Apply with verbal 8?

[pyra]

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I remember seeing a thread from a while ago and I can't find it in search but has anyone been successful in applying with a 8 in verbal? I have 11s in the sciences and a 30 total. 3.5/3.5 GPA, CA resident.

I know the average of applicants is a 9 in verbal and 10 for accepted people. But can my Bio and Physical Sci scores make up for the 8? Should I retake next April and try to increase verbal to a 9 or 10? It would be my 4th time to take the MCAT.

I am just looking for anyone who was in this situation and is successful in applying. One thing that sets me back also is that I am a CA resident.

 

[Alexander99]

I remember seeing a thread from a while ago and I can't find it in search but has anyone been successful in applying with a 8 in verbal? I have 11s in the sciences and a 30 total. 3.5/3.5 GPA, CA resident.

I know the average of applicants is a 9 in verbal and 10 for accepted people. But can my Bio and Physical Sci scores make up for the 8? Should I retake next April and try to increase verbal to a 9 or 10? It would be my 4th time to take the MCAT.

I am just looking for anyone who was in this situation and is successful in applying. One thing that sets me back also is that I am a CA resident.

If it was your third time taking the MCAT and you finally got your 30, the answer to your question ("Should I retake the MCAT") is HELL NO!! If you've taken it 3 times already, I highly doubt your 4th time is going to increase your score much (it might actually go down if you get unlucky and get a test form that happened to have stuff you weren't good at.) Just apply and pray.

 

[SaltySqueegee]

Ditto to the above response. I applied with an 8VR, and got a few pre-interview rejections from a small set of elite schools (UCSF, Stanford, etc.). However, it did not hold me back from getting interviews and eventual acceptances elsewhere.

Good Luck, and a definite no on the retake. 👍

 

[neoncandle]

P.S. go to mdapplicant.com and check it out... that will also help.

 

[pyra]

I sent in my primary to UCSF last year and then withdrew after seeing my 23 MCAT scores from last year. The thing is, they gave me a secondary!!! I only have a 3.5 GPA in Bioengineering. How did I fall through the cracks? Strange...

Thank you for everyone's opinions. I did try to look at mdapplicants.com but I could only find CA residents with 30's that were all 10's not like mine that were unbalanced.

I did bring up my score from a 20 to a 23 to finally a 30. I guess it would not be worth it to try for 1 more point in verbal?

 

[Medikit]

Go for it

 

[Violinrose]

Hi Pyra,

First off, I admire your dedication. Secondly, I got an 8 in verbal (and actually that was an improvement from the first time I took the MCATs!) and was interviewed and accepted to a couple of places. However, I was a re-applicant and probably made up for the low verbal in other areas. Plus, I got an R in writing (does this mean I can write but not read? I don't know 😕 ).

What was your writing score?

 

[Violinrose]

P.S. Improvement counts. Don't take it again.

 

[pyra]

Thank you for everyone's advice.

I only got an O and on the past MCAT I got a Q. My first verbal score was a 4 then a 6 then finally a 8. On the practice tests I usually get a 9 sometimes 10 but I am not as stressed out on the practice as I am on the real thing.

Also, I had only very few humanities courses in college since I was Bioengineering, my college did not have lots of general education requirements for engineering majors. I guess thats why my verbal is not that great.

 

[daisygirl]

Do not take that test again. You've done a great job- going from a 20 to a thirty is really awesome. If I'm not mistaken, people tend to get stuck in the same place within the bell curve (I think they've done studies on this with regards to repeat MCAT takers). So, you really have done quite well considering what you started out with. Apply to a reasonable number of schools, and apply to a good range (reach, mid-tier, etc...). Good luck- I think you are going to be just fine 😀

 

[Datrix]

I actually got a 7 in verbal and got quite a few interviews too. I am currently on 1st tier alternate list at UCSF right now. So you definitely never know. I hope I get in. 😀 So don't take the test over. A 30 is a good score.

 

[Medikit]

I actually got a 7 in verbal and got quite a few interviews too. I am currently on 1st tier alternate list at UCSF right now. So you definitely never know. I hope I get in. 😀 So don't take the test over. A 30 is a good score.

I hope you get in, you would make a lot of people wallowing in the depths of average verbal scores very happy 🙂.

 

[DendriticCell]

yup.. i think you should just go ahead and apply.. i know couple ppl that they are in med school now.. and they have high science mcat score and low verbal score.. (that is including me).. and i am also in med school now.. so, if i am here, hey.. you can definetly be one of us.. good luck.. 👍

 

[jpro]

During a summer research program a medical student said verbal was the worst part for him and he got a 6. He reapplied with the same MCAT score and got in. It?s not all about the MCAT.

 

[Emeri Onwunwa]

Hey Pyra,
You should definitely NOT take the MCATs again. I don't know about everyone else, but I've heard that if you take it more than 3 times, the adcoms will really look down upon the applicant. You should apply to A LOT of schools - especially those you know you can get into based on your stats. Best of luck!

"Leeloo Dalas multipass" The Fifth Element

 

[thekaratekim]

i got an 8 as well. i studied my butt off all summer, retook the mcat and got the same score.
ive received multiple acceptances with an 8, so it is possible to get in with this score.