Reapplicant 520 MCAT, 3.79 cGPA

[ScreenName23]

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Hi so I've been looking at people's feedback on here for awhile and have some questions of my own. Thanks so much for any feedback you have!
3.8 cGPA
3.75 sGPA
520 (130/130/130/130) MCAT
However I took the old MCAT in 2014 and got a 28.
I have 2000 hours working in a clinic
100 hours of shadowing
Researched full time for two summers 1000+ hours presented posters but no published research
I am planning to apply in June 2017. Plenty other ECs: leadership, jobs, etc with many hours that can be included.

I'm not sure how schools will view this old and new MCAT because if they average my percentiles I won't be in such a good spot anymore and shouldn't apply to top schools...

MD (all of these feel like reaches): UCSF, UCI, UCLA, UCSD, UCDAVIS, OHSU, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, Einstein, Loma Linda, Loyola, OU, University of Michigan, University of Vermont, University of Illinois, Yale?
Definitely need to add more since this is my second cycle...
Thanks so much for any input you can give!

 

[768730]

Take my thoughts with a few grains of salt: How any individual school treats two MCAT scores I'm not entirely sure, but with the MCAT exam itself completely changing, I have to imagine schools will more heavily weigh (if they do average) the new test. At worst, a 28-->39 averages to a 33.5, which still puts you in the running for almost every school on your list barring a few (Stanford, Columbia, Yale, maybe UM as OOS).

But other than the new MCAT, what else have you done/are you doing in the two years between cycles other than the job? If you've been keeping up with volunteering and clinical hours and everything else, then I have to think you'll have a great cycle, especially since you'll only be a reapplicant to two schools. Like I mentioned before, at worst it seems you are a 3.75GPA/33.5MCAT/2000 clinical hours candidate; most would kill for that kind of application.

Good luck, my friend.

EDIT: also trim those state schools that you are OOS out of your list (OU, UVM, UI). Maybe Pick more private schools that are close to a 3.7/34.

 

[ScreenName23]

Thanks for the response! Ill look into more private schools.
To answer your question:
During the time in between I did an Americorps position working with underserved patients directly to help them navigate the healthcare system and tutored high school students with behavioral/mental health issues as well as volunteering at a local hospital. In the next year and a half or so I'll be doing lab research and continuing to volunteer and tutor.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Youre not going to be able to predict how each evaluator at a school interprets two scores this far apart regardless or what lip service they get. Everything about it is subjective

With a good list you should be fine though. Go through MSAR and find OOS friendly schools with an MCAT median around 34-35( ie Miami Rochester etc). Best choices will be those you aren't a reapp at. The ones where your second MCAT is >90th and get >11k apps probably won't be the best choices. Einstein from your list is an example of a good choice. Adding at least a dozen like that would probably be ideal

 

[ScreenName23]

Thanks so much for the perspective on how these two disparate MCATs might be looked at. I get hung up on how people will view them but, like you said, ultimatley it depends on who's in the room deciding and what they each think!

 

[ScreenName23]

.

 

[Goro]

I think you're quite golden, OP, if not actually platinum. Good luck!!!

 

[ScreenName23]

@Goro Thanks so much for the response. I have been reading your advice on here for awhile so...I really appreciate you taking the time to answer!!
Somewhere I read that you thought adcoms didn't trust the new MCAT as much so people with old and new MCATs would get their percentiles averaged. When I apply everyone will have to have a new MCAT because the old one will have expired, I'm hoping it works out.
Thanks again!!

 

[Gurby]

I think you should add more top schools to the list. In particular I think Pritzker would be high yield for you - they are huge on community service and working with the underserved. I think you could get some love from Mayo too, and they don't have secondary essays so that's an easy one to add to the list (both MN and AZ).

 

[Goro]

It's not that people don't' trust the new exam, just that they don't have a frame of reference as to what a good score is like on the old exam. We know what he 30 line meant. But give it a few years and then we'll be talking about the "511 line", or similar.

@Goro Thanks so much for the response. I have been reading your advice on here for awhile so...I really appreciate you taking the time to answer!!
Somewhere I read that you thought adcoms didn't trust the new MCAT as much so people with old and new MCATs would get their percentiles averaged. When I apply everyone will have to have a new MCAT because the old one will have expired, I'm hoping it works out.
Thanks again!!

 

[ScreenName23]

@Gurby thanks for the tips! It feels unreal to have a chance at places like that after my last application cycle. I'll start looking into some of those top schools though🙂

 

[lexswift]

It's not that people don't' trust the new exam, just that they don't have a frame of reference as to what a good score is like on the old exam. We know what he 30 line meant. But give it a few years and then we'll be talking about the "511 line", or similar.

Why would this be a problem? We still have percentiles?

 

[Goro]

Yes, we have percentiles. But for years, nobody said " this applicant is in the X %ile". We said "this applicant has a 31 MCAT score". That's our frame of reference...the two digit score. Nice and simple. So, a few more years and then we'll have a nice and simple three digit score.

Why would this be a problem? We still have percentiles?

 

[ScreenName23]

Hello all,

I've made an updated list after looking at my finances and reading up more on realistic possibilities. I am obviously applying to a lot of reaches but I just really want to give them a try. The only schools on my list where I will be a reapplicant at are UC Davis and OHSU. I really appreciate any constructive feedback that you have.

Quick Stats: 3.79 cGPA, 3.74 sGPA three year old (expired) MCAT: 28 (P8, B9, V11) New MCAT: 520 (130/130/130/130), Applied not this cycle but last. Have significant research (two summers in undergrad two full time years post grad but no papers yet) and volunteer experiences (over 2000 hours primarily with underserved patient communities). Please critique! I probably won't take any off (unless I don't fit mission and didn't realize it)...but I am willing to add on more. I'm not sure what a safety school is in my range...

High Reach
Harvard
Yale
Columbia
Hopkins
UCSF
Stanford
Wash U
U Penn
U Chicago
NYU
U Michigan
Cornell
UCLA
Vanderbilt
Reach
UCSD
UCDavis
OHSU
Emory
Case Western
Target
U Vermont
UCI
Loyola
Rochester
U Miami
Hofstra

 

[Faha]

Consider adding a few more schools such as:
Einstein
St. Louis
Tulane
Cincinnati
Georgetown

 

[ScreenName23]

Consider adding a few more schools such as:
Einstein
St. Louis
Tulane
Cincinnati
Georgetown

Thanks so much for you input! Do you feel like that would fill the lack of 'safety' schools on my list? (I know there's not any true safety schools because all medical schools are hard to get into...)

 

[TSteezy]

Take my thoughts with a few grains of salt: How any individual school treats two MCAT scores I'm not entirely sure, but with the MCAT exam itself completely changing, I have to imagine schools will more heavily weigh (if they do average) the new test. At worst, a 28-->39 averages to a 33.5, which still puts you in the running for almost every school on your list barring a few (Stanford, Columbia, Yale, maybe UM as OOS).

But other than the new MCAT, what else have you done/are you doing in the two years between cycles other than the job? If you've been keeping up with volunteering and clinical hours and everything else, then I have to think you'll have a great cycle, especially since you'll only be a reapplicant to two schools. Like I mentioned before, at worst it seems you are a 3.75GPA/33.5MCAT/2000 clinical hours candidate; most would kill for that kind of application.

Good luck, my friend.

EDIT: also trim those state schools that you are OOS out of your list (OU, UVM, UI). Maybe Pick more private schools that are close to a 3.7/34.

I would say to keep UM on there. I got in as an OOS reapplicant w/ a 513. I'd like to think they're a more holistic school

 

[ScreenName23]

I would say to keep UM on there. I got in as an OOS reapplicant w/ a 513. I'd like to think they're a more holistic school

Thanks for your input! I will definitely keep them on the list. Congrats on all the acceptances!!!

 

[Faha]

Thanks so much for you input! Do you feel like that would fill the lack of 'safety' schools on my list? (I know there's not any true safety schools because all medical schools are hard to get into...)

Yes, you can never have too many "safety" schools.

 

[LizzyM]

If you are not in California, drop the California public schools. Ditto Oregon.
Some schools require a thesis (Yale is one). If you would not look forward to that requirement, slash them from the list.

What are you looking for in a school?

 

[ScreenName23]

If you are not in California, drop the California public schools. Ditto Oregon.
Some schools require a thesis (Yale is one). If you would not look forward to that requirement, slash them from the list.

What are you looking for in a school?

I'm from California and did my undergrad in WA so I thought the pacific northwest connection would help for Oregon. I am really interested in being involved in a significant research project as part of my medical school experience and I really like that Yale has a thesis requirement. I'm also very interested in public health. I'm not going to apply for the MD/MPH right off the bat but I would like to go to a school with connections in that field so that I could explore it further. I also have had significant experience working with urban underserved patient populations so I would like to be somewhere that would allow me to continue that work. Many schools have a student run free clinic which I would really like to get involved in.

I can expand on the above interests if that was not what you were looking for/asking for. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[libertyyne]

Man, generating your list is a difficult task due to the previous MCAT.

Target Best Case scenario
Pick 10
U Penn
Washington St.Louis
Vanderbilt
Yale
Northwestern
U of Pittsburgh
Columbia
NYU
Pritzker Chicago
U of Michigan
Weill Cornell
Harvard
Hopkins
Boston
U of Virginia
Case Western

Target worst case scenario
Duke
Icahn
Emory
Mayo
Ohio State University College Of Medicine
University of Cincinnati
Einstein
Hofstra
U of Miami
U of Rochester
St Louis
Thomas Jefferson
Dartmouth

State Schools.

You dont want to get yeild protected but you dont want to get rejected because of internal MCAT rubrics. I used a best case senario for your target High and worst case senario (averaging mcat) for the target . I feel like this strategy diversifies risk for you. Let us know how it turns out. I have a sneaking suspicion you will be super successful. Bolded are sweet spots.

 

[ScreenName23]

Man, generating your list is a difficult task due to the previous MCAT.

Target Best Case scenario
Pick 10
U Penn
Washington St.Louis
Vanderbilt
Yale
Northwestern
U of Pittsburgh
Columbia
NYU
Pritzker Chicago
U of Michigan
Weill Cornell
Harvard
Hopkins
Boston
U of Virginia
Case Western

Target worst case scenario
Duke
Icahn
Emory
Mayo
Ohio State University College Of Medicine
University of Cincinnati
Einstein
Hofstra
U of Miami
U of Rochester
St Louis
Thomas Jefferson
Dartmouth

State Schools.

You dont want to get yeild protected but you dont want to get rejected because of internal MCAT rubrics. I used a best case senario for your target High and worst case senario (averaging mcat) for the target . I feel like this strategy diversifies risk for you. Let us know how it turns out. I have a sneaking suspicion you will be super successful. Bolded are sweet spots.

Thanks so much for taking the time to help me out. You hit the nail on the head of how I'm feeling. I'd like to reach for the top just in case but don't want to be left without an option for applying too top heavy. I really appreciate your thoughtful list. It will be so helpful as I apply this June! I'll be sure to come back here in ~1 yr and let you know how it all turned out!

 

[Goro]

No luck this cycle, OP???

Thanks so much for taking the time to help me out. You hit the nail on the head of how I'm feeling. I'd like to reach for the top just in case but don't want to be left without an option for applying too top heavy. I really appreciate your thoughtful list. It will be so helpful as I apply this June! I'll be sure to come back here in ~1 yr and let you know how it all turned out!

 

[ScreenName23]

No luck this cycle, OP???

I didn't apply this cycle. I took the MCAT in September and didn't want to apply late, so I was planning to apply for the 2017-2018 cycle. My first cycle was 2015-2016 (when I applied without the new MCAT) so I wanted to be sure to take a year in between so that my app was all together and could be early next time around.

So I'll let you know how all of the school list help turns out next year🙂

 

[Goro]

Ahh, I see. Give your two MCAT tries, I'll be a little more conservative on my list. But a 520 MCAT is nothing to be sneezed at.

Harvard OR Yale

Wash U OR U Penn

Stanford OR U Chicago

U VA OR U MI

U AZ
U Colorado
U VM
Ohio State

Jefferson
U IA

UCSF

UCLA,

UCSD,

UCI,

UCR (IF you’re from the Inland Empire)
U Cincy
Miami
Albert Einstein
Rochester
Tulane
Loyola
Emory
BU
USC/Keck
JHU
Mayo (both)
Pitt
Northwestern
NYU
Vanderbilt
Columbia OR Cornell
Sinai
Duke
Case
Hofstra

I didn't apply this cycle. I took the MCAT in September and didn't want to apply late, so I was planning to apply for the 2017-2018 cycle. My first cycle was 2015-2016 (when I applied without the new MCAT) so I wanted to be sure to take a year in between so that my app was all together and could be early next time around.

So I'll let you know how all of the school list help turns out next year🙂

 

[ScreenName23]

Ahh, I see. Give your two MCAT tries, I'll be a little more conservative on my list. But a 520 MCAT is nothing to be sneezed at.

Harvard OR Yale

Wash U OR U Penn

Stanford OR U Chicago

U VA OR U MI

U AZ
U Colorado
U VM
Ohio State

Jefferson
U IA

UCSF

UCLA,

UCSD,

UCI,

UCR (IF you’re from the Inland Empire)
U Cincy
Miami
Albert Einstein
Rochester
Tulane
Loyola
Emory
BU
USC/Keck
JHU
Mayo (both)
Pitt
Northwestern
NYU
Vanderbilt
Columbia OR Cornell
Sinai
Duke
Case
Hofstra

So are the "or" options so that my list doesn't get too long and can include plenty of 'safeties'? I'm having lots of trouble choosing between schools because I want to apply to all the top schools and then also all of the other 'back up' schools people have suggested...Also since I'm a California resident I don't have much of a state school to fall back on. But applying to all my state schools does really lengthen my list. So my list has quickly become 34 schools which is pretty daunting. I'm prewriting secondaries but it will be a big financial sacrifice come June if I can't get myself to narrow it down...

Since most people only get into one medical school, I keep thinking when I take a school off of my list, what if that was the one school that would have taken me? I'm just especially cautious with it as a reapplicant.

 

[ScreenName23]

Just thought I would give an app update in case anyone out there has a similar experience! I’ve taken out a few of the out of state schools where I was interviewed and accepted bc I think they would pretty much end whatever anonymity I have left lol. I know it’s possible to still be invited to interview but the season is certainly dwindling and I don’t expect to attend many more places...

Thank you so so much to all who have advised me!!! I went from a first cycle without a single interview to 12 interviews (including to my actual dream school) and of the five I’ve heard back from post interview I’ve been accepted to all so far!!!!!

I really wouldn’t be able to say I’ll be a doctor one day without the help of all of you. Thanks for your candid advice!


School
UCSF
II UCLA
UCSD
UC Davis
UC Irvine
II UC Riverside
II OHSU
U Washington
University of Michigan
Emory
II Case Western
Washington University
U Penn
U Chicago
Columbia
Sinai
II Cornell
NYU
Harvard
Stanford
Yale
Duke
Johns Hopkins
Vanderbilt
Northwestern
USC
Mayo-MN
II Mayo-AZ
II U Pitt
Miami
II Rochester
UVA
Baylor
II Hofstra
II Boston University
University of Wisconsin
Tufts
II Cincinnati

 

[Walter Raleigh]

Platinum? I thought you needed an Olympic medal, a Nature paper, refugee status, a 3.9+/525+, or any combination of all these to be truly "Platinum"; those applicants were the sort of people that came along only a few times in a generation.

 

[ScreenName23]

Platinum? I thought you needed an Olympic medal, a Nature paper, refugee status, a 3.9+/525+, or any combination of all these to be truly "Platinum"; those applicants were the sort of people that came along only a few times in a generation.

I edited my post for anonymity since he wrote that... but I am not an Olympic medalist (or a lot of the other things on your list) so like fair enough?

 

[Walter Raleigh]

I edited my post for anonymity since he wrote that... but I am not an Olympic medalist (or a lot of the other things on your list) so like fair enough?

I was more surprised at Goro's assessment of you. You're golden, and should definitely see some love. If not, get in a few hundred hours of hospice volunteering.

 

[seren1051]

I was more surprised at Goro's assessment of you. You're golden, and should definitely see some love. If not, get in a few hundred hours of hospice volunteering.

He/She's rolling on five acceptances!!