- Joined
- Jun 2, 2014
- Messages
- 169
- Reaction score
- 55
I'm not interested in becoming a podiatrist. I'm a pre-med student applying for MD/DO programs in the current cycle. I know that a lot of pre-med students like to mock pre-podiatry students for their low MCAT scores, low GPA etc. I consider such behavior to be juvenile and unnecessary and I am not of those insecure people who feel the need to put down others to make themselves feel better. I respect podiatrists and believe they play a valuable role in the healthcare spectrum.
That being said, I think there are some serious problems with the podiatry admissions process. The fact that podiatric medical schools accept students with below 20 MCAT score and below 3.0 GPA on a regular basis is shocking and unacceptable. Yes, I know that the average MCAT score of accepted applicants ranges from a 22-23, depending on the school. However even 22-23 scores are not acceptable. When you consider that that the national average MCAT score is 25 and the average MCAT score of applicants accepted to MD programs is 31, you can see a huge discrepancy. By having such low admissions standards, podiatric medical schools are sending out the message that podiatrists are comprised of below average, less capable students, which is not true.
I know a lot of students who join podiatry programs with low MCAT scores are not stupid or dumb, they just didn't bother studying for the MCAT because they didn't have to. And why should they when pod schools have such low standards? Frankly such low standards are an embarrassment to all current and upcoming pods. They are the reason why pods are not given their fair share of respect in the medical community, despite going through a grueling medical school and residency process. Is that fair?
I don't think so. I urge all attending pods, pod residents, pod students, and pre-pod students to email pod school admissions offices and urge them to increase their admissions standards. At the very least, increase their MCAT average to 25-26. One of the problems is that there simply isn't enough demand for all the pod school seats available but pod schools still want to make a lot of money, that's why admissions standards are so low.
Pods, it's in your best interests to have the admissions standards raised, I hope you all realize that. I wish the best for the excellent field of podiatry.
That being said, I think there are some serious problems with the podiatry admissions process. The fact that podiatric medical schools accept students with below 20 MCAT score and below 3.0 GPA on a regular basis is shocking and unacceptable. Yes, I know that the average MCAT score of accepted applicants ranges from a 22-23, depending on the school. However even 22-23 scores are not acceptable. When you consider that that the national average MCAT score is 25 and the average MCAT score of applicants accepted to MD programs is 31, you can see a huge discrepancy. By having such low admissions standards, podiatric medical schools are sending out the message that podiatrists are comprised of below average, less capable students, which is not true.
I know a lot of students who join podiatry programs with low MCAT scores are not stupid or dumb, they just didn't bother studying for the MCAT because they didn't have to. And why should they when pod schools have such low standards? Frankly such low standards are an embarrassment to all current and upcoming pods. They are the reason why pods are not given their fair share of respect in the medical community, despite going through a grueling medical school and residency process. Is that fair?
I don't think so. I urge all attending pods, pod residents, pod students, and pre-pod students to email pod school admissions offices and urge them to increase their admissions standards. At the very least, increase their MCAT average to 25-26. One of the problems is that there simply isn't enough demand for all the pod school seats available but pod schools still want to make a lot of money, that's why admissions standards are so low.
Pods, it's in your best interests to have the admissions standards raised, I hope you all realize that. I wish the best for the excellent field of podiatry.