Advice needed

[uvapremed]

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thanks!

 

[PhillyMD2006]

Hey, I need a little advice. I'm a third year applying this coming summer. I took the MCAT in August with the following breakdown: 8 VR 13 PS 13 BS R - 34R. I was planning on taking the MCAT this coming session to boost up my verbal score. While I think I brought my verbal abilities up to a 10 level, I feel like my other science sections may have regressed to 11-12 level. I'm wondering if I should take re-take the MCAT or take my score and not risk the drop in my science scores. Any help or insight will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

ouch... tough situation. according to you, if you re-take it, you run the risk of scoring a 10, 11, 11 or a 32. with a best case scenario of 10, 12, 12 (34), my advice would be not to re-take. most re-testers scores are only marginally improved if not slightly in decline. you did score an R in the writing section, so that should be some indication of your verbal/writing capability. put together a kickass personal statement and it shouldn't be a problem. then again, what do i know.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

Hey, I need a little advice. I'm a third year applying this coming summer. I took the MCAT in August with the following breakdown: 8 VR 13 PS 13 BS R - 34R. I was planning on taking the MCAT this coming session to boost up my verbal score. While I think I brought my verbal abilities up to a 10 level, I feel like my other science sections may have regressed to 11-12 level. I'm wondering if I should take re-take the MCAT or take my score and not risk the drop in my science scores. Any help or insight will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hello,

I won't lie - the 8 in Verbal is somewhat low (it's at or below the national average, I think, in terms of the scale). I had a similar problem - 8 on the verbal, R in writing. But your composite score is still much better than mine, and the 13's are really amazing. 34R is really an exceptional score, and while the low verbal may cause some interviewers to ask you what happened during that section, in general I don't think it will send your file to the trash.

Bottom line, DO NOT RETAKE. It's not worth it, believe me. You will get interviews, and you'll probably get accepted if the rest of your app is good. The important thing is your attitude about your score - if you go into an interview acting apologetic about a 34, you'll look very, very bad.

Also: Go to the UCS. As soon as you enter there are materials right in front of you in a small shelf. There should be a binder there that shows you where UVa students have been applied and been accepted in past years. Use this resource to help you pick schools. Also talk to Kendra, she's amazing 😍

 

[Em1]

Hey, I need a little advice. I'm a third year applying this coming summer. I took the MCAT in August with the following breakdown: 8 VR 13 PS 13 BS R - 34R. I was planning on taking the MCAT this coming session to boost up my verbal score. While I think I brought my verbal abilities up to a 10 level, I feel like my other science sections may have regressed to 11-12 level. I'm wondering if I should take re-take the MCAT or take my score and not risk the drop in my science scores. Any help or insight will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I would retake it. The verbal section is VERY important to adcoms- that 8 will likely hold you back. Even if you get 11's on the science sections, your total would be a 32, still a solid score. If you get 12's on the sciences, your total would remain a 34, but 10, 12, 12 is a much better score than 8, 13, 13.

 

[represent_CV]

don't worry about it, you did great, you are in the top 10% of the country!!!! your reviewers might not even care.... i got a 9 VR, 12 BIO, 12 PH (33) and i was accepted at great schools (ucsf, stanford, washu, duke, ucla, etc...) so just keep in mind that there is so much more that goes into admissions that just MCAT -- don't go through the whole MCAT again just to try and improve one section, spend your time doing something you are passionate about like some quality research, volunteer work or just plain r & r
good luck

 

[uvapremed]

bump

 

[dr.z]

If it was up to me, I wouldn't re-take it.

 

[Flopotomist]

do NOT even CONSIDER retaking the test. You did great! Your aggregate score is high enough to catch a few eyes, and the verbal score isn't low enough to catch any eyes. It is slightly below average, but *shrug* who cares.

Retaking the test will just stress you out, and you are likely not going to change your score in a manner significant enough to alter your ultimate destiny.

Good luck!

 

[TriniToDeBone]

Hey, I need a little advice. I'm a third year applying this coming summer. I took the MCAT in August with the following breakdown: 8 VR 13 PS 13 BS R - 34R. I was planning on taking the MCAT this coming session to boost up my verbal score. While I think I brought my verbal abilities up to a 10 level, I feel like my other science sections may have regressed to 11-12 level. I'm wondering if I should take re-take the MCAT or take my score and not risk the drop in my science scores. Any help or insight will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

RUN with it and APPLY! I know someone with your same score and a 5 in verbal who got into more than one IVY school in the 04-05 cycle.

 

[OwnageMobile]

I have a similar breakdown. DO NOT RETAKE. Your scores are fine. My bet is that you have dyslexia.

Do you hold your pencils strange? Terrible handwritting/spelling? Great memory (looks like it)?, Irregular speach patterns and some times mess up pronunciations? Have a strong sense of justice? Good hearing? Crappy at sports?

Then join the club! It's great. Dyslexics Untie!

That just my guess. REPEAT: DO NOT RETAKE.

 

[bainsstatic]

Tough situation. I don't think I would though.

 

[DoctaJay]

Don't worry about your verbel score, your MCAT score is great! But make sure that you don' try to just ride on your MCAT score. Make sure that you extracurriculars are great too.

 

[LJDHC05]

Hey, I need a little advice. I'm a third year applying this coming summer. I took the MCAT in August with the following breakdown: 8 VR 13 PS 13 BS R - 34R. I was planning on taking the MCAT this coming session to boost up my verbal score. While I think I brought my verbal abilities up to a 10 level, I feel like my other science sections may have regressed to 11-12 level. I'm wondering if I should take re-take the MCAT or take my score and not risk the drop in my science scores. Any help or insight will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

That was my MCAT score exactly. You'll be fine pretty much anywhere with a 34R as long as your GPA is solid and you can convince an adcom you're ready during an interview.

 

[uvapremed]

thanks!