Explaining a low writing score during interviews

[ChartaBona]

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To cut to the chase, my stats are 4.0/ 37L. I seriously don't know how to properly explain that writing score to my interviewers. Here is my thought process:

Part of me believes 1 of my essays might not have been received, but I'm sure the finer details of my score have long been deleted. My essays might just have been terrible as well, who knows? I took the MCAT around the same time I was finishing a final paper on my research, so the scientific writing mindset might have messed with my essay writing process. My VR score was a 12, and I never had trouble in undergrad's writing-intensive courses.

I've had one interview so far, and I don't know if my explanation might have hurt my chances. He said he thought they might be getting rid of the writing section.

Does anyone have any tips for future interviews?

 

[Arbor Vitae]

To cut to the chase, my stats are 4.0/ 37L. I seriously don't know how to properly explain that writing score to my interviewers. Here is my thought process:

Part of me believes 1 of my essays might not have been received, but I'm sure the finer details of my score have long been deleted. My essays might just have been terrible as well, who knows? I took the MCAT around the same time I was finishing a final paper on my research, so the scientific writing mindset might have messed with my essay writing process. My VR score was a 12, and I never had trouble in undergrad's writing-intensive courses.

I've had one interview so far, and I don't know if my explanation might have hurt my chances. He said he thought they might be getting rid of the writing section.

Does anyone have any tips for future interviews?

Did they ask you about it or did you bring it up? II seriously doubt they care about your writing score.

 

[ClemsonFirst]

They are getting rid of the writing section, so I doubt it matters too much. I would just claim a fluke in your writing. Excuses do not make it any better, so accept that something happened that you are unaware of and tell them that. Also, tell them you have had no problem in any writing classes (english) or anything, which should be proven on your transcript.

 

[ChartaBona]

Did they ask you about it or did you bring it up? II seriously doubt they care about your writing score.

He brought up the MCAT, but I think I was the one to specifically mention the Writing score. I guess that was a dumb move, but I wasn't sure if I should leave a potential red flag unmentioned.

He asked if I took a course or something, and I explained that I purchased some study materials (ExamKrackers) and studied for the MCAT every evening. During the day, I was conducting research full-time under a summer grant.

I went to your run-of-the-mill state school, one with limited resources but plenty of 1-on-1 time with research mentors. I am starting to feel intimidated by my fellow interviewees, who went to some well known institutions. Should I be worried, or does school prestige not matter as much?

 

[alamofire]

.

 

[La Presse]

Writing score. Really? Just simply tell him that during the course of your practice you improved tremendously, but test day was certainly different, a fluke I might add.

 

[phikapdoctor]

Remind them of your 37 and 4.0.


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[HughMyron]

Tell them you had explosive diarrhea on test day, so you decided to spend the writing section in the restroom.

 

[Geebeejay]

My MCAT score has only been mentioned once out of the 7 interviewers I've been with, and it was "Ok, your MCAT looks fine" and that's it.

 

[ChartaBona]

Remind them of your 37 and 4.0.


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According to the AAMC, a 37 is listed as 98th percentile, but an L is listed as 10th percentile.

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/85332/data/combined08.pdf

I just don't know how to reconcile those two scores in terms of an "overall" score. I know a low VR score can sink your chances anywhere. I guess I wasn't sure if the L would make schools and interviewers question my abilities.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Nobody cares about the writing section.

 

[SirGecko]

No one cares about the writing score. If you got a J maybe they will actually read your personal statement to make sure it isn't written in crayon but really no one cares about it. I wouldn't even bother bringing it up at further interviews.

 

[darkjedi]

No one cares, I got an N and no one ever asked about it.

 

[typicalindian]

No one cares at all. And stop bringing it up. Why would you bring up negative aspects of your application without being asked about it? If they ask, then tell. If they don't ask, don't worry about it.

 

[ChartaBona]

No one cares at all. And stop bringing it up. Why would you bring up negative aspects of your application without being asked about it? If they ask, then tell. If they don't ask, don't worry about it.

This book says to bring up red flags when appropriate. Those negative aspects are a part of my application regardless of whether I mention them in an interview or not. According to the author of the book, if red flags are not addressed, the interviewer can't offer your side of the story to the rest of the adcom.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Medical-School-Interview-ebook/dp/B004FN1UIO/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

 

[speakwhales]

This book says to bring up red flags when appropriate. Those negative aspects are a part of my application regardless of whether I mention them in an interview or not. According to the author of the book, if red flags are not addressed, the interviewer can't offer your side of the story to the rest of the adcom.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Medical-School-Interview-ebook/dp/B004FN1UIO/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

Yeah I wouldn't bring it up either. I think most people just disregard the writing section. But I, like you, have a pretty low writing score and I was once asked about it during an interview. I just tried to emphasize other aspects of my application that demonstrated I can write (my English minor, for instance...). We'll see how that went since I won't hear back from that school until March... Made me sweat though.

 

[typicalindian]

This book says to bring up red flags when appropriate. Those negative aspects are a part of my application regardless of whether I mention them in an interview or not. According to the author of the book, if red flags are not addressed, the interviewer can't offer your side of the story to the rest of the adcom.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Medical-School-Interview-ebook/dp/B004FN1UIO/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

The interviewer obviously knows about any red flags before interviewing you. He/she will bring it up if they find it important enough. Otherwise just try to keep the interview as pleasant as possible.

 

[JustMeditate]

This book says to bring up red flags when appropriate.

Okay, but have you considered that (a) your writing score may not be a red flag and (b) even if it is, this may not be one of those situations "when [it's] appropriate" to bring it up?

First off, a score of an "L" is NOT a red flag. At all. Whatsoever. When he visited my university's pre-med society, the Dean of Admissions, at my state school, flat out told us that they don't even look at the writing score, because after years of experience reviewing MCAT scores and evaluating applicants, adcoms have learned that your writing score on the MCAT does not reflect your writing skills. The whole reason the Writing Section of the MCAT is being eliminated is because adcoms have made it clear that they do not look at this score, because they have other means (Personal Statement, Secondary Essays, Humanities Grades) of evaluating your writing skills.

This is especially true if you have A's in writing intensive courses, a well written personal statement, and well written secondary essays, in addition to a high verbal score on the MCAT.

Secondly, even if an "L" didn't look so hot, bringing it up in an interview, without being asked about it, will look bad. Again, no one thinks a score of an "L" reflects poorly on you as an applicant. By presenting it as a problem to adcoms, you are making something that wasn't a big deal into a big deal. You indicating that this is a big deal to you, and turning it into a personal failure, when it started out as a mere fluke adcoms could care less about. Additionally, this makes you look less confident in your strength as an applicant, and a bit obsessive, like the kid who explains why the one B on his transcript isn't his fault, because the semester was going poorly. A kid whose ego can't handle a B or two is gonna have a bad time once med school rolls around and the competition becomes more fierce. Do you really want to look like you can't handle it?

If you got a J, I may be a tiny little bit worried. But it's a frigging L. Don't turn it into a big deal by letting adcoms know that you perceive it as a a big deal. I have a W on my transcript, but its an anomaly. I don't think its a big deal. I didn't bring it up during interviews. I still got in to med school.

 

[grapepopsicle]

Tell them that the writing section does not accurately gauge one's ability to write coherent, logical arguments. It's a very poor measure of one's writing ability and forces you to write in a very unnatural, formulaic manner. I'm surprised it took them this long to get rid of it.

 

[Irish Football]

Remind them of your 37 and 4.0.


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👍

 

[JoshuaGuit]

I think a low writing score is just attributed to not knowing the correct format that the readers want to see.

I'm an engineer, have not taken one writing/english class in undergrad so far and dread papers, yet got an R from following the format a website told me to.