safe score

[kiilcancer]

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Is there such a thing?
I know score isn't everything but... assuming that you have good enough reason to goto med school and you do ok on application essay and interview.... What is the safe score for schools like UCLA and Harvard? How about for MSTP (again assuming you have good research experience and paper..)?
I know I sound like "(_x_)" but any info would be appreciated.
Thanks!

😀

kiilcancer

 

[Random Access]

Originally posted by kiilcancer
Is there such a thing?
I know score isn't everything but... assuming that you have good enough reason to goto med school and you do ok on application essay and interview.... What is the safe score for schools like UCLA and Harvard? How about for MSTP (again assuming you have good research experience and paper..)?
I know I sound like "(_x_)" but any info would be appreciated.
Thanks!

😀

kiilcancer

There's no "safe score." What kind of question is that? Once you get the interview, your MCAT score matters less, in general, than the interview.

 

[UCLAMAN]

Originally posted by Random Access
There's no "safe score." What kind of question is that? Once you get the interview, your MCAT score matters less, in general, than the interview.

He's right...no such thing as a "safe score." People with 36's and 3.9's have been rejected to UCLA...while non-URM's with 3.7's and 31's have gotten into UCLA. Certainly the higher your mcat score the better and more attractive you may look to an adcom. However, there are tons of other things most adcoms look at when trying to select their classes, so a higher mcat score doesn't always guarantee an acceptance into a certain medical school. I'm not saying it can't happen but theres never a guarantee that it will. Same applies for MSTP.

 

[isidella]

Regarding MSTP:
I think it is common knowledge that pre-MD/PhDs refrain from waving thier MCAT scores around. That said, I think the range (from chatting with other applicants) is on the higher side. But, it is a huge range with a seemingly big SD.

Just present yourself in the best light possible, while maintaining sincerity. If you feel like your scores do not represent your potential, retake. I scored on the lower side of the range, but honestly feel like I gave the test all I had. The other parts of my app (like research exp, pubs and GPA) are working in my favor. I have a couple rejections, quite a few interviews, and one acceptance thus far.

I am beginning to realize there is no "magic #." Just verbalize why you want the MSTP, and if the adcom feels your reasons are valid (and after 6+ interviews at each school they can surely smell a rat), you will fare well.

 

[Neuronix]

For MSTP these are the only stats I know of: http://public.bcm.tmc.edu:80/mstp/admissions_statistics.html
Note that these are for Baylor and they (like all programs) do not put state residency restrictions on MSTP acceptances.

Like isadella said, it is usually higher the general application pool. However, it depends on how strong the program is and how strong and applicant you are. A lower MCAT score will be overlooked if you have a good GPA and great research. My personal theory for MSTP is that if you have 2 out of 3 of good GPA, MCAT, and research experience (within limits), you will get in somewhere.

As for those big name schools MD-only, you can find their stats on US News. But it's much more random than that would let on.

 

[nero]

There's no safe score for any school.......some schools whose average mcat is more than 7 points below my mcat have not offered me an interview.....whereas you'll find some top ten schools giving you interviews...........even if you are in the 40s there's no guarantee, i know one guy who got a 41 had a 4.0 and a doulbe science and non-science major....the only top ten school he got into was harvard......the only thing this tells me is that once you are around a school's average you are competitive and the mcat means a whole lot less................just study hard for it and go through the rRANDOM process to see what happens....good luck


nero

 

[DarkChild]

fine i'll bite. i think a safe score (defined by me as a score such that your MCAT score will not be the limiting factor in your app) is 35 or greater.
but everything the previous posters said is right.

 

[kiilcancer]

thanks guys
All your replies helped me alot.
I was putting too much emphasis on GPA and forgot what was really important.. again, thanks

kiilcancer

 

[indianboy]

Look, there is something close to a 'safe score'. As DarkChild said, above a 35 will put you in good shape, and coupled with a 3.75 or higher from a mid-tier (a 3.9 or higher from a non nationally reputed state-school) or more rigorous school will put you in good running for a top 20. Get a couple weeks of clinical experience spread over a few months, and you'll be fine. Now this minimalist approach to anything is pretty worthless, but if thats your bag, knock yourself out. If you have a mildly psychotic personally, are morbidle obese, or flatulate profusely, the interview may still be a hurdle.

Hope that Helps.

P 'gimme pocky' ShankOut

 

[wolferman]

Originally posted by DarkChild
fine i'll bite. i think a safe score (defined by me as a score such that your MCAT score will not be the limiting factor in your app) is 35 or greater.
but everything the previous posters said is right.

35 isn't even safe. The guy in the following post had an MCAT of 36 and was rejected 60 times by 41 schools.

the most depressing webpage...60somthin rejections

 

[fonzy]

Im ny opinion if an applicant has B+ GPA [with a few As in science courses] and 33 MCAT [ above av. score], she/ he should be interviewed by med schools. That is based upon my own experience with students. I have taught as an asst instructor and went to grad school of engineering at a top rated Univ. I have also written LORs for people applying to med schools.
And now I am myself trying for med school [for 2005].

Well, that does not mean that I set the standards. However, we should take other factors and standard deviation in consideration while evaluating a person's abilities to go thru' a curriculum.

best

 

[siempre595]

I don't think there is such thing as a safe score. Obviously higher is better, depending on where you wanna go. I've heard of people likely getting rejected from schools with lower averages because their numbers made it look as though they would never actually go to that school. Anything is possible. Aim high and apply to schools you genuinely want to go to.

 

[relatively prime]

Aren't you guys being a little too legalistic? The dude just wants to know what (all else held constant) a solid MCAT score is. My educated guess is that for MD a 34 (>9 all sections) is a "safe" score and for MSTP a 36 is a "safe" score (>10 in each section) is a "safe" score.

Good luck 🙂

 

[DarkChild]

RP - what kind of math are you doing?
😱

Originally posted by relatively prime
Aren't you guys being a little too legalistic? The dude just wants to know what (all else held constant) a solid MCAT score is. My educated guess is that for MD a 34 (>9 all sections) is a "safe" score and for MSTP a 36 is a "safe" score (>10 in each section) is a "safe" score.

Good luck 🙂

 

[womansurg]

Originally posted by DarkChild
RP - what kind of math are you doing?
😱

She means, no one score falling below 9 (or 10). Eg: V9 B12 P13 = 34.

 

[nero]

I'd agree to say that > 34 will get you into A SCHOOL, not necessarily the school your want or a top ten school..........


nero

 

[xaelia]

There's a profile on MDapplicants.com of someone with a 3.8 from Yale and a 39 MCAT who doesn't even receive interview invitations from Harvard and Stanford, and is waitlisted post-interview at Penn, Duke, Cornell, and Columbia.

Obviously, they're in no danger of not getting into _any_ medical school, but there's certainly no guarantees at the top schools no matter what your credentials.

 

[Dr Chooch]

46

 

[relatively prime]

Originally posted by xaelia
There's a profile on MDapplicants.com of someone with a 3.8 from Yale and a 39 MCAT who doesn't even receive interview invitations from Harvard and Stanford, and is waitlisted post-interview at Penn, Duke, Cornell, and Columbia.

How does this mean anything? I don't know of a single applicant that has gotten interviews at ALL the top schools. No matter how good you are there will be schools that won't interview you. Also, there's a good chance this person will still get into Penn, Duke, Cornell, or Columbia.

 

[xaelia]

Originally posted by relatively prime
How does this mean anything? I don't know of a single applicant that has gotten interviews at ALL the top schools. No matter how good you are there will be schools that won't interview you. Also, there's a good chance this person will still get into Penn, Duke, Cornell, or Columbia.

Referencing the original poster in this thread, "What is the safe score for schools like UCLA and Harvard? How about for MSTP (again assuming you have good research experience and paper..)?"

All my post meant to show was that there are no "safe" scores for the top schools.

 

[Random Access]

Originally posted by relatively prime
How does this mean anything? I don't know of a single applicant that has gotten interviews at ALL the top schools. No matter how good you are there will be schools that won't interview you. Also, there's a good chance this person will still get into Penn, Duke, Cornell, or Columbia.

Oh...I do...except for the one she didn't apply to of course. 🙂

 

[relatively prime]

Originally posted by Random Access
Oh...I do...except for the one she didn't apply to of course. 🙂

If you're talking about me thanks 🙂 ... but I can assure you that there are *several* top schools that wanted nothing to do with me.

And if not me... who are you talking about? I'm just curious. Actually... I think Jot may be the one exception to what I said... I'm not sure there's any school that hasn't invited him to interview!

 

[Neuronix]

In regards to jot, beyond being da' man (which he is), MSTP is more numbers oriented than MD programs. MSTP is more of a straight formula of "Why MD/PhD" + GPA + MCAT + Research Experience. If you have them, there's no reason schools won't at least interview you.

 

[kat13]

As much as we would all like to think that medical school admissions is objective in some respect, it really isn't. I knew of someone getting into Colorado Health Sciences (pretty good school) with a 21 on the MCAT and decent GPA, and someone else who got into med school with a 19. I also know people who have had 35+ and not even gotten interviews. The admissions process obviously depends on numbers somewhat, and of course good numbers always help, but I am begining to think that when it is your time you'll get in.

 

[relatively prime]

Originally posted by kat13
I knew of someone getting into Colorado Health Sciences (pretty good school) with a 21 on the MCAT and decent GPA, and someone else who got into med school with a 19. I also know people who have had 35+ and not even gotten interviews.

You have to take into consideration that people with 19s and people with 35s apply to totally different kinds of schools. People with really high MCATs have a tendency to only (or mostly) apply to top schools. So when you say you know someone with a 35 who didn't get into med school... but someone with a 21 who did... that doesn't mean much in light of the fact that the person with a 35 probably wouldn't even go near any of the schools the person with a 21 applied to.

 

[kat13]

Originally posted by relatively prime
You have to take into consideration that people with 19s and people with 35s apply to totally different kinds of schools. People with really high MCATs have a tendency to only (or mostly) apply to top schools. So when you say you know someone with a 35 who didn't get into med school... but someone with a 21 who did... that doesn't mean much in light of the fact that the person with a 35 probably wouldn't even go near any of the schools the person with a 21 applied to.

True, very true. But I was talking same school (specifically, Colorado health Sciences). Good point though, different schools will be looking for different scores, but I just think that anything is possible, at least from what I have seen.

 

[Angeliqua]

Originally posted by relatively prime
... that doesn't mean much in light of the fact that the person with a 35 probably wouldn't even go near any of the schools the person with a 21 applied to.

well maybe they should go "near" these schools if they can't get in to the top schools. MCAT is not everything...

It *should* be all about becoming a doctor and not worrying about the name of the school.

I'll bet that 21 MCATer is indistinguishable from his/her 35+ colleagues. Remember, once you get to med school you are no longer defined by your MCAT score...not that you ever should be.

 

[xaelia]

Originally posted by relatively prime
People with really high MCATs have a tendency to only (or mostly) apply to top schools. So when you say you know someone with a 35 who didn't get into med school...

Though, I'm sure some people have experienced the reverse discrimination some of the schools with "lower standards" have against overqualified applicants. Schools don't want to waste their time interviewing someone who they don't believe will attend their school, and may decline to interview a candidate they believe is just using them as a "backup".

 

[relatively prime]

Originally posted by Angeliqua
well maybe they should go "near" these schools if they can't get in to the top schools. MCAT is not everything...

It *should* be all about becoming a doctor and not worrying about the name of the school.

I'll bet that 21 MCATer is indistinguishable from his/her 35+ colleagues. Remember, once you get to med school you are no longer defined by your MCAT score...not that you ever should be.

There's a few good reasons why students with high stats tend to apply to more top schools...

1) They want to go to the best school they can get into (which should be everyones desire really). And contrary to popular claim... not all med schools were created equal. Anyone with a passion for medicine is going to want to go to a really good school... so if they have the stats then they go for the better schools. Are all med schools good? yes Are they all equal? no.

2) They know that many lower tiered schools are suspicious of high stats applicants and reject them.

The 21 MCATer is not indistinguishable from his/her 35+ colleague... if nothing else, test-taking ability distinguishes them... and whether you want to accept it or not, much of med school is taking tests... including the USMLEs. But this has been beaten to death in other threads.


kat13: Hmm... that is interesting... I didn't realize you were saying they applied to the same school. You have to realize though that a lot of schools with low stats averages are very suspicious of high stats applicants... as someone already mentioned. Assuming the student with the 35 didn't have something really wrong with his/her application (like a 2.7 gpa, absolutely no ECs... or something like that) then I think that the school probably rejected him b/c they figured there's no way he/she would attend.

 

[Angeliqua]

Originally posted by relatively prime
The 21 MCATer is not indistinguishable from his/her 35+ colleague... if nothing else, test-taking ability distinguishes them... and whether you want to accept it or not, much of med school is taking tests... including the USMLEs. But this has been beaten to death in other threads.

thanks, I have "accepted" that med school is very much about taking tests. btw, I am rather happy with my MCAT scores, this is not a personal issue for me.

I just don't want people to obsess *too much* about scores...there is no magical #. To all those taking the MCAT in the next few months, good luck, learn the material and don't fixate on the ideal score; you will be fine.