which applicant would you choose?

[ownage]

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Assuming everything is same and MCAT scores are balanced,

applicant who has taken MCAT once: 31
applicant who has taken MCAT twice: 28 then 32
applicant who has taken MCAT 3 times: 24, 29, 33

 

[Moebius]

Depends on a lot of things in the background.

 

[NickNaylor]

This is a pointless question.

 

[ownage]

Depends on a lot of things in the background.

I said they have everything else same.

 

[ownage]

This is a pointless question.

Is there any point to half of the threads in SDN? lol

 

[Forven]

This is a pointless question.

I agree. 👍

But I will bite. The way I look at it is, >30 is good. The first person got a >30 on their first try.

Now if someone got a 24 then a 40 that is a different story...which makes this game pointless.

 

[cfx]

Considering that 95% of people on this board have no experience on an admissions committee, our opinions are about as meaningful as yours or your grandma's on this topic, but what the hell...

31

 

[Isoprop]

Assuming everything is same and MCAT scores are balanced,

applicant who has taken MCAT once: 31
applicant who has taken MCAT twice: 28 then 32
applicant who has taken MCAT 3 times: 24, 29, 33

the one who would make the best doctor.

 

[apumic]

Assuming everything is same and MCAT scores are balanced,

applicant who has taken MCAT once: 31
applicant who has taken MCAT twice: 28 then 32
applicant who has taken MCAT 3 times: 24, 29, 33

While I agree with the above posters that this is entirely pointless and none of us is really qualified to give you the answer you seek, I would definitely favor the 1st applicant (all other things being equal). The others are all pretty weak. A 28 and 32 means the person is somewhere between them (probably ~30) and 24/29/33 is 2 out of 3 times <30. That's bad and shows poor judgment.

 

[Frazier]

None.

I would take the unlisted applicant that scored a 3 (1,1,1).

S/he would be quite rare and a true jewel in the eye of diversity.

 

[NickNaylor]

None.

I would take the unlisted applicant that scored a 3 (1,1,1).

S/he would be quite rare and a true jewel in the eye of diversity.

I would be impressed with a 1/1/1. You'd have to be just as lucky as someone getting a 15/15/15.

 

[Frazier]

I would be impressed with a 1/1/1. You'd have to be just as lucky as someone getting a 15/15/15.

Exactly, man. Exactly. 👍

 

[ownage]

I am glad you all chose a 31. cuz that would be me ha. Just makes me feel little better i guess. lol

 

[imer]

...

 

[Forven]

I am glad you all chose a 31. cuz that would be me ha. Just makes me feel little better i guess. lol

the MCAT is a weedout tool. normal applicants have to score at least above a 30 to be considered, and above a 34 for it to be "in your favor". the ECs matter waaaaaaayyy more.

if a student gets in with less than a 30 MCAT, it is because their ECs are just incredibly amazing.

 

[oaklandguy]

How are these MCATS broken down? Is every person getting the most spread-out as possible i.e. 10-10-11 and not 15-15-1?

If that is the case, I personally would take the person who got it on their first shot just because they didn't mess around, they went out and got a decent score. There isn't a huge diff. in 31-33. I mean, there's a difference no doubt, but it's just not that big if everything else is great.

 

[cubssox2000]

if a student gets in with less than a 30 MCAT, it is because their ECs are just incredibly amazing.

False. Depends on the school. There are some (not just HBCUs) that have averages that are under 30. They might not be the greatest of schools, but they do exist and give American MD degrees. The average for ALL matriculants is around 31 nowadays, so clearly plenty of people are getting in with scores under 30. ECs are not the only way to balance your application. GPA, LORs, PS, Volunteering/Clinical Experience, etc. For instance a person with a 31/3.3 has just as good a chance as somewith with a 28/3.9 (actually probably worse chances, because of the low GPA).

MCAT is not everything.

 

[whoop]

All 3 have good chances.

 

[TFS]

i don't really see much of a difference honestly.

 

[morning]

Personally I would choose #3, but I'm not adcom and I very much doubt they'd feel the same way. I've always heard 3 MCATs is pushing the limits.

 

[Vadoff]

Assuming everything is same and MCAT scores are balanced,

applicant who has taken MCAT once: 31
applicant who has taken MCAT twice: 28 then 32
applicant who has taken MCAT 3 times: 24, 29, 33

Don't know how adcoms think, but the 31 looks better by far to me.
If the second applicant had a 33 or higher for his second attempt, then that might be better.
If the third got a score of 34 or higher for his last score, that would probably look better too.

 

[cubssox2000]

Don't know how adcoms think, but the 31 looks better by far to me.
If the second applicant had a 33 or higher for his second attempt, then that might be better.
If the third got a score of 34 or higher for his last score, that would probably look better too.

Well of course a better score will look better 😉.

But you do have a good point. Right now the average scores are 31, 30, 28.6. If you make the changes you want, the average become 31, 30.5, 29, so the first and second are starting to look very similar.

 

[Forven]

False. Depends on the school. There are some (not just HBCUs) that have averages that are under 30. They might not be the greatest of schools, but they do exist and give American MD degrees. The average for ALL matriculants is around 31 nowadays, so clearly plenty of people are getting in with scores under 30. ECs are not the only way to balance your application. GPA, LORs, PS, Volunteering/Clinical Experience, etc. For instance a person with a 31/3.3 has just as good a chance as somewith with a 28/3.9 (actually probably worse chances, because of the low GPA).

MCAT is not everything.

You are right i totally forgot to consider this.

 

[LizzyM]

Some schools will interview all 3, some will interview none. What happens after the interview depends in large part to how the interview goes.

You have only one application per year and only one life to live so run with what you have....

The only way this hypothetical is relevant is if the first score is the same for all three and the second score is the same for two of the three. Then it becomes a question of: is someone with this score (or pair of scores) better off taking again?