then you need to retake and score around 510+

 

[Goro]

Per the MSAR, SIU Medicine had a 10th percentile mcat of 501 for accepted students, and a 499 10th percentile for matriculated students. I would say you may have a shot at their MD program.

Edit: my concern with your score would be that you have two sub 125 scores and both are in the hard sciences. In my opinion, those are the easiest section scores to raise. It is more about understanding how to take the test than the content. I’m not saying that you don’t need a solid science foundation, but more often than not the passage will indirectly tell you the answer. Unfortunately, the answer is usually 1-2 sentences, or even 1-2 words, among several paragraphs.

Unless the OP is from southern IL (which is what I meant by "lucky states" you advice is just encouraging the OP to make a donation.
SDNers interested in MD schools need to invest in MSAR and pay care attention to the IS/OOS interview and and matriculant ratios.

 

[mjourdan]

Does SIU not consider Chicago/northern Illinois as instate?

I have looked at that information on MSAR. For some schools my MCAT is in the 10th percentile. Who gets in with MCAT scores in the bottom 10%?

 

[DexterMorganSK]

HELP! I am a nontrad student. I have taught high school science for 7 years in a high needs, under-served community. I will interview well and want to practice in a under-served community. I am a CNA. I completed an Honors thesis and fellowship during undergrad, lots of EC's. I completed Teach for America. I got a 3.5 undergrad GPA. 3.8 masters (edu) gpa.

Overall I have a 3.6 gpa with a 3.5 science gpa.

I got a 502 on the MCAT 124, 128, 124, 126. What do you think my chances are of getting into an MD program? I am an Illinois resident. I plan on having my application submitted in May/June.

You can also look at the master's program at RFU/CMS. One year of masters, keep a B or better in it, guaranteed interview to their CMS program, and with your current stats, I'm sure you will get in. It just a matter of time and $$; otherwise, re-take mcat.

 

[DOgdad23]

Does SIU not consider Chicago/northern Illinois as instate?

I have looked at that information on MSAR. For some schools my MCAT is in the 10th percentile. Who gets in with MCAT scores in the bottom 10%?

It is in state, but as Goro said, unless you’re from Southern Illinois it wouldn’t be worth it. It would more or less be a donation to the school.

Usually those that get accepted in that lower end have great EC’s, a great story, are URM, or all of the above.

As you can see, it is not impossible to get into an MD school with a 502, but I cannot advise applying MD with that.

 

[DocJanItor]

As others have said, I would not advise applying MD with a 502. That being said, you have plenty of time to study and retake the MCAT before applying in the upcoming cycle.

 

[toedrag]

Your CARS score is rock solid and you should be proud of that, which leads me to believe that you have the potential to also do really well on P/S. The good news is that you've mastered one of the most challenging sections on the MCAT, but the C/P and B/B section are arguably the most important sections. With enough focused content review on your weaknesses and a couple hundred more science passages (from a wide range of sources) to go along with it, it's totally doable to increase by a few points in those sections.