The first criteria for getting an interview and an offer is,
"Can the student do the work?" You will have to prove that you
are capable of medical school level work primarily with your
grades and MCAT scores.
Admissions committees look at your MCAT score to determine if
you have the academic ability to succeed in med school. An
outstanding MCAT score won't necessarily get you into the school
of your choice but a low score will probably keep you out.
How should you approach it?
The MCAT is a standardized test; therefore, it has
standard ways of approaching it — question type
strategies, time-management techniques, etc. Understanding the
format of the exam and the ways you can use it to your advantage
can significantly increase your score. Because of the intensity
of the MCAT and the competitiveness of today's med school
admissions environment, we highly encourage you to prep formally
for the exam (obvious reasons aside). The structure that
preparation provides can help you build the skills, techniques,
and confidence to score your best.
What score do you need?
What you consider a good score should depend on your own
expectations and goals. You should keep in mind what scores top
medical schools consider as competitive. Information on average
test scores at different schools and programs is readily
available. Research the schools on your list. Find out what their
average MCAT scores are and then develop a preparation plan to
achieve it.
Some admissions officers will candidly admit that they have a
formula, such as GPA × "school conversion factor" × MCAT score.
Many have soft cutoffs that differ for in- and out-of-state
candidates. The first cut will eliminate those who fall below the
school's typical standards for both GPA and MCAT. Left are those
who have sufficient proof of their academic ability. The weighing
of the two depends on a number of different things.
MCAT Scores
Because GPA is subject to such variability and interpretation,
the MCAT score has taken on more predominance in past years. MCAT
scores can be viewed in different ways. Some schools add the
three scores and consider this as one combined value, while
others consider each score separately.
Verbal Reasoning, designed to test your logical ability,
thinking skills, and ability to evaluate information is often
viewed as a gauge of your overall intelligence and ability to
communicate. And while science scores are usually seen as
measures of your abilities in this particular area, they are also
compared to your grades in those subjects.
The AMCAS summary page lists your most recent MCAT score, the
second-most recent score, and a reading for the total number of
MCATs taken. Taking the test more than once can work in your
favor if you improve, but it can be a black mark if you do poorly
in a particular subject more than once. If your first test
results indicate a weak area, make sure you prepare well before
you take the test a second time. Officially, you can take the
MCAT only three times per calendar year.
Your GPA
How your GPA is colored by where you went to school, the
particular classes you took, if your grades are inflated, and if
there are any other mitigating circumstances.
Some medical schools consider a positive trend in your GPA
over time. If you started off slowly, but improved significantly
in later semesters, take heart. On the other hand, if your grades
have been dropping over time, you may have a problem. For
instance, these schools believe that a GPA of 3.5 arrived at by
GPAs of 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 in your freshman, sophomore, and junior
years respectively, differs markedly from a 3.5 earned by a 4.0,
3.5, 3.0 sequence.