WAMC: 4.0 GPA, 502 MCAT

[oneweirdscenario]

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Hello! I received my MCAT score today, and it was definitely not what I was aiming for, and I would super appreciate advice as to whether to retake/apply/wait. I’m a first time applicant, but a non-traditional student. I graduated with my masters in 2022.
My current school list is completely flexible, as I am just not sure on my chances with this MCAT score. Thank you so much in advance <3

1. GPA 4.0. Graduated Valedictorian in undergrad. GPA also 4.0 for masters.
2. MCAT 502 (126/124/127/125), test date 5/13/23. I feel the need to give some background here. I took the MCAT in undergrad (I was wayyyy too cocky and just went in blind). I scored a 502 then (124/129/126/123), but this score is now expired. With that score and with all my practice exams, I never dipped below a 128 on CARS, so today was a real gut punch. My FL practice exams were around 512-513. Just adding this in because I am considering a retake, but I am not sure how the timing of that will work out with this app cycle.
3. State of residence: Indiana but grew up in Louisiana
4. White female
5. NSU in Louisiana for undergrad - biology major with minors in chem and micro. Notre Dame for masters - biology with concentration in infectious and vectorborne diseases.
6. clinical experience: 1100+ hrs paid clinical and a few shadowing hours.
7. Research hours: 6,100+ hrs total. 300 from undergrad lab and ~5,800 hrs for masters (drug-resistant malaria). One pub in Nature Micro (middle author); first author pub in progress, but HIGHLY doubt this will make it onto my apps. Undergrad: 3 poster presentations and 4 oral presentations (2 awards from oral presentations). Masters: 1 poster presentation and 1 oral presentation. No thesis.
8. 2 hrs shadowing critical care; more planned for Fall.
9. ~100 hrs nonclinical volunteering (most of my volunteering fits within multiple categories for AMCAS, so this is what I have listed solely under volunteering).
10. Other extracurricular activities: honor societies- Blue Key (community service; executive board x1), Beta Beta Beta (biology; executive board x2, President), Alpha Lambda Delta (freshmen), Phi Kappa Phi (research), Golden Key. Lots of science clubs (ASM, ACS, etc.). Teaching assistant x5 semesters throughout undergrad and grad school. Biology Graduate Student Organization (executive board - recruitment chair).
11. Valedictorian in undergrad. 1 competitive research scholarship. Phi Kappa Phi Student Research award and 1st place in oral presentation of research. Teaching assistant excellence award.
12. Anything else not listed that might be important: I am a non-traditional student. I have worked at my state department of health since summer of 2022. I was an epidemiologist and am currently the state virology lab supervisor. I spend a lot of time working on health equity initiatives through the state. I am currently volunteering on the Health Equity Council Data Subcommittee and have done advocacy work as well. I am also lead on some pretty large projects to increase flu surveillance in the state and bring free flu tests to mobile integrated health programs.

My current school list: IU (in-state); LSU Shreveport; LSU NO; Tulane (the dream); TCU; Meharry... and open to suggestions here. My list looked a little different before the score reveal, so I feel like I am starting over on this a little.

 

[Faha]

Your current MCAT of 502 is not competitive for most MD schools. You could receive interviews at Indiana and the 2 Louisiana state public schools. If you can score at least 508 on the MCAT you could apply to many more MD schools so a retake may be beneficial. Since your practice scores were in the 512 range you could score higher. A retake this year would need to be done by late July. Are you willing to apply to DO schools ?

 

[oneweirdscenario]

Your current MCAT of 502 is not competitive for most MD schools. You could receive interviews at Indiana and the 2 Louisiana state public schools. If you can score at least 508 on the MCAT you could apply to many more MD schools so a retake may be beneficial. Since your practice scores were in the 512 range you could score higher. A retake this year would need to be done by late July. Are you willing to apply to DO schools ?

I panic scheduled a retake for July 15. Hoping I can make that date work. I really don't understand what happened with my CARS, and I think pulling that back up to my normal would have me in a solid 507-508 range at least.

I am willing to apply to DO schools, but full honesty is that I haven't had much exposure to them. I am not sure what I would need to be competitive for DO, and the timeline is not great 🙁. Would appreciate any advice on this avenue as well!

 

[Faha]

I panic scheduled a retake for July 15. Hoping I can make that date work. I really don't understand what happened with my CARS, and I think pulling that back up to my normal would have me in a solid 507-508 range at least.

I am willing to apply to DO schools, but full honesty is that I haven't had much exposure to them. I am not sure what I would need to be competitive for DO, and the timeline is not great 🙁. Would appreciate any advice on this avenue as well!

Your stats are competitive for the majority of DO schools. There is no hurry with a DO application and even an October application is not late. Post your new MCAT score here in August and I will suggest MD and DO schools. You can submit your AMCAS application this month but only include Indiana and the 2 Louisiana state public schools at this time. You can add more schools in August if your new score is significantly higher.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Keep in mind LSUS also has a strong focus on rural health (NO does too, but just saying). LSUS may also be good if you grew up outside New Orleans. Good luck with that MCAT retake.

 

[oneweirdscenario]

Your stats are competitive for the majority of DO schools. There is no hurry with a DO application and even an October application is not late. Post your new MCAT score here in August and I will suggest MD and DO schools. You can submit your AMCAS application this month but only include Indiana and the 2 Louisiana state public schools at this time. You can add more schools in August if your new score is significantly higher.

Thank you both for your help <3!

I just received my new score - 513!!!!
128/129/128/128

 

[williewalnuts]

Thank you both for your help <3!

I just received my new score - 513!!!!
128/129/128/128

oh man that is amazing. the sun shines and hundreds of doors have opened. Happy Tuesday my friend.

 

[Faha]

You can add any of these schools to your application:
Tulane
TCU
NOVA MD
Wake Forest
Virginia Commonwealth
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Hackensack
New York Medical College
Einstein
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Tufts
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
St. Louis

 

[oneweirdscenario]

You can add any of these schools to your application:
Tulane
TCU
NOVA MD
Wake Forest
Virginia Commonwealth
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Hackensack
New York Medical College
Einstein
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Tufts
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
St. Louis

I just wanted to hop on here one more time to say thank you!

I got my first acceptance!!!!!!!!!!! 😁

 

[Faha]

I just wanted to hop on here one more time to say thank you!

I got my first acceptance!!!!!!!!!!! 😁

Congratulations !!!