Should I apply? Advice please!!!

[2CGYorNot2CGY]

Hello,

 

I just got my MCAT score today and I bombed it, 10-8-11-R (PS-VR-BS-WS). Seeing as 10% of the application is VR alone... Do you think I have a legitimate shot at getting in this year? The thing is, I'm an in province applicant and my GPA will be 4.0 (when my worst year dropped). My extra-curriculurs are probably a little below average to average, at best.

 

Thoughts? Thanks a lot.

[HBP]

It's definitely worth the shot. First year with the new system, so we have no idea what the average scores will be. Looks like your GPA is well above the average applicant though, so it can make up for the VR.

[2CGYorNot2CGY]

Thanks for the reply HBP. The way I see it, if we assume a VR of 15 is the full 10%, then an 8 is worth ~5.33%. So, I lost about 1.2% (6.53-5.33)from last year's mean here. BUT, if we assume that the GPA cutoff (3.2) is worth 0%, and that 4.00 is the full 20%, then I should gain ~8.75% on the mean (20-11.25). So my net standing is 8.75 - 1.2 = 7.55% above the mean.

 

Now, I'm almost 100% sure those assumptions are WRONG, but seems like a good estimate, right? So, I'm thinking I should still apply as well.

 

MCAT

 

1 0.67

2 1.33

3 2.00

4 2.67

5 3.33

6 4.00

7 4.67

8 5.33

9 6.00

9.8 6.53 (mean)

10 6.67

11 7.33

12 8.00

13 8.67

14 9.33

15 10.00

 

GPA

 

3.2 0.00

3.3 2.50

3.4 5.00

3.5 7.50

3.6 10.00

3.65 11.25 (mean)

3.7 12.50

3.8 15.00

3.9 17.50

4 20.00

[tnwl]

Thanks for the reply HBP. The way I see it, if we assume a VR of 15 is the full 10%, then an 8 is worth ~5.33%. So, I lost about 1.2% (6.53-5.33)from last year's mean here. BUT, if we assume that the GPA cutoff (3.2) is worth 0%, and that 4.00 is the full 20%, then I should gain ~8.75% on the mean (20-11.25). So my net standing is 8.75 - 1.2 = 7.55% above the mean.

 

Now, I'm almost 100% sure those assumptions are WRONG, but seems like a good estimate, right? So, I'm thinking I should still apply as well.

 

MCAT

 

1 0.67

2 1.33

3 2.00

4 2.67

5 3.33

6 4.00

7 4.67

8 5.33

9 6.00

9.8 6.53 (mean)

10 6.67

11 7.33

12 8.00

13 8.67

14 9.33

15 10.00

 

GPA

 

3.2 0.00

3.3 2.50

3.4 5.00

3.5 7.50

3.6 10.00

3.65 11.25 (mean)

3.7 12.50

3.8 15.00

3.9 17.50

4 20.00

 

I'm pretty sure the guy with 3.2 is not going to get 0/20, but you seem to make a reasonable assumption otherwise. However, ECs are worth a lot more so it could be anybody's game. Good luck!

[thehumanmacbook]

Remember again that it's top 200 then they take ECs into account...

[Larrivee]

Remember again that it's top 200 then they take ECs into account...

 

Pretty sure thatsjust for OOP applicants Mac!

[tnwl]

Yeah because for IP, the number is unlimited.

[zxcv]

It doesn't matter what your ECs are; its what you got out of them. Thats why it is marked for content and not the activity.

 

Given your GPA, if you do a good job with ECs, Im pretty sure you will get an interview.

[Chic0]

I am listing out some of the names of the university and the score they need for the entry, think this would be helpful to you.

 

Medical School Average/Section Average Total Score

Harvard 11.9 35.6

University of Pennsylvania 11.7 35

Johns Hopkins 11.7 35

University of California – San Francisco-11.3 34

Washington University – St. Louis10 30

University of Washington 10.3 31

University of Michigan 11.7 35

Yale 11.7 35

Duke University 11.4 34.2

Columbia University 11.7 35

[eastboundanddown]

Also in a crisis mode, not sure whether or not I should put in the effort/stress my busy referees with an additional request on such short notice!

 

OOP

10 VR

3.7 GPA if worst year is dropped and most recent semester included (co-op)

[tnwl]

Also in a crisis mode, not sure whether or not I should put in the effort/stress my busy referees with an additional request on such short notice!

 

OOP

10 VR

3.7 GPA if worst year is dropped and most recent semester included (co-op)

 

Hate to be discouraging, but I think its not worth the shot. But, make the call yourself since you know best. Good luck!

[zxcv]

Also in a crisis mode, not sure whether or not I should put in the effort/stress my busy referees with an additional request on such short notice!

 

OOP

10 VR

3.7 GPA if worst year is dropped and most recent semester included (co-op)

 

I wouldn't bank on it. My OOP prediction is the following:

VR -- 10 or 11

GPA: Around 3.9

[eastboundanddown]

I appreciate the honesty, I'll have to think about it...quickly. Based on your prediction, very high chance that I wouldn't be one of the top 200-250 taken for full review based their 2XGPA+1xVR score. That is the first exclusion criteria no?

[osteon]

This is all wrong.

 

They use a standardized scale, where the mean score is assigned 100 points, with each standard deviation above resulting in an additional 15 points. 99% of applicants will be within 3 standard deviations of the mean, so scores will range from 55 to 145. This score is then multiplied by 0.1 (I.e. 10%) to determine the relative contribution of your verbal score to your overall application. The other sections are determined in the same way.

 

Thanks for the reply HBP. The way I see it, if we assume a VR of 15 is the full 10%, then an 8 is worth ~5.33%. So, I lost about 1.2% (6.53-5.33)from last year's mean here. BUT, if we assume that the GPA cutoff (3.2) is worth 0%, and that 4.00 is the full 20%, then I should gain ~8.75% on the mean (20-11.25). So my net standing is 8.75 - 1.2 = 7.55% above the mean.

 

Now, I'm almost 100% sure those assumptions are WRONG, but seems like a good estimate, right? So, I'm thinking I should still apply as well.

 

MCAT

 

1 0.67

2 1.33

3 2.00

4 2.67

5 3.33

6 4.00

7 4.67

8 5.33

9 6.00

9.8 6.53 (mean)

10 6.67

11 7.33

12 8.00

13 8.67

14 9.33

15 10.00

 

GPA

 

3.2 0.00

3.3 2.50

3.4 5.00

3.5 7.50

3.6 10.00

3.65 11.25 (mean)

3.7 12.50

3.8 15.00

3.9 17.50

4 20.00

[astrogirl]

Seriously, people, just apply. If you figure you have a 2% chance of getting in, well, that's better than the 0% chance you have if you don't apply. If I had listened to all of the people who told me I had no chance and that it wasn't worth it to apply, I wouldn't be in med school right now. Sure, you might not get in if you apply, but you definitely won't get in if you don't apply.

[imperfection]

Seriously, people, just apply. If you figure you have a 2% chance of getting in, well, that's better than the 0% chance you have if you don't apply. If I had listened to all of the people who told me I had no chance and that it wasn't worth it to apply, I wouldn't be in med school right now. Sure, you might not get in if you apply, but you definitely won't get in if you don't apply.

 

100% agree

Nobody can tell you if you will get in or not

I think it's worth the shot if you think you have a chance at getting an interview (even if it's a small chance)

and the feedback you get from this application cycle is very valuable. i.e. you don't get an interview --> why didn't I get an interview this year? what can I work on to improve for next cycle?

if you DO get an interview but don't get in --> is it my pre-interview scores that are hindering me or the interview itself and what can I do to improve

[zxcv]

Seriously, people, just apply. If you figure you have a 2% chance of getting in, well, that's better than the 0% chance you have if you don't apply. If I had listened to all of the people who told me I had no chance and that it wasn't worth it to apply, I wouldn't be in med school right now. Sure, you might not get in if you apply, but you definitely won't get in if you don't apply.

 

I agree.

 

But I think its also important to be realistic. If someone has a bad GPA, a bad VR, and not a lot of ECs, or has a lot of ECs but is unable to articulate how those experiences are meaningful, then is it worth the persons time and money? I know individuals who got in with very poor grades, but they made it up with something. For example, I know people with 3.5s in medical school but they are usually PhDs, mature applicants, or have lots of experience. Also, they do a superb job with their app.

 

Point: If you're lacking in some area make sure you can/do make it up with something else. In the end, applying to medical school is a very humbling experience. You may have a "perfect" application and still not be accepeted.

[astrogirl]

It is important to be realistic, but that's different than giving up before you apply. It's a waste of time and money if you apply when you don't meet the minimum requirements, but people are sending me PMs saying things like "I have a 3.8 GPA and a 30 on the MCAT. Am I wasting my time by applying?" Getting in is never a sure thing, even if you have a 4.0 and a 45T on the MCAT, but people need to get rid of the idea that you have to be absolutely perfect before you can even apply. Certainly you should have a back up plan, but you shouldn't feel like you need to give up without trying just because you don't think you're as good as the other people in your classes the other people who are posting on here.

[eastboundanddown]

Not that anyone would particularly care, but I've decided to apply. If I can be one of the 200-250 OOPs to get a full review I feel I may have a shot. Although relatively "young", I think I have some decent ECs and previous Job experience (former sworn Peace Officer, worked at Health Canada ect.) that, if expressed in a meaningful way, could make me competitive. I better get moving!

[mm88]

Not that anyone would particularly care, but I've decided to apply. If I can be one of the 200-250 OOPs to get a full review I feel I may have a shot. Although relatively "young", I think I have some decent ECs and previous Job experience (former sworn Peace Officer, worked at Health Canada ect.) that, if expressed in a meaningful way, could make me competitive. I better get moving!

 

Good for you! In the end, it's just money.

[astrogirl]

Not that anyone would particularly care, but I've decided to apply. If I can be one of the 200-250 OOPs to get a full review I feel I may have a shot. Although relatively "young", I think I have some decent ECs and previous Job experience (former sworn Peace Officer, worked at Health Canada ect.) that, if expressed in a meaningful way, could make me competitive. I better get moving!

 

I care, and I'm happy to hear it. Good luck!

[gb35]

I wouldn't bank on it. My OOP prediction is the following:

VR -- 10 or 11

GPA: Around 3.9

 

Disagree, and I say go for it eastboundanddown. I had a VR of 11, cGPA of 3.62, and got in to Calgary OOP last year. Things might change with the new system, but still, worth a shot.