Target MCAT?

[Kthehornplayer]

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Hey everyone,

I am in the process of studying for the MCAT to take it for the first time in September!

I am focusing hard on scoring well, since my GPA is less than stellar. I did very poorly my freshman year, below a 3.0 poor, but have a considerable upward trend (ending with Dean's list this past quarter! 😀). If this trend continues, I will have about a 3.4 or 3.45 once I graduate.

With that GPA possibility and the fact that I have decent ECs (nothing super amazing, but I certainly will have good things in most categories by the time next June rolls around), what do you think is a nice target MCAT score to strive for? I realize it will have to be pretty darn good, but I would like a hard number to aim for.

I am perfectly okay with going to a lower-tier medical school, but I am pretty stuck on going the MD route. It is hard for me to tell what a good LizzyM score would be, since I have ECs that are comparable to good applicants, and the upward GPA trend is an additional factor.

Thank you for any kind of advice!

 

[GrapesofRath]

Get MSAR and look at the median MCAT at your state school. Look at the table I posted below: if the IS matriculation % for your state is >30% aim for above the median MCAT of your state school(s). Your odds of success if you live in such a state will likely come down to how you do with the programs in your state

If it is <30% in your state, 511+ is a decent target. Higher the better, particularly if you are in a state where the IS matriculation rate is <20%

https://www.aamc.org/download/321466/data/factstablea5.pdf

 

[Kthehornplayer]

Get MSAR and look at the median MCAT at your state school. Look at the table I posted below: if the IS matriculation % for your state is >30% aim for the median MCAT of your state school or higher. Your odds if you live in such a state will likely come down to how you do with the programs in your state

If it is <30% in your state, 511+ is a decent target. Higher the better, particularly if you are in a state where the IS matriculation rate is <20%

https://www.aamc.org/download/321466/data/factstablea5.pdf

Unfortunately I am from California.. So aiming for at least a 511 seems to be my target according to your work

 

[gyngyn]

Unfortunately I am from California.. So aiming for at least a 511 seems to be my target according to your work

A little higher than that given your gpa...
Even then, you will need a strong OOS list.

 

[Kthehornplayer]

A little higher than that given your gpa...
Even then, you will need a strong OOS list.

Oh boy... WHY FRESHMAN SELF, WHY?

And also I appreciate your honesty. It is motivating to see that I have no real chance without a great MCAT score 🙂.

I would prefer going to a more rural school out of state since I want to end up practicing in Alaska or somewhere else up north with a smaller population. Will applying to these types of schools make a huge difference?

 

[starspells]

I think a 514 would be a good goal. You would be a decent candidate for all lower tier and many middle tier schools.

With a 517 you would be a good candidate for the upper middle tier schools. A 517 isn't easy to obtain though.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Unfortunately I am from California.. So aiming for at least a 511 seems to be my target according to your work

514 in CA if you made me give a rough ball park approximate of what I would aim for as a target in your shoes. Alot of this is also EC dependent: if you are a good fit for the Jesuits, Arizona schools, UCD and are from the IE for UCR, your odds go up.

Generally speaking the rural programs want evidence of commitment to such an area or field(such as the MCW rural medicine program). If you have it, great, your odds again will be improved. But it's not something just to apply to because you see the admission stats are more favorable. in MCW's case actually I believe they only accept applications from bordering states if Im not mistaken which again highlights they want people who give them reason to believe they can make a strong fulfilling commitment to such a field.

 

[gyngyn]

Oh boy... WHY FRESHMAN SELF, WHY?

And also I appreciate your honesty. It is motivating to see that I have no real chance without a great MCAT score 🙂.

I would prefer going to a more rural school out of state since I want to end up practicing in Alaska or somewhere else up north with a smaller population. Will applying to these types of schools make a huge difference?

You will need to apply to the schools that might interview you.
U of WA (Alaska's "state" school) has no time for regular CA applicants.

 

[Kthehornplayer]

514 in CA if you made me give a rough ball park approximate of what I would aim for as a target in your shoes. Alot of this is also EC dependent: if you are a good fit for the Jesuits, Arizona schools, UCD and are from the IE for UCR, your odds go up.

Generally speaking the rural programs want evidence of commitment to such an area or field(such as the MCW rural medicine program). If you have it, great, your odds again will be improved. But it's not something just to apply to because you see the admission stats are more favorable.

I actually attend UCD (are we allowed to say our schools on here?) and will apply to their program no matter what since I love the sense of community here. Rural medicine really does interest me as well. It is always what I have envisioned for my future. Also what is the IE?

My parents currently live in Arizona- would that help me out with any AZ schools or not really matter?

 

[GrapesofRath]

I actually attend UCD (are we allowed to say our schools on here?) and will apply to their program no matter what since I love the sense of community here. Rural medicine really does interest me as well. It is always what I have envisioned for my future. Also what is the IE?

My parents currently live in Arizona- would that help me out with any AZ schools or not really matter?

Davis actually takes alot of their own UG's. I dont know about how your parents affect your chances at AZ but it wont hurt you.

 

[gyngyn]

I actually attend UCD (are we allowed to say our schools on here?) and will apply to their program no matter what since I love the sense of community here. Rural medicine really does interest me as well. It is always what I have envisioned for my future. Also what is the IE?

My parents currently live in Arizona- would that help me out with any AZ schools or not really matter?

UCD takes more of their class from their own undergrad than any other CA school.
AZ was already a good choice, this makes them even better.

If you don't know (IE), don't apply to UCR...

 

[Kthehornplayer]

UCD takes more of their class from their own undergrad than any other CA school.
AZ was already a good choice, this makes them even better.

If you don't know (IE), don't apply to UCR...

Sounds great! AZ schools and UCD will definitely be on my list. Now it's up to my real MCAT score to determine the rest..

 

[Toutie]

Also what is the IE?

IE = Inland Empire. The area around the cities of Riverside, San Bernadino, and Ontario in Southern California.

 

[Kthehornplayer]

IE = Inland Empire. The area around the cities of Riverside, San Bernadino, and Ontario in Southern California.

Thank you! Took me more time googling to figure that out than I would like to admit..

 

[starspells]

Generally speaking the rural programs want evidence of commitment to such an area or field(such as the MCW rural medicine program). If you have it, great, your odds again will be improved. But it's not something just to apply to because you see the admission stats are more favorable. in MCW's case actually I believe they only accept applications from bordering states if Im not mistaken which again highlights they want people who give them reason to believe they can make a strong fulfilling commitment to such a field.

For that program you mean? MCW takes tons of OOS people, ESPECIALLY from California. They should call it Medical College of California.

 

[gyngyn]

MCW has taken a fair number of CA applicants.

 

[GrapesofRath]

For that program you mean? MCW takes tons of OOS people, ESPECIALLY from California. They should call it Medical College of California.

The rural program specifically. MCW is known for taking a number of CA apps. Looks like I actually mixed up MCW's and U of Wisconsin's program. U of Wisconsin's WARM is the one that only takes people from bordering states.

 

[PossibleDOC?]

I don't mean to be "that guy" but what happens if you get like a 510? I mean obviously apply the MD route but would you be willing to eventually add DO? Only because rural medicine is friendly to DO I believe so it could be a valuable backup for you.

Just a thought

Good Luck to you

 

[starspells]

I don't mean to be "that guy" but what happens if you get like a 510? I mean obviously apply the MD route but would you be willing to eventually add DO? Only because rural medicine is friendly to DO I believe so it could be a valuable backup for you.

Just a thought

Good Luck to you

OP would be a good candidate for a number of private MD schools even with a 510. Schools like MCW, Tufts, Albany, Jefferson, Loyola, RFU, Drexel, NYMC, etc...

A 514-517 would make things easier.

 

[PossibleDOC?]

OP would be a good candidate for a number of private MD schools even with a 510.

Oh I'm not saying dont apply MD or anything I'm just making a casual suggestion if something happens and the MCAT isn't as high as predicted......I'm all about backups and backups to backups

 

[starspells]

Oh I'm not saying dont apply MD or anything I'm just making a casual suggestion if something happens and the MCAT isn't as high as predicted......I'm all about backups and backups to backups

No, I understood what you meant. OP would mainly need to target private schools that have a ~31/510 median MCAT.

 

[Kthehornplayer]

I don't mean to be "that guy" but what happens if you get like a 510? I mean obviously apply the MD route but would you be willing to eventually add DO? Only because rural medicine is friendly to DO I believe so it could be a valuable backup for you.

Just a thought

Good Luck to you

If it means the difference between becoming a physician or not, I will gladly go the DO route. And I suppose it does make sense that rural areas would be welcoming of DOs. I have nothing against DO. I guess I am more used to MD and have always thought of it as giving possibly better opportunities for emergency medicine (I have become EMT certified and am persuing emergency medicine ECs). I need to look into how difficult it is to apply to both MD and DO, since DO is most definitely something I have heavily considered.

 

[PossibleDOC?]

If it means the difference between becoming a physician or not, I will gladly go the DO route. And I suppose it does make sense that rural areas would be welcoming of DOs. I have nothing against DO, and I definitely see the advantages to a more holistic approach to medicine. I guess I am more used to MD and have always thought of it as giving possibly better opportunities for emergency medicine (I have become EMT certified and am persuing emergency medicine ECs). I need to look into how difficult it is to apply to both MD and DO, since DO is most definitely a backup I have heavily considered.

From what I've read EM is very DO friendly like I had said earlier, take the MCAT and hopefully you get the score you need, if not then apply to both if financially its doable and then wherever you get in, just go.

 

[Kthehornplayer]

From what I've read EM is very DO friendly like I had said earlier, take the MCAT and hopefully you get the score you need, if not then apply to both if financially its doable and then wherever you get in, just go.

Most definitely. The "reputation" of being and MD vs DO is not worth not actually going to medical school 😀 Thanks for your kind words 🙂

 

[PossibleDOC?]

Most definitely. The "reputation" of being and MD vs DO is not worth not actually going to medical school 😀 Thanks for your kind words 🙂

I was in the same boat a while back I know the feeling, just do your best.....good luck

 

[Kthehornplayer]

I was in the same boat a while back I know the feeling, just do your best.....good luck

Can I ask how everything turned out for you? If not that's fine!

 

[Goro]

Have Touro-CA and Western on your list.

If it means the difference between becoming a physician or not, I will gladly go the DO route. And I suppose it does make sense that rural areas would be welcoming of DOs. I have nothing against DO, and I definitely see the advantages to a more holistic approach to medicine. I guess I am more used to MD and have always thought of it as giving possibly better opportunities for emergency medicine (I have become EMT certified and am persuing emergency medicine ECs). I need to look into how difficult it is to apply to both MD and DO, since DO is most definitely a backup I have heavily considered.

 

[ChrisMack390]

My target was 517 and then I got 518. Makes me wonder what would have happened if I had said my target was 520...

 

[PossibleDOC?]

Can I ask how everything turned out for you? If not that's fine!

Everything turned out fine I ended up at a DO school and am starting soon

 

[Kthehornplayer]

Everything turned out fine I ended up at a DO school and am starting soon

Congrats!!