Anyone got their mcat score back?

[trinity111222]

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Hi guys,

I recently took my MCAT and got the score - Total 28 (P11, B11, V6). As I expected my verbal was horrible!!
I graduated from UCBerkeley with cGPA 3.79 and sGPA 3.7 a few years ago & I am an non-traditional student. I have pretty competitive ECs (researches, volunteer activities, leaderships, honors, etc) and great recommendation letters from professors and doctors I am working with now.

I took a time off to study for MCAT for about 3 months. I did try to read NYtimes and do verbal passages on daily basis during that 3 months (did all verbal passages from Princeton review, Berkeley review, and EK) but my verbal score didn't improve much... my practice verbal scores were bet 4~10 (and got 6 on actual exam).

Although I really really don't want to retake MCAT but just apply this year with whatever I have (I am almost done with my primary application too )... Since my MCAT score is too poor, I guess I have no choice but retaking MCAT...right? (I am not planning to apply for DO program because I heard MD graduates are more competitive to get into specialized residency programs...and I know I am not interested in being primary care doc; so I feel wrong to apply for DO program as a backup when I truly want to go to MD program).

About retaking MCAT... Am I the only one feel sick to even think about restudying and retaking?? I tried to study for MCAT last year while working, it did not work out well (man, maybe I am too old?)... My hesitation is coming from : Gosh I really don't study all that materials again! + What if my score go down OR my verbal doesn't get improved?? 🙁 As I said I am not a traditional student.. since I am over 30, I'd like to finish school and settle down ASAP.
As I think more, I doubt myself maybe I don't have a quality to be a doc... MCAT score must mean something right? and me getting 6 on verbal must mean something...

Anyways, I have a few questions for you... I would appreciate if someone can share their thoughts on my concerns... OR share my frustration about MCAT/application!!!

1. Should I still apply for some MD schools with my poor verbal score? I checked MSAR and found only handful schools that have accepted anyone with verbal 6 (and many are public school, which mean I have lower chance of getting in)...

2. If retake MCAT, probably this September: as an non-native English speaker (I am not used to read non-science materials in English) + did all Princeton review, Berkeley review, and EK 101, how can I improve my verbal score? Any suggestions? I notice that I have major problems understanding passages, plus I read slowly... I normally takes about 10~15 min per passages. I don't want to redo passages I did because I noticed that I tend to get higher scores from passages that I redid (although more than a year ago). Do you suggest any courses or verbal books that I should try? I know I should get better scores on other sections too...

MCAT and application process are exhausting... as I read more threads I am more depressed... Anyone feel the same way I fell?

 

[AlteredScale]

Hey! Don't fret I got a 26 (8PS, 12BS, 6VR) and I AM a native speaker.

Are you considering DO? You would be a very good candidate if you have thought about it! I myself have two very close colleagues in DO programs and will be applying for those (not for stats sake, but because I feel quite strongly about the mission statement and just being able to bring something else to the table as a physician, but there are some MD schools with mission statements that are VERY similar to DO programs so I am applying to those as well).

I think it CAN be depressing with all of prestige here on SDN (30+ is just a norm here when in reality 25-26 is the national average). But you shouldn't be depressed. You did fantastic on one of the most difficult entrance exams in the world.

 

[trinity111222]

Hey! Don't fret I got a 26 (8PS, 12BS, 6VR) and I AM a native speaker.

Are you considering DO? You would be a very good candidate if you have thought about it! I myself have two very close colleagues in DO programs and will be applying for those (not for stats sake, but because I feel quite strongly about the mission statement and just being able to bring something else to the table as a physician, but there are some MD schools with mission statements that are VERY similar to DO programs so I am applying to those as well).

I think it CAN be depressing with all of prestige here on SDN (30+ is just a norm here when in reality 25-26 is the national average). But you shouldn't be depressed. You did fantastic on one of the most difficult entrance exams in the world.

Thank you for your sweet response! 🙂
I recently started to think about DO program. I wasn't familiar (I am still not an expert) with DO since where I from don't have DO system. But one of the doc I am working with recommended to look into it.
It is amazing to see you that you have really thought about DO and have strong feeling about their mission and philosophy. I guess I hear too many negative comments about DO program (about potential residency program) that make me worry (not saying that they are true)... that is why I feel wrong to apply when I have even slight doubt. Maybe I should look into it more??

Which MD schools are you thinking to apply? if you don't mind me asking... ?

 

[AlteredScale]

Of course! 🙂

I think it's worth the shot to give it a looksie. I think as I've taken this deep retrospective look into my own values I really do feel that I would "devlop" best in their curriculum. But to say MD couldn't do similar is crazy speak.

I think the residency programs are a worry if you already have your eyes set on some very competitive program such as surg, rads, or derm. I see DO docs everywhere, even working for UCSD! But that is just my opinion!

I believe right now I have: Florida State University, Loma Linda, Meharry (might remove because of OOS), MSU CHM, Morehouse, New York Medical College, The Commonwealth, University of South Carolina (both locations), Wake Forest, and Louisiana State New Orleans and Shreveport.

While others are claiming Duke and Hopkins for their reach, NYMC is my "reach"!

 

[IL Pre Med]

Verbal is definitely the toughest to improve on, unfortunately it's also weighed pretty heavily by schools. I'd retake if I were you, but you may get some love from low tier. Good luck.

 

[Cinabonchik]

Given your circumstances, I think you could give it a try for MD even with 28, if the rest of your application stellar.I got in (UCLA and LLU) this past cycle with a 27(9/9/9), and a girl from my lab got into UCSF with a 29, so you never know.

 

[trinity111222]

Given your circumstances, I think you could give it a try for MD even with 28, if the rest of your application stellar.I got in (UCLA and LLU) this past cycle with a 27(9/9/9), and a girl from my lab got into UCSF with a 29, so you never know.

That is amazing for you! Congrat! I wish I can get into UCLA. 🙂

I guess what I am afraid of is that they wouldn't even look at my application because 6 on verbal is below their cut off line. Especially my gpa isn't that great... 🙁
I saw a few threads with people who shared the stories of their or someone they know .. the bottom line was whoever got accepted to MD (or DO) with verbal 6 had amazing GPA OR very high PS and BS...

If I decide to apply this cycle in June (to see whether I get in anywhere) and also plan to retake the MCAT in Sep. Will AMCAS wait for my mcat score that I will take in Sep?? maybe I shouldn't mention that I am planning to retake? 😵

 

[lmn]

Thank you for your sweet response! 🙂
I recently started to think about DO program. I wasn't familiar (I am still not an expert) with DO since where I from don't have DO system. But one of the doc I am working with recommended to look into it.
It is amazing to see you that you have really thought about DO and have strong feeling about their mission and philosophy. I guess I hear too many negative comments about DO program (about potential residency program) that make me worry (not saying that they are true)... that is why I feel wrong to apply when I have even slight doubt. Maybe I should look into it more??

Which MD schools are you thinking to apply? if you don't mind me asking... ?

You should look more into DO programs imo. You seem to think they are there to become primary care physicians, but they don't have to go into primary care any more than a MD graduate does. They also can match into basically anything, it may be a bit more challenging for the very most competitive specialties, but it's also challenging to get into those from many MD programs, and yet there are still examples of DO's in highly competitive specialties. They are also generally more receptive to non-trad students such as yourself. Not trying to tell you that you shouldn't work to pursue an MD pathway, but rather you should really look into the DO path as it seems you haven't really thought about it ever and have received some misleading perceptions of them.

 

[PanRoasted]

Given your circumstances, I think you could give it a try for MD even with 28, if the rest of your application stellar.I got in (UCLA and LLU) this past cycle with a 27(9/9/9), and a girl from my lab got into UCSF with a 29, so you never know.

Do you mind me asking how you got into UCLA with a 27? What did the rest of your app look like?

 

[Narmerguy]

Please do not cross post duplicate or highly similar threads in multiple forums. To continue this discussion, please see the related thread in the MCAT discussions forum: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/anyone-got-their-mcat-score-back.1074632/