Unbalanced 32, 3.69 cGPA, WAMCs

[ZapadniyRus]

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I got my MCAT score earlier today and I'm a bit worried about how unbalanced it is. I'm planning on retaking the exam in June, but was wondering if anyone can tell me if I had a chance with what I scored this past time.

cGPA/sGPA: 3.69/3.55 - I started out an Engineer and didn't study very hard my freshman year. Strong upward trend, a 4.0 the past three semesters.

MCAT: 11 PS/13 VR/8 BS

Research
~1.5 years of Research + co-author of publication

Clinical
~100 hours of hospital volunteering (ER/OR)
~130+ hours palliative care program at local hospital
~40 hours hospice care
~20 hours shadowing (more in coming weeks)

Employment
- I was a TA for an upper division science class
- Had a part-time job one semester

Service Activity
~ 30 hours at a local library
- ambassador type person give tours to high school kids

Miscellaneous
- I play an instrument
- intramural sports/general fitness
- was president of student organization

My letters of rec should be good (5 total, 2 of those writing are loosely associated with the local med school).

How detrimental is that 8? I was averaging an 11 on the practice sections I've taken.

I was also born outside of the U.S. (I'm a citizen now) and English is my second language.

I'm planning on applying to lower/mid ranked schools including

Uni. Florida
UCF
USF
Uni. Miami
Florida International
Florida Atlantic
Florida State

Georgetown
George Washington
Uni. Cincinnati
Rush
Loyola
Jefferson
Temple
Drexel
Tufts
NYMC
Tulane
Wake Forest
Oakland
Uniformed Services University HS

I might add a couple other schools on the same level. I'm a Florida resident. What are my chances with my 8 and what would my chances be if it were a 10?

Thanks all!

 

[The Milkman]

Wow gimme dat verbal.

But anyways I think 7-8 is usually the cutoff at most schools, so you shouldn't be screened out on that alone.

 

[ZapadniyRus]

Wow gimme dat verbal.

But anyways I think 7-8 is usually the cutoff at most schools, so you shouldn't be screened out on that alone.

Even with my average gpa? The fact that I majored in Bio makes getting an 8 so much worse lol

 

[Goro]

The Bio8 will hurt, but it's not lethal. Get MSAR Online and look at the breakdowns for MCAT.

For FL schools, goro says

Uni. Florida No
UCF Yes
USF Yes
Uni. Miami No
Florida International Yes
Florida Atlantic Yes
Florida State Yes
Nova Southeastern Yes
LECOM-Bradenton Yes

 

[ZapadniyRus]

The Bio8 will hurt, but it's not lethal. Get MSAR Online and look at the breakdowns for MCAT.

For FL schools, goro says

Uni. Florida No
UCF Yes
USF Yes
Uni. Miami No
Florida International Yes
Florida Atlantic Yes
Florida State Yes
Nova Southeastern Yes
LECOM-Bradenton Yes

Thank you! It's a little reassuring that the 8 isn't lethal.

Would being a student at one of the schools you said I was a no at change anything?

 

[bearded frog]

​

 

[ZapadniyRus]

You guys think I should retake my mcat?

 

[gyngyn]

You guys think I should retake my mcat?

No. You can get in with a good list and strong interviews.
Where's your clinical experience?

 

[ZapadniyRus]

No. You can get in with a good list and strong interviews.
Where's your clinical experience?

I edited my initial post to make it more encompassing. Hopefully it's still anonymous enough.

 

[gyngyn]

I edited my initial post to make it more encompassing. Hopefully it's still anonymous enough.

I say go for it with a targeted list.

 

[ZapadniyRus]

I say go for it with a targeted list.

Ah, that's definitely reassuring! Do I lose anything by retaking it?

I signed up for a retake before I got my results back just to have a fallback. I'm going to talk to an adviser this upcoming week.

 

[gyngyn]

Do I lose anything by retaking it?

Yes, look at all the re-applicant threads where someone re-takes and gets a lower score.

 

[Saxappeal1]

OP are you a Floridian?

 

[ZapadniyRus]

OP are you a Floridian?

I am yea!

 

[Saxappeal1]

You interested in primary care?

 

[ZapadniyRus]

You interested in primary care?

Actually yea. I shadowed someone in family care and really like it. Why?

 

[Saxappeal1]

FSU FSU FSU. You will get in with your stats and are incredibly mission driven. You would fit in

 

[ZapadniyRus]

FSU FSU FSU. You will get in with your stats and are incredibly mission driven. You would fit in

I actually wouldn't mind going to FSU yea!

 

[ZapadniyRus]

I looked in the MSAR and it seems for most schools the cutoff is a 9.

I'm going to talk to an adviser about it, but i'm pretty sure I'm going to retake.

I was averaging a 12/11/11 and have never scored less than a 31. I'm going to spend the next month studying and if I end up getting a super-difficult exam I'll just void it and apply with what I have.

 

[gyngyn]

I looked in the MSAR and it seems for most schools the cutoff is a 9.

I'm going to talk to an adviser about it, but i'm pretty sure I'm going to retake.

I was averaging a 12/11/11 and have never scored less than a 31. I'm going to spend the next month studying and if I end up getting a super-difficult exam I'll just void it and apply with what I have.

Nobody has a cut off of 9.

 

[ZapadniyRus]

Nobody has a cut off of 9.

The few schools I looked at had a bottom 10th percentile of a 9

 

[gyngyn]

The few schools I looked at had a bottom 10th percentile of a 9

That means the "cut off", if there is one is well below that. It is more likely that this is an incidental observation in a school with very high median stats.

 

[ZapadniyRus]

That means the "cut off", if there is one is well below that. It is more likely that this is an incidental observation in a school with very high median stats.

I've been trying to find threads on SDN and other places online about getting an 8 on a subsection, but can't really find anyone in my exact situation. Would the 13 in VR make up for BS? Would it be seen as a fluke? I have around a 4.0 in my upper level bio classes?

 

[gyngyn]

I've been trying to find threads on SDN and other places online about getting an 8 on a subsection, but can't really find anyone in my exact situation. Would the 13 in VR make up for BS? Would it be seen as a fluke? I have around a 4.0 in my upper level bio classes?

If the rest of your application is strong, an 8 will not keep you out of medical school. You are fortunate to live in a state that has several schools that will interview you. If you get at least 3 interviews and do not get in, it won't be because of the 8.

 

[ZapadniyRus]

If the rest of your application is strong, an 8 will not keep you out of medical school. You are fortunate to live in a state that has several schools that will interview you. If you get at least 3 interviews and do not get in, it won't be because of the 8.

I guess I'm pretty lucky I live in Florida yea. I'm not sure how strong the rest of my application is though, especially my gpa/sgpa. I should have good letters of rec and feel like my extracurricular are average/above average. My personal statement should be pretty solid too, I've had some pretty unique experiences with medicine (or so I think...)

You said I should have a targeted list of schools? How does my list look now? I'm looking more for fit than I am prestige/rank and the schools on my list are within my range for gpa/mcat (total mcat, well below average for bio section).

Also thanks for your help gyngyn! I've been feeling very overwhelmed and unsure of myself ever since my mcat was released and your comments have helped! 🙂

 

[gyngyn]

I guess I'm pretty lucky I live in Florida yea. I'm not sure how strong the rest of my application is though, especially my gpa/sgpa. I should have good letters of rec and feel like my extracurricular are average/above average. My personal statement should be pretty solid too, I've had some pretty unique experiences with medicine (or so I think...)

You said I should have a targeted list of schools? How does my list look now? I'm looking more for fit than I am prestige/rank and the schools on my list are within my range for gpa/mcat (total mcat, well below average for bio section).

Also thanks for your help gyngyn! I've been feeling very overwhelmed and unsure of myself ever since my mcat was released and your comments have helped! 🙂

Your gpa's are acceptable and with a strong trend and your good MCAT you should get into a FL school.

 

[ZapadniyRus]

I decided to retake the mcat and scored a 31 (10/11/10) this time around. While I did worse by a point, I feel better about my score being more balanced. So far I'm applying to 17 schools.

How does my list look? Are there any others I should add?

Uni. Florida
USF
UCF
Uni. Miami
Florida International
Florida Atlantic
Florida State
Tufts
Georgetown
Tulane
Wake Forest
Uni. Cincinnati
Temple
Jefferson
Loyola
Rush
NYMC

I've gone over the MSAR and I'm around the average mcat/gpa for all those above. Should I add any reaches? I'm pretty realistic about the places I have a chance at.

 

[ZapadniyRus]

Update.

Ended up retaking the MCAT and getting a more balanced score, I think a 32 again.

I ended up applying to all the schools I mentioned in the post above. Ended up getting 4 interviews. Accepted at 3, wait-listed at 1.

I graduated from the big state med school that Goro predicted I wouldn't get an interview at.

Now a 3rd year general surgery resident and trying to decide between CT or Trauma.

I've spent the last hour going over all of my old posts and laughing at how anxious I was. Funny how time flies.

 

[Adrenaline Junky]

Update.

Ended up retaking the MCAT and getting a more balanced score, I think a 32 again.

I ended up applying to all the schools I mentioned in the post above. Ended up getting 4 interviews. Accepted at 3, wait-listed at 1.

I graduated from the big state med school that Goro predicted I wouldn't get an interview at.

Now a 3rd year general surgery resident and trying to decide between CT or Trauma.

I've spent the last hour going over all of my old posts and laughing at how anxious I was. Funny how time flies.

Wow thanks for the update and congrats on the success