MCAT score is meh. Retake? Med School Choice?

Pre-Med & Medical School MCAT Prep
1

<p>Hello everyone!</p>

<p>I just got my MCAT score and it turned out to be better than expected! (PS:12 BS:10 VR:8. Cum: 30) However, I knew I could have done better but I am not sure if I should retake while risking the chance of doing bad. I really want to go to Cornell, UW, or U of VA, but I know that my scores are low. </p>

<p>Here is a list of Medical Schools I am currently considering on applying.
1] Cornell University
2] University of Wisconsin Medical School
3] University of Virginia
4] University of Washington
5] Creighton University
6] Georgetown University
7] University of Chicago-Pritzker
8] University of Minnesota
9] Baylor College
10] Mercer University /Meharry Medical College
11] Ohio State University</p>

<p>Here are my other credentials:
Washington resident (go to college in Montana)
Ethnicity: Korean
GPA: 3.9
Major: Chemistry Minor: Biology and Math (Honor Scholar)
TA: two years
RTA (resident technical assistant): 2 years
Research student: 1 year
Math Modeling Competition (3 years- Meritorious Award, Honorable Mention, Successful Participant)
Invited to 2013 National ACS conference, 2013 Montana ACS conference
Several Awards/Grants for research project</p>

<p>Volunteer experience:
2011-Washington Department of Health
2012-100+ hours in Emergency Room
2012-30+ hours of doctor shadow
2013- this summer, going to clinic in Santiago, DR</p>

<p>Based on a sample of my "resume," are my top three schools reachable? Or do they appear too far away and my hopes are brutally shattered? Should I retake the MCAT?</p>

<p>Any positive criticism would be nice! Thank you everyone!</p>

2

<p>You need to replace Wisconsin, UVA, Minnesota and Ohio state with private schools with class MCAT averages around 30. These are OOS publics and are a waste unless there is a very specific compelling reason why you’re applying to each of them and it would kill you to remove it. If what I just described is the case, you should add schools for each one you keep. I would say this regardless of your MCAT score.</p>

<p>Why do you think you could do better? I hate to say it but unless you had a meltdown or did really inadequate preparation, odds are you won’t.</p>

3

<p>I’d take Georgetown (which has an admission rate of ~3.5% and average MCAT of 32) off the list also. </p>

<p>I’d also remove Chicago–which has a average MCAT of 35 and GPA of 3.9; and Cornell which has an average MCAT of 34.5 and GPA of 3.8.</p>

<p>Minnesota and Wisconsin admit under 4% of all OOS applicants. OSU has OOS acceptance rate of 7%. (OSU also requires A&P for admission.) UVA OOS acceptance rate is 5.5% and the average MCAT is 34. </p>

<p>I think you need to lower your sights some to be a competitive applicants.</p>

<p>And like brown suggests–don’t apply to OOS publics.</p>