<p>Long time, no talk! I just got back my MCAT scores from the 3/28 MCAT administration and scored a relatively well-balanced 31Q (11 PS, 9 VR, 11 BS), which was right in the middle of my AAMC practice test range (29-33). If anyone (norcalguy, bluedevilmike, etc) could read through a synopsis of my activities and comment on my list of MD and DO schools at this point, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Activities:
- Resident Advisor (RA): 3 years
- Teaching Assistant (TA) for Introductory Biology (1 semester), Biochemistry (2 semesters), and General Chemistry (2 semesters)
- Undergraduate Biology Advisor: 2 years
- Occasional columnist for my university's newspaper
- Honors society</p>
<p>Research:
- Adolescent Psychology & Sexuality laboratory (1 summer, 2 academic years)
- Senior thesis related to adolescent sexuality</p>
<p>Clinical:
- Psychology/psychiatry summer internship at a major counseling center in NYC
- 150+ hours of shadowing experience (doctors in 7 specialties, including psychiatry, anatomical/forensic pathology, radiation oncology, OB/GYN, hematology/oncology, gastroenterology, and cardiology)</p>
<p>Schools:
Albert Einstein of Yeshiva University (MD)
Boston University (MD)
Case Western Reserve University (MD)
Cleveland Clinic Medical School (MD)
Columbia University (MD)
Cornell University (MD)
George Washington University (MD)
Georgetown University (MD)
Loyola University Chicago (MD)
Michigan State University (MD)
Michigan State University (DO)
Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MD)
New York Medical College (MD)
New York University (MD)
Ohio State University (MD)
Temple University (MD)
Touro University - Harlem (DO)
Tufts University (MD)
University of Illinois (MD)
University of Michigan (MD)
University of Pennsylvania (MD)
University of Pittsburgh (MD)
Wayne State University (MD)</p>
<p>PrincessND - I feel like I already have too many “dream” schools at this point (especially with my MCAT score), which is why I didn’t add Pritzker to the list. Do you think it’d be worthwhile to apply anyways?</p>
<p>You are in a good position as far as numbers are concerned. But with an index score of 18.26, (as calculated by GPAs and MCATs), you fall right in the group of “typical medical school applicants with strong backgrounds”. You need to make sure that your application stands out in some other respects. The fact that your undergrad is an Ivy, is going to help you some as far as reputation is concerned.</p>
<p>I’m by no means an expert on this particular part of the game, but I have to say that I’m a little concerned. With a 9VR, I have a strong suspicion that Columbia, Penn, Cornell, Case, Case Western, Pitt, and maybe Sinai are all out from the very beginning.</p>
<p>Your undergrad name would help you if your situation was reversed – high MCAT and low GPA. Similarly, hardcore basic science research (which it doesn’t seem like you have) would also help… but also if your situation was reversed.</p>
<p>I also am not a fan of applying to OOS publics, in general. So UI and OSU have me a little concerned.</p>
<p>Finally, I think there are a few schools which have exceptionally low admissions rates, often for geographic reasons. Georgetown and BU are among these; I think GWU might be as well.</p>
<p>So if we take off this group from your list, your very-reasonable 23 schools all of a sudden becomes a frankly-short 11. I’m not sure where else you might want to consider, since I’m not very familiar with schools in this tier. The selectivity brackets that include NYMC, Loyola Chicago, Yeshiva, and Tufts, I think, would all be excellent matches. I think a US News would be good at this point. SLU and VCU might be good picks as well.</p>
<p>Look for private medical schools with relatively high admissions percentages (6+?), relatively low MCAT averages (32-). Add in every medical school in your home state (I think you already have those covered). Once that total is up to 18 or so, I’d feel much better about the list.</p>
<p>I agree with BDM that Columbia, Penn, Cornell, Case Western, Pitt, and Sinai are at least somewhat of a reach with a 31/9 VR. Unless the OP is a URM, it may be difficult to get an acceptance.</p>
<p>I can speak specifically about my sense of Sinai’s admission attitudes. There’s no denying that the school has become more focused on numbers and pedigree in the last few years. The OP’s alma mater would be helpful here, but again, the MCAT score may be a problem. I don’t think Sinai is hopeless, only much more difficult. It’s up to the OP to decide if they want to take the chance on an application.</p>
<p>If the OP wants to apply to OOS state schools, it’s important to take a look at the number of OOS students that are accepted at each. There are a number of OOS state schools that accept virtually no OOS students - applying to those would be a complete waste.</p>
<p>OP, is your MCAT score the only time you’ve taken the test for real? Or was that a re-take? It could make a difference at those schools that average the scores (or worse, consider only the lowest as someone suggested).</p>
<p>bdm or shades, any idea what the “index” is MyOpinion mentioned? A short night’s sleep hasn’t helped me understand. :(</p>
<p>I have no idea what method MyOpinion is using to calculate this so-called index score. A quick search of Google turns up several methods of calculating an index score based on MCAT score and GPA. </p>
<p>I think it makes more sense to consider both scores at the same time because an index score can be very misleading in a few common scenarios.</p>
<p>Agreed. IMO at the edges it gets kinda rough (i.e. one variable exceptionally high). 30 MCAT 4.0 +1 from Pollyanna Tech = 71 LizzyM vs. 33 MCAT 3.7 +1 = 71 LizzyM from (insert favorite well-known “superbad” feeder school). IMO I’d rather bet on applicant B. But what do I know?</p>
<p>For the audiophiles out there, I think it’s something like building a stereo system. Great amp, pre-amp, turntable, speakers but if you’ve got a POS cartridge (or even crap speaker wire) your sound quality is limited by the weakest component. Is it better than having 2 (or more) crap components? Sure. But it’s never gonna be great sound. Unfortunately.</p>
<p>Why would that be the case when median VR is 11 for Columbia and Penn? </p>
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<p>I believe that after passing the initial GPA and MCAT cut offs, the index score is the next screening and ranking tool. There are several versions of the formula and the one curmudgeon mentions above is one of them. Essentially they all do the same thing: allow an easy comparison of applicants at that stage.</p>
<p>According to (my bootlegged digital copy of the) 2010-2011 MSAR, for accepted students the 10th percentile for overall MCAT score for Penn is 31, and the 10th percentile for VR is 9. The 10th percentile for overall MCAT score for Columbia is 32, and the 10th percentile for VR is 9.</p>
<p>Being in the 10th percentile of anything when talking about medical school admissions does not sound like good odds to me. It is not impossible, but it certainly is going to be hard. This is what I assume BDM was referring to when he wrote of his “strong suspicion”.</p>
<p>BDM - I agree with you that I’ll get pre-interview rejections from most, if not ALL, of those top tier schools (Pitt, Penn, Case, Cleveland, Cornell, etc), so I eliminated every one except Penn, Columbia, and Weill Cornell. You only live once and it’s worth a shot, right? I’m a legacy at Illinois and Ohio State - those are staying. I also added Dartmouth, Wake Forest, SLU, Tulane, and UMiami.</p>
<p>Curmudgeon - I’ve only taken the MCAT once. I was originally signed up for an August 2008 administration, but life got in the way last summer and I ended up delaying it till March 2009. (I love your screen name, by the way!)</p>
<p>MyOpinion - Thanks for your opinion and for the index score. I’ll try my hardest to stand out. My research laboratory and thesis, while not “hard-core” science, are both unique.</p>
<p>Shades_children - Sinai is one of my top choices … Would you mind if I PM you later on in the cycle?</p>
<p>Reduced two top choices; affirmed legacy at OOS publics, added 5 excellent picks. Sounds good to me. What’s the total count now? Be careful not to drown yourself in secondaries. Getting them out promptly is important.</p>