DO Chances with this MCAT?

[Deecee2DO]

Hi everyone,

Posting for a friend, but below are his stats. He applied this past cycle to only 6 or 7 DO schools and got one interview without a decision. He is considering re-taking MCAT, but would like to hear some advice on how much he should bring it up and anything else he should improve.

Pre-Med and Art: WashU bachelor of science degree
Non-trad
NJ resident
sGPA: 3.25 (many upper level sciences)
cGPA: 3.4
MCAT: 499 (126 in B/S, but I know he should re-take, but how much higher does he need?)
Shadowing: 40 hours (MD Derm, DO Family Medicine, MD Orthopedic surgeon hand specialist)
Clinical Research: 1 year, no pubs yet
Clinical experience/employment: 1.5 years hospital scribe full-time
Clinical Volunteering: 50 hours hospital
Non-clinical volunteering: ~100+ hrs
Leadership: community service chair for fraternity, tutor to underserved students
Physician in immediate family (MD)



Thoughts?

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[candbgirl]

Any nonclinical experiences? ECs are pretty weak. GPAs should be okay for DO but they get more competitive every year. From what you have shared it doesn’t look like a strongvapplucation at all.

 

[Deecee2DO]

Any nonclinical experiences? ECs are pretty weak. GPAs should be okay for DO but they get more competitive every year. From what you have shared it doesn’t look like a strongvapplucation at all.

Checking up on that. Will get back to you. Thanks for the input so far!

 

[Deecee2DO]

added the following-
Non-clinical volunteering: ~100+ hrs
Leadership: community service chair for fraternity, tutor to underserved students

 

[Faha]

Where did your friend apply to and where was the one interview?

 

[treatem-and-streetem]

My buddy got into DO school with that same MCAT so its always possible. Your GPA combined with the MCAT can be problematic.

 

[timi94]

I'd definitely retake the MCAT. if you want to be in a constant worry of whether you will get in, then you can apply again with the same stats. I know someone that got in with that MCAT score but he was accepted like 1 day before medical school started and because he did a masters program at that school and knew faculty. I would score a 505+ for DO. other than that, your friend is a very well-rounded student. GPAs are a bit more on the average side, which is why I'd really try to improve that MCAT.

 

[Deecee2DO]

Where did your friend apply to and where was the one interview?

Both PCOMs, NYCOM, TouroNY, LECOM, Western, RowanSOM, Nova. He had an II at TouroNY 2-3 weeks ago

 

[Deecee2DO]

I'd definitely retake the MCAT. if you want to be in a constant worry of whether you will get in, then you can apply again with the same stats. I know someone that got in with that MCAT score but he was accepted like 1 day before medical school started and because he did a masters program at that school and knew faculty. I would score a 505+ for DO. other than that, your friend is a very well-rounded student. GPAs are a bit more on the average side, which is why I'd really try to improve that MCAT.

You honestly think he really needs a 505+ for DO? I feel like ive seen people land IIs at the lower tier MD schools with 506s (GPA dependent). I appreciate your insight highly really thank you but doesnt that seem a little high? Avg for most DO schools last few cycles feels like 502-503 (roughly 27 old scale) but maybe im wrong! Thanks again!

 

[Deecee2DO]

My buddy got into DO school with that same MCAT so its always possible. Your GPA combined with the MCAT can be problematic.

I agree that if his GPA was higher hed be okay so its either raise the GPA or the MCAT and MCAT is probably cheaper and quicker IMO no?

 

[Faha]

If your friend needs to reapply I suggest these schools:
ACOM
ARCOM
BCOM
WCU-COM
LMU-DCOM
UP-KYCOM
WVSOM
LUCOM
VCOM (all 3 schools)
NYIT-Arkansas
RVU-Utah
ICOM
PCOM-Moultrie (new school)
Most of these schools have MCAT medians in the 498 to 502 range.

 

[bears1992]

With those stats your friend should be applying to every DO school in his/her state along with every school that does not have a heavy instate bias (25-30 schools). A 499 MCAT is a bit below the average maltriculant score and the GPA is a bit below as well. The ECs aren't bad and I think many people on this site overestimate the average EC's for matriculants. I think your friend could snag 2-3 atleast interviews with a 25+ DO school list. I have similar stats (3.1 cGPA, 3.4 sGPA 505 MCAT) and I applied to 26 schools with 6 II. My ECs were pretty close to your friends.

If your friend is looking to strengthen his/her app I would suggest raising the MCAT followed by adding more volunteering.

 

[Deecee2DO]

If your friend needs to reapply I suggest these schools:
ACOM
ARCOM
BCOM
WCU-COM
LMU-DCOM
UP-KYCOM
WVSOM
LUCOM
VCOM (all 3 schools)
NYIT-Arkansas
RVU-Utah
ICOM
PCOM-Moultrie (new school)
Most of these schools have MCAT medians in the 498 to 502 range.

Awesome! Thank you @Faha do you have any idea how much he should raise his MCAT? Idk if you agree or not but I feel that if he doesn't raise it at all, it may be risky? If you could give your input there as well that would be great

 

[Faha]

500 and higher is fine. He does not want to risk a lower score so take the MCAT when practice scores are consistently at least 505 .

 

[Deecee2DO]

500 and higher is fine. He does not want to risk a lower score so take the MCAT when practice scores are consistently at least 505 .

Ok, that makes a lot of sense. I completely agree with this plan. Thanks again

 

[Deecee2DO]

With those stats your friend should be applying to every DO school in his/her state along with every school that does not have a heavy instate bias (25-30 schools). A 499 MCAT is a bit below the average maltriculant score and the GPA is a bit below as well. The ECs aren't bad and I think many people on this site overestimate the average EC's for matriculants. I think your friend could snag 2-3 atleast interviews with a 25+ DO school list. I have similar stats (3.1 cGPA, 3.4 sGPA 505 MCAT) and I applied to 26 schools with 6 II. My ECs were pretty close to your friends.

If your friend is looking to strengthen his/her app I would suggest raising the MCAT followed by adding more volunteering.

Thanks @bears1992 I agree with you completely! That is pretty much what I told him but figured I'd run it by some of you as well

 

[stbant]

I'm definitely no expert, but I would have to believe that if your friend went the DO he would have a shot at a few schools. It might be tough to get into an allopathic school, though, with those stats.

 

[Cardboard101]

With those stats your friend should be applying to every DO school in his/her state along with every school that does not have a heavy instate bias (25-30 schools). A 499 MCAT is a bit below the average maltriculant score and the GPA is a bit below as well. The ECs aren't bad and I think many people on this site overestimate the average EC's for matriculants. I think your friend could snag 2-3 atleast interviews with a 25+ DO school list. I have similar stats (3.1 cGPA, 3.4 sGPA 505 MCAT) and I applied to 26 schools with 6 II. My ECs were pretty close to your friends.

If your friend is looking to strengthen his/her app I would suggest raising the MCAT followed by adding more volunteering.

You also had 2 (3?) years of almost 4.0 grades. A 499 to a 505 is almost a 20% jump. The situations aren't the same.