What MCAT score would make me competitive?

[lexswift]

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[gyngyn]

Depends on your state and the rest of your ap. 510 is going to be about the median for accepted, I'll bet.

 

[lexswift]

Depends on your state and the rest of your ap. 510 is going to be about the median for accepted, I'll bet.

Is that a 30-31? I think it is but my GPAs also are below their median. Like very below their median...

 

[gyngyn]

Is that a 30-31? I think it is but my GPAs also are below their median. Like very below their median...

31

 

[lexswift]

31

Do you think I need to compensate with my MCAT? That's why I was originally aiming for a 520.

 

[gyngyn]

Do you think I need to compensate with my MCAT? That's why I was originally aiming for a 520.

The MCAT does not replace or compensate for gpa. The two data points just frame your strategy.
There's nothing wrong with 3.64, btw.

 

[lexswift]

I meant when it comes to the overall application. I was hoping an above avg MCAT would help them be more lenient when it came to my GPAs since they seem to below every school in the country's median.

 

[gyngyn]

I meant when it comes to the overall application. I was hoping an above avg MCAT would help them be more lenient when it came to my GPAs since they seem to below every school in the country's median.

A strong MCAT is the centerpiece of an application.

 

[desiredmembername123]

A strong MCAT is the centerpiece of an application.

Can a strong MCAT be the centerpiece for the rest of my life?

 

[gyngyn]

Can a strong MCAT be the centerpiece for the rest of my life?

No, it evaporates after acceptance. A magical catalyst having served its purpose, vanishes.

 

[lexswift]

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[gyngyn]

Thanks but what about the 3.43 science GPA? I can't imagine I would be looked at the same as a 3.8/510 applicant. A 520 would help me tons I would imagine but that kind of score is not easy to get. Is 514-516 acceptable? I think it would be in my best interest to not take the real exam until I score at least this on the 1 scored AAMC test. I feel it's unrealistic to keep delaying my exam just because it's not a 520.

Depending on your state, 510 could be good enough.

 

[Goro]

That sGPA will get you screened from Pitt or Northwestern, but should be fine for the Philly triplets, VCU or your state schools....unless you live in CA.

Your GPAs are fine for any DO school.

Thanks but what about the 3.43 science GPA? I can't imagine I would be looked at the same as a 3.8/510 applicant. A 520 would help me tons I would imagine but that kind of score is not easy to get. Is 514-516 acceptable? I think it would be in my best interest to not take the real exam until I score at least this on the 1 scored AAMC test. I feel it's unrealistic to keep delaying my exam just because it's not a 520.

 

[efle]

I was originally aiming for a 520

Haha, I love how everyone on SDN seems to plan to score in the top few percent way before they even start studying

Anyways, you should check out the What Are My Chances forum, and try giving out more info than just your GPAs! (like year in school/how much that can improve, race and state of residency, extracurriculars)

 

[efle]

it's unrealistic to keep delaying my exam just because it's not a 520

👍

 

[lexswift]

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[efle]

People getting ~507 on the deflated company exams (Kaplan is particularly notorious) often do a lot better on the real thing, like well up into the teens. Finish studying and come back with a score!

 

[JustaDO]

Amazing self-deletion of posts.

 

[desiredmembername123]

No, it evaporates after acceptance. A magical catalyst having served its purpose, vanishes.

I thought the definition of a catalyst was that it doesn't get consumed by the reaction?

 

[Lucca]

No, it evaporates after acceptance. A magical catalyst having served its purpose, vanishes.

I thought the definition of a catalyst was that it doesn't get consumed by the reaction?

"magical"

 

[TheStallion16]

Haha, I love how everyone on SDN seems to plan to score in the top few percent way before they even start studying

Anyways, you should check out the What Are My Chances forum, and try giving out more info than just your GPAs! (like year in school/how much that can improve, race and state of residency, extracurriculars)

This is spot on ha. "If I get a 520 will that get me into my top choice," "I'm planning on 520+ so I don't think my GPA needs to be that great," "I'm starting pre-med this coming fall, If a get a 4.0 and 520 will that be good?" Seen more statements like those than I can count. Not many people actually understand how challenging of an exam it is and how difficult it is to actually score that high. Study your ass off, do the best you can, and apply.

 

[gyngyn]

I thought the definition of a catalyst was that it doesn't get consumed by the reaction?

It vanishes from reality. It is never consumed.

 

[efle]

This is spot on ha. "If I get a 520 will that get me into my top choice," "I'm planning on 520+ so I don't think my GPA needs to be that great," "I'm starting pre-med this coming fall, If a get a 4.0 and 520 will that be good?" Seen more statements like those than I can count. Not many people actually understand how challenging of an exam it is and how difficult it is to actually score that high. Study your ass off, do the best you can, and apply.

Maybe people aren't aware of how high a percentile 520 is, it's just nice and round and good sounding. For the old test I saw people usually saying "assuming a score 34+" which is still a big assumption but not nearly like "assuming 37+"

 

[GrapesofRath]

I have had some atypical nontrads get into pitt with overall low 3's with vastly improving grade trends; they tend to be better than simple screening. They do love research and are nontrad friendly.

I believe within the past decade the SMP programs of Boston U Tufts and Georgetown alone have sent someone to the vast majority of top 20's.

 

[ojy77511]

No, it evaporates after acceptance. A magical catalyst having served its purpose, vanishes.

But I have learned that a catalyst is conserved throughout the reaction! 🙁

Nvm im beating a dead horse

 

[ojy77511]

This is spot on ha. "If I get a 520 will that get me into my top choice," "I'm planning on 520+ so I don't think my GPA needs to be that great," "I'm starting pre-med this coming fall, If a get a 4.0 and 520 will that be good?" Seen more statements like those than I can count. Not many people actually understand how challenging of an exam it is and how difficult it is to actually score that high. Study your ass off, do the best you can, and apply.

For reals. It was actually a lot harder than I expected and I deducted around 10 years of my total lifespan to study for it haha


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[Ho0v-man]

So just to be clear, everyone read the catalyst statement and our survival skills kicked in and all of us started trying to dig out of an MCAT passage trap, right? Lol.

Also, does assuming a high score ever go away? Doesn't it seem like everyone at the beginning of med school is going: "I just have to crush step 1 and I'm definitely going to be a pediatric astrodermatologicalorthopedic neurosurgeon."


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[RogueBanana]

People getting ~507 on the deflated company exams (Kaplan is particularly notorious) often do a lot better on the real thing, like well up into the teens. Finish studying and come back with a score!

Can confirm, got 507-509 on kaplans no matter what. Pulled a 512 on the real deal. Guess I can't get my money back huh?

 

[efle]

Yeah I can forgive them a little since nobody really knew what to expect for the new test, but if they don't improve their practice tests in the next edition release, then they'll just be a bad option for prepping with