Applicants often ask themselves, “How can I get into medical school with a low MCAT?
Your chances of getting into medical school are undoubtedly influenced by your MCAT score; but, if you take the right steps, a low score need not necessarily be fatal to your chances.
In this post, we discuss tactics for getting into medical school with a low MCAT score as well as how to use other aspects of your application to your advantage. If your MCAT score is not competitive, we also provide guidance on what to do next.
Can Someone Apply to Medical School Despite Having a Low MCAT Score?
Your MCAT score is an important part of your application, but it does not ensure admittance. Even with a poor MCAT, you can still get into medical school if you apply carefully. This article examines strategies to raise your prospects of success in spite of a low MCAT score.
First, let’s discuss what a subpar MCAT result looks like in the context of the current application cycle. Put otherwise, if your MCAT score is poor, you won’t be able to get into the medical programs you want to. Each medical school has its own requirements, and if your score is competitive, your MCAT results at least meet the requirements the school has established.
It goes without saying that there are other application requirements that you must ignore in addition to your MCAT score. Most schools will evaluate your application in its entirety, but some may give your diversity med school secondary essay extra weight since they value students who can further the school’s objectives.
What score is deemed competitive?
But to be more specific, let’s examine the most current statistics to ascertain what, in this application cycle, qualifies as a great MCAT score. An MCAT score is considered non-competitive if it is lower than the matriculant average. According to the most recent data from the AAMC, the mean MCAT score for US applicants to medical schools was 506.5, while the mean score for US matriculants to medical schools was 511.9.
Put another way, it is not very competitive if your score is in the range of the mean of the MCAT scores from the most recent candidate pool (about 507–509), the score of applicants who were turned down, or the 75th percentile overall (around 507–509). Naturally, competitiveness has no absolute value. It has the ability to advance any application cycle. This suggests that you may alter the amount of competition you face as a candidate by investing in more MCAT preparation resources or employing a tutor.
Does this mean that if my score is below average, I won’t be admitted?
It’s not necessarily the case that a score of 507 or 509 means you have no chance of getting into medical school! Some medical schools have very competitive scores! All it shows is that admission to medical schools is frequently denied to applicants with this score. The most current figures show that students with scores below 506 have even less chance of getting into medical school. Students who received a score of at least 501 are advised to repeat the test.
As you can see, statistics don’t often convey what it means to have a poor MCAT. Neither a 509 score nor a 506 on the MCAT guarantees admission. Not much better is a 511 score either! To put it simply, admittance to the medical school of your choice is not guaranteed by a good MCAT score.
In the end, even with a low MCAT score, you can still get into medical school if you heed the advice we provide below!
First guideline: Have a plan.
The truth is that each and every one of the applicants to medical school applies with a goal. Every student will carefully evaluate which universities they would be a good fit for, before choosing which ones to apply to. Only those who are rejected apply without thinking.
But how can one tell whether the strategies they are doing will improve their chances of getting into medical school? So, you could discover that the advice we provide here or through our services for helping with medical school applications is the key to your success.
No student has exactly the correct mix of perfect statistics, extracurriculars that are appropriate for medical school, essays that are remarkable, and letters of recommendation from medical schools that stand out. Everyone frequently has areas they would like to improve or program features they wish were better. Because of this, applying strategically is essential when determining which skills and experiences to highlight in your interview replies and application materials, as well as how to prepare for your medical school application. Remember that if you want to repeat the MCAT, you could include this in your letter of intent to attend medical school. In order to strategically apply, you need to complete the following many tasks:
1. Make use of MSAR in your study.
The first thing you should do is research and assess the universities you have a chance of getting into. The Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) might be very helpful when applying to allopathic medical schools in the US and some in Canada.
For locating and comparing data, such as the most recent matriculants’ admissions data, including the average accepted GPA and average accepted MCAT score, matriculant profiles (including age, race, background, and extracurricular activities for medical school), required prerequisites for medical school, and more, the MSAR portal offers a substantial advantage over individual school websites. This is due to the fact that not all medical schools provide information about recent admissions on their websites.
In what way does this aid your strategic implementation?
Look for medical schools on MSAR that accept students with similar MCAT scores if your score is lower than average. This is an easy procedure if you set the search parameters on the left side of the site. In addition, if you choose to repeat the MCAT, you should research institutions that will consider just your most recent scores. Otherwise, if your first try score was too low, it can be more difficult to get in, even with a better second score at some schools. Even though every school is different, it’s important to know how they handle different scores so you don’t accidentally apply to a more competitive institution.
Look over the search results and compare your historical information and experiences with those of students who have just graduated. Does your profile appear to match this school well? Do your experiences resemble those of individuals who just received acceptance? Does your GPA exceed the average allowed by this school? Have you met every requirement that the school outlined? After carefully going over the information on MSAR, make a list of universities where your MCAT results and other application materials would be a good fit.
Advice
Remember that several medical schools have particular standards for the MCAT scores in each component. For example, candidates’ CARS scores are given greater weight by the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University than their total MCAT scores. Rather than requiring a certain total score on the MCAT, some medical schools could require a minimum score on each component.
Remember what this article said in the opening: there are other things to take into account besides your MCAT score. Therefore, to increase your chances of admission, even if you find colleges that frequently accept students with your MCAT score, you still need to make sure that other aspects of your application are in line with your objectives. Even the most approachable medical schools like to see applicants who are well-rounded rather than merely those who have scored highly on exams.
2. Consider DO Schools.
The most prestigious osteopathic medical schools are frequently less selective than MD programs when it comes to GPA and MCAT requirements. This is why you should choose DO schools if you want to apply to universities where your MCAT score is competitive.
Despite being contentious subjects, the differences between MD and DO are rapidly disappearing. Despite increasing in both numbers and rankings, DO graduates still have lower match rates for some of the most renowned residencies. The ordinary patient cannot tell the difference between a DO and an MD because they both have the same responsibilities.
Regarding the application process for DO schools, there won’t be any surprises. The admission process is somewhat similar to those of MD schools in the US and comprises an online application, a DO personal statement, a list of activities, additional essays for medical school, and other prerequisites. The primary change is that instead of answering “Why do you want to be a doctor,” your application will ask “Why do you want to be a DO doctor?”
Therefore, if you’re looking for institutions where you have a greater chance of being accepted given your statistics, make sure to look into DO programs. To show how average MCAT scores differ across MD and DO schools, the most recent mean scores for the best schools in each program type are provided below:
Top DO Schools with MCAT Mean Scores That Are Highest:
1. Chicago Osteopathic Medical College (CCOM-MWU). Average MCAT score: 510
2. Des Moines University of Osteopathic Medicine (DMU-COM). The mean MCAT score is 509.
3. Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (Western/COMP). The mean MCAT score is 508
4. Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM). Average MCAT score: 507
5. California Health Sciences University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM). The mean MCAT score is 507
6. The Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM/MWU). The mean MCAT score is 507
7. The University of North Texas Health Science Center’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. (UNTHSC/TCOM). The mean MCAT score is 507
8. Touro University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM-CA). The mean MCAT. score is 507
9. The Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, or Touro COM-NY. The mean MCAT score is 507
10. Sam Houston State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM). The mean MCAT score is 506
MD Universities with the Highest Average MCAT Results
1. Dartmouth College of Medicine, Dartmouth, New Hampshire. The mean MCAT score is 516.
2. The University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan School of Medicine. The mean MCAT score is 516.
3. Ohio State University’s College of Medicine, Ohio. The mean MCAT score is 516.
4. Tufts University School of Medicine in Massachusetts. The mean MCAT score is 515.
5. University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. The mean MCAT score is 515.
6. University of Central Florida, Gainsville, FL; College of Medicine. The mean MCAT score is 515.
7. New York, NY’s New York Medical College. The mean MCAT score is 514.
8. Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, located in Philadelphia The mean MCAT score is 514.
9. Leonard M. Miller Medical School, Florida; University of Miami. The mean MCAT score is 514.
10. University of Colorado School of Medicine, Colorado Springs, CO. The mean MCAT. The score is 513.
The second set of instructions is to use other application components to balance a low MCAT.
Utilizing additional application components to offset a low MCAT is the second set of instructions.
1. Average of Grade Points
It is customary to take the GPA and MCAT together. These two are believed to be indicators of your cognitive capacity. If your GPA is outstanding, most universities will accept a lower MCAT score. If your MCAT is on the lower end of the range, it is strongly advised that you meet and exceed the GPA requirements of medical schools.
Your MCAT score correlates to an AAMC-required GPA, which is shown on a correlation chart. To improve your chances of admission, carefully calculate the needed GPA based on your current MCAT score. This relationship may be used to determine whether applying with your current metrics makes sense.
The most important lesson is to make every effort to make up for a subpar MCAT with a strong GPA. While there are other considerations taken into account when applying to medical schools, some universities won’t even review your application if your MCAT score and GPA don’t demonstrate that you have a strong academic background. Make every effort to use a strong GPA to offset a subpar MCAT score.
In addition to your metrics, you should have excellent application materials if your MCAT is lower or you don’t have enough time to enhance your GPA. You must shine in other areas of your application to compensate for poor test scores and grades since many universities will review your application as a whole.
2. Extracurricular pursuits
It is imperative that you meticulously arrange both the Experience section of your AACOMAS application and your AMCAS work and activities. These sections may only contain the most exceptional achievements that demonstrate commitment, skill, enthusiasm, leadership, and aptitude for the medical industry. Remember that you may only submit a limited number of contributions, so you must select carefully what you send.
Your most important activities must be powerful if your MCAT score is lower. Among the most significant extracurriculars for medical school admissions are remarkable clinical hours, so if you can make up for a lower MCAT or GPA, include a noteworthy clinical activity with a captivating story. It might be a good idea to emphasize significant academic or research experiences in order to make up for subpar test scores or grades. As an illustration, you may have worked on a class project for which you received high praise or perhaps an award, or you might have presented your research and findings at a conference. You may demonstrate that your low grades or MCAT results do not correspond with your intellectual capacity in this way.
Keep in mind that you want to include activities and talents that are pertinent to the goals of the institutions you have selected as well as the traits of their most recent graduates. This is the reason it’s crucial to think carefully about the activities you select and the language you use to describe them! A strong activities section might help you stand out if your MCAT is low.
3. Medical School Personal Statement
Even if your activities are good, the question of why your MCAT score is low may still remain. You can briefly describe in your statement why the strength of your application materials outweighs your MCAT score. If your justification goes beyond “I just didn’t study enough,” you may want to mention an extenuating situation in your medical school personal statement. If your financial situation prevented you from preparing for the MCAT, you may be able to explain it in brief. If a medical condition prevented you from getting the right score on the MCAT and you were unable to get the required accommodations, you might indicate in your essay.
Look at the sample personal statement that follows, which talks about having a poor MCAT score. Remember that you may use this sample for the personal statement for the AMCAS as well as the AACOMAS.
Example Medical School Personal Statement: How to Mention a Low MCAT in Your Writing
Important: DO NOT highlight in your statement how low your MCAT score was. To present your candidature in the best possible light, your rationale should be a brief aside that deftly fits into the body of your essay. Remember that the goal of your statement is to accentuate your advantages as a candidate and your reasons for pursuing a career in medicine, not to hide any weaknesses or inadequacies in your application. This is what secondary essays are for.
4. Secondaries
A lot of medical school secondary essay topics specifically advise you to address any shortcomings or deficiencies in your application. To discuss your shortcomings, you can choose an essay topic that doesn’t ask for it specifically, such as “What else would you like us to know about you?” There might be a number of reasons why now would be the best time to discuss your lower MCAT score. Think of these subjects as a chance to create an additional essay about diversity or inspiration-seeking challenges. As long as your low score isn’t the consequence of you being too lazy to study, you can utilize an additional prompt to discuss your bad MCAT score and offer an explanation for why you didn’t obtain a higher score.
Remember not to choose the simple route. Even if there were circumstances beyond your control, own up to your responsibility for your low grade. For example, demonstrate your diligence in completing the application process if you had to work multiple part-time jobs to cover the cost of the MCAT and other application-related expenditures for medical school, which interfered with your study time. Discuss the lessons you discovered on goal-setting, tenacity, and pursuing a career in medicine.
Never lose hope even after earning a subpar MCAT score. Everyone has challenges along the way that prevent them from reaching their full potential, but they may be overcome given the right circumstances and assistance. Your secondaries are the final section of your application where you may showcase your qualifications for the institutions of your choosing. Make the most of them to the fullest!
Examples of secondary essay prompts from the school
1. University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine
Answer: “Tell us about a difficult circumstance you’ve faced and how you handled it.” In your response, describe the coping strategy you employed to escape the predicament and the person or individuals you sought help from. We suggest that you limit the word count of your essay to 550.
2. Rush University Medical Center’s Rush Medical College
Prompt: “Located on Chicago’s near west side, Rush Medical College provides care to a diverse patient population. Our objective is to develop physicians who, despite their varied origins, can relate to a broad spectrum of patients. Give an example of a life experience that broadened your outlook or strengthened your ability to sympathize with others who are different from you. Also, share the lessons you learned from the experience. (One milliliter)
3. Medical School at Vanderbilt University
Prompt: “Everyone needs help at some time in their lives. Describe an instance when you asked for help and the things you took away from the experience that now influence how you ask for help. (There are 600 letters.)
4. The medical school at Yale University
Prompt: “Research is essential to patient care, thus all Yale School of Medicine students do a research thesis. Explain how your background, skills, and areas of interest in research would contribute to the academic programs at Yale School of Medicine. (There is no word count given.)
5. Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School
Prompt: “What are your goals for your medical practice? Where do you picture yourself in 15 years? three thousand characters.
6. The Medical College of Meharry
prompt: “Please share a personal story of a setback, a major challenge, or a major obstacle that you overcome. Describe your response to the situation and the lessons you learned about yourself from it.
7. The College of Medicine at Drexel University
Prompt: “If you are a recent graduate, please let us know what you have been up to since graduation. If you have not yet graduated, tell us about your current goals and responsibilities. Please be careful to mention any volunteer work you have done during this time, as well as any traditional or non-traditional clinical experiences. We acknowledge that, during the pandemic, obtaining volunteer or clinical experience may have been difficult. (without a maximum limit)
8. Medical School at Creighton University
Prompt: The School of Medicine at Creighton University seeks to improve people’s quality of life by attracting and educating a diverse student body, professors, and staff. It is based in the Jesuit and Catholic traditions. The school aspires to excellence in patient treatment, research, and education. Please provide more details about the role or responsibilities you may play to further the School of Medicine’s purpose. (two thousand characters)
9. The medical school at Duke University
Prompt: “Describe an instance in which you had to interact with individuals of different backgrounds while upholding your values. What impact did those values have on the collaboration? (four hundred words)
10. The Medical College of Howard University
Question: Have you ever resided in a community where the majority of people do not have access to formal education, healthcare, or financial resources? (If it’s feasible, choose Yes or No. Next, provide a succinct (no more than 250 words) explanation or description.)
5. Interview for Medical School
Be prepared to answer and refuse to back down if your low MCAT score is brought up during the medical school admissions interview. “Why should we choose you” is a question the interviewer may ask, or they may directly bring up your MCAT scores. As with answering a question about a low GPA in a medical school interview, you have to own up to your shortcomings and provide an explanation for a substandard or below average MCAT result.
If you decide to retake the test, start by acknowledging that you didn’t do well. If not, please describe why you decided against taking the MCAT again and what you did to improve your score. If your low score was caused by any unavoidable circumstances, please explain.
Of course, you should be prepared to answer questions about your MCAT scores, but you should also be prepared to discuss other subjects pertaining to the medical school interview. Questions like “Tell me about yourself” and “Why do you want to be a doctor” are common. You have to consider the interview’s format as well. Most colleges will use multiple mini-interviews (MMI). It’s a good idea to review MMI practice questions and consider the many types of MMI questions, such as acting stations, policy inquiries, and collaboration/teamwork stations.
Typical Questions for Medical School Interviews by School
The medical school at Oregon Health & Science University
- Which quality do you think you have?
- Tell me about your voluntary activities.
- Talk to me about X extracurricular.
- What made you decide to become a doctor?
- Talk about the findings of your research.
- The Tulane University School of Medicine
- Please share more about your work in the lab.
- Could you comment on the most important clinical experience you have had?
- Have you ever been to New Orleans?
- Give an example of a time you interacted with a person from a different culture.
- Tulane, why?
The Baylor College of Medicine
- Which coping strategies do you use when you’re under stress?
- How would you choose a medical school if you were accepted?
- What do you think is the most urgent problem now plaguing the medical industry?
- How would you broaden the diversity of the class?
- If you had a week off, how would you spend it?
- If You Have An Unsatisfactory MCAT Score…
If, even after reading all of the above information, you still believe that your MCAT is too low to make you a competitive candidate, you might want to consider the options we offer below.
First strategy: Apply to Colleges Without MCAT Requirements
This is probably the simplest solution. You can choose to apply just to medical schools that do not require the MCAT, or you can limit your application to the majority of medical schools. If you’re intending to apply to Canadian medical schools, keep in mind that just a handful in Ontario and none in Quebec require your MCAT score for admittance. Recall that a few of Canadian medical schools have relaxed their MCAT criteria for candidates who live in the province of origin. Therefore, even if your score is not exceptionally good, you could still be able to apply to medical schools in your province.
Second Strategy: Retake the Test
Is It Time for an MCAT Retake? Retakes on the MCAT occur far more frequently than you would think! The AAMC reports that 95% of students have taken one or more exams. Unfortunately, the exact number of students who repeat the test is yet unknown. However, barely 5% of individuals have completed three MCAT exams. Therefore, if raising your GPA and fulfilling other application conditions don’t rescue your score, you have the opportunity to repeat the test. Prior to retaking the MCAT, consider the following:
Consider the advantages and disadvantages before deciding to retake the exam. Not only must you repeat the whole MCAT preparation process, but you will also be required to pay the MCAT fees again.
Retaking MCAT preparation is a significant undertaking, thus it should not be taken lightly.
It is not a good idea to apply the same MCAT preparation strategies twice, so reconsider your strategy. If they can’t help you obtain the desired score the first time, they won’t help you attain it. For this reason, preparing for a test retake is an important decision.- Setting up a new study plan and acquiring more study materials may add a great deal of stress to your already busy premed schedule.
Consider getting professional help: if you’re serious about greatly raising your score and discovering new MCAT preparation techniques, you may want to join up for an MCAT prep course or hire an MCAT tutor. These professionals may help you pinpoint your areas of weakness and develop strategies to help you get past hurdles.
Above all, remember that if you choose to retake the MCAT, you must receive a higher score on your second try. If your score is the same or lower, the admissions committee can have an erroneous impression of you.
Third Plan: Take a Year Off
If you decide to take a year off before applying to medical schools in order to improve your MCAT score, you might want to consider going to a post-baccalaureate program or a special master’s program (SMP). Most post-baccalaureate programs are specifically designed to help students increase their extracurricular activity level and MCAT or GPA. In essence, post-baccs are supposed to bolster your application materials. This is achieved by taking the MCAT, applying to medical school, and attending workshops and preparation programs. Therefore, a post-bacc would be the ideal choice for you if you would like some more help improving your application overall.
SMPs are typically used by premeds to enhance their reputations in research. They provide several opportunities to participate in research projects, connect with medical specialists in your area of interest, and gain academic and extracurricular skills that are applicable to medical school. Furthermore, you can have an advantage because certain medical schools will give you extra credit for earning a graduate degree if you have an SMP.
Recall that enrolling in a post-baccalaureate program or SMP only to bolster your application is an expensive choice. Moreover, the difficulty of these endeavors should not be underestimated. Make sure your motivation for pursuing an SMP or post-bacc program is greater than simply improving your MCAT score. More than simply your MCAT score should be your reason for enrolling in these programs for a year or two, so make sure you publish your research findings, participate in exceptional research initiatives, and build good relationships with your instructors and supervisors.
In conclusion, think about hiring a mentor for a medical school
Lastly, but just as vital, consider contacting a medical school adviser if your MCAT score is low and you would need help getting into medical school. If you are having trouble figuring out how to raise your GPA and win over admissions committees, a medical school coach can be of great assistance. While it might be difficult for you to accept a low MCAT score on your own, admissions experts can identify the strong points in your application.
Remember that a trustworthy advisor won’t start pleading with you for cash or promising you admission to Harvard Medical School before setting up a free strategy call with you. During this talk, you may tell the adviser about your situation, and they will utilize this information to figure out how they can help you most effectively. You should steer clear of anyone who promises admission to prestigious medical schools without offering you a free consultation first.
