<p>I wouldn’t be so completely discouraged, there’s really no hurt in trying except for application fee $. A friend of mine with a high GPA and a 32 MCAT just got into Yale, Hopkins, AND Harvard…so to say that you can’t get to any of these top tier schools unless you have a 38 MCAT is a little harsh. I’d say the mountain is steeper, but it doesn’t mean you’re non-competitive. Medical admissions is many things, and while the MCAT is a big chunk of it, it’s not everything…the difference between a 12 on one section and a 10 is probably 4 or 5 questions on the MCAT. I know someone else who’s into Harvard, Penn, and Columbia with a 9 in Biology. Again, it’s a battle, but I think a 31 combined with a good GPA and smart intellect puts you in the running.</p>
<p>^^^Exactly. On the other hand, I know someone with a 4.0, 41 MCAT and undergrad Ivy that only got two interviews which happily translated into two admissions (none of them ivies but a top 10). It goes to show the importance of the “rest” of the application.</p>
<p>premededout:</p>
<p>Anecdotal evidence is of limited value because it’s anecdotal - they’re stories about a couple of people. It doesn’t make sense to assume that the OP will be like your friends. Your friends may have had some exceptional factor that mitigated unexceptional GPAs and MCAT scores - legacy status, URM status, etc. Since the OP has not given us anything to believe that they have exceptional factors, I would prefer to stick to the information given and assume that none exist.</p>
<p>In addition, no one has told the OP that it is impossible. Both BDM and I have said that we believe the chances for schools like Columbia and Penn are low, not non-existent.</p>
<p>The major thing is that you can only do so many secondaries, and as such you have to target them carefully. You have to pick and choose which secondaries you’re able to do and which ones you aren’t. Getting those essays done well and done quickly is very important.</p>
<p>Now that I say that, maybe an app to HMS is worth a shot – it’s just $, no essay.</p>
<p>Here are some links that might interest you:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>[mdpotential.com</a> - home<a href=“stats%20based%20off%20MDapp%20website,%20so%20probably%20not%20accurate”>/url</a></p></li>
<li><p>Spreadsheet based on LizzyM score to calculate chances: (a) <a href=“http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/28/2422456/School_Selector_2010-2011.xls[/url]”>http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/28/2422456/School_Selector_2010-2011.xls](<a href=“http://www.mdpotential.com/admitpotential.php]mdpotential.com”>http://www.mdpotential.com/admitpotential.php)</a> (b) [School</a> Selection spreadsheet - Student Doctor Network Forums](<a href=“http://more.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527971]School”>http://more.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527971)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>bluedevilmike - thanks so much for your help, I feel a lot better going into this cycle than I did before. I’m applying to 22 allopathic and (maybe) 2 osteopathic schools at this point, but I want to eliminate a few more and get the total number to <20. My summer internship in NYC won’t be too taxing (30 hours/week), so I’ll have time to finish those secondaries and (hopefully) have some fun.</p>
<p>ASMAJ - great links! Thanks.</p>