picking safety schools based on median MCAT

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My GPA is competitive, so I've decided to pick schools based on their median MCAT. If my MCAT is a 33, would a school (like Drexel or GW) with a median MCAT of 31 be considered a safety? Or is that too close for comfort?

 

[bigdogrob4284]

MCAT is one way to pick safety schools, but you need to look at the # of applications they get as well. Both GW and Drexel are high as far as the # of applicants they get, so in my opinion I don't think they are very good safety schools.

 

[sector9]

TBH, I would hesitate to consider GW and Drexel as safeties for just about anyone since they get over 10k applications a year.

 

[MedPR]

TBH, I would hesitate to consider GW and Drexel as safeties for just about anyone since they get over 10k applications a year.

+1 and part of the reason they get so many applications is because many see them as safety schools because of their lower median stats. Same for a school like Tulane.

Quite honestly, safety schools are the only true "safety" schools.. unless you live in California.

 

[Geebeejay]

+1 and part of the reason they get so many applications is because many see them as safety schools because of their lower median stats. Same for a school like Tulane.

Quite honestly, safety schools are the only true "safety" schools.. unless you live in California.

I think he meant "state schools are the only true "safety" schools." I really don't think there are safety schools. For instance, GW may have "low median stats", but they regularly flat our reject pre-interview people with high stats (35+, 3.8+). You should just apply to schools where your stats are in range, and hope that one of them likes your application. But don't bank on a few "safeties" to fall back while sending most of your applications to schools outside of your range.

And FYI, a MCAT of 33 is competitive. Browsing this site, you may think you are at the low-end, but you're definitely not.

 

[MedPR]

I think he meant "state schools are the only true "safety" schools." I really don't think there are safety schools. For instance, GW may have "low median stats", but they regularly flat our reject pre-interview people with high stats (35+, 3.8+). You should just apply to schools where your stats are in range, and hope that one of them likes your application. But don't bank on a few "safeties" to fall back while sending most of your applications to schools outside of your range.

And FYI, a MCAT of 33 is competitive. Browsing this site, you may think you are at the low-end, but you're definitely not.

Thanks for catching that. Yes, I meant state schools are the only safety schools.

 

[Non Pizza Lunch]

My GPA is competitive, so I've decided to pick schools based on their median MCAT. If my MCAT is a 33, would a school (like Drexel or GW) with a median MCAT of 31 be considered a safety? Or is that too close for comfort?

No it definitely would not qualify as a safety school. Even to other schools with less applicants, and with a 31 average it still wouldn't apply, at least not with a 33.

 

[heartshaped box]

Thanks guys. I didn't even think to look at the number of applications those schools receive.

 

[Moosepig]

Going along with the OPs line of thought. Say one has a 33 or so MCAT and otherwise competitive stats, wouldn't it be worth it to apply to 2-4 DO schools as a hyper-safety net in order to maximize odds of becoming a practicing doctor?

 

[MedPR]

Going along with the OPs line of thought. Say one has a 33 or so MCAT and otherwise competitive stats, wouldn't it be worth it to apply to 2-4 DO schools as a hyper-safety net in order to maximize odds of becoming a practicing doctor?

Sure, but if you apply early and broadly with competitive stats you don't need the DO safety net.

 

[Barcu]

Going along with the OPs line of thought. Say one has a 33 or so MCAT and otherwise competitive stats, wouldn't it be worth it to apply to 2-4 DO schools as a hyper-safety net in order to maximize odds of becoming a practicing doctor?

Not necessary.

If you don't get into an MD school with a 33 MCAT (and competitive GPA), and you have no glaring red flags, you did something wrong.

 

[ScholarStud]

For instance, GW may have "low median stats", but they regularly flat our reject pre-interview people with high stats (35+, 3.8+). .

From what source of knowledge do you make such a claim?

 

[Moosepig]

Not necessary.

If you don't get into an MD school with a 33 MCAT (and competitive GPA), and you have no glaring red flags, you did something wrong.

That is what I figured, but I seem to always hear the horror stories of totally competitive, competent, interviewable people having terrible luck and getting no acceptances. I am sure those situations are very rare but I would just hate to be that guy and figure it might be worth two applications to avoid being so. Perhaps I am just too catious.

 

[MedPR]

That is what I figured, but I seem to always hear the horror stories of totally competitive, competent, interviewable people having terrible luck and getting no acceptances. I am sure those situations are very rare but I would just hate to be that guy and figure it might be worth two applications to avoid being so. Perhaps I am just too catious.

When Barcu says "did something wrong" that could mean things like applying late, not applying broadly, being arrogant at an interview, applying late, oh and did I mention not applying broadly and applying late?

 

[kpcrew]

From what source of knowledge do you make such a claim?

Just take a look at the school specific threads. Plenty of schools reject high stats applicants for whatever reason.

 

[kfsa1]

Just take a look at the school specific threads. Plenty of schools reject high stats applicants for whatever reason.

+1

It's also about how you fit into each school's respective mission as well as student environment.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

I'm under the impression that no school is really a safety school. They're all looking for something different, even if you have stellar stats. Especially with schools like Boston, GW, et cetera with 10000 apps. You really gotta make sure you match their "mission," and have the ECs to back it up.

I'm just the average joe six-pack applicant though (stats wise), so my thoughts might not be worth much.

 

[Lucky Louie]

Applying to med school isn't at all like applying to college. First, there are tons of colleges, so it's super important to "apply broadly", but that's hardly true with med schools. Since there's actually very little difference in the education you'd get between going to a TOP med school and going to a lesser med school, it's even more important that you find med schools that fits you. That's also why many top students get rejected from lesser med schools. Sure there are basic differences, like rural vs urban or whether the focus is on research vs clinical and of course public vs private, but other than that, overall it's really quite similar.

 

[Geebeejay]

From what source of knowledge do you make such a claim?

Read through the threads of various "safety schools" from previous years and see for yourself.