Getting into medical school with low MCAT scores
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It is not recommended, but getting into medical school with a low MCAT score is still possible. The maximum MCAT score is 528, the average score is 500, and the average for an admitted student is about 511. Being a good doctor involves more than just the MCAT. Even with that, doctors wouldn't want their MCAT scores revealed, especially low test scores. Thus, you usually only get anonymous (Reddit or other forums) sources reporting their MCAT scores.
Some tips on what to do when you have a low MCAT score would be to:
1. Retake the test (MCAT is one of the most critical factors for med school admissions)
2. Make sure your non-MCAT credentials are extraordinary (GPA, recommendations, personal statement, and extracurricular activities)
3. Lower expectations and look at medical schools or options with lower requirements
Don't completely give up hope, though. Below is a list of people who have mentioned getting into med school with lower-than-usual scores.
Students with low MCATs who got into med school |
||
|---|---|---|
| Poster | Score | Source |
| frustratedsighing | 496, MD/PhD | |
| RustySnickerBalls | 497 in MCAT graduating residency in 2 years | |
| MarijadderallMD | 498, start on Monday! You got this! | |
| AB877 | I've received two acceptances this cycle, with an MCAT score of 492. SDN can be a harsh place, and once you read some of the posts on this forum, it's hard to find hope when you already feel like a POS pre-med student. Hang in there and do your best! | StudentDoctor Forums |
| Doctor_Strange | I had a 497 MCAT, but had above-average parts to my application, including stellar LORs. | StudentDoctor Forums |
| DocHopeful1 | Hello OP! I received the same MCAT score [494] as you... After taking a hiatus from the med school journey, I then went to a caribbean school and now am at the end of year 2. But I don't suggest you do what I did. | StudentDoctor Forums |
| Scorbix | Graduated med school in 2020. Got in with a 493 MCAT and a GPA of ~82% (don’t know what that is on 4-point scale as we don’t used that in Canada). Now a resident in a highly competitive surgical sub specialty | |
| yeetonthabeet | I got a 495 twice and was accepted into a DO program | |
| jh8964 | The only weak point was my MCAT score, I got a 494. The 20th percentile. | |
| qsmack | I got a 493 on my MCAT and I got accepted to my top choice DO School. I had a decent gpa and am a paramedic of 5yrs, published twice in 2 high-impact journals, but I also had to take Ochem 2 three times before passing and getting an A in it. | |
| lina6004 | DO to Kansas City University in Missouri with a 501 MCAT | |
| whaleintended | 490 and then 495 MCAT | |
| Reasonable-Ad5389 | To those out there who scored 490s or low 500s on their MCAT, don’t be discouraged. You should use this as a motivation to work harder to make your dream a reality. My biggest mistake studying for MCAT is not spending enough time doing practice tests. However, for my second attempt, I invested in many online practice tests and spend my majority practice time doing those tests and going over them (both right and wrong answers) but it has helped me with a 14-point jump (508). | |
