Dumb Question about a hole in my App

[CaribbeanBlue]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I wish there was a fused MD/DO thread for this because I am applying to both MDs and DO's but I have a dumb question that I could possibly use some feedback on for those that were in a similar situation.


I have taken the MCAT 3 times over the course of 1.5 years because I have been working on VR. I used up EK 101 passages TWICE, all of PR, all of Kaplan, and all of PR online sources for a total of 300+ passages in practice including all of the TPR/AAMC exams online. I have never broken 10 on VR.

My scores were: sept 2011: Void, Jan 2012: 27N(10/6/11), and Sept 2012: 31Q (14/6/11).

After exhausting and eventually taking 2 years off all because of VR I decided to just go ahead, get my life started and apply to medical schools this June.

I have a cGPA of 3.6, an sGPA of 3.75 and I am going to use my MCAT score 31Q(14/6/11).

I have no exact reason as to why VR could not click. I do well with reading classes and do well with analyzing scientific text/journals etc so that has never been an issue. English is my first and only language so I can't use anything like that to explain my 6 in VR. I have tried to push to find a doctor to see if I have a form of ADD when it comes to reading certain types of passages, but obviously this was laughed off my EVERYONE doctors/family because i have never had issues in school.

So finally, my question is has anyone had to explain something like this to an adcom during an interview?? If i had to explain myself, should I literally say I may not have grasped the passage on the analyzation of the artwork on my MCAT exam? Should I say that I think I have a slight ADD when reading certain types of text? Should I just laugh and say "I asked myself the same question for the 1.5 years in prep for the MCAT"?

I realize that this is almost a guaranteed question to come up during an interview for DO's and the MD's that may give me a slight chance to explain myself. I posted this in DO because I feel like they may give me more of a chance.

 

[MedPR]

You might not even get any MD interviews with a 6, so don't start worrying about that yet.

Don't make excuses. If you aren't diagnosed with ADD, you shouldn't say you have ADD. And even if you do have ADD, it wouldn't only affect you on VR. There's really no good way to explain a weakness that you were not able to improve on. It's a poor spot on application and you just have to accept that.

 

[CaribbeanBlue]

You might not even get any MD interviews with a 6, so don't start worrying about that yet.

Don't make excuses. If you aren't diagnosed with ADD, you shouldn't say you have ADD. And even if you do have ADD, it wouldn't only affect you on VR. There's really no good way to explain a weakness that you were not able to improve on. It's a poor spot on application and you just have to accept that.

I accepted it because I'm going ahead and applying this june.

I am just trying to find some sort of way to explain it or if I shouldn't say certain things during the interviews. I honestly can't explain my 6 the same way I can't explain my 14 in PS instead of a 15. I just KNOW that the 6 is what I'm definitely going to have to explain, which I am not prepared to do right now haha.

 

[backsideattack1]

You should read this if you think you have ADD

http://www.amazon.com/Our-Daily-Meds-Pharmaceutical-Prescription/dp/0374228272

 

[CaribbeanBlue]

You should read this if you think you have ADD

http://www.amazon.com/Our-Daily-Meds-Pharmaceutical-Prescription/dp/0374228272

I got a 6 in VR, what makes SDNers think I am capable of reading a book?

 

[coolingglasses]

I got a 6 in VR, what makes SDNers think I am capable of reading a book?

Maybe you can get Morgan Freeman to record it in an audio book.

 

[CaribbeanBlue]

Could someone at least tell me what NOT to say in an interview when describing my verbal score? I obviously shouldn't mention the ADD speculation thing.

 

[NontradCA]

I think MedPR already said it. It is what it is. Don't lie and don't make excuses. That 14 is awesome though. I think DO schools aren't going to give you too hard of a time, granted the rest of your app is good.

 

[CaribbeanBlue]

I think MedPR already said it. It is what it is. Don't lie and don't make excuses. That 14 is awesome though. I think DO schools aren't going to give you too hard of a time, granted the rest of your app is good.

I really don't want to lie and as much as I don't want to throw out excuses, I am just afraid of medical schools wanting a better reasoning than "I tried and couldn't perform on the exam day".

I feel my acceptances may come down to this VR score so I am just trying to think of the best way to answer this question FOR the interviewers.

 

[NontradCA]

I really don't want to lie and as much as I don't want to throw out excuses, I am just afraid of medical schools wanting a better reasoning than "I tried and couldn't perform on the exam day".

I feel my acceptances may come down to this VR score so I am just trying to think of the best way to answer this question FOR the interviewers.

Yea of course. I would say that you studied hard, and you retook it specifically to get a better score and VR is just one of your weaknesses on this standardized test.

 

[CaribbeanBlue]

Yea of course. I would say that you studied hard, and you retook it specifically to get a better score and VR is just one of your weaknesses on this standardized test.

I have heard of interviewers saying things like "Well, there is a lot of reading in medical school... you may have a hard time." If an interviewer said something like this, I may accidently slip into a debate with the guy. Should I just nod my head to something like this and try to avoid the topic?

 

[docmayer]

I really don't want to lie and as much as I don't want to throw out excuses, I am just afraid of medical schools wanting a better reasoning than "I tried and couldn't perform on the exam day".

I feel my acceptances may come down to this VR score so I am just trying to think of the best way to answer this question FOR the interviewers.

Say what you think ADCOMs want to hear (whatever that may be). You have to sell yourself. I don't know what the other posters are talking about...

 

[hallowmann]

I have heard of interviewers saying things like "Well, there is a lot of reading in medical school... you may have a hard time." If an interviewer said something like this, I may accidently slip into a debate with the guy. Should I just nod my head to something like this and try to avoid the topic?

Just say you do a lot of reading, especially scientific reading, but you just weren't able to bring up your verbal score. Don't debate with the interviewer, don't make up other excuses, because quite frankly the more you suggest something to say, the more damaging those statements sound. Everything you suggested to say so far sounds worse than simply moving past it. Explain that you were, however, glad that your bs and ps scores demonstrate your strengths in those areas (or don't). You don't want or need to talk too long about that weakness in your app.

Talk about your strengths. Either way if you apply broadly, I think you will get some MD interviews, but many schools might filter you out. Its definitely a red flag in your app, but I doubt it's a devastating one. You should end up somewhere (MD or DO) by the end of next cycle, provided all else is strong.

Also, you only took the MCAT twice, the void doesn't count.

 

[backsideattack1]

I really don't want to lie and as much as I don't want to throw out excuses, I am just afraid of medical schools wanting a better reasoning than "I tried and couldn't perform on the exam day".

I feel my acceptances may come down to this VR score so I am just trying to think of the best way to answer this question FOR the interviewers.

With 3 months left, why not retake it? I would prefer to have a balanced 30 over a skewed 31. There are only a few DO schools that would potentially screen you and even then, I don't think they are very strict. You should be alright for osteopathic schools, who knows about allopathic. I would expect an allopathic acceptance around this time next year.

 

[pre med 2014]

If they question you - just redirect their attention to that excellent physics score!

 

[MedPR]

Say what you think ADCOMs want to hear (whatever that may be). You have to sell yourself. I don't know what the other posters are talking about...

If the OP knew what ADCOMs wanted to hear this thread wouldn't exist. There's no good way to explain two consecutive poor performances on one section of the MCAT and therein lies the problem.

 

[hallowmann]

If the OP knew what ADCOMs wanted to hear this thread wouldn't exist. There's no good way to explain two consecutive poor performances on one section of the MCAT and therein lies the problem.

Exactly, the only way to get through it is to admit that you understand its a weakness, but push past it by talking about how well you did on other sections or in other situations. No excuse will sound good, so what's the point in talking about it for longer.

 

[gmcguitar4]

If you're ADD affected you on the exam you wouldn't have gotten a freakin 14 on what section and an 11 on the other. They both have passages in their sections that have difficult reading. I would say try applying to MD schools but with a 6 on VR, it is very unlikely they will show you some love given your average GPA as well. I wouldn't say anything about ADD during the interview because they would just see it as an excuse for an area that you just inherently lack in. You are interviewing with people that could possibly diagnose ADD on a daily basis, so no point in trying to explain that to them. The VR section is just rough and very hard to improve in. I would say apply broadly to DO schools and a couple MD, but expect both types of schools to question the 6.

 

[EmergDoc2B]

In your interviews (you will get em) accentuate the positives in your application, especially that disgusting PS score and admit you were not able to find the right combination for that verbal section. As you stated you read journals and I would have those names handy with examples of the articles and specifically a couple of favorites just in case (cursory details at the very least). Make the rest of your application rock solid so the adcoms eyes may keep moving past that 6VR. I had some issues on my app that I had to address and its humbling to do so. Remain confident and dignified and make no excuses you'll be fine.

 

[MedPR]

In your interviews (you will get em) accentuate the positives in your application, especially that disgusting PS score and admit you were not able to find the right combination for that verbal section. As you stated you read journals and I would have those names handy with examples of the articles and specifically a couple of favorites just in case (cursory details at the very least). Make the rest of your application rock solid so the adcoms eyes may keep moving past that 6VR. I had some issues on my app that I had to address and its humbling to do so. Remain confident and dignified and make no excuses you'll be fine.

The OP faces two problems. 1. 6 in VR. 2. consecutive 6s in VR. Your strategy works for problem 1. It does not work for problem 2. Getting a 6 two times in a row is like retaking a C and getting a C again.