URM 500 -> 517: will it hurt my chances for T10-20 schools?

[972210]

ello! So I took my first mcat a year ago and scored a 500. I repeated again this year and I got a 517. I’m thinking of applying to T10-20 schools like Harvard, Duke ...etc .Will the fact that I got a 500 the first time around hurt my chances ? I have listed the rest of my app below!


URM (African American) Biochemistry major -> graduated in December 2018 a semester early

Numbers:

3.83cgpa/ 3.74sgpa, 517 mcat

Research:

• 960 hrs of clinical research that i started this past January and counted hrs until when I plan on applying which is June 20 ( one of my rec writers can’t have letter ready till then)

Leadership:

• one year pre-med club executive board,
• another year as secretary of a big extracurricular group and
• also a year and a half of student government

Non-Clinical Volunteering:

• Service project that I initiated that deals with girls' education: 500hrs+
• Summer healthcare administration internship at a med school 300hrs
• Ongoing healthcare administration volunteer position ( 3 yrs of this work is done online and the other 2 in high school...because I did high school in a different country I had to move to the US for college.)
• Volunteered at a church for two yrs (online) 120hrs
• ACT tutor for a year

Work

• worked all throughout undergrad ( 10-15 hrs a week)

Shadowing:

• 150hrs of shadowing
• Might add 10-30 hrs before applying.

Clinical volunteering:

• 200hrs of hospice

You guys will notice that some of my activities are linked to a different country ( not disclosing for privacy reasons). I grew up in this country and it has really contributed to my desire to pursue med. Also for those wondering, I'm not an international student.. I'm a permanent resident of NC

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[972210]

@Goro @LizzyM @candbgirl I would love to hear what you guys think!

 

[Goro]

You're golden. Start list with WashU and radiate outwards.
Include your state schools and the HBCs on the list as well.

 

[972210]

You're golden. Start list with WashU and radiate outwards.
Include your state schools and the HBCs on the list as well.

Thanks! So you don’t that first 500 won’t leave a bad impression even if I increased it to a 517?

 

[LizzyM]

Use WARS. Apply broadly.
Be able to self-reflect and discuss your first and second MCAT without being defensive. Be prepared for questions such as, "How did you prepare the first time? What did you think went well and what went wrong? How did you change the second time around?"

Outside of your home state, you might find more love in the central US than on the coasts.

Some schools might average your two scores rather than ignoring the 500. Either way, you have two scores that are indicative of someone who can do well in med school.

 

[candbgirl]

I think you’ve done a good job in getting things set to have a good application. Let us know how your cycle goes.

 

[972210]

I think you’ve done a good job in getting things set to have a good application. Let us know how your cycle goes.

Thank you! Even despite the 500 ? I was told that some of the top 10 schools average mcat scores and that would give me an average of 508. Should I still try for T10-20 schools?

 

[Hi_I'mPaul]

I took the MCAT 3x. Two were low (<70th percentile), the third was pretty high (>90th percentile). Never came up in an interview. Went from 0 II first cycle with the 2 MCATs to 5 II the next cycle when I had the high score. Also going to the med school I wanted to! Albeit, it's my state school and not T10-20, but your URM status should help you with that. I prepared to speak about the scores, as should you but that's all you can do -- own the 500! If you own it and don't make excuses, it'll come off as mature and you can make changes and get results. Good luck ~

 

[972210]

I took the MCAT 3x. Two were low (<70th percentile), the third was pretty high (>90th percentile). Never came up in an interview. Went from 0 II first cycle with the 2 MCATs to 5 II the next cycle when I had the high score. Also going to the med school I wanted to! Albeit, it's my state school and not T10-20, but your URM status should help you with that. I prepared to speak about the scores, as should you but that's all you can do -- own the 500! If you own it and don't make excuses, it'll come off as mature and you can make changes and get results. Good luck ~

Wow that's great! Congrats! I definitely will be honest about it, if it comes up. I'm just worried it will limit my chances, especially because some of the schools on my list probably get students that got >90th percentile on their first try.

 

[deleted976595]

I plan on applying which is June 20 ( one of my rec writers can’t have letter ready till then)

LoRs don't have to be in for you to submit your application. They are only needed for it to be 'complete' at a school, which also includes secondaries. You should submit as soon as you feel your app is ready so you aren't held back by verification times.

 

[tanbrucewayne]

Also a URM that re-took the MCAT (506->515) and interviewed at most top 10-20 schools I applied to. It only came up like 2/3 times in interviews for me, but definitely be prepared to explain what you did differently and don’t be defensive when it’s brought up as LizzyM said.

 

[candbgirl]

Thank you! Even despite the 500 ? I was told that some of the top 10 schools average mcat scores and that would give me an average of 508. Should I still try for T10-20 schools?

It’s not just T20 schools. AMCAS recommends that schools average multiple MCATS. Some do and some don’t. And there is nothing you can do about it. You have the 500 and there is nothing you can do about that either. Apply to a wide range of schools. Of course include some reaches but make sure you include target schools too. Be realistic.

 

[Hi_I'mPaul]

Wow that's great! Congrats! I definitely will be honest about it, if it comes up. I'm just worried it will limit my chances, especially because some of the schools on my list probably get students that got >90th percentile on their first try.

Exactly, use that to your advantage. Most students do not raise their MCAT score 17 points after a 500 🙂 That's interesting and unique! Shows perseverance and that you can adapt! Don't worry too much about it though since you can't change it. Have a well-balanced school list and I see no reason why you won't get Top 10 interviews.