Does the writing sample really matter?

[strife97]

Hi,

Does the writing sample really make a difference in whether or not you will be accepted? Wouldn't the personal statement section of the AMCAS application provide a better example of quality of writing a student is capable of? Just my thought.

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[Arusak]

Hi,

Does the writing sample really make a difference in whether or not you will be accepted? Wouldn't the personal statement section of the AMCAS application provide a better example of quality of writing a student is capable of? Just my thought.

The personal statement only matters if they have taken the time to look past your gpa and mcat. So, let's say you got a 15 on the MCAT and have a 2.5, you could write like hemmingway and they wouldn't care. On the other hand, if you write the worst essay but have spectacular mcats and gpa, they don't care...they would accept you. The essay only really comes into play at the interview...almost everywhere I interviewed at, the interviewer had read some of my essay (some had only read the first paragraph or two, so keep them short).

The essay is NOT the most important thing on your app.

--arusak

 

[strife97]

Thank you 🙂

 

[liverotcod]

Hi,

Does the writing sample really make a difference in whether or not you will be accepted? Wouldn't the personal statement section of the AMCAS application provide a better example of quality of writing a student is capable of? Just my thought.

The MCAT writing sample is of little concern. The PS is crucial to getting interviews. But they test a different skill, to answer your second question. The writing sample is how you write under time pressure - can you organize your thoughts quickly and get them down on paper neatly enough for someone else to read. Also, it's a very structured assignment. The personal statement is written at leisure on a wide-open question and is typically reviewed and edited by many people before being submitted. Some applicants use professional editing services to make it as good as possible. So, it's really a completely different product.

 

[bewitched1081]

actually the ps is very important in that if you write a controversial one it can split the adcom. if you write a mild one and get an interview it most likely will not play a significant part in whether you get in.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

So the guy with the 40 J is A Okay?

 

[adamj61]

the 40L...or how about the 31L

 

[liverotcod]

So the guy with the 40 J is A Okay?

They don't publish acceptance stats by writing sample score, but I bet that guy does OK if he has decent English grades and doesn't come off as subverbal in interview.

 

[DrThom]

the 40L...or how about the 31L

L = Loser

(or Love...depending if you've seen "Dodgeball" or not)

*That was sarcasm....BTW...don't anyone take that serious*

 

[adamj61]

And what does an "O" stand for

 

[Gleevec]

It only matters if you score REALLY low or REALLY high, and then, still probably not that much.

 

[adamj61]

Is L REALLY low...

I think with good essays and grades in writing/humanities classes, that score wont matter

 

[LP1CW]

Some schools have a minimum cutoff for writing score. I spoke to an Osteopathic school that requires an M. (UNECOM) And I've heard that there are other schools that have the same type of cutoff. So, anything above an M is considered good.

 

[adamj61]

That sucks...I know UW doesn't care, niether does tulane and mcw. I guess I could have it regraded. Nah...I that wont keep me out

 

[Chamberlain]

I'll add my two cents here. In my case, I think the writing sample got me into med school, period. I had a pretty mediocre PS score but both my interviewers were many times more impressed by the high writing. So, I agree that the WS letter DOES make a difference if it is either really high or really low.

 

[shocker]

I got a measly little "L". I wrote for about 7-8 minutes per essay, because according to my resources it didn't matter....They were right. I was accepted to my state school and waitlisted at GW, with a quote: "Extremely good chance of acceptance." BTW my score was 26L, and I admit that sucks! Don't sweat the writing score that much, nobody ever said anything about it to me.

 

[slackerjock]

Do adcoms have the chance to read your writing samples?? I got an O by writing about how bush is a goddam liar and something about how astronauts make good politicians?? 😀

 

[shocker]

ADCOMS don't see the MCAT writing samples, only your personal statement.

 

[bkmonkey]

ADCOMS don't see the MCAT writing samples, only your personal statement.

Untrue. The adcoms do have access to your writing samples. You should do the best you can.