What if your MCAT is above a school's 90th percentile?

[HopelesRomantic]

My friend (really, I wish my MCAT was so high) scored a 36 on his MCAT (11 BS, 11 VR, 14 PS). Also his GPA is around 3.8.

Should he bother applying to schools with an MCAT 90th percentile of 35 or 36, or will most of them dismiss his app because they think he'll matriculate at a school with higher stats?

Another factor: he's a Texas resident. Does this mean that many low/mid-tier schools will also dismiss his app thinking that he would only leave TX (the land of cheap schools) to attend a top20?

Could really use some advice from LizzyM here!

Thanks to everyone else!

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[GopherMD]

Tell him to still apply somewhat broadly. Applying to medical school is something you only want to go through once (trust me, I had to do it twice). Nothing can guarantee an acceptance, and that includes having high stats.

 

[PanRoasted]

Tell him to check out the school's mission statement first, if he does in fact fall above their 90th percentile in either MCAT or GPA. Most schools that weed out super high stat people weed them out on the basis that they don't fit the school's mission statement, much less that they think the individual will matriculate at a higher ranked institution.

 

[AdrianVeidt]

Table 24 gives him a 90% chance of acceptance, he shouldn't have much to worry about. From 2010-2012 only 350 people out of 3500 didn't get in with those numbers.

 

[GUH]

Table 24 gives him a 90% chance of acceptance, he shouldn't have much to worry about. From 2010-2012 only 350 people out of 3500 didn't get in with those numbers.

I am amazed that there were 350 people during those two cycles with a 3.8/36 who didn't get in...

 

[Ansar]

I am amazed that there were 350 people during those two cycles with a 3.8/36 who didn't get in...

Late app, applying to only the highest schools with one "safety" "just in case" , bad interview...

 

[HopelesRomantic]

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

Depends on where your GPA falls too. A school with an MCAT 90th percentile of 33 may view a guy with a 38 and 3.9 as using them as a safety, but it'll be easier to see why a guy with a 38 and a 3.2 is applying to that school. "Fit" is also important if you run a risk of looking like you're just using a school for a safety pick. If you come across as not knowing anything about the school, into the trash you go. On the other hand, if your app makes gives the impression that the school is actually your top pick for good reasons, they'll probably be happy to extend you an interview. Basically you have to assure them that "No no, you guys aren't my safety school at all! Honest!"

I am amazed that there were 350 people during those two cycles with a 3.8/36 who didn't get in...

I'm willing to bet most of those were people without much to show on their app beyond good stats, or who made the mistake of applying heavily to top schools, or both. Maybe they neglected other parts of their application (PS, submission time) because they thought they were so strong. When you've got stats that can, at first glance, get you into Harvard it's easy to get cocky. A lot of people also don't realize that medical schools rarely admit people based off stats alone, and make the mistake of thinking that their high stats are enough to get them into a top school when in reality no one stands a chance at those schools without extremely impressive and unique ECs, and even mid-tier schools are unlikely to admit a person without solid ECs even if they're stats are excellent.

 

[AdrianVeidt]

I am amazed that there were 350 people during those two cycles with a 3.8/36 who didn't get in...

Just because you're smart doesn't mean you will make a good doctor. For instance, one of my classmates would constantly make 100's on every organic test while the average was much lower. Same for biology and physics courses. Smart as a whip, but talk to him and there is no way you would trust him with your life. This guy sounds like Brick Tamland when he's talking to you.

 

[sector9]

If he shows interest in the school on his secondary, then the school will be interested in him. If he comes across as haughty or dismissive, then he could get passed over, just like anyone else.

 

[mvenus929]

I am amazed that there were 350 people during those two cycles with a 3.8/36 who didn't get in...

As one of those people (from the 2007 application cycle), there's much more to an application than just numbers, which is something that everyone needs to keep in mind.

 

[jr93]

A letter of intent solves all of this. Send the school a letter stating that you will matriculate if accepted and that you should not be screened because of high scores. Schools definitely assume some kids will pass on their schools so they save the time and pass on the student. I always knew I wanted to go to my state school and made it clear in the interview that any other school was a backup and I did not want to move. I never wrote a LOI but would've if I got the feeling that a school might think I'd turn them down. I only got a 31 though so you're safe almost anywhere with my score.

 

[notbobtrustme]

I was accepted to a school with a 90th percentile of 35 and I had a 37.

hell, I was accepted at a DO school and they flatout told me that they knew they were a backup for me.

 

[legendarg]

A letter of intent solves all of this. Send the school a letter stating that you will matriculate if accepted and that you should not be screened because of high scores. Schools definitely assume some kids will pass on their schools so they save the time and pass on the student. I always knew I wanted to go to my state school and made it clear in the interview that any other school was a backup and I did not want to move. I never wrote a LOI but would've if I got the feeling that a school might think I'd turn them down. I only got a 31 though so you're safe almost anywhere with my score.

Would you mind elaborating a bit on letters of intent? I assume the etiquette is that you should only send it to one school, and if they do accept you then you are obligated to go there, correct? And am I correct in assuming that sending a letter to a top school would be pointless/presumptuous? Like, if I'm a long-shot for UCSF, sending them a LOI won't do much to sway them, correct?

 

[jr93]

Would you mind elaborating a bit on letters of intent? I assume the etiquette is that you should only send it to one school, and if they do accept you then you are obligated to go there, correct? And am I correct in assuming that sending a letter to a top school would be pointless/presumptuous? Like, if I'm a long-shot for UCSF, sending them a LOI won't do much to sway them, correct?

I'd do a search on here and find someone that talked about doing it. I never sent one so I didn't look into it much but I know there have been several discussions about them. But yes, don't send one to a school that isn't your top choice. It would be pretty douchey to send a LOI and then get accepted and end up not going to that school. There may even be some action the school could take if they wanted to pursue it. They do have the ability to see where you ended up going after a certain date and could contact that school and warn them that you're unethical.

 

[LizzyM]

A letter of intent solves all of this. Send the school a letter stating that you will matriculate if accepted and that you should not be screened because of high scores. Schools definitely assume some kids will pass on their schools so they save the time and pass on the student. I always knew I wanted to go to my state school and made it clear in the interview that any other school was a backup and I did not want to move. I never wrote a LOI but would've if I got the feeling that a school might think I'd turn them down. I only got a 31 though so you're safe almost anywhere with my score.

A letter of intent might solve this if the reason for your choice is clear and logical and if the school is reasonably certain that you aren't sending the same letter to every school (or at least to a few schools). Yes, it is unethical but Deans of Admissions are starting to think that applicants are not always truthful.

Also, a letter of intent before interview is baloney unless you are rock solid (above average) for that school. Otherwise, why choose you over better applicants...because you will matriculate? and there are at least a thousand other students in the hopper who are better than you are and also willing to matriculate.

 

[gyngyn]

A letter of intent solves all of this. Send the school a letter stating that you will matriculate if accepted and that you should not be screened because of high scores. Schools definitely assume some kids will pass on their schools so they save the time and pass on the student. I always knew I wanted to go to my state school and made it clear in the interview that any other school was a backup and I did not want to move. I never wrote a LOI but would've if I got the feeling that a school might think I'd turn them down. I only got a 31 though so you're safe almost anywhere with my score.

We pay little attention to these.

 

[DokterMom]

My friend (really, I wish my MCAT was so high) scored a 36 on his MCAT (11 BS, 11 VR, 14 PS). Also his GPA is around 3.8.

Should he bother applying to schools with an MCAT 90th percentile of 35 or 36, or will most of them dismiss his app because they think he'll matriculate at a school with higher stats?

Another factor: he's a Texas resident. Does this mean that many low/mid-tier schools will also dismiss his app thinking that he would only leave TX (the land of cheap schools) to attend a top20?

Could really use some advice from LizzyM here!

Thanks to everyone else!

He needs to have a plausible reason for wanting to attend that school and he needs to articulate that reason clearly and prominently. If it's just a safety school and s/he's applying just to be safe with no particular desire to go there, then I'd suggest that it's a low-odds proposition. S/he'd probably have better luck at 'upper-mid' tiers in addition to a few reach schools.

Again, if s/he's not a good enough applicant for one of the many Texas schools, s/he's probably not a good enough applicant. One of the 350...

 

[Ansar]

We pay little attention to these.

Even for Waitlisted candidates?

I thought that was the only time when letters of intent mattered.

 

[487806]

If he shows interest in the school on his secondary, then the school will be interested in him. If he comes across as haughty or dismissive, then he could get passed over, just like anyone else.

Exactly.

Also, the strongest applicant will likely have a higher MCAT score than the 90th percentile of WashU.

 

[gyngyn]

Even for Waitlisted candidates?

I thought that was the only time when letters of intent mattered.

Most of them come from applicants who are holding nowhere or at a school where it might be easily inferred. Rarely do I get a LOI from person holding someplace where it comes as a surprise that they would rather come here! It happens about twice per cycle.

I often feel bad about how much effort is put into these letters.

 

[sinombre]

Most of them come from applicants who are holding nowhere or at a school where it might be easily inferred. Rarely do I get a LOI from person holding someplace where it comes as a surprise that they would rather come here! It happens about twice per cycle. I often feel bad about how much effort is put into these letters.

Who wouldn't want to stay in CA? 😍

I would probably turn down a good amount of scholarship money to stay here.

Just out of curiosity... has your wait list moved less than normal this year?

 

[gyngyn]

Who wouldn't want to stay in CA? 😍

I would probably turn down a good amount of scholarship money to stay here.

Just out of curiosity... has your wait list moved less than normal this year?

A lot less.

 

[sliceofbread136]

I had a 37 and was accepted to every school in Texas except TCOM and Atm cause I didnt apply to those schools.

 

[Dbate]

I had a 37 and was accepted to every school in Texas except TCOM and Atm cause I didnt apply to those schools.

To offer a slightly different perspective, my friend had a 38 and 3.95 in chemical engineering from UT and got outright rejected from UTSA, and I don't know if she got admitted to most of the Texas schools.

It turned out alright for her though. She got into WashU, Baylor (with 33K scholarship), and UT Southwestern (with 40K scholarship).

She is going to Baylor.


Things matter more than stats.

 

[OhHey]

tell him to check out the school's mission statement first, if he does in fact fall above their 90th percentile in either mcat or gpa. Most schools that weed out super high stat people weed them out on the basis that they don't fit the school's mission statement, much less that they think the individual will matriculate at a higher ranked institution.

+1

 

[sliceofbread136]

To offer a slightly different perspective, my friend had a 38 and 3.95 in chemical engineering from UT and got outright rejected from UTSA, and I don't know if she got admitted to most of the Texas schools.

It turned out alright for her though. She got into WashU, Baylor (with 33K scholarship), and UT Southwestern (with 40K scholarship).

She is going to Baylor.


Things matter more than stats.

The point was that high stats won't get you auto-rejected from Texas schools. UTSA is known for some weird rejections though. I didn't experience this personally, although I didn't really like UTSA much anyway...

 

[Cornu Ammonis]

Also, a letter of intent before interview is baloney unless you are rock solid (above average) for that school. Otherwise, why choose you over better applicants...because you will matriculate? and there are at least a thousand other students in the hopper who are better than you are and also willing to matriculate.

When you say "above average," do you mean in stats or in your overall application. I am sad to say that I am one of those applicants with a 99th percentile MCAT who got in nowhere, this year, and I am reticent to send an LOI again post-interview, let alone pre-interview.

 

[chillaxbro]

It's called a safety school

 

[LizzyM]

When you say "above average," do you mean in stats or in your overall application. I am sad to say that I am one of those applicants with a 99th percentile MCAT who got in nowhere, this year, and I am reticent to send an LOI again post-interview, let alone pre-interview.

At this point, a school can see that you hold no offers.... A LOI at this point just seems desperate.

A letter of intent before interview seems odd unless you really want to be sure that a school appreciates your intense interest, although at first glance it would appear that you "could do better". In other words, if you were really interested in attending Vermont because your fiancé has a job there and you are hoping to settle there long-term, it makes sense.

What worries me, Cornu Ammonis , is that someone with your stats got in nowhere despite applying broadly. That leads to the question "what is wrong with this applicant?" 🙁 I think that this is part of the problem with being a reapplicant. Revisit your interview strategies before you interview again.

 

[aishtr1295]

At this point, a school can see that you hold no offers.... A LOI at this point just seems desperate.

A letter of intent before interview seems odd unless you really want to be sure that a school appreciates your intense interest, although at first glance it would appear that you "could do better". In other words, if you were really interested in attending Vermont because your fiancé has a job there and you are hoping to settle there long-term, it makes sense.

What worries me, Cornu Ammonis , is that someone with your stats got in nowhere despite applying broadly. That leads to the question "what is wrong with this applicant?" 🙁 I think that this is part of the problem with being a reapplicant. Revisit your interview strategies before you interview again.

I'm in a similar situation mentioned in your example. My fiancé will be working in Chicago so all my schools are either in that area or near home, NYC. If med schools can see where I've applied to, would they ask me why those schools? And how honest can I be?

 

[Cornu Ammonis]

At this point, a school can see that you hold no offers.... A LOI at this point just seems desperate.

A letter of intent before interview seems odd unless you really want to be sure that a school appreciates your intense interest, although at first glance it would appear that you "could do better". In other words, if you were really interested in attending Vermont because your fiancé has a job there and you are hoping to settle there long-term, it makes sense.

What worries me, Cornu Ammonis , is that someone with your stats got in nowhere despite applying broadly. That leads to the question "what is wrong with this applicant?" 🙁 I think that this is part of the problem with being a reapplicant. Revisit your interview strategies before you interview again.

Thank you for the response. I had never before interviewed for anything, and I was quite nervous during my interviews; I'll be looking for a professional service to help me with this.

 

[LizzyM]

I'm in a similar situation mentioned in your example. My fiancé will be working in Chicago so all my schools are either in that area or near home, NYC. If med schools can see where I've applied to, would they ask me why those schools? And how honest can I be?

The beauty of those cities is that there are a number of schools in a range of LizzyM scores in each place so you won't look like you are slumming. Sure you are interested in U of C or Northwestern and if you have the stats, you may get lucky and be admitted. Would you choose Rush or Loyola over U of Chicago or NU? That's the question the lesser lights will be asking themselves. On the other hand, if you can think of something specfic about those schools that the other schools don't have, you could pitch it as, "my fiance works in Chicago and I am particulary attracted to Rush's ...." Ditto the NYC/Bronx/Brooklyn schools, particularly if you are in-state for those schools.

 

[HopelesRomantic]

A letter of intent might solve this if the reason for your choice is clear and logical and if the school is reasonably certain that you aren't sending the same letter to every school (or at least to a few schools). Yes, it is unethical but Deans of Admissions are starting to think that applicants are not always truthful.

Also, a letter of intent before interview is baloney unless you are rock solid (above average) for that school. Otherwise, why choose you over better applicants...because you will matriculate? and there are at least a thousand other students in the hopper who are better than you are and also willing to matriculate.

Generally, there seem to be two different opinions in this thread:
1. Overqualified stats don't matter as long as you put some effort into the secondary.
2. If you're overqualified for a school, the reality is that they will almost certainly not interview you unless you have a relatively rare/unique circumstance that you can communicate better in a letter of interest/intent.

LizzyM, which is closer to the truth? For that matter, above what threshold (in your opinion) will a school fall under this category (i.e. above 90th percentile mcat, X points above LizzyM score, etc)?

Thank you!

 

[LizzyM]

Generally, there seem to be two different opinions in this thread:
1. Overqualified stats don't matter as long as you put some effort into the secondary.
2. If you're overqualified for a school, the reality is that they will almost certainly not interview you unless you have a relatively rare/unique circumstance that you can communicate better in a letter of interest/intent.

LizzyM, which is closer to the truth? For that matter, above what threshold (in your opinion) will a school fall under this category (i.e. above 90th percentile mcat, X points above LizzyM score, etc)?

Thank you!

Both scenarios require that you put some effort into explaining why that school is where you want to be and why its mission fits well with what you want to do and why the school should want you over thousands of other qualified applicants. That said,sometimes, as in romance, it if the school if not interested in you, your efforts will not get you a date (or an interview or an offer of admission).