MCAT Results
I know that there are a few of you out there who are curious about my MCAT score. I got my score back nearly a week ago, and I'm not quite sure how to feel about it. I got a 29O (9 on Verbal, 10 each on Biological and Physical Sciences), which is pretty good for the first time taking it. However, I know that I really need at least a 29, and preferably a 30-32 for MCG. So right now I am just playing the "waiting game" until I hear from the admissions committee. Thank you to all who have been praying for me/us during this time, please continue.
~Vern
posted by Momof3 @ 7/12/2007
5 comments
5 Comments:
Hey Lezlie, Thanks for the comment! Eric is getting married on August 18th to Ruthie Rhodes. She is from the same church Luke was from--Mt. Pleasant. Her sister Sheila married Joel Graber. (In case u know them) :)
Is this the guy that I sang with in Jesse & Sherry's wedding?
David K.
A good (competitive at most MD schools) score is around 30 and a stellar score is somewhere above a 34 to 36 (competitive at the top medical schools in the country). A score of 36 or better would put you in the top 2% of the country. The writing sample is scored with a letter system from J (lowest) to T (highest), but is much less important than the number score. You never hear anyone mention the letter score. All you ever hear people talk about is the number, although some people insist that they are also considered in the admissions process somehow.
Just to give you an extreme example that the MCAT is not the only measurement which is important: 60 applicants were admitted to allopathic medical schools in 2005 who had an MCAT score which was less than 17. Keep in mind that there are a few allopathic medical schools in Puerto Rico, for example, which have very low MCAT averages (20.1, 21.3 and 23). These schools could be responsible for many of these numbers.
Again, this sort of low score is a rare exception. For all intents and purposes an MCAT score below 25 will make it almost impossible for you to gain admission to allopathic (MD) medical schools. You will still be competitive for osteopathic medical schools, podiatry schools and Caribbean medical schools.
For most of the allopathic (MD) medical schools, an average MCAT score of 21 is the minimum they will consider for extending interview invitations, regardless of what the rest of your application looks like, but there are a few exceptions. For some of the more prestigious medical schools in the country, the minimum MCAT score is around 30 to 32 - below which you will not make it past any screening for interviews, regardless of how strong the rest of your application is.
The more applications a medical school receives every year, the more the school tends to eliminate applicants by MCAT scores and GPA alone when screening applicants. It's the easiest and most cost-effective way to limit the search for competitive applicants - and especially the more popular (and prestigious) medical schools use these criteria more heavily. These are typically the medical schools which receive the most applications.
Medical schools like to use the MCAT as a way of screening and comparing applicants since it is the most objective measurement. Your GPA varies with the difficulty of the courses you take and the type of college or university you attend for undergrad. The MCAT provides one way to compare everyone at the same level. It becomes even more important in validating your GPA, so if your GPA is significantly lower or higher than what your MCAT score indicates you know, it may raise some questions.
The MCAT score is a reflection of your ability to reason, think and interpret charts and data. It has less to do with your work ethic or your ability to memorize, which are two factors reflected more by your GPA (discussed previously)
David, yes, this is Vernon's blog.
Anon, will you please identify yourself? How did you come by your knowledge of MCAT stuff?
Lezlie- RYC: your first cousins? Not only do I know Abigail, Rachel and Esther, I go to the same church! (I can't say I know them well, though.) But that's so neat! So, how are you related? I'm guessing it's through Janet, since she seems to be related to 2/3 of the Mennonite population. =) I'll be sure to mention you to them sometime! Blessings on your week.
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