One MCAT score point

[scarletgirl777]

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saying that everyone who scores in the 36+ range is socially inept is identical to saying that everyone who scores below a 30 is in idiot. Both are equally ridiculous (hell, I've met socially adept 42s and boorish 30s; I scored very highly and like to think I'm mostly normal), but why is it that the latter elicits so much stronger a response on this forum?

No it doesn't. There's 2 extremes, the "omg tell me the lowest score I need to get in" crowd and the "omg let's brag about the amazing score I (am possibly pretending that I) got on the MCAT" crowd.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

What about 32 and 29, worth a retake to get a 32 (assuming I could get one)?

On the MSAR it looks like with a 29 it looks like 1900 got in and 1400 didnt....with a 32 it looks like 1600 got in and 750 didnt...
So roughly your chances increase 58% to 70%

 

[scarletgirl777]

Ok, this is just false. Is life at Harvard the same as at a huge state school like Michigan or something? No, but there are tons of sports events that are really well attended and have passionate fans, there are tons of activities outside of academics, and as far as life experiences go there are many unusual travel/volunteer/employment opps. If anything, schools like that get students with more interesting life experience because they stand out from the average crowd of students. Life experience goes beyond drinking, greek, and sports.

So true. These are not prerequisites to having a life. There are many things that are much, much more fun.

 

[scarletgirl777]

Sorry but I will never be convinced that on average someone who received their undergraduate degree from Harvard will have the same life experiences than someone who went to a state school. For one, state schools usually have a much larger student body. Hence, statistically, your odds of interacting with individuals of different socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and interests are inevitably higher. Cultural competence and social awareness, two very important qualities in physicians, come from these sort of interactions. The more exposed you are to such individuals, the more likely you will be to relate to/with them. That is specifically why it's highly valued for applicants to have some foreign life experience; by living or spending time in other countries, it obviously shows that you can appreciate differences; hence, you gain cultural competence.

A fair point. But at schools like this, there are often very robust ways in which people can get involved in community service. I think that although the dynamic of "helping" someone is different than the dynamic of socializing with them, it can certainly help you be exposed. Besides, there's no guarantee, even at a state school, that people will socialize across class or racial lines.

Also, of course I'm sure there are a lot of Harvard premeds who are thoroughly annoying to be around. But I think that's true of all kinds of accomplished people, and I certainly would think it is NOT true of most premed students at Harvard or similar institutions. Take comfort in the fact that some of the ones who are truly annoying will eventually be rejected from somewhere and hopefully get knocked down a peg or two. 😛