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legacydoctor

legacydoctor

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Have any of you with a cGPA & sGPA of ~3.5, standard ECs (shadowing/volunteering/research), and an MCAT of 20 gotten accepted to one or more schools of your choice?

Just wondering because I'm currently in that boat; I will be retaking the MCAT soon though!
 
legacydoctor said:
Have any of you with a cGPA & sGPA of ~3.5, standard ECs (shadowing/volunteering/research), and an MCAT of 20 gotten accepted to one or more schools of your choice?

Just wondering because I'm currently in that boat; I will be retaking the MCAT soon though!
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I'm hoping you can bump that score up 'cause you're about to become a nontrad real fast if you don't. Check the Underdogs thread and the 2013-2014 acceptance thread if you want a feel for your competitiveness.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2013-2014-underdawgs-thread-lets-get-it.1000254/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...cceptance-rejection-thread-2013-2014.1019246/
 
I was in your exact same shoes about 2 years ago, same stats and everything. Speaking from experience, I would hold off, unless if you think you can improve your score by the time you apply. How long in between your first test and the retake? If it's 3 months or less don't bank on making a huge improvement, again, this is from experience.
 
I am all about optimism when it comes to applications but an MCAT of 20 is pretty abysmal. Ill just be completely honest--you aren't going to be accepted into any US medical school with that score. Dont mean to sound like a jerk, but that is the truth.

Retake it. The whole "traditional" medical student idea is a load of crap anyway.
 
You need to retake. I'd say close to no chance at getting an interview anywhere. Pm me if you want, I can give you some more info on some options on a more personal basis.
 
I would first recommend a retake. But, with that being said, it is incorrect to say that there is a 0% chance of someone getting in with a score ~20.

There are ALWAYS people who get in with with what you call "abysmal" scores. Someone at my school got in with a 19. One of my coworkers got into a US MD school with a 3.5 and 22. Someone at UTSW, arguably the best medical school in Texas, got in the other year matriculated with a 21. Yes, they may have had some special circumstances that they overcame, and I acknowledge that getting in with that kind of a score is a rare, but it is false to say there is no chance.

But, as others have mentioned, buckle down, study hard, and do well on your retake.
 
IH8ColdWeath3r said:
I would first recommend a retake. But, with that being said, it is incorrect to say that there is a 0% chance of someone getting in with a score ~20.

There are ALWAYS people who get in with with what you call "abysmal" scores. Someone at my school got in with a 19. One of my coworkers got into a US MD school with a 3.5 and 22. Someone at UTSW, arguably the best medical school in Texas, got in the other year matriculated with a 21. Yes, they may have had some special circumstances that they overcame, and I acknowledge that getting in with that kind of a score is a rare, but it is false to say there is no chance.

But, as others have mentioned, buckle down, study hard, and do well on your retake.
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I just wanted to thank everyone for their feedback. Sitting here and contemplating all of this on my own can make things seem a little daunting but talking it out with you guys makes me optimistic. I've already submitted my application for verification and have also signed up for a retake in September.
 
Get your mcat in the 26 range and you'll have your choice of a few schools.
 
IH8ColdWeath3r said:
I would first recommend a retake. But, with that being said, it is incorrect to say that there is a 0% chance of someone getting in with a score ~20.

There are ALWAYS people who get in with with what you call "abysmal" scores. Someone at my school got in with a 19. One of my coworkers got into a US MD school with a 3.5 and 22. Someone at UTSW, arguably the best medical school in Texas, got in the other year matriculated with a 21. Yes, they may have had some special circumstances that they overcame, and I acknowledge that getting in with that kind of a score is a rare, but it is false to say there is no chance.

But, as others have mentioned, buckle down, study hard, and do well on your retake.
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This is called false hope. Everybody knows someone who heard of another guy who knows a guy who got in with a 15 MCAT.
If these outliers even exist, which I doubt they do, they got accepted over a decade ago when the averages were lower.

This is pure honesty and the best advice you can get: don't waste your time and money applying until you improve that score.

Its not fair, and I hate it too, but the difference between a 20 and a 25 is enormous.
 
ChrisGriffen said:
This is called false hope. Everybody knows someone who heard of another guy who knows a guy who got in with a 15 MCAT.
If these outliers even exist, which I doubt they do, they got accepted over a decade ago when the averages were lower.

This is pure honesty and the best advice you can get: don't waste your time and money applying until you improve that score.

Its not fair, and I hate it too, but the difference between a 20 and a 25 is enormous.
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I mentioned that from personal experience a 20 doesn't get you in unless if you have an amazing backstory or ECs to play off that low score, which it doesn't sound like OP has. The AAMC tables will tell you that you have >0% chance getting in with that score, but again there has to be A LOT you're doing to make up for that low score. But ppl will only learn through their own experience and OP said he already sent in the app. I honestly wish them well, but I'm not going to be blindly optimistic about it.
 
ChrisGriffen said:
This is called false hope. Everybody knows someone who heard of another guy who knows a guy who got in with a 15 MCAT.
If these outliers even exist, which I doubt they do, they got accepted over a decade ago when the averages were lower.

This is pure honesty and the best advice you can get: don't waste your time and money applying until you improve that score.

Its not fair, and I hate it too, but the difference between a 20 and a 25 is enormous.
Click to expand...

Why don't you scroll up to the part where I recommended a retake, twice. I think I placed adequate emphasis on a retake if the OP wishes to have a realistic shot at getting in and not wishing for a miracle, because frankly, that's what getting into medical school with a 20 is.

And again, you highlight your ignorance by making a comment like..."if these outliers exist, WHICH I DOUBT THEY DO"....
Well, I am telling you that they do. The people on here are telling you that they do. The AAMC tables may be outdated, but, the UTSW class from 2 years ago (NOT A DECADE, as you mentioned) posted the MCAT range for their matriculants and it was from 21-40, meaning that they accepted someone with a 21. An old coworker of mine matriculated MD with a 22. And someone at my school matriculated with below a 20. So, you really shouldn't sound so supremely confident when you make blanket statements like the ones you've made (0% chance, doubt they do, etc. etc.).

We are all advising the OP to retake to have a realistic shot. Regardless, I wish the OP well since he has already submitted his app.
 
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I know someone who got a couple interviews at in-state MD schools with a 22 and really good GPA but still on waiting lists I believe. I applied DO only with a 26 and 3.4 and only received 2 IIs and one acceptance (miraculously!)
 
I'm going to be the bad guy here, but if you are only able to get a 20, you have no business being a doctor. I hope there isn't a single school willing to accept such subpar applicant.
 
AlbinoHawk is a pre-med, who had a very subpar 3.2 cGPA....so ignore that post^.


The MCAT has absolutely nothing to do with how good or bad of a doctor you will be
 
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AlbinoHawk DO said:
I'm going to be the bad guy here, but if you are only able to get a 20, you have no business being a doctor. I hope there isn't a single school willing to accept such subpar applicant.
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Unnecessarily rude. 1 exam need not make someone's career. Plenty of IMGs that have around 20 mcat and are excellent physicians.
 
ChrisGriffen said:
AlbinoHawk is a pre-med, who had a very subpar 3.2 cGPA....so ignore that post^.


The MCAT has absolutely nothing to do with how good or bad of a doctor you will be
Click to expand...
Yes, my 3.6 science is definitely super low. 20 has no place in medicine. OP can retake and prove that score wrong, but if he can't, he has no place in medicine.
 
Petypet said:
Unnecessarily rude. 1 exam need not make someone's career. Plenty of IMGs that have around 20 mcat and are excellent physicians.
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Did I oppose retaking? No. There are plenty of statistics showing how getting an mcat that low makes it very unlikely to pass the boards. You can cite exceptions, but that's all that they are: exceptions.
 
AlbinoHawk DO said:
Yes, my 3.6 science is definitely super low. 20 has no place in medicine. OP can retake and prove that score wrong, but if he can't, he has no place in medicine.
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Pot meet kettle. You are going to be a prick to someone about one test score, when your cumulative GPA was 3.2? OP botched one test. You botched college.
 
AlbinoHawk DO said:
Yes, my 3.6 science is definitely super low. 20 has no place in medicine. OP can retake and prove that score wrong, but if he can't, he has no place in medicine.
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3.6 is super low? You are a DO and telling people they have bad grades?

AlbinoHawk DO said:
Did I oppose retaking? No. There are plenty of statistics showing how getting an mcat that low makes it very unlikely to pass the boards. You can cite exceptions, but that's all that they are: exceptions.
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http://www.educus.com/Journals/17198300?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

This is "the source", small correlation between step 1 and MCAT, not "very unlikely" to fail the boards. Again, a stupid test does not dictate the quality of physician. You have much to learn, and the first is a little bit of humble pie.
 
ChrisGriffen said:
Pot meet kettle. You are going to be a prick to someone about one test score, when your cumulative GPA was 3.2? OP botched one test. You botched college.
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Ad hominen is the best you can do? You're a sad person. How about you share your stats including mcat?
 
Petypet said:
3.6 is super low? You are a DO and telling people they have bad grades?



http://www.educus.com/Journals/17198300?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

This is "the source", small correlation between step 1 and MCAT, not "very unlikely" to fail the boards. Again, a stupid test does not dictate the quality of physician. You have much to learn, and the first is a little bit of humble pie.
Click to expand...
Yes, I am telling him he has a bad grade because he does. Do you have any argument to the contrary or the best you can do is talk about being a DO? Guess what, genius? Thousands don't get into DO schools.
 
AlbinoHawk DO said:
Yes, I am telling him he has a bad grade because he does. Do you have any argument to the contrary or the best you can do is talk about being a DO? Guess what, genius? Thousands don't get into DO schools.
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Saying someone has no business being a physician when you know nothing about them is harsh and unnecessary. Why are you so angry that you feel the need to berate other people on a forum. Lighten up, and give meaningful advice, not berating a peer because it gets you off.
 
AlbinoHawk DO said:
I'm on my phone. You can put USMLE and mcat in pubmed.
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Ok, I did that. I admittedly didn't look at all the results but the couple I did look at mentioned a correlation with only the biological sciences section. Was glad to see it. I got a 14 on my BS section. 270+ and 750+ here I come!
 
Petypet said:
Saying someone has no business being a physician when you know nothing about them is harsh and unnecessary. Why are you so angry that you feel the need to berate other people on a forum. Lighten up, and give meaningful advice, not berating a peer because it gets you off.
Click to expand...
I'm going to give you one last reply. A 20 means you have no business in medicine. Retake the MCAT and prove that wrong. If you can't, you shouldn't be in medical school. Simple as that. Maybe you think you can fill up a medical school with 20 mcat and think they will perform well. I don't buy that.
 
legacydoctor said:
Have any of you with a cGPA & sGPA of ~3.5, standard ECs (shadowing/volunteering/research), and an MCAT of 20 gotten accepted to one or more schools of your choice?

Just wondering because I'm currently in that boat; I will be retaking the MCAT soon though!
Click to expand...

I will tell you exactly what you need to improve your score:

-ExamKrackers Complete Study Package
-ExamKrackers Audio Osmosis*** --> this is EXTREMELY important for verbal. They explain their verbal strategy very well, and it is hands down the best verbal strategy you will find. IT WORKS. USE IT.
-All of the AAMC practice tests as well as The Berkeley Review practice tests
-The Gold Standard MCAT (mostly for its practice tests)
-ExamKrackers 101 Passages in Verbal

That's mostly it.

Good luck.
 
AlbinoHawk DO said:
I'm going to give you one last reply. A 20 means you have no business in medicine. Retake the MCAT and prove that wrong. If you can't, you shouldn't be in medical school. Simple as that. Maybe you think you can fill up a medical school with 20 mcat and think they will perform well. I don't buy that.
Click to expand...

Someone who isnt in medical school, telling us who shouldnt be in medical school. Classic.
 
NeuroSpeed said:
Ok, I did that. I admittedly didn't look at all the results but the couple I did look at mentioned a correlation with only the biological sciences section. Was glad to see it. I got a 14 on my BS section. 270+ and 750+ here I come!
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I only got a 9. That's it, I'm dropping out and becoming a CRNA. What was I thinking trying to be a physician? There's no place at the pearly (read ****ty) gates (read hospital entry) for me.
 
AlbinoHawk DO said:
What were your stats? Respond to the question.
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My stats are irrelevant to this topic, but i had a 3.7 and a 32P MCAT.

I can tell you first hand, because I actually go to medical school, that after the application process those numbers are 100% meaningless.

Please stick to the pre-med forums
 
ChrisGriffen said:
My stats are irrelevant to this topic, but i had a 3.7 and a 32P MCAT.

I can tell you first hand, because I actually go to medical school, that after the application process those numbers are 100% meaningless.

Please stick to the pre-med forums
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I guess that's why med schools recruit the people with the best possible stats and experiences - because it's meaningless.

Not buying your stats. Link to one of your older posts.
 
AlbinoHawk DO said:
I guess that's why med schools recruit the people with the best possible stats and experiences - because it's meaningless.

Not buying your stats. Link to one of your older posts.
Click to expand...

If med schools only recruited people based off numbers, your 3.2 GPA would probably bar you out of every school.

And sorry Dad, I dont post about stats, because I am not a pre-med who yaps in every single thread on this site.
 
ChrisGriffen said:
If med schools only recruited people based off numbers, your 3.2 GPA would probably bar you out of every school.

And sorry Dad, I dont post about stats, because I am not a pre-med who yaps in every single thread on this site.
Click to expand...
So on one hand you tell me stats are meaningless and on the other you want to put my GPA down while ignoring that my science was 3.6. Which one is it? Do you ever say anything that doesn't come associated with a fallacy?

There are other ways to prove your stats. I'm remaining skeptical until you present evidence.
 
AlbinoHawk DO said:
So on one hand you tell me stats are meaningless and on the other you want to put my GPA down while ignoring that my science was 3.6. Which one is it? Do you ever say anything that doesn't come associated with a fallacy?

There are other ways to prove your stats. I'm remaining skeptical until you present evidence.
Click to expand...

Those stats ARE meaningless...once you start medical school.
 
ChrisGriffen said:
Those stats ARE meaningless...once you start medical school.
Click to expand...
If you mean we get a "blank slate" sort of thing, I agree, but my point is that your past performance usually indicates something about your capacity in school. Is it a perfect 1:1 correlation? No.
 
NeuroSpeed said:
Ok, I did that. I admittedly didn't look at all the results but the couple I did look at mentioned a correlation with only the biological sciences section. Was glad to see it. I got a 14 on my BS section. 270+ and 750+ here I come!
Click to expand...

If I recall correctly there was a pretty decent correlation with both the bio and verbal sections. R around 0.60 I believe (if not higher). That said, it certainly isn't a perfect correlation.

To be honest, the kids at my school with 24 and less on the MCAT struggled with things like the Anatomy shelf. They passed, but barely. They do well in classes though. Some people are just bad standardized test takers, it usually has little or nothing to do with their intelligence/ability.

Anyways, I think maybe what AlbinoHawkDO is alluding to is the stat that you start seeing a higher percentage of people having trouble passing boards (I think its around a score of <23). That said, ChrisGriffen is sort of right about stats becoming meaningless in med school. Not all stats are equal, and someone's 3.0 might have meant more work and effort to get than someone else's 3.7 at an easier school or in an easier program. The same is a bit true for the MCAT. Someone who has months to study and takes a $3000 review course and gets a 28 might not really be better than someone who doesn't have the time to study or the money for the course and gets a 25.
 
Hey OP,

I just wanted to apologize for my behavior yesterday. I realize that what I wrote sounded unnecessarily rude. My point wasn't to say you don't have what it takes. My point was to say you need to retake and show that you have what it takes. If the score doesn't increase, I do believe that medical school would be a struggle and you're in danger of failing step 1 or your classes, so in that instance I do think medical school wouldn't be the best of ideas. You can see here that there are diminished chances of passing when you have a low MCAT score: https://www.aamc.org/students/download/267622/data/mcatstudentselectionguide.pdf

I hope you are able to do well on a second try on the MCAT. I know plenty of people who have had 1 bad score and have increased.

Good luck.
 
AlbinoHawk DO said:
Hey OP,

I just wanted to apologize for my behavior yesterday. I realize that what I wrote sounded unnecessarily rude. My point wasn't to say you don't have what it takes. My point was to say you need to retake and show that you have what it takes. If the score doesn't increase, I do believe that medical school would be a struggle and you're in danger of failing step 1 or your classes, so in that instance I do think medical school wouldn't be the best of ideas. You can see here that there are diminished chances of passing when you have a low MCAT score: https://www.aamc.org/students/download/267622/data/mcatstudentselectionguide.pdf

I hope you are able to do well on a second try on the MCAT. I know plenty of people who have had 1 bad score and have increased.

Good luck.
Click to expand...
I should've added the fact that I took the MCAT a week after my winter semester finals ended so I had almost no time to study for it.

As for my readiness to take medical school classes, in the last 2 years I've taken biochem, pathology, microbio, organic chem 1 & 2, and other high level science courses and have had a consistent 3.9 GPA.

I plan on focusing solely on MCAT studying for the next ~3 months so if at the end I come out with a score below <23 then I'll be sure to come back here and tell you exactly how right you were 🙂🙂🙂
 
legacydoctor said:
I should've added the fact that I took the MCAT a week after my winter semester finals ended so I had almost no time to study for it.

As for my readiness to take medical school classes, in the last 2 years I've taken biochem, pathology, microbio, organic chem 1 & 2, and other high level science courses and have had a consistent 3.9 GPA.

I plan on focusing solely on MCAT studying for the next ~3 months so if at the end I come out with a score below <23 then I'll be sure to come back here and tell you exactly how right you were 🙂🙂🙂
Click to expand...
Take the timed practice tests, buy review books EK, Princeton, Kaplan. If your poor these books can be had used from Amazon fairly cheaply. If your better off maybe a prep course. If you don't bring your score up....restrategize. Maybe pharmacy, PA, Dental??? You might try the LSAT or PCAT too.
 
legacydoctor said:
I should've added the fact that I took the MCAT a week after my winter semester finals ended so I had almost no time to study for it.

As for my readiness to take medical school classes, in the last 2 years I've taken biochem, pathology, microbio, organic chem 1 & 2, and other high level science courses and have had a consistent 3.9 GPA.

I plan on focusing solely on MCAT studying for the next ~3 months so if at the end I come out with a score below <23 then I'll be sure to come back here and tell you exactly how right you were 🙂🙂🙂
Click to expand...

I wasn't able to increase my score until I had graduated. Medical technology classes are extremely time consuming and intense. I was able to raise my score from 20 (junior year) to a 27 (this year). It's definitely possible! And for you it doesn't sound as though this should be an issue 🙂
 
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