still hope with a low MCAT?

[hope4best]

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Hello all,
I just retook the MCAT and got my scores. quite disappointed but would like to hear what the word is about MSTP applications.
I had a 30S [8V 11P 11B] (1point increase from last august), would it be a total waste applying (ie- will I be sent to the rejection pile right away?)? I feel that other parts of my application is strong, but I'm aware that MSTP applicants all have strong extracurricular activities on top of an amazing MCAT score. Any advice would be much appreciated 😳

 

[solitude]

Hello all,
I just retook the MCAT and got my scores. quite disappointed but would like to hear what the word is about MSTP applications.
I had a 30S [8V 11P 11B] (1point increase from last august), would it be a total waste applying (ie- will I be sent to the rejection pile right away?)? I feel that other parts of my application is strong, but I'm aware that MSTP applicants all have strong extracurricular activities on top of an amazing MCAT score. Any advice would be much appreciated 😳

Even the very, very best MSTP's accept people with MCAT's in that range. For example, see:

http://mstp.wustl.edu/mstp/mstp.nsf...penDocument&ExpandSection=2,8,4,5,1#_Section2

WashU states that their range is 29-42.

http://www.med.cornell.edu/mdphd/admissions/faq.html?name1=FAQ&type1=2Active

Cornell states that their range is 29-43.


So if the rest of your application is great, you still have a shot, I say go for it. 👍

 

[dave613]

dude,

i got a 29 (10 10 9), and right now i have three interviews coming up. Make sure you apply!

not everything is your mcat score, research is what will make you or break you.

 

[Dr. Breyean]

dude,

i got a 29 (10 10 9), and right now i have three interviews coming up. Make sure you apply!

not everything is your mcat score, research is what will make you or break you.

What three schools do you have interviews at?

 

[mattandrusiak]

im in a similar boat:

11 PS
8 VR
10 BS
P
29P

I have a 3.8 GPA, solid extracurricular, 16 months of full-time independent research (my own entire project and hopefully a first/second author publication) and 8months of part-time honours project research.

I'm not applying until next year and im afraid I'll just get the same score if not slightly worse if i retake, as i will not have the same time to study as i did this summer.

PS. Im also a canadian applying to US schools, is that going to hurt me a lot?

 

[dave613]

What three schools do you have interviews at?

einstein,drexel,vcu...why?

 

[dave613]

i would apply asap. MD/PhD programs are looking to see if you can become an outstanding physician-scientist, not an outstanding standardized test taker. The mcat correlates with nothing other than your standardized testing ability. It doesn't reflect what you know and how well you do research, or if you'll be a good doctor. The combined programs know that--they're smarter than the MD only programs, and they won't judge you based on that. I think as long as you have a 29, you will be considered seriously for md/phd programs. Again, these are my feelings, I am only interviewing now.

To further give credit to my claim, i worked for the director of a very prestigious md/phd program for a year. He knew about my 29, and he showed me a list of people accepted to his program from last year. A lot of them have very low 30s. Very few had high mcats such as >37. As a matter of a fact, he told me they didn't even interview a guy from harvard with a 4.0 and 42 mcat because they didn't like his research.

The bottom line: if you have interesting research and you show a love for science, then you will be very seriously considered. MCATs/gpa will only get you so far. The research will push you over the top.

im in a similar boat:

11 PS
8 VR
10 BS
P
29P

I have a 3.8 GPA, solid extracurricular, 16 months of full-time independent research (my own entire project and hopefully a first/second author publication) and 8months of part-time honours project research.

I'm not applying until next year and im afraid I'll just get the same score if not slightly worse if i retake, as i will not have the same time to study as i did this summer.

PS. Im also a canadian applying to US schools, is that going to hurt me a lot?

 

[Maebea]

You sound like a very strong candidate; however, I would encourage you to consider retaking the exam in April. Applicants with 29P certainly do get into top MD-PhD programs, and you look like you have the goods to trump the MCAT score. The limiting factor for you will be your citizenship status. There are a limited number of spots available for non-citizens, and the combination of a modest MCAT and foreign citizenship might be too much for you to overcome. If you raise your score by 4 or 5 points, the MCAT is no loger an impediment. If the score does not improve, you would be no worse off than you currently are.

im in a similar boat:

11 PS
8 VR
10 BS
P
29P

I have a 3.8 GPA, solid extracurricular, 16 months of full-time independent research (my own entire project and hopefully a first/second author publication) and 8months of part-time honours project research.

I'm not applying until next year and im afraid I'll just get the same score if not slightly worse if i retake, as i will not have the same time to study as i did this summer.

PS. Im also a canadian applying to US schools, is that going to hurt me a lot?

 

[gbwillner]

Hello all,
I just retook the MCAT and got my scores. quite disappointed but would like to hear what the word is about MSTP applications.
I had a 30S [8V 11P 11B] (1point increase from last august), would it be a total waste applying (ie- will I be sent to the rejection pile right away?)? I feel that other parts of my application is strong, but I'm aware that MSTP applicants all have strong extracurricular activities on top of an amazing MCAT score. Any advice would be much appreciated 😳

You are certainly getting good advice here, but be realistic. WashU probably has just one MSTP with a score of 29 on the MCAT, and he/she was probably an astronaut or something.

Be careful where you apply, and apply to many places. You'll get interviews.

 

[Dr. Breyean]

einstein,drexel,vcu...why?

I was just curious...

I think as long as you have a 29, you will be considered seriously for md/phd programs.

This statement, combined with my 28, makes me sad. 😳

 

[gbwillner]

I was just curious...




This statement, combined with my 28, makes me sad. 😳

Having a 28 is not automatically the end of the world. First off, if you are an ethnic minority you will likely still have a good chance at a good school. Yes, there is a big stink about affirmative action, but schools WANT diveristy in their programs, and let's face it, there are very few minorities in MSTP programs.
Secondly, there are other non-MSTP programs that will accept you. If you get into med school anywhere that has a combined program, you can always try to join MSTP during the first 2 years of med school. Once in, your chances are much greater.

 

[dave613]

I was just curious...




This statement, combined with my 28, makes me sad. 😳

Don't be upset. I didn't mean they're definitely going to exclude you because of a 28. I can only speak for myself with my 29. Oh and with my 29, i just landed another interview at suny upstate...so that's 4 interviews with a 29 mcat.

Apply, and stop worrying about the 28--if they like your research, you will get interviews.

 

[mattandrusiak]

Don't be upset. I didn't mean they're definitely going to exclude you because of a 28. I can only speak for myself with my 29. Oh and with my 29, i just landed another interview at suny upstate...so that's 4 interviews with a 29 mcat.

Apply, and stop worrying about the 28--if they like your research, you will get interviews.

im just curious....

what 4 schools do you have interviews with and how many did you apply to in total?

thanks!

 

[dave613]

im just curious....

what 4 schools do you have interviews with and how many did you apply to in total?

thanks!

the schools i have interviews with, i mentioned above. I applied to 16 schools in total.

take care

 

[dave613]

As an update, with the 29, I now have 5 interviews. So, whoever is out there with low scores and is hesitant to apply MD/PhD, please do!

don't shortchange yourself over random standardized testing ability.

Good luck to everyone on this application cycle!

 

[gbwillner]

As an update, with the 29, I now have 5 interviews. So, whoever is out there with low scores and is hesitant to apply MD/PhD, please do!

don't shortchange yourself over random standardized testing ability.

Good luck to everyone on this application cycle!

Please update us on any acceptances. In some programs, getting an interview means the slate is wiped clean and everyone there has an equal shot, outside of scores. I really doubt most schools operate this way.

Good luck!

 

[1Path]

As an update, with the 29, I now have 5 interviews. So, whoever is out there with low scores and is hesitant to apply MD/PhD, please do!

don't shortchange yourself over random standardized testing ability.

Good luck to everyone on this application cycle!

Congrats to you!👍

 

[hope4best]

As an update, with the 29, I now have 5 interviews. So, whoever is out there with low scores and is hesitant to apply MD/PhD, please do!

don't shortchange yourself over random standardized testing ability.

Good luck to everyone on this application cycle!

Ever since I got my MCAT score back I thought it was the end of the world, and didn't bother logging into SDN until today. But you really give me hope, congrats on all of your interviews, and I hope you'll get into your top choice! 🙂 I've just been hearing from many that I basically have no shot (even with 3.5 years of undergrad research +2 years post-bac work in a clinical setting), but it certainly sounds like there's some hope left for me. Good luck, and thanks for sharing your story. 👍

 

[dave613]

Ever since I got my MCAT score back I thought it was the end of the world, and didn't bother logging into SDN until today. But you really give me hope, congrats on all of your interviews, and I hope you'll get into your top choice! 🙂 I've just been hearing from many that I basically have no shot (even with 3.5 years of undergrad research +2 years post-bac work in a clinical setting), but it certainly sounds like there's some hope left for me. Good luck, and thanks for sharing your story. 👍

Well, I'm not going to push my luck here, as I have not gotten in anywhere yet. However, you will be surprised at what programs reallly look at when reveiwing your application. Good numbers mean something but not everything. I think programs would rather have someone with lower numbers who is really committed to research as opposed to someone with higher numbers who is not wholeheartedly into it. On the interviews, they can read right through you, believe me. These guys and girls are smart. Although don't get me wrong, plenty of programs will simply take an applicant because of his or her numbers. But thankfully, not everyone is as silly out there.

Good luck to you, and it's my pleasure to share my story with you.

 

[dave613]

For the sake of keeping this thread alive, that's now seven interviews with a 29 mcat for MD/PhD.

Cheers for the <30 mcat MD/PhD applicants!

 

[Dr. Breyean]

For the sake of keeping this thread alive, that's now seven interviews with a 29 mcat for MD/PhD.

Cheers for the <30 mcat MD/PhD applicants!

I certainly hope I have as much luck as you. I'd be pretty pleased if I got even a couple interviews. Of course I didn't apply to as many schools so we'll see how it goes (only submitted secondaries at 5 schools). I was honestly about ready to give up on this whole thing since I only had the 28 and I was so far behind in the process anyway, but I'm glad a went through with it now that I see that it is possible to get interviews.

 

[dave613]

You will have good luck if you apply. Send out more secondaries. You will only get interviews if you apply. What you need to realize is that most of the people with "higher" numbers will go to ivy league institutions etc. As a result, that leaves plenty of open spots at the mid tier and lower ranked MD/PhD programs. They need to fill their slots too, and that's where we come in the picture.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

I certainly hope I have as much luck as you. I'd be pretty pleased if I got even a couple interviews. Of course I didn't apply to as many schools so we'll see how it goes (only submitted secondaries at 5 schools). I was honestly about ready to give up on this whole thing since I only had the 28 and I was so far behind in the process anyway, but I'm glad a went through with it now that I see that it is possible to get interviews.

 

[gbwillner]

(I only submitted secondaries at 5 schools).

Ouch.