Where should I apply to? Please Help

[yma413]

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Hi, so I have a 3.5 and a 29 MCAT (10Bio, 11, verbal, 8, phys). I applied to 15 schools last year but I think I over estimated myself. I talked to counselors and they have advised me to retake the MCATs this August and I am planning to re-apply june 1. I was wondering if I should even take the MCATs over again or should I just apply to some different schools. The schools I applied to last year were:

Baylor, all the UCs, USC, Michigan State, Mount Sinai, NYMC, Penn State, Rus, U. of nevada, U of Washington.

I also applied really late last year (Spetember) since I was originally planning to apply this year only but thought I'd give it a shot anyway. So should I take the MCATs again? I am a horrible test taker and really don't know if I will actually do better but am willing to make the effort. Any advice would be great!!! 😀

 

[CaptainJack02]

Hi, so I have a 3.5 and a 29 MCAT (10Bio, 11, verbal, 8, phys). I applied to 15 schools last year but I think I over estimated myself. I talked to counselors and they have advised me to retake the MCATs this August and I am planning to re-apply june 1. I was wondering if I should even take the MCATs over again or should I just apply to some different schools. The schools I applied to last year were:

Baylor, all the UCs, USC, Michigan State, Mount Sinai, NYMC, Penn State, Rus, U. of nevada, U of Washington.

I also applied really late last year (Spetember) since I was originally planning to apply this year only but thought I'd give it a shot anyway. So should I take the MCATs again? I am a horrible test taker and really don't know if I will actually do better but am willing to make the effort. Any advice would be great!!! 😀

Ah sorry about your rejections. Keep your head up, cuz once you get in, all the trouble you have to endure is worth becoming a doc.

I think your stats are enough to get you in somewhere. If you take the August MCAT med schools won't review your application until they get your scores(around october?) That's when ppl start getting acceptances, so you'll be at a disadvantage.

I'd say apply early, as you were planning to do. I'd also apply to state schools(unless you are a cali resident!), Finch, Drexel, Temple, and Tufts, and a few other "easy" schools.

Also, have you already looked at the book called "Medical School Admissions Requirements". They have avg applicant stats/#out of state matriculants, etc. That'd help you out a lot.

So basically I'd say don't retake(your score is avg for matriculants) but instead apply early and choose your schools wisely.

Good luck!

 

[Wahooali]

Hey there. Like CaptainJack02 just said, your stats should be good enough to get you in somewhere. Applying in Sept may have hurt you, but you sound like you already know that. You need a wider ranger of schools. Not necessarily more schools, but more mid to lower range avg stat schools. The UCs are impossible to get into (for anyone, CA resident or not!), as is Baylor, and a few of the others you mentioned show very strong preference for in state residents. Be sure to educate yourself on a school's stats...gpa, MCAT, and resident preference before applying. Throw out a wide net, cross your fingers, and see what happens. Good luck! 🙂

And I would advise against retaking the MCAT unless you think you could go up 3 or more points. A 29 is a fine and respectable score (good job!). If you think you are a bad test taker (I am definitely one, so I can relate), retaking it and not improving, whether you go down or up only a point, would probably do more harm than good. That really surprises me that your counselors are saying you should retake it, because they usually advise against that kind of thing.

 

[Lochmoor]

That's a weird list of schools that you applied to. What state are you from? As for retaking the MCAT, if you feel confident that you can do much better, start studying and see how you feel as the date approaches and decide then. Also, if you want to go to a top 50 school, I think you'll need to retake and get at least into the 30's, 32+ should siginificantly improve your application. --Try to bump your phys up to a double digit score.

Did you take a prep course?

 

[yma413]

Thanks for all the advice! Its greatly appreciated. So a little more infor about myself: I am a CA resident and right now I am just trying to get into any school that will take me as long as its in the States. Does anyone know where I can get some info on the D.O. schools? I was also thinking of applying to those this year but have no idea how to begin. Thanks again for the encouragement and advice! Got any other suggestions?

 

[medic170]

Don't retake that MCAT, 29 is a fine score. Your GPA is fine too. Look for ways to improve other parts of your application.

As for DO schools, see: www.aacom.org

 

[HeavyD]

yma413,

Your #'s are just about the same as mine were, (same MCAT, different distribution;10/9/10). I am a Nevada resident and only applied to UofNev's school for two years in a row. Needless to say, I'm now a 2nd year at AZCOM in Phoenix (a DO program) as I didn't get into the cheap state school.
1) Unless you have family w/ NV residency, forget it. 48 in-state seats is exceedingly small when contending with Vegas's population (and they shoot for 100% gender equal, so 24 seats for your sex). Only out-of-state applicants accepted are those that are from WICHE (appliants from western states not having med schools). I believe the same situation is for UofW. The exception there, I believe is pulling big scores on the cat (~36+). If you have the ability to do it and you want to attend a western state school, gain residency in a WICHE state and your options suddenly improve greatly, athough the ethicalness of such a move is questionable to many. AK, WY, MT and I think Idaho (?) are such states.
2) You can always retake the 'Cat and not have your scores released. It's an option at the end of the test you can take, and if they help, release them at a later date.
3) Reapply next year to both MD and DO programs. That's what I did on my third year of applying and our similar #'s/GPA in addition to a ton of Heatlh Care experience landed me more acceptance letters than I knew what to do with. I could be in a 4th yr. now vs. a 2nd. Having options about where to attend school is SO much better than not.

 

[Dr.Wolkower]

take mcat over

also consider applying to do schools and sackler school of medicine the american program in israel

good luck

 

[yma413]

🙂 So if I do decide to take the MCATs in August but not release them until I find out my score, should I still indicate I am taking the August MCATs on AMCAS ot not? And when I do release them, how will med schools view them??? Any adivice would be great!!!
🙂

 

[skypilot]

When you are selecting the schools to apply to you should first look at the number of out of state residents accepted. If this number is HIGH you should APPLY. Hey I made rhyme. 🙂

 

[a*brown]

if you choose to retake the mcat but not release them at first, won't your application be put on hold until you do get the scores back?

my advice: apply earlier this time. without retaking the mcat. and double your school list. also, think about what you've done since the last time you applied so you could talk about it.

 

[Adapt]

I am a CA resident and right now I am just trying to get into any school that will take me as long as its in the States. Does anyone know where I can get some info on the D.O. schools?

Well my situation is somewhat similar to yours. My stats are the same as yours but my gpa was a bit higher. I got into 2 MD schools out of state but am not going there. I will be going to COMP (DO) in Pomona because much like all other CA residents I wanted to stay in CA. I am waiting on Loma Linda but don't think that will happen.

I would recommend to apply early including at COMP. If you're going to any DO school, you might as well go to COMP especially if you want to eventually practice in CA. Good luck next year.

 

[jetskigirl]

YMA,

from another CA resident, I know what you're goin through. I've done a lot of research for this app cycle, so here are a few schools to consider:

Chicago Medical (Rosalind Franklin): GPA 3.43, MCAT 30, 76% out of state
Loyola: 3.61, 30, 50%
Tulane: 3.5, 31, 74%
St. Louis: 3.6, 30, 7%%
Jefferson: 3.5, 31, 53%
Creighton: 3.64, 29, 87%

I would agree with Penn State, NYMC and Mount Sinai. Only apply to UW if you're doing a PhD/MD program or they won't even consider you (that was a waste or $30 last year), and only apply to Nevada if you have some serious ties to the state, as HeavyD said.

Good luck in the app process. And if you take my spot at any of these schools, I'll be a little upset.

 

[Jet915]

I think your stats are fine. As long as you have decent EC's and recs, you should get in somewhere. Your problem was you applied too late last year and you didn't apply to enough schools. It is really important to apply early. Since you are a cali resident, you need to apply to 30+ schools in my opinion. APPLY EARLY and to enough schools, there are plenty of threads in the md forum about what type of schools to apply to with similar stats to yours. I wouldnt take the mcat again unless you didnt get in this year. Also, if you took the mcat this August, it would be a waste applying this year cause the schools wouldnt look at your application until they received your score so it would be the same as applying late like last time.