What's the magical tipping point in your opinion?

[Anathema]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I've heard multiple opinions on what numbers and ECs usually pushes people to the interview/rejection/acceptance list. One example that comes to mind is a pre-med advisor saying that 30 just looks better than a 29 even though it's one point. So my question is, if you were an adcom (or maybe you are now) are there certain numbers that are safeties or red flags?

This is my take:
Safe GPA: 3.7+
Safe MCAT: 32+
Safe Clincal exp: 125+
Safe shadowing: 40+

I'm not an adcom or an expert on any of this and when I say safe I don't mean guaranteed acceptance.

 

[mimelim]

I've heard multiple opinions on what numbers and ECs usually pushes people to the interview/rejection/acceptance list. One example that comes to mind is a pre-med advisor saying that 30 just looks better than a 29 even though it's one point. So my question is, if you were an adcom (or maybe you are now) are there certain numbers that are safeties or red flags?

This is my take:
Safe GPA: 3.7+
Safe MCAT: 32+
Safe Clincal exp: 125+
Safe shadowing: 40+

I'm not an adcom or an expert on any of this and when I say safe I don't mean guaranteed acceptance.

All of those numbers except the MCAT are meaningless without context, especially the clinical experience and shadowing. Numbers are important. More is better than less, but if you think only about the numbers you are in for a rude awakening. No adcom cares about the number of hours that you do things. They care about what you did with your time and if you were productive.

 

[Plue00]

I would say that if an applicant applied to every US MD school, the safe bet would be:

-3.5 GPA
-30 (10/10/10)
-Cookie cutter volunteering/shadowing

But this is SDN so

-3.8+ or DO
-36+ or DO
-Some really neat volunteering and research stuff or DO

 

[cheechootrain]

I would say that if an applicant applied to every US MD school, the safe bet would be:

-3.5 GPA
-30 (10/10/10)
-Cookie cutter volunteering/shadowing

But this is SDN so

-3.8+ or DO
-36+ or DO
-Some really neat volunteering and research stuff or DO

True dat.

There isn't a magical button or way to get into medical school. You just want to aim high and miss low. As long as you go full steam ahead on every aspect of your application, you'll be fine.

 

[ACal]

I've heard multiple opinions on what numbers and ECs usually pushes people to the interview/rejection/acceptance list. One example that comes to mind is a pre-med advisor saying that 30 just looks better than a 29 even though it's one point. So my question is, if you were an adcom (or maybe you are now) are there certain numbers that are safeties or red flags?

This is my take:
Safe GPA: 3.7+
Safe MCAT: 32+
Safe Clincal exp: 125+
Safe shadowing: 40+

I'm not an adcom or an expert on any of this and when I say safe I don't mean guaranteed acceptance.

I would say you'll get interviews with that, but interviews doesn't necessarily equal acceptances.

 

[Osteoth]

I would say you'll get interviews with that, but interviews doesn't necessarily equal acceptances.

No, but they're a pre-req lol.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

What exactly is "clinical experience" when it's separated from shadowing? Should I have been vaccinating/band-aiding people for the past 4 years???

 

[Anathema]

People seem to have different opinions about clinical experience. They seem more biased to the idea that the patient has to be on their death bed for it to be clinical whereas contact with healthy patients is seen as "not enough."

 

[MedPR]

I've heard multiple opinions on what numbers and ECs usually pushes people to the interview/rejection/acceptance list. One example that comes to mind is a pre-med advisor saying that 30 just looks better than a 29 even though it's one point. So my question is, if you were an adcom (or maybe you are now) are there certain numbers that are safeties or red flags?

This is my take:
Safe GPA: 3.7+
Safe MCAT: 32+
Safe Clincal exp: 125+
Safe shadowing: 40+

I'm not an adcom or an expert on any of this and when I say safe I don't mean guaranteed acceptance.

Depends what school I'm an adcom at.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[Anathema]

Depends what school I'm an adcom at.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

Let's say an Adcom at any school whose LizzyM is higher than 63

 

[MedPR]

Let's say an Adcom at any school whose LizzyM is higher than 63

That's like every MD school.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[NickNaylor]

I've heard multiple opinions on what numbers and ECs usually pushes people to the interview/rejection/acceptance list. One example that comes to mind is a pre-med advisor saying that 30 just looks better than a 29 even though it's one point. So my question is, if you were an adcom (or maybe you are now) are there certain numbers that are safeties or red flags?

This is my take:
Safe GPA: 3.7+
Safe MCAT: 32+
Safe Clincal exp: 125+
Safe shadowing: 40+

I'm not an adcom or an expert on any of this and when I say safe I don't mean guaranteed acceptance.

The number of hours for your activities is pretty unimportant. As far as GPA/MCAT goes, I believe those numbers are right at the matriculant average, so that pretty much answers your question. If you apply smartly and have a reasonably strong app otherwise you will likely get in, but barring some very compelling aspect(s) of your app, the top schools will likely be a reach.

Again, it's hard when only using numbers because they're such a (relatively) insignificant aspect of your app.