voided the MCAT today.

[deleted665733]

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Hi fellow DOs!

This will be my first post on SDN, hopefully to gain some advise from you all.

I have taken the MCAT once and got a 26(9PS,7VR,10BS). Today I took my 2nd stab and unfortunately I was not able to finish my verbal section so I decided to void the test although I estimated I have scored slightly better on PS and BS to avoid a unbalanced score (estimated 11-12PS, 5-6VR, 11BS).

I have a cumulative GPA of 3.56 with a science GPA of 3.54.

EC:
I have shadowed for DO (70 hours) in family medicine, volunteered in a clinic for 100 hours, was president of a cultural-related organization on campus, teaching assistant in department of biology for a year, worked in a lab for a year, and have assisted/researched with a researcher for almost a year.

I have obtained all required/optional recommendations letters(2 science/1 non-science professor) including the D.O. I shadowed with.

I have concerned on whether 1) If my extracurricular is too weak, and if so, how can I strengthen my extracurricular? 2) Should I retake my MCAT again? Because this score seems to be on a very low end among applicants .

Thanks in advance 🙂

 

[baxt1412]

I don't think your ECs are too weak. do you have any non-clinical volunteering?

your GPAs are fine.

a 26 on your MCAT with everything else should get you multiple interviews if you apply early and appropriately. I would suggest getting some more doctor shadowing, though, if you can. it's not the total number of hours, but some breadth of shadowing can come in handy if you end up shadowing a specific specialty that your interviewer connects with, etc.

 

[Dr. Hopeful]

The 26 only limits you from the Touros, AZCOM, and CCOM. If any of those are your top schools, or you are still wanting to apply MD, retake the MCAT. If you're fine possibly going to any other DO school in the nation, stick with your score.

 

[referee3]

You need more clinical experience. 100 hours volunteering at a hospital is not very much. I actually think you are fine on shadowing hours, but should spend more time volunteering in a hospital getting hands on clinical experience with patients.

 

[lorddisick]

The 26 only limits you from the Touros, AZCOM, and CCOM. If any of those are your top schools, or you are still wanting to apply MD, retake the MCAT. If you're fine possibly going to any other DO school in the nation, stick with your score.

I'd add KCUMB and DMU to this list as well, although they seem to be more focused on science GPA than anything else.

OP, you should be good if you apply broadly and early! DO schools are becoming more and more competitive every year and soon I think a 28/29 (or the new MCAT equivalent) will be the virtual minimum at a lot of places, but for the upcoming cycle, a 26 should be good, especially at the newer schools like ACOM, etc. Are you OK with taking the new MCAT/have you given that any serious thought? I'm not exactly sure how the grading scale for the new one works!

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Good job on the MCAT, you have to trust your gut on that stuff. If you think you didnt do well, best to not post it and screw over your chances. It takes some real humility and self awareness to do that.

Your current MCAT is fine if you play the field right and manage your timing well. You have a balanced score which is good, nothing below a 7 also helps.

As others have said, the rest of your app is good. If you apply in early June and get your secondaries and letters of rec back to schools within 48 hours of receiving them you will surely get many interview invites. I would suggest to apply to 12 schools, dont go top heavy, so no Touro's, CCOM, or out of state public schools. If you apply to maybe 3 reach schools, 6 mids, and 3 low tiers then you will absolutely get an acceptance. Put some of your eggs in the baskets of schools that are close to you geographically, they will likely give you the most love.

Obviously if you add more schools, you increase your chances, but I think you could get by with 12.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

You need more clinical experience. 100 hours volunteering at a hospital is not very much. I actually think you are fine on shadowing hours, but should spend more time volunteering in a hospital getting hands on clinical experience with patients.

agreed, nothing wrong with getting more volunteer or clinical, this stuff ALWAYS helps. Even if you spend the next few months grabbing another hundred hours, it will go a long way.

 

[Goro]

Do NOT retake! Your ECs are fine. Apply broadly, but skip CCOM, AZCOM, Westerns and the CA and CA Touros.

Hi fellow DOs!

This will be my first post on SDN, hopefully to gain some advise from you all.

I have taken the MCAT once and got a 26(9PS,7VR,10BS). Today I took my 2nd stab and unfortunately I was not able to finish my verbal section so I decided to void the test although I estimated I have scored slightly better on PS and BS to avoid a unbalanced score (estimated 11-12PS, 5-6VR, 11BS).

I have a cumulative GPA of 3.56 with a science GPA of 3.54.

EC:
I have shadowed for DO (70 hours) in family medicine, volunteered in a clinic for 100 hours, was president of a cultural-related organization on campus, teaching assistant in department of biology for a year, worked in a lab for a year, and have assisted/researched with a researcher for almost a year.

I have obtained all required/optional recommendations letters(2 science/1 non-science professor) including the D.O. I shadowed with.

I have concerned on whether 1) If my extracurricular is too weak, and if so, how can I strengthen my extracurricular? 2) Should I retake my MCAT again? Because this score seems to be on a very low end among applicants .

Thanks in advance 🙂

 

[NurWollen]

OP, I agree that your EC'S and MCAT are fine. Sobis you GPA, obviously. If you apply early you'll probably have more interview invites than you can go to.

 

[baxt1412]

FWIW, I only had 75 hours of clinical volunteering, however had 500+ hours of non-clinical depending on what you classify as volunteering (I TA'd and tutored for no work study $) and >200 hours shadowing. and have had 6 II out of the 13 schools I sent secondaries to (10 if you don't count multiple campuses within same network.. idk how that works)

 

[yankees527]

.

 

[deleted665733]

Wow. Thank you guys for pouring out your time to reply, you guys are SO awesome! I will definitely look for opportunity to volunteer at a hospital starting right now. Your responses are greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[Dr. Hopeful]

I'd add KCUMB and DMU to this list as well, although they seem to be more focused on science GPA than anything else.

OP, you should be good if you apply broadly and early! DO schools are becoming more and more competitive every year and soon I think a 28/29 (or the new MCAT equivalent) will be the virtual minimum at a lot of places, but for the upcoming cycle, a 26 should be good, especially at the newer schools like ACOM, etc. Are you OK with taking the new MCAT/have you given that any serious thought? I'm not exactly sure how the grading scale for the new one works!

I got accepted with a lower MCAT to KCUMB. The important thing about KCUMB is being above their cutoffs, which is no lower than an 8 (7?) in any section and no lower than 24 overall, if you meet these criteria and have a strong science GPA (mine was ~3.7, 3.9 in upper level bio courses), you'll get an interview invite with a strong surrounding application, which it seems like OP has. I would definitely recommend KCUMB and DMUCOM. Only avoid Touros and CCOM. And Goro says to avoid the Westerns too, so I would listen to his advice, he knows more about the process than I do.

 

[AlteredScale]

I got accepted with a lower MCAT to KCUMB. The important thing about KCUMB is being above their cutoffs, which is no lower than an 8 (7?) in any section and no lower than 24 overall, if you meet these criteria and have a strong science GPA (mine was ~3.7, 3.9 in upper level bio courses), you'll get an interview invite with a strong surrounding application, which it seems like OP has. I would definitely recommend KCUMB and DMUCOM. Only avoid Touros and CCOM. And Goro says to avoid the Westerns too, so I would listen to his advice, he knows more about the process than I do.

Agreed, KCUMB will cut applicants who have a science and cumulative GPA below 3.25 even if you have a strong MCAT (like at or even above 30).

Also be sure to complete the secondary to KCUMB as early as possible. They filled their entire class of 2019 before xmas and I don't thing that will change anytime soon.

 

[YourMD]

Hi fellow DOs!

This will be my first post on SDN, hopefully to gain some advise from you all.

I have taken the MCAT once and got a 26(9PS,7VR,10BS). Today I took my 2nd stab and unfortunately I was not able to finish my verbal section so I decided to void the test although I estimated I have scored slightly better on PS and BS to avoid a unbalanced score (estimated 11-12PS, 5-6VR, 11BS).

I have a cumulative GPA of 3.56 with a science GPA of 3.54.

EC:
I have shadowed for DO (70 hours) in family medicine, volunteered in a clinic for 100 hours, was president of a cultural-related organization on campus, teaching assistant in department of biology for a year, worked in a lab for a year, and have assisted/researched with a researcher for almost a year.

I have obtained all required/optional recommendations letters(2 science/1 non-science professor) including the D.O. I shadowed with.

I have concerned on whether 1) If my extracurricular is too weak, and if so, how can I strengthen my extracurricular? 2) Should I retake my MCAT again? Because this score seems to be on a very low end among applicants .
Thanks in advance 🙂

OP has received some great advice. Continue working on your EC's and apply early and broadly next cycle! Goodluck

 

[MightBeACylon439]

If you take anyones advice, Goro would be the one. If against his judgement you decide to retake, what have you done to work on your VR?

 

[evooo8]

I have an acceptance with a 25 MCAT and much lower cGPA and sGPA, though I did have more shadowing hours and really strong MD and DO letters of recommendation. If I would have applied earlier in the cycle I think I would have landed more interviews and a few more acceptances (I sent my primary in September and was not verified until October). I think you are a good applicant. Write a good personal statement, get some good letters and apply early and you will be find! Best of luck!

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I think you should apply with the 26. I got in with a 26 and a lower Cgpa, although my PB was good. You have a decent shot, make sure your PS is top notch and your secondaries are well written, you'll be fine. I firmly believe in having the people on SDN read your PS. People who know you cannot accurately determine if you have a good PS. You need people who don't know you to determine if it's boring or needs more passion, or anything else... Something I found useful is to find someone else applying and trade time for reading secondary apps... it really helps to have someone else go over your stuff...