Apply with a 26????

superseif · Jun 16, 2005

hi guys... I really need your opinion....

I just got a 26... 11 physical, 9 on bio, and a whopping 6 on verbal 🙂...

I have a 3.86 GPA and about 3.9 BCPM... I really don't wanna retake the MCAT, and I'm thinking of Osteopathic...

If I apply to allopathic though, what schools do I have a chance in??? Thanks a lot

Arsenic · Jun 16, 2005

moving to pre-allo....

Rzarecta · Jun 16, 2005

Everywhere...nowhere. Honestly, before such an assessment can be made, much more info is needed. ECs, research, volunteering, shadowing, school, major.

MrTee · Jun 16, 2005

A 6 in any section is really going to be a huge hurdle to overcome. Can you take it over in August? I'm sure if you got it up to an 8, you'd be fine, given your gpa.

superseif · Jun 16, 2005

I really don't wanna sound like I'm lazy, but this test has really caused me problems lol 🙂...

As for my ECs: I had 2 years of research, I volunteered for a year at a surgical center, 6 months at 2 clinics, and 6 months at ER... major is neurobio, undergrad is University of California, Irvine...

Rzarecta · Jun 16, 2005

He is right though, that 6 is really gonna cripple you. Retake, retake retake, if you want any chance of going to those lovely cali schools. For all that work you put in on your excellent grades, give yourself another shot before choosing DO.

vish57 · Jun 16, 2005

I had the same exact gpa and bcpm as you except a 29 on mcat. I had pretty good EC's, research, volunteering, etc. With that I got into only one school, NJMS, and am still waitlisted at many others. If I were you, I would retake it. I regret not retaking the mcat myself, i feel the 29 hurt me, and I feel very lucky that I have that one acceptance.

macamarna · Jun 16, 2005

k i got a 27... a 10, 10, and a 7 in verbal. i applied late, and just got into penn state today off the hold list. thats with a 3.7 gpa, lots of extracurriculars 9research, volunteering, double minoring in bioethics and medical anthro. soooooo many people told me that i wouldnt get in with a 7, and i started thinking so too, but then i got in. i know someone with a 25 that got in to penn state too. your other two scores are great, its just that schools i hear dont like when we have scores that are totally unbalanced. i really thought i wouldnt get in this time around though (after applying to 20+ schools), it was definitely hard. i had interviews that went GREAT. and still i was put on hold lists everywhere i interviewed (5 total). if u wanna stay in cali, i would re-take it. with that 7, i was put on hold at usc... after having attended undergrad, talked to a billion people, volunteered there, having great interviews (mentioned in my hold letter), and recently had the guy i do research for at usc talk to an admissions committee guy, and he specifically said that my whole app is strong, but that damn verbal score is the reason they are not accepting me (at least not yet... but who wants to think how many ppl will have to drop a position till they finally get to me?). so if i really had to do it over again, iw ould take that stupid verbal crap over again, even though it was seriously the toughest thing i had to do, and worked so damn hard for it, and still ended up with a 7. i was told ENDLESS times that it may be the reason i dont get in anywhere, and thats a shame if the rest of your app is so strong.

Law2Doc · Jun 16, 2005

I would study like a demon for the next MCAT, take a prep course if you didn't last time, and retake it in August. Sure, there are people who have gotten in to allopathic schools with 6 on verbal and low overall, but they are fairly rare, and probably had some sort of pull or something else going for them. Med schools worry particularly about the verbal score (especially for individuals where english is their primary language) because a few studies have suggested a slight correlation between MCAT verbal scores and board scores. If you really want to go to an allopathic med school, improving the MCAT is the hurdle you need to get past. And picking up just a few points (ideally two or three of them in verbal) will make a world of difference to your app and how it is received.

pyra · Jun 16, 2005

I think you should retake too. I got a 4 on verbal the first time, then a 6 , then an 8. I got in to two schools (MD, U.S.) this year, 7 interviews with an 8. You should try Examkrackers it helped me a lot (No, I don't work for them)

shiraz84 · Jun 16, 2005

I agree with what others have said - retake it if you can. You may have a chance at a some allopathic schools, but that 6 may be brought up during the interview. What did you get on the writing sample? How strong is your PS (subjective question, but worth asking)?

If you think you'd be happy at an osteopathic school and really don't want to take it, then you have a good chance of getting in with what you have. Good luck.

Toofscum · Jun 16, 2005

I got a 26 too. What should I do?

April MCAT: 26 V 10 BS 9 PS 7
August 04 MCAT: 25 V 10 BS 8 PS 7

I am so upset. I studied so hard for the APRil. Took practice tests, did Kaplan, everything you can imagine. I applied last year with a 3.8 post-bacc, 3.5 overall, 25 MCAT, great clinicals, and got no interviews (finch, NYMC, Rush, Albany). Other stats: 28, married, lawyer. I don't think I can do any better than what I thought was my personal best on the April. I left that test thinking 28 at least.

Please help!

bjs261 · Jun 16, 2005

Alright, so as of last night, this is where I stand:

MCAT: 27Q 10V, 10 BS, 7 PS
GPA: 3.5
Activities: Acapella Group, Research at NYU SOM, Mt. Sinai, and Robert Wood Johnson, Volunteer for 2 semesters in a free clinic for the uninsured, Relay for Life, President of a club on campus, Laboratory Assistant, Residence Hall Government 3 years.. and much more.

My recommendations are really good according to my pre-med advisor at school.

I know the 7 in the PS kind of messes up my MCAT score, but is a 27 worth applying with? Should I retake in August? (That's the plan right now)

Also, people have been saying (especially on this board) that med schools like a high verbal score, so I'm wondering if my 10 in verbal at all compensates for the crappy 7 in PS

I'm a NJ resident, hoping at least to get into NJMS. I'd go there in a heartbeat. Any suggestions/advice much appreciated.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I am an EMT. I know a lot of people are EMTs, but I am actually Sergeant of my squad. I've been on it for 6 years and I love it. I'm really dedicated to it, and I hope that by taking on such a responsibility will help me stand out.

superseif · Jun 16, 2005

Ok I wanna add that I did actually take the Princeton Review Early Start course, studied like crazy for 4-5 months, taken about 14 diags, all AAMCs, and finished all passages in 101 Verbal passages, I've also done Kaplan stuff, and was averaging about 8s on verbal on most verbal sections I took...

My average scores on diags were also about 28 overall... Does anyone really think I could improve after all the studying I've done, especially with less than 2 more months of studying and I'm really worn out!!!

I've just never been a good standerdized test taker, I guess I'm screwed!!! 🙂

Let me know what you guys think....

Thanks

sdnstud · Jun 16, 2005

You need to retake the MCAT. I had a 3.83 UCB gpa, 10p/7v/10b MCAT, and did not get in anywhere. Your MCAT score is a double red flag. Not only do you have a 6 on verbal, you also did not score double digit in a science section. Retake the MCAT and score at least a 8 on verbal. Make sure you have double digit scores on BOTH science sections.

Gaijin · Jun 16, 2005

I need some advise, and the people on this board seem quite helpful.

A friend of mine just got his score back, it was a 26M (9,9,8). He is wondering if he should retake in the fall.

He is a Engineering Mechanics major (basically a math major). He has a whole lot of out of class work in clubs and whatnot. His GPA is a 3.4 and he is spectacular interviewer. He also has done a lot of research, albeit in the field of engineering.

What I want to know is what are his chances, should he retake?

Triggity02 · Jun 16, 2005

most schools have 7s as mins on any section. some have 8s across the board as their min. not the end of the world though. talk to your advisor and put it past you.

DrBuro · Jun 16, 2005

Pyra -- I love The Fifth Element

Rzarecta · Jun 16, 2005

A great movie, I seriously could watch it every week and still enjoy it!

St3tha59 · Jun 16, 2005

I know that I'm not the first person to ask this but I could really use the help.

Physiology Major at Michigan State University (Michigan resident)
MCAT: 26N (V:9 P:8 B:9)
Cum GPA: 3.77
Science GPA: 3.77

EC: Emergency Medicine Clinical Research Associate, Volunteer work at hospital and in other various school groups, Shadowed physicians, Patient Registrar in ER at hospital, Lyman Briggs School of Science, Vice-President/Co-founder of MSU Honors Pre-Med Society, Scholarship recipient, Backpacked around Europe (hey its an experience), and some other non medical work experience.

The problem is that I know for a fact that I can do much better on the MCAT in August if I put the time in. I was planning on applying to all Allopathic schools except for the MSUCOM but now with my MCAT scores I feel like, if I don't retake it, than I will be taking a risk by not applying to more Osteopathic schools. I really don't want to apply now and not get in anywhere and have to take it again next April and have a year off of school. Also, I do not want to take it again in August and run the risk of not getting in because I have applied too late. If I improve my scores to 10s and 11s will applying late hurt me that much? Someone please give me some advice.....

MiaFLSurf · Jun 16, 2005

Well, you sound lazy.

If you want it bad enough, youd retake the test - bottom line.

Rzarecta · Jun 16, 2005

Retake is a MUST, and he needs to start studying for August. There are kids who do get in, but they are exceptions, not the rule. Applying is a lot of money, especially when you are so handicapped right ouf of the gate.

Rzarecta · Jun 16, 2005

Applying late is more of a myth than most people think. Applying early does not make a 25-27 MCAT magically competitive with a 30-32. I had friends that applied very early with weaker numbers get sick interviews, but they didn't gain ultimate acceptance into these great schools. You would rather get legitimate late interviews with a competitive chance for admission vs. a great interview which was basically given so that you could be added to a wait list. I would retake in August, and apply late. Applying earlier is always better than later, but a strong late app is much better than a weak early app.

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