Poll for new med students

[M00se]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I realize that numbers are not everything, but it would be so helpful to me if you accepted folks would tell us hopefuls your vitals. Maybe just GPA, MCAT, and where you got in. I am trying to make a decision on retaking the MCAT. I got 8-v, 9-p, 12-b, and I am wondering if retaking will slow down my application for 2000. Thanks much.

------------------
Jim

 

[mabbas]

Your MCAT scores are competitive and you need not take the MCAT again. I scored lower in biology and similar in the other two. I think that a GPA above 3.2 with MCAT scores ranging from 25-30 is enough to get an interview. I feel that half the battle is getting an interview and the other half is demonstrating why the school should take you. I got into OUCOM based on my professional development after my undergraduate years. Within the two years being out of undergraduate, I obtained a Masters and was conducting research at a world renowned government institution. I think these things are what stick out to the interviewers and not whether you scores 29 or 31 on your MCAT scores. My applications the prior two years when I was still a senior and was just starting my Masters were lacking this experience.
My advise to you is that you need to concentrate on distinguishing yourself from the other applicants. MCAT scores won't do it alone...

 

[TP]

Here are my vitals:

mcat: 30
gpa: 3.7
non-sci: 3.96; sci: 3.6 (i suck at o-chem)
Bio major and history minor

My extracurriculars in brief:
Volunteered since my freshman year. Shadowed a DO for a year and a MD for a year. Did neuroscience research since my freshman year. A founding member of a volunteer program. Joined several clubs and was an officer for one of my clubs. Interned for american heart assoc.

I only applied to DO schools (12 of them) and i got invited to 7 interviews (uhs, azcom, ccom, uohms, comp, tucom, unecom) I went to 4 interviews (uhs, azcom, ccom, comp) and declined the rest. I got into all the schools i interviewed to except ccom. CCOM, i was placed on the high alternate list and was later accepted. I'll be attending ccom this fall.

I think your mcat is fine however, i believe that med. schools want a well-rounded individual. They want good mcat scores (26 and above) and good gpa (3.4 and above) but they also want to see how much passion/ committment you have for medicine. The way they can infer all this is by looking at your extracurricular activities. Extracurricular activities can also tell the committee your interests as well (i.e. play intramural sports, snowboard club). Being a pre-med, time is valuable and what you choose to do and how long you do it for tells the committee a lot about yourself and your priorities.

And at the interview stage, you can let your personality shine through.

 

[Brad]

My simple opinion is that MCAT's get you into interviews, and well-rounded applicants get accepted.

My GPA was about 3.7 overall, science 3.6. MCAT was 8-10-10. I taught Human Phys. labs as an undergrad and did a bunch of other extra-curric's. I got interview invitations everywhere I applied (UOM, UHS, KCOM, CCOM, AZCOM, NSUCOM, UNECOM). I declined virtually all of those invitations after I got into KCOM (start next week).

Apply Now! You will get interviews, and if you can master the interviews, you will get in. No worries, just prep well.

Good luck.

 

[Hskermdic]

I applied early decision to KCOM GPA-3.6 Sci GPA 3.7 MCAT V-10 B-11 P-11. I was interviewed the first week of October and new by the next week that I was accepted and would be attending KCOM in the fall.

When it came interview time it was all pretty easy. My strengths were time spent following physicians and working as a paramedic. I agree with previous posters in saying apply early prepare for your interviews as best you can, I am not sure how much that is possible and then relax and give it your best shot. Grades aren't everything.

FYI - I started my first three years of school with horible grades and ended that 3 years with a semester where my highest grade was a D+. I left school and worked as a paramedic for several years and then went back and turned things around during the next 3 years. I worried that this would be an issue during my interview but it never came up other than a communt on my big improvement after changing my life.

 

[daveyboy]

Im in the "had a really bad year" situation as well. Im still getting my pre med classes out of the way and have not taken the MCAT. All you can do is try to kick ass in every class you take after the bad year.
The question that bugs me the most is what kind of MCAT score will I need to get an interview. I will have about a 3.2, maybe 3.3 when I graduate. I'll have lots of upper division bio. Tons of neuroscienc research experience and plenty of volunteer work in the hospital. But it all comes down to the MCAT scores, Im convinced.
Any advice from med students? How do I boost my chances?

 

[DO DUDE]

Score at least a 23. That's usually the minimum to be considered for an interview.

 

[alfredoatlas]

GPA ::: 3.8 (Engineering)
MCAT:::34 p-13 b12 v-9

OUCOM IN the FAll