- Joined
- Dec 31, 2011
- Messages
- 51
- Reaction score
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hello SDN,
I just got back my MCAT score and was hoping to get some feedback regarding my situation.
White(Iranian), I'm 26 y/o. I moved to the U.S when I was 20.
UC, biology major, CA resident
GPA:3.97 cGPA & sGPA (First two years at a CC, but maintained the same GPA after transfer).
MCAT:
1st: 29 (11 PS/ 8VR/ 10 BS)
2nd: 30(11 PS/ 6 VR/ 13 BS)
Fluent in Farsi, Swedish, and English.
Work experience
1) PC shop in Sweden - I worked in a PC shop during my senior year in HS (6 months)
2) Art Museum in Sweden - Guide & sale (2 summers)
3) Macy's - During my freshman year in college. Worked as a recovery associate (5 months).
4) Research Assistant - My PI hired me as a research assistant after graduation so I could continue on my project (4 months)
ECs
1) 220~ hrs hospital volunteering(E.D)
2) 60hrs volunteering at a local public library
3) 100hrs volunteering at a local food bank
4) 2.5 years (summer included) cell bio research - No publications, but 1 presentation.
5) $1400 research-associated grants(SURP/UROP)
Shadowing: I shadowed a FM physician for about 40hrs.
Teaching
- Undergraduate trainer - As a senior undergrad, I was in charge of recruiting new undergrads for my own project. This included interviewing them as well as training them.
- Museum guide
- Organized study groups at my CC in both Ochem and Calculus I (Don't know if this counts since I was enrolled in the class myself)
Letters:
2 science, 1 non-science, my PI, volunteer coordinator. I never asked the doctor I shadowed for a letter, but I might be able to get one from her. I know that my letters will be strong because I know these people very well.
Personal Statement: I've been told that I write passionately and that my personal statement is good. Obviously I talk about my motivations to become a physician, but I also talk about my experience as an Iranian raised in Sweden and how it affected me. I'm not sure if people know much about Sweden besides their blonde, attractive girls, but being a foreigner, especially form the Middle East, is not really an advantage there. There has been a lot of tension over there for quite some time, and I talk about my experience
I also participated in a few clubs during college that I liked, but I'm not sure if I'm gonna put these on my app.
My biggest concern with my application is my low verbal score. I was happy with my first verbal score, but not with my BS score. For my retake, it was the exact opposite. I never scored below 12 in PS or BS on my practice exams, but my verbal always fell between 6-8. I'm debating whether I should take the MCAT again, but I'm not sure if I can score any higher on the VR section.
I'm going to apply to mostly lower-tier schools due to my MCAT score, but I'm not sure whether I will be screened out because of my low VR score.
I wouldn't mind applying DO either, but I've heard that a DO letter is required.
I just got back my MCAT score and was hoping to get some feedback regarding my situation.
White(Iranian), I'm 26 y/o. I moved to the U.S when I was 20.
UC, biology major, CA resident
GPA:3.97 cGPA & sGPA (First two years at a CC, but maintained the same GPA after transfer).
MCAT:
1st: 29 (11 PS/ 8VR/ 10 BS)
2nd: 30(11 PS/ 6 VR/ 13 BS)
Fluent in Farsi, Swedish, and English.
Work experience
1) PC shop in Sweden - I worked in a PC shop during my senior year in HS (6 months)
2) Art Museum in Sweden - Guide & sale (2 summers)
3) Macy's - During my freshman year in college. Worked as a recovery associate (5 months).
4) Research Assistant - My PI hired me as a research assistant after graduation so I could continue on my project (4 months)
ECs
1) 220~ hrs hospital volunteering(E.D)
2) 60hrs volunteering at a local public library
3) 100hrs volunteering at a local food bank
4) 2.5 years (summer included) cell bio research - No publications, but 1 presentation.
5) $1400 research-associated grants(SURP/UROP)
Shadowing: I shadowed a FM physician for about 40hrs.
Teaching
- Undergraduate trainer - As a senior undergrad, I was in charge of recruiting new undergrads for my own project. This included interviewing them as well as training them.
- Museum guide
- Organized study groups at my CC in both Ochem and Calculus I (Don't know if this counts since I was enrolled in the class myself)
Letters:
2 science, 1 non-science, my PI, volunteer coordinator. I never asked the doctor I shadowed for a letter, but I might be able to get one from her. I know that my letters will be strong because I know these people very well.
Personal Statement: I've been told that I write passionately and that my personal statement is good. Obviously I talk about my motivations to become a physician, but I also talk about my experience as an Iranian raised in Sweden and how it affected me. I'm not sure if people know much about Sweden besides their blonde, attractive girls, but being a foreigner, especially form the Middle East, is not really an advantage there. There has been a lot of tension over there for quite some time, and I talk about my experience
I also participated in a few clubs during college that I liked, but I'm not sure if I'm gonna put these on my app.
My biggest concern with my application is my low verbal score. I was happy with my first verbal score, but not with my BS score. For my retake, it was the exact opposite. I never scored below 12 in PS or BS on my practice exams, but my verbal always fell between 6-8. I'm debating whether I should take the MCAT again, but I'm not sure if I can score any higher on the VR section.
I'm going to apply to mostly lower-tier schools due to my MCAT score, but I'm not sure whether I will be screened out because of my low VR score.
I wouldn't mind applying DO either, but I've heard that a DO letter is required.
