Yet another WAMC - 513 MCAT

[deleted789929]

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😉

 

[Faha]

You do not need to retake the MCAT. You do not need to go to a top 20 school to obtain a medical license. Your patients will not care where you went to medical school. I suggest these schools with your stats:
All 4 SUNY's
Rochester
Albany
New York Medical College
Einstein
Mount Sinai
Vermont
Tufts
Boston University
Quinnipiac
Seton Hall
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
Georgetown
Miami
Duke
Eastern Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
Medical College Wisconsin
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
St. Louis
Creighton
Tulane

 

[meronebib]

If there’s anything I’ve learned from my cycle and from the trend that I’m seeing on MSAR, it’s that these top schools really really care about stats. Unfortunately, I don’t think your stats will get you too many looks from the T20 schools. Of course it doesn’t hurt to apply, but do apply to many mid-tier schools and all of your state schools (which NY has many), to avoid having to reapply. You have a solid app otherwise (with great research), just that stat requirement is not there for the top schools.

 

[deleted789929]

If there’s anything I’ve learned from my cycle and from the trend that I’m seeing on MSAR, it’s that these top schools really really care about stats. Unfortunately, I don’t think your stats will get you too many looks from the T20 schools. Of course it doesn’t hurt to apply, but do apply to many mid-tier schools and all of your state schools (which NY has many), to avoid having to reapply. You have a solid app otherwise (with great research), just that stat requirement is not there for the top schools.

removed for privacy

 

[meronebib]

FWIW on the WedgeDog thing I'm considered a A or an S class applicant, depending on what you consider an upwards trend.

What's your opinion on waiting a year so that I can both focus on retaking the MCAT and my research (1st auth pub). My GPA, according to our advising team, is very competitive for the major I am in at my particular university (top 5 ivy).

Retaking the MCAT is risky. If you can’t secure some 520+ score, or if you score very near your original score, it will likely hurt you that you retook it. The general advice here on SDN is to never retake a good score, although I can understand that if your heart is set on some T20 school, retaking is likely your only (or easiest) option now to boost your chances.

I wouldn’t care what the advising team says about your GPA. Reality is, adcoms go through thousands of applications, and they’re not going to sit down and discuss what sort of GPA boosts you deserve based on your major and undergrad. FWIW, I too graduated from a T5 school that said the same thing, and I have many friends with “subpar” GPAs that did not do too well this cycle. A 4.0 from a state school in some “easy” major will likely trump a 3.7 from a T5 in engineering, except maybe at the top schools. You will still need the high MCAT for those top schools though.

WedgeDawg is a great tool, but it does have its flaws. The reality is that 513 is too low for most of the T20 schools, especially for an Asian applicant. I believe that the average Asian matriculant had a 512 or so last year.

You have a great app, but the competition at the top is fierce. If your heart is set on a T20, I do think you will have to retake the MCAT. Just know that that’s a risky move with minimal benefit, and it could tarnish your chances at some other solid schools. Then again, if your goal is to become a doctor (!), then I think you have a very high chance of that happening if you apply this cycle. And by all means, still apply to the T20 if you can afford it. There is always a chance that you could get in, especially at the more holistic schools (like Mayo). But just make sure you have a very strong backup plan!

 

[WhatsUpPup]

If there’s anything I’ve learned from my cycle and from the trend that I’m seeing on MSAR, it’s that these top schools really really care about stats. Unfortunately, I don’t think your stats will get you too many looks from the T20 schools. Of course it doesn’t hurt to apply, but do apply to many mid-tier schools and all of your state schools (which NY has many), to avoid having to reapply. You have a solid app otherwise (with great research), just that stat requirement is not there for the top schools.

It hurts my bank account.

 

[meronebib]

It hurts my bank account.

Med school tuition is going to hurt your bank account a lot more.

 

[WhatsUpPup]

Med school tuition is going to hurt your bank account a lot more.

Its a little different paying for med school tuition than paying for the chance to become a doctor.

 

[deleted789929]

Hi,
Despite all the advice here, I ignored it. Retook it. Did well.
Wanted to update here in case anyone else finds it. Trust yourself. Advice here is sometimes bunk.

 

[Goro]

Hi,
Despite all the advice here, I ignored it. Retook it. Did well.
Wanted to update here in case anyone else finds it. Trust yourself. Advice here is sometimes bunk.

Define "did well"

You also realize that you're an outlier in this regard.

 

[deleted789929]

Define "did well"

You also realize that you're an outlier in this regard.

520+.

I want to post this because seeing both sides of the argument is always helpful. The seemingly one sided arguments here were not helpful to me back then and I try to encourage others to look at the actual data! AMCAS publishes this. Doing x number of points better is actually not that uncommon. If you are in the position of giving advice, I would not singlehandedly disregard this as all of you have been doing

 

[Goro]

520+.

I want to post this because seeing both sides of the argument is always helpful. The seemingly one sided arguments here were not helpful to me back then and I try to encourage others to look at the actual data! AMCAS publishes this. Doing x number of points better is actually not that uncommon. If you are in the position of giving advice, I would not singlehandedly disregard this as all of you have been doing

You're still an outlier.