Getting an Interview

[jaysondeguzman]

I was just wondering since medical schools first screen applicants for supplementary applications and interview by their gpa and mcat score, what is the average mcat and gpa to get an interview invitation?

[jameslynton]

I was just wondering since medical schools first screen applicants for supplementary applications and interview by their gpa and mcat score, what is the average mcat and gpa to get an interview invitation?That depends on the school - you can expect to get an interview at just about all the lessor schools. It gets harder for Ross, SGU, AUC and all US schools. There fore you want to research each school and ask questions. Most schools want at least a 3.0 in science. US schools want at least a 3.5. I think you can get into the lower tier schools with less than a 3.0 if your credit rating is good.

[jaysondeguzman]

Actually just US schoola are my aim right now?

[longtimewaiting]

Hey jayondeguzman,

just to answer your question on the US school. As you already know, only Some schools screen your primary application (AMCAS, AACOMAS) and then send you a secondary. Many of them will send you a secondary whether you have chance or not. I'm not being cynical, but the fact is that it's revenue for the school. Nothing is definate, but look at the stats posted for the schools you are intersted in . They can be used as a guide. You have to be considered competitve in order to get an interview. High MCAT Scores (at least about 27-30's) also you must consider you GPA. I know some school that aren't even considering anything below a 29. I don't think anything below a 3.3 will be helpful to getting an interview. There have been exceptions to this, but for the majority of the cases they want around an A- gpa and a strong MCAT. Plus there are other things to think of too. You can't just have great grades and not be well rounded. Everyone applying is fiercely competiting for a small number of spots, so they will show that they will have more to offer to the school (which is an interview question they might ask you: What do you have to offer to the school). The people you compete with will all have high grades and decent MCAT scores so there has to be something more to make you stand out ie: research, shadowing,teaching, volunteer time, publications, Letters of recommendtion(very important b/c if they are not strong it will not help your application)..lots more. it sounds like a lot b/c they (adminssions com. ) consider alot. I hope this help. Best of luck to you in the application process ( it can and probably will be hectic- but don't worry) :) take care

[jaysondeguzman]

Thanks alot, I was just gathering some info Im still early on in the process im only a sophmore with a 3.5, work experience at a theme park, currently teaching for campus tutoring service, currently volunteering in a hospital, and currently doing my own research project. What would you recommend when applying to schools, for your gpa and mcat differing from the averages like maybe 1 or 2 for mcat and .1 or .15 for gpa?

[longtimewaiting]

Hey jay,
it sounds like you are completely on the right track. Maintain your GPA. you are doing great. If you can improve it (not that you really need to :) ) then do so. your gpa for a US school is not bad and for a caribbean school it's definately not bad. a lot of your what determines if you get an interview is tha combo of your MCAT and GPA. Be sure to kick booty on your MCAT so there will not be a disparity between your GPA and MCAT. That causes the admissions committee to doubt you. if you are off on your gpa by .1 or .15 then i wouldn't sweat it, if you have a good MCAT score. as for 1 or 2 points for the MCAT , I personally think that is tricky b/c so much attention is paid to that test. I'm not going to lie and sugarcoat this because i have seen schools reject students for a one point disparity even with good grades and activites. You must also remember that each case is individualized. try to get every point that you can. but if you get one or 2 points off then you have the option to take the MCAT again or stay with the grade that you have and see what happens. this is where your LOR's become so important. Keep up with the activites and try to get your research published. Don't let anything cost you your gpa or MCAT score (activites, research, s.o.'s) b.c they count the most. when you apply sometime schools will recommend that you retake the mcat if it is off by a few point and then submit the score to them for reconsideration of your application. after all of that, just wait for your interview invite. if you keep things up the way you are going now , i don't think you will have a problem. when the interview invite comes, be calm , be courtious, be confident, be yourself and stand your ground (don't let them intimidate you with questions that are meant to unhinge you). take care and best of luck in school and applications :)

[jaysondeguzman]

thanks so much

[jaysondeguzman]

im a resident of california and my aim is to stay in california but the california schools seem to be the ones with the highest standards which in california do you think is the easiest ot get into?

[jameslynton]

im a resident of california and my aim is to stay in california ...which in california do you think is the easiest to get into?None look in Az, NV and Oregon. Also think outside the box - cousin was from Ca - Got in Medical college of Ga. "Be flexible" are the key words - also apply to the lower tier US schools. These are the DO, Morehouse etc. These are all very good schools. Your goal is to get in.

[jaysondeguzman]

Thanks alot, how many schools do you guys suggest being appropriate to applying to i know the amcas gives you 12 free how many more after that do you think is safe in securing a few interviews and hopefully an acceptance

[jameslynton]

Thanks alot, how many schools do you guys suggest being appropriate to applying to i know the amcas gives you 12 free how many more after that do you think is safe in securing a few interviews and hopefully an acceptanceGenerally go for about 25-30 schools - sounds like alot of work - well it is. You want to break the schools into tiers - apply to 5 of the top 50 school (US News and World report list (you never know you may get lucky), Middle tier schools about 15 of them and ten(ish) lower tier schools(Morehouse, DO's etc). Cover yourself with applications to at least all the major and minor island schools if you have issues (lower MCAT, a couple of poor grades).

[longtimewaiting]

Hey Jay,

One way that I started, was to weeded out applying to excess schools that I knew were not going to accept me based on geographics. ( gotta save that money! :) ) I checked which school were state specific (in state only). It will definatly cut down a lot of the schools on the aamc list. This is only a suggestion that I was given by other med students who went through and got into school..pick 5-10 reach schools (10 is on the high side) and fill the rest of your choices with schools that you have a better chance to get into and then don't forget to pick the schools that you have the best chances at. hope this helps. take care:)

[jaysondeguzman]

It defintitely does another thing is this year for extracurriculars are started to teach and was planning to start research and volunteering but because of my courseload 2 med school prereqs i was thinking of holding it off till summer. I was planning to apply after graduation any way so if I held it off I would get 2 years research and volunteering and 3 years teaching instead of 3 years of all three. Do you think postponing won't hurt my extracurricular activity list

[longtimewaiting]

Hey Jay,
yup it's me again heheheh:) :P
extracurriculars are good, but remember it is the grades that count. It sounds like you have a lot. Don't overload yourself with activites. leave time for yourself to do work and study for MCATs. Activites are good but grades are the most important thing especially for the schools that we discussed earlier. I don't believe that postponing will hurt your extracurricular list. I believe so b/c I have been told by admissions committee members that they are looking to see that you have extracurriculars and that you have shown consistency with them. Meaning that you don't just do something for like 1 week or a few weeks or a month and then never do another thing again. make sure that you have some stuff and follow through with it during the semester or during your breaks. Now, here's the kick in the pants...one of the adcom people told me this statement to my face .he said...I don't care if you have a mile long list of extracurriculars if your grades are not there, then you are out! That hurt b/c i did have a huge laundry list. You said that you were thinking of holding off until your 2 pre-reqs are finished that maybe a wise decision especially if you know that taking care of those classes is going be difficult. also if you are planning on applying after graduation, you will have time to continue and do more activites. either way you WIN!!! :) I hope this help. take care:)

[jaysondeguzman]

thanks a bunch

[jameslynton]

It defintitely does another thing is this year for extracurriculars are started to teach and was planning to start research and volunteering but because of my courseload 2 med school prereqs i was thinking of holding it off till summer. I was planning to apply after graduation any way so if I held it off I would get 2 years research and volunteering and 3 years teaching instead of 3 years of all three. Do you think postponing won't hurt my extracurricular activity listALWAYS - do well in your courses, give them your first and highest priority. The extracurricular stuff is fluff if you have good grades > 3.5 and a good MCAT score > 32. Get those first.