What MCAT score would I need if...

[californiamed]

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I have a 3.5science GPA? location doesn't matter. any acceptance is fine w/ me. i kno CA schools need 3.7~

 

[KindofBlue]

Depends on a lot of things, but at least the average MCAT for CA MD schools, which is around 30-35 (mostly 32 or higher).

 

[californiamed]

So I should shoot around ~33-35 to make up for my science GPA?

 

[sector9]

So I should shoot around ~33-35 to make up for my science GPA?

Sure

 

[chiapet874]

A high one. With such little information, that's the best SDN can do.

The answer is the same for people with a 4.0 or a 2.0. The only difference is how critical it is.

 

[KindofBlue]

Considering the overall stats of accepted students, a 3.5 sGPA isn't really bad.
There are just way too many variables, so it's hard to say what MCAT score should be your goal. But as long as your GPA is around 3.6~3.7 or higher, an MCAT score of 32+ will "get you to doorsteps" (as people on SDN like to put it) at a lot of schools, but actually getting an interview and getting accepted will depend on the overall strength of your application such LOR, PS, and ECs.

 

[zma21]

Why don't you shoot for 45 and go from there?

 

[californiamed]

I'm definitely shooting from the 45, but I'm not a genius, and I know in the back of my head i'll never get that score.
Yeah, my culm gpa is ~3.6, my only issue is my science. I feel like I have good ECs and a great potential personal statement (explaining my horrendous junior year).

thanks for response guys.

 

[V5RED]

Why don't you shoot for 45 and go from there?

Having a realistic goal for your score is useful. You can gauge your readiness for the exam based on the score you think you need. If you are shooting for a 30 and keep getting 25's on your practices you know you need to study more and may need to reschedule your exam. Shooting for a 45 is just silly for most people.

 

[Knocked Up]

So I should shoot around ~33-35 to make up for my science GPA?

Please don't underestimate the MCAT. I have yet to meet an individual who could guess their scores before they began studying. Keep a goal in mind, but understand that it is a very difficult test and MUCH MUCH comes down to guessing and just pure luck. Good luck tho.

 

[Morsetlis]

Please don't underestimate the MCAT. I have yet to meet an individual who could guess their scores before they began studying. Keep a goal in mind, but understand that it is a very difficult test and MUCH MUCH comes down to guessing and just pure luck. Good luck tho.

I met a girl from Notre Dame who guessed she'd get a 38.

She was right 🙄

 

[Knocked Up]

I met a girl from Notre Dame who guessed she'd get a 38.

She was right 🙄

Was she hot?

PS. Still doesn't count cause I never met her.

 

[MalibuPreMD]

My sGPA was only .05 higher than yours, I went to undergrad in Cali, and was invited to interview at USC in one of the early rounds. I don't think I have any extraordinary ECs either. My MCAT was a 37, which is certainly attainable with enough hard work and preparation (knowing it was make or break, I studied for >6 months). Also, if you're in Cali I definitely recommend Berkeley Review. Even for as long as I studied I only completed 60% of the passages in their textbook and had the test taking logic down.


That said,I still don't have an invite to UCLA (although with OOS status making cost a non-issue, I might still choose SC if accepted to both).

Sorry if this wasn't coherent... its gettin' late

 

[Nymphicus]

considering

I have a 3.5science GPA? location doesn't matter. any acceptance is fine w/ me. i kno CA schools need 3.7~

30+, possibly lower if your EC are well rounded. A 3.5sci or even cumGPA is not that bad.

 

[Victoria R]

Sound like you are off to a good start..!..

 

[WorldChanger36]

Just get above a 30 and you will do fine but it is harder than you think. Prep well with a good review course or Sn2ed study plan. ( It is in the MCAT forum) A 30 plus MCAT w/3.5 GPA ( assuming everything else is in order) w/ a broad app ( around 20 schools) gives you a good shot.

 

[NKChemEng]

About three fiddy

 

[Camy99]

Why don't you shoot for 45 and go from there?

Despite some saying it's unrealistic to do so, I agree. Do your best, that is all.
Although I understand the aspect of wanting to know if your practice scores are too low..

 

[cincincyreds]

You should shoot for perfection on your mcat. Everyone is studying for it, so it is that more difficult to get that 30 than you think. To get a 10, 10, 10, out of 100 people, you probably have to do better than 85% of the population that takes the exam. And remember, people who are premed are usually top 10% of their high school class. To get a 12,12,12 or a 36, you have to do better than 95% of the population taking the exam. The exam isn't a joke. You need to study both princeton and kaplan and know everything from the science books and just hope you have a good day. It is a timed reading exam that takes hours of study to master. When you look at these forums, most people get 30 or above, but I'm assuming it is only the people who did well who post. I think 50% of the people who take the exam get a 24 or less. The only people getting into med school with a 24 are URMs unless they have a parent who has pull on the admissions committee. There are no gifts in the admissions process. Even if you work hard and get a bad score on the MCAT, you most likely won't get in. Everyone in my class had a 30 or above. Everyone was smart and talented. I had to work really hard in med school to be below average. It was humbling.

For me, I studied very hard the first time I took it many years ago and got a 24. I was mad at myself. The second time, I studied even harder and got a 33 and got into med school. The schools care about the score, don't kid yourself. I went from no interviews to many interviews. Med school is hard. It is a lot of memorization. It is hours of dedication, especially the first 2 years. Residency is hard, especially when you are sick and have to be up all night answering pages, doing procedures, managing 18 patients in the SICU with the attending at home... That is why they have this exam. If you can master it, they feel you are a candidate. They don't like students failing out of med school. It looks bad for their numbers.

 

[trypanosomiasis]

screw the MCAT, OP, apply Caribbean and you won't even have to ask this question.

 

[californiamed]

haha no thanks trypanosomiasis. everyone else, thank you so much for the advice. I understand, MCAT is one hell of a beast.. i'm doing TBR right now.