Rough Estimate of MCAT needed?

[NRAI2001]

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Hi I am currently a sophmore at UCB, and I was wondering is there a rough estimate of what type of MCAT score one needs for certain GPA's. For example I have a 3.2 GPA, roughly what MCAT score would I need to get in to average med schools? What about when you factor in that I have published 2 research papers and have decent clinical work? What is the minimum GPA needed to apply to med schools and still have a competitive chance (for average difficulty to get into med schools)?

 

[aquaboy]

The research and EC's will help but do not allow someone to get a lower MCAT score. Try to bring your GPA up to atleast a 3.5. If you have a 3.2 when you apply you will probably need a 30-33 to get in to a decent school. The research will help but it's just an EC and many people think that their research will carry them into med school with a sub-par GPA, that's not the case. Work on improving your GPA and studying hard when it's time for the MCAT.😀

 

[UCLAMAN]

i'd say EC's don't do much for you if you don't have the stats. (unless of course you open a charity clinic in pakistan or something) you definitely need to get your gpa/mcat as high as possible. those stats get your foot in the door. then your ECs will come into play. certainly adcoms look at the big picture but remember, a good number of people have published papers and have definitely done clinicl work. when an adcom has to choose between several applicants that have published papers and done some good clinical work who are they going to choose? most likely the one with the higher stats.

like the previous poster said...try to get up to a 3.5 by the time u apply and make sure you do not dip below a 30(and don't get less than an 8 in a section). but definitely get as high as you can on the mcat. if i had a 3.2 i'd shoot for mid 30's to make sure i got my foot in the door. bottom line? on the mcat prepare for it and study for it like you plan on getting a 43/45. shoot for the moon, if you miss you'll be amongst the stars.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Originally posted by UCLAMAN
i'd say EC's don't do much for you if you don't have the stats. (unless of course you open a charity clinic in pakistan or something) you definitely need to get your gpa/mcat as high as possible. those stats get your foot in the door. then your ECs will come into play. certainly adcoms look at the big picture but remember, a good number of people have published papers and have definitely done clinicl work. when an adcom has to choose between several applicants that have published papers and done some good clinical work who are they going to choose? most likely the one with the higher stats.

like the previous poster said...try to get up to a 3.5 by the time u apply and make sure you do not dip below a 30(and don't get less than an 8 in a section). but definitely get as high as you can on the mcat. if i had a 3.2 i'd shoot for mid 30's to make sure i got my foot in the door. bottom line? on the mcat prepare for it and study for it like you plan on getting a 43/45. shoot for the moon, if you miss you'll be amongst the stars.

hit a 33 or higher with a 3.2

 

[gogiants]

i think having published papers will do a lot for you. that can really make the difference for getting into competitive med schools. it of course matters where you were in the pecking order (1st author?2nd?) and what publications these articles ended up in. of course you really want to work on getting an excellent mcat no matter what, and it wouldn't hurt to improve upon your gpa a bit. you may be better off than most with a 3.2 with your ec's but it still puts you on the lower end of the gpa means.

 

[Yogi Bear]

as others have said, i think getting at least a 33-34 would be good for ya.

i.e. 3.2*10+33-34 = 65-66.

That's roughly equivalent to nat'l average for admissions of 3.5-3.6gpa + 30 mcat.