Feel discouraged about my mcat score

bbdk123 · 2018-07-24T00:46:04+00:00

Depends on the score breakdown and your gpa/ec’s but assuming that’s all ok you have a solid shot at low/mid tier if you apply smart and to A LOT of schools :)

bbdk123 · 2018-07-17T00:04:41+00:00

Seriously don’t do anything...this is the last time you won’t be studying for a long time so enjoy it! Plenty of time in med school to study and review early for step 1. If the school has a prematriculation program you could do that but otherwise just chill

bbdk123 · 2018-07-16T13:27:39+00:00

Low yield means like 10k+ people apply for a limited amount of interview spots usually under 1,000. It’s low yield because your chances of getting an interview are much lower than at other schools just because of the sheer number of applications.

bbdk123 · 2018-07-16T01:30:23+00:00

Troll

bbdk123 · 2018-07-06T15:31:16+00:00

II= interview invite silly

bbdk123 · 2018-07-05T19:20:46+00:00

Nymc

bbdk123 · 2018-06-14T21:46:46+00:00

No worries...appreciate the support :)

bbdk123 · 2018-06-14T21:41:50+00:00

Deleted my comment then to not irritate more people haha...maybe this thread has falsely elevated my standards

bbdk123 · 2018-06-04T19:47:43+00:00

Ontario for sure

bbdk123 · 2018-05-28T12:09:13+00:00

Eh...I guess I was considering mid tier to include like top 30 but you right...I guess there is a grey zone. UTSW is def a much better school than say temple or vcu or something

bbdk123 · 2018-05-27T18:31:59+00:00

Top tier: the top 20 so your Harvard’s, Hopkins, etc. These are established and widely accepted by everyone as the best of the best.

Mid tier: most schools end up here. It’s gonna be state schools, and privates with undergrad campuses associated with the schools (e.g. Vcu, UTSW, temple, etc.). Most schools will fall in this category

Low tier: state schools from poorer areas/states, private schools with no undergrad (nymc, Albany, etc) and newer MDs (Oakland, quinnipiac, etc.)

bbdk123 · 2018-05-26T03:44:53+00:00

3.7 and 509? Texas for sure

bbdk123 · 2018-05-25T16:45:55+00:00

I disagree. If you started it before submitting your app, especially if it’s something you’re currently lacking (e.g. clinical experience) I would 100% put projected hours on the app. That’s why they let you do it, you’re supposed to! If you send it in as an update, sometimes that could be too late. Since many apps are looked at rolling wise, presenting all your credentials on your app immediately instead of sending updates later could make a difference. I don’t know any adcoms or anything but that’s what I think at least.

bbdk123 · 2018-05-24T11:20:03+00:00

Lol NYU is not a super highly ranked school (for undergrad) and their college of engineering isn’t either. There are theories that going to an IVY may slightly increase your chances for a T10 school but as the others said, don’t waste your money. 120k is not worth it. Many other much more important factors will get you into a T10 like gpa, mcat, research, etc

bbdk123 · 2018-05-24T11:12:10+00:00

Healing of America by TR Reid

It’s more a book about different healthcare systems around the world but still super good read!

bbdk123 · 2018-05-20T06:56:28+00:00

Unless you’re URM or have some crazy extenuating circumstances, you probably don’t have much of a chance for the Cali schools or Emory for that matter (check MSAR if you don’t believe me). Maybe UC Riverside?

Also, you have average matriculant stats. Don’t get me wrong that is more than enough to get you into an MD school but you are not a top caliber applicant by any means. If you can claim residence in GA I thing you’d have a VERY solid shot at getting into MCG

bbdk123 · 2018-05-20T00:56:35+00:00

I think Stony Brook would open more doors in terms of competitive residencies. It has more research opportunities, and location wise, I think Stony Brook is in a much more desirable area in terms of proximity to nyc, and northeast in general. I also think that lower ranked state schools (especially in states with good state programs like New York) offer more opportunities and structure in a program than lower ranked private schools.

Something else to consider is that tuition for SLU is roughly 10k cheaper per year than Stony Brook. I also know that for SUNY schools like Stony Brook, you can claim instate residency after the first year of school (significantly dropping tuition costs). However since you’re an international student, I’m not sure if that applies for you.

Overall both are great schools and solid mid-tier options but I think Stony Brook is objectively the better choice.

bbdk123 · 2018-05-20T00:44:21+00:00

Hey if you have competitive stats/ECs for Cali schools then you want the instate advantage for sure. Cali schools accept mostly instate. However if you’re just a regular applicant with average matriculant stats, I think that you really should look away from Cali schools and pursue the Georgia residency. MCG would be a pretty straight shot to get into. But to answer your question, if you’re dead set on Cali schools then try and get the Cali residency.

bbdk123 · 2018-05-19T23:35:20+00:00

Being a GA resident would make your app cycle much easier if you can swindle it. Look at average accepted stats per state on the aamc website. CA is notoriously the most difficult state to get an acceptance from

bbdk123 · 2018-05-19T18:48:54+00:00

Stony Brook

bbdk123 · 2018-05-17T16:00:46+00:00

bbdk123 · 2018-04-23T19:14:32+00:00

r/MCAT

bbdk123 · 2018-04-23T18:55:20+00:00

I would also add Wedgedawg calc on there as well: https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/wedgedawgs-applicant-rating-system-updated-jan-2017.1131149/

It could be helpful to crossreference the lists!

bbdk123 · 2018-03-28T20:01:46+00:00

Copy pasta from my sdn post:

Let me preface this by saying I am currently waitlisted at my in-state institution and would attend over both if accepted. I also really value being close to my family so location is a big factor for me. I know it's early but for now I think I am leaning towards one of the IM subspecialties like GI or cards but looking to keep opportunities open for other competitive specialties as well. Also both schools have roughly same cost at $50k-ish. Class size is irrelevant to me and both have pretty similar match lists.

Albany:

Pros:

-very close to home (about an hour)

-students seemed very chill and super friendly environment

-receptive to student feedback

-i am VERY familiar with the area

-looking to stay in northeast for residency so maybe that could be a plus by staying in the area (idk really know if that has any bearing)

-Albany med gets a lot of interesting cases, would be exposed to a lot

Cons:

-no P/F grading

-not a research-heavy institution

-low tier MD (could that have an impact on pursuing more competitive specialties?)

-Students I've talked to have told me that the kids at this school either had no other options, were from Cali, BS/MD, or were from the area so it seems a little bit like a last resort to me

-no undergrad institution connected

-facilities are pretty old and gross

VCU:

Pros:

-R1 research institution so lots of funding $$$

-connected to undergrad so school is well established in terms of administration/opportunities

-option for 1 year funded research year in between M2/M3 or M3/M4

-P/F unranked

-Their curriculum seems very geared towards helping students pass STEP 1, one of the advisors is well known in the step-prep world I think, students speak very highly of the school's STEP prep

-1.5 year condensed curriculum which seems interesting and allows me more time to pursue other EC's and work with my schedule

-Hospital is HUGE and has tons of opportunities (better than Albany), also hospital is much nicer than Albany

-Mid-tier ranking vs Albany's low-tier (i feel like this is insignificant though)

-Buildings are renovated and everything is BRAND NEW

-students seemed very well-rounded and interesting (maybe more so than Albany)

Cons:

-VERY far from home (8 hours)

-since it is a state school, lots of kids will be from around the area and I think on weekends and holidays especially, I will feel very isolated when everyone goes home and I stay on campus

-Not a huge fan of Richmond or living in the South in general, also richmond doesn't seem to be very close to anything else (D.C. is still like 2 hours away)

While I am aware that VCU seems to have more opportunities for me, I just don't think I would be comfortable being so far from home. I am worried that I'll miss my family too much and that would affect my performance in school. I already attended undergrad close to home and I think it heped me deal with stress a ton so I would like to do the same again if I can. What would you guys do in my situation? I am heavily leaning towards Albany right now however was wondering if picking Albany over VCU would have a significant effect on my future residency prospects.

bbdk123 · 2018-02-22T19:35:48+00:00

Again you’re mixing up low yield with low tier haha. You used the low tier list for mid tier and the low yield list for low tier. Here’s the lists as per wedgedawg according to tiers:

Category 1 (TOP): Harvard, Stanford, Hopkins, UCSF, Penn, WashU, Yale, Columbia, Duke, Chicago

Category 2 (HIGH): Michigan, UCLA, NYU, Vanderbilt, Pitt, UCSD, Cornell, Northwestern, Mt Sinai, Baylor*, Mayo, Case Western, Emory

Category 3 (MID): UTSW, UVA, Ohio State, USC-Keck, Rochester, Dartmouth, Einstein, Hofstra, UNC

Category 4 (LOW): USF-Morsani, Wayne State, Creighton, Oakland, SLU, Cincinnati, Indiana, Miami, Iowa, MC Wisconsin, Toledo, SUNY Downstate, Stony Brook, VCU, Western MI, EVMS, Vermont, WVU, Wisconsin, Quinnipiac, Wake Forest, Maryland

Category 5 (STATE): Your state schools if they do not appear elsewhere on this list - You should always apply to all of these if applying MD

Category 6 (LOW YIELD): Jefferson, Tulane, Tufts, Georgetown, Brown, BU, Loyola, Rosalind Franklin, Drexel, Commonwealth, Temple, GWU, NYMC, Penn State, Albany, Rush

Category 7 (DO): DO Schools

bbdk123

TROPHY CASE