What are my chances? What MCAT score should I shoot for?

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patrickj

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Hey, I'm new to this site and just thought I would try this and see if anyone has an input on my stats.

GPA 3.75
Microbiology Major

Taking MCAT in May
Graduating either December 2010 or May 2011

Just finished up my fourth year as a full-time scholarship swimmer at D1 university
Volunteer hours are limited
Shadowed around 30 hours (four different doctors)
Hoping to do research for this entire upcoming summer

Any input will be helpful. What MCAT should I shoot for? I would really like to go to a UC school but am not a Cali resident. I would prefer MD over DO. Volunteer hours and research hours have been limited the past four years due to swimming being a year-round sport and coach demanding off-season practice.
 
33+ MCAT for UC's. Higher for not being a resident. You need more clinical, volunteer, AND research experience, as those are all rated equally at UC's.

And, as they always told me in the Kaplan class, aim for a 45.
 
For general purposes, you should be fine with an MCAT score of 30+, however you have a long way to go before you'll be a competitive applicant EC-wise.

Your competitive sport has the plus of "counting" somewhat as an altruistic activity, on par with doing community service, at some schools.

About 1.5 years of clinical experience seems average for applicants. I''d suggest a minimum of a year, with 150 hours total. How much of this do you have already?

You have a good start with the shadowing. Some will say you're fine with what you have. I generally suggest 60-80 hours total.

Having a research activity will help your application. A summer's worth would be the minimum. About a year seems average. Those aiming at top research-oriented programs tend to have 2+ years and maybe publications.

Nonmedical/noncampus community service is a very good thing to get involved in. Leadership and teaching are other valued activities. Don't forget hobbies and artistic endeavors.
 
All my clinical experience comes from shadowing and doing some volunteer work over the summer. I plan on volunteering at a hospital starting in the next couple of weeks and if I get the summer research position, it will be at the National Institute of Health and will probably be around 320 hours total (40 hrs a week for 8 weeks)
 
i'll definately look into that. what clinical experience would your recommend besides volunteer work and shadowing?
 
You don't know how scary the average matriculant at a UC got to be... it rose even higher than 3.7/33 since the last MSAR.
 
patrickj said:
i'll definately look into that. what clinical experience would your recommend besides volunteer work and shadowing?
Click to expand...
Save the shadowing for your home turf. Clinical volunteering would be the first goal (nursing home, hospital, clinic, hospice, rehab). If any nonmedical volunteering opportunity comes along, jump on that too. I think a job on top of the NIH research would be too much. Two to four hours of one or both each week would be fine for the summer. More if you love it and the opportunity is terrific and flexible with your research hours.
 
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i'm thinking maybe volunteer at a hospital in dc on the weekends for a few hours
 
45T.


Oops. Cat is learning 🙂

YES!!
Always aim for perfection.

Why aim for less?
Why aim to save 99 patients out of 100?

144/144. That is your aim.
 
Catalystik said:
For general purposes, you should be fine with an MCAT score of 30+, however you have a long way to go before you'll be a competitive applicant EC-wise.

Your competitive sport has the plus of "counting" somewhat as an altruistic activity, on par with doing community service, at some schools.

About 1.5 years of clinical experience seems average for applicants. I''d suggest a minimum of a year, with 150 hours total. How much of this do you have already?

You have a good start with the shadowing. Some will say you're fine with what you have. I generally suggest 60-80 hours total.

Having a research activity will help your application. A summer's worth would be the minimum. About a year seems average. Those aiming at top research-oriented programs tend to have 2+ years and maybe publications.

Nonmedical/noncampus community service is a very good thing to get involved in. Leadership and teaching are other valued activities. Don't forget hobbies and artistic endeavors.
Click to expand...

Not that I doubt your expertise, I think you generally give good advice. I also agree that his swimming will be looked on favorably, but I've seen you call sports "an altruistic activity" at least a couple times.

al·tru·ism (
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n. 1. Unselfish concern for the welfare of others; selflessness.

I honestly don't see sports fitting this definition. If it is a team sport it can show leadership and ability to work well with others. Both individual and team sports show commitment and dedication. . . but I think the term altruistic should be reserved for other activities.
 
I've heard that many adcoms look at college athletics very highly in the sense that it shows them an individual can handle tough coursework with challenging time constraints (if they have a gpa on the higher side). any input?
 
True. However, it doesn't fit in w/ the pre-med trifecta of research/volunteering/clinical. Only do it if you love it. It can show leadership and passion (if you're any kind of captain/won awards).

I for one am terrible at sports...
 
rHinO1 said:
I think the term altruistic should be reserved for other activities.
Click to expand...
Altruism requires acting beyond one's own self interest. How is that not true of sports when one is showing teamwork? Everyone can't be the quarterback and get the glory. And no one would characterize practices as "fun". Most would say that time away from studies and other activities isn't helpful to one's long term interests (especially for premeds).
 
I've never heard of anybody doing sports for altruism. The most common answers are "I love the game" and "it pays my scholarship". Well, next to "my parents made me."
 
Catalystik said:
Altruism requires acting beyond one's own self interest. How is that not true of sports when one is showing teamwork? Everyone can't be the quarterback and get the glory. And no one would characterize practices as "fun". Most would say that time away from studies and other activities isn't helpful to one's long term interests (especially for premeds).
Click to expand...

Participating in a sport is typically done because the individual enjoys the physical activity and/or enjoys competing. It is true that on a team the individual must put the good of the team first. This would be an excellent example of cooperation and teamwork. However, the teams goal to win is consistent with the individuals goal to win so it is not truly altruistic (b/c it is not truly selfless). If you have true love of the game/sport then practices are at least satisfying, if not fun.

To the OP, yes I think adcomms do recognize that someone who did well academically and participated in sports was able to manage their time well and be successful. It should be looked highly upon.
 
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