I get that people say stats aren't everything, but applying to places like Hopkins, Columbia, NYU, Penn, Mayo, and Northwestern with a 511 is just a bad idea. Especially when you see median MCATs of 520-522 for every single one of those places, rejection should be expected. Similarly, those places have 10th percentile scores of around 517-518. Though the data is not publicly available to my knowledge, those schools probably have like 0-3 people with MCAT scores as low as a 511.
Dr Gray mostly ignores poor school selection in his application analysis because he likes a narrative that suggests if you use his services then anything is possible.
I agree. I had a 512; looking back, I applied to Harvard because it was my dream school and “I couldn’t go to my death bed one day knowing that I didn’t try.” Now, I tell myself that if Harvard was truly my dream school, I wouldn’t have taken MCAT until I was scoring minimum 517 on my practice tests. Those schools want stats. Also would’ve done some more research.
Nothing wrong with applying. People do get in with those scores sometimes. If you're using your last dollar, probably shouldn't apply, but if you have the money it's a win-win. You find out if they accept you, and the school gets to pad their admissions statistics.
I know an M3 with great stats, tons of research and multiple pubs but zero clinical experience who had interviews to several T20's. So there are a few outliers who are admitted and are doing quite well in med school.
37:55, would really love to know why this school list is great. I am currently building my own school list and looking at MSAR, her school list is way too top heavy. Over a third of her school list essentially has a median Mcat of 520 or higher and a 10% cap over her MCAT.
My son is eyeballing medical school, but I don't know. It seems like an absolutely nightmare process to come out hundreds of thousands in debt. And that's if you get accepted anywhere.
If he’s in high school tell him to try to as many early acceptance programs as he can. That will eliminate the money it’ll cost to apply to so many programs. Also make sure he takes as many math and science classes in high school as he can to make sure he can handle the difficult course load in college. That’ll maximize him doing well on the SAT/ACT and getting more scholarships
Hi Dr. Gray I think I remember you mentioning a Mission Accepted that you did in which a student was rejected from a Caribbean school & later got into a DO school. Am I making that up? Can you help me find it?
I saw on the forums that potential reasons to get “rejected” from Carrib schools are that you applied too late but you can get in if you apply to their next semester. Idk how true this is.
I think it would be cool if there’s a “Where are they now?” series talking to prior application renovation students and see where they ended up.
Appreciate her coming on and being so vulnerable, these are very helpful
I get that people say stats aren't everything, but applying to places like Hopkins, Columbia, NYU, Penn, Mayo, and Northwestern with a 511 is just a bad idea. Especially when you see median MCATs of 520-522 for every single one of those places, rejection should be expected. Similarly, those places have 10th percentile scores of around 517-518. Though the data is not publicly available to my knowledge, those schools probably have like 0-3 people with MCAT scores as low as a 511.
Dr Gray mostly ignores poor school selection in his application analysis because he likes a narrative that suggests if you use his services then anything is possible.
“as low as 511” sounds wild
I agree. I had a 512; looking back, I applied to Harvard because it was my dream school and “I couldn’t go to my death bed one day knowing that I didn’t try.” Now, I tell myself that if Harvard was truly my dream school, I wouldn’t have taken MCAT until I was scoring minimum 517 on my practice tests. Those schools want stats. Also would’ve done some more research.
Nothing wrong with applying. People do get in with those scores sometimes. If you're using your last dollar, probably shouldn't apply, but if you have the money it's a win-win. You find out if they accept you, and the school gets to pad their admissions statistics.
Still got one interview with almost zero clinical… stats can carry lol.
They can bring you to the finish line but it can be hard to cross it.
A 511 MCAT won’t carry an Asian.
@@edhcb9359 I totally agree, if she was from a different minority group she would most likely have gotten more interviews/acceptances.
I know an M3 with great stats, tons of research and multiple pubs but zero clinical experience who had interviews to several T20's. So there are a few outliers who are admitted and are doing quite well in med school.
she seems so nice and writes really well. now that she's gotten experiences she can write about she should totally get in this cycle!!
37:55, would really love to know why this school list is great. I am currently building my own school list and looking at MSAR, her school list is way too top heavy. Over a third of her school list essentially has a median Mcat of 520 or higher and a 10% cap over her MCAT.
Yeah, stats aren't everything but I think she made her life hard with this school list.
Ya it was not a good list
My son is eyeballing medical school, but I don't know. It seems like an absolutely nightmare process to come out hundreds of thousands in debt. And that's if you get accepted anywhere.
If he’s in high school tell him to try to as many early acceptance programs as he can. That will eliminate the money it’ll cost to apply to so many programs. Also make sure he takes as many math and science classes in high school as he can to make sure he can handle the difficult course load in college. That’ll maximize him doing well on the SAT/ACT and getting more scholarships
This is literally me last cycle. This time I won’t repeat the same mistake s
Also a typo on the first activity: “EMT” written instead of ENT
Hi Dr. Gray
I think I remember you mentioning a Mission Accepted that you did in which a student was rejected from a Caribbean school & later got into a DO school. Am I making that up? Can you help me find it?
I saw on the forums that potential reasons to get “rejected” from Carrib schools are that you applied too late but you can get in if you apply to their next semester. Idk how true this is.
I think she’ll be successful next cycle if she gets a full time clinical job!
She should have said that she was black instead of Asian. That would have fixed it.