Explaining MCAT scores at interview

[Picklesali]

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Is there any GOOD way to explain why you didn't do as well in a section(s) as you would have liked/expected? Not bad enough to retake, mind you, just not stellar.

Ex: "So... Picklesali, I was looking at your file and...that's right, your the one who did completely average on the MCAT if it hadn't been for your verbal score. What happened in the science sections?...you are a science major, right?"

(P.S. How common is it for them to ask anyway?)

 

[Phoenix.]

You have a 35 MCAT with a 14 VR 11 PS 10 BS. NO ONE is going to ask you that. SDN has corrupted your brain. You have an excellent score, and they will simply not point out that you didn't get a 14 in PS or BS and ask why not. A 10 or 11 is nothing to sneeze at.

If anything, they may question your lack of clinical/volunteering experience (of which you had none until recently). However, even that may not come up since you're applying MD/PhD, and the focus there is more on research.

 

[MassTransport]

Agree w/above. If somebody questions one of your section scores, just be honest and say you tried your best. It's not like they can give you a hard time about that. Your score's good.

 

[Inuranic]

A 35 is what...over the 95th percentile? I'd be a little taken aback by anyone who wants to poke holes in that.

 

[Picklesali]

okay, okay, okay... I admit it. It's a problem. SDN is bad for me. I need to get some new perspective.

 

[hawk126]

okay, okay, okay... I admit it. It's a problem. SDN is bad for me. I need to get some new perspective.

No worries... I'm in a similar boat: VR - 13 PS - 11 BS - 11; and I'm having the same problem, i.e. feeling a little insecure about my score after beholding all of the geniuses that post here.

 

[OCallag]

SDN has corrupted your brain.

It's a disease!

 

[Lukkie]

A 35 is what...over the 95th percentile? I'd be a little taken aback by anyone who wants to poke holes in that.

95th percentile for all test-takers maybe. For SDN, a 35 is like 4th percentile

 

[silverlining1]

95th percentile for all test-takers maybe. For SDN, a 35 is like 4th percentile

:cry:

 

[Smctbone]

A 35 is what...over the 95th percentile? I'd be a little taken aback by anyone who wants to poke holes in that.

yeah, i'd think a doc/researcher interviewer would also be taken back. I have a feeling theyll be less than impressed by your lack of confidence. And if you happen to have student interviewers, because it wasnt so long ago that they took the mcat themselves, theyd probably be pretty pissed and completely turned off if you try telling them a 35 is sub-par for you 😉

 

[surfstarj]

No worries... I'm in a similar boat: VR - 13 PS - 11 BS - 11; and I'm having the same problem, i.e. feeling a little insecure about my score after beholding all of the geniuses that post here.

To both of you: I have the same score as Hawk...and i was sort of worried...but a lot of times I've heard that it's a plus to be strong in verbal since it's uncommon and shows innate reasoning skill (from somebody on an ADCOM). It's not like the science scores are not strong as well...I would be proud of that 14 VR. that's serious! 🙂

i"m also tryinng not to let SDN corrupt my brain...maybe we should start a support group?!

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Yeah seriously, a 35 is great, before i was introduced to SDN, i was thinking yeah i just wanna get a 27 so i can give myself a reasonable chance, now if i get anything worse than a 33 ill be pissed off, go figure

 

[SpartanBlueJay2]

I apologize in advance if this is harsh, but I'm feeling the need to get on my soapbox here:

Ok, seriously, y'all who are whining about your 35s with "only a 10" in your lowest section need to shut it. I have an interview in 2 weeks at a school that very rarely accepts people with a VR score as low as mine. I've actually had people who have seen my score (but don't know me) ask me if English is not my first language (and in case you're wondering, I am a native English speaker). So unless you have to try and figure out how to explain a sub-8 score in any section, I suggest you realize that your score is awesome and quit complaining.

Stepping down from soapbox now.

 

[zanzounita]

ok-what about those who REALLY do need to explain (par example, moi)
verbal-10
ps-9
bs-7👎

it's not a 35..but i have one interview 😳

 

[artaxerxes]

I apologize in advance if this is harsh, but I'm feeling the need to get on my soapbox here:

Ok, seriously, y'all who are whining about your 35s with "only a 10" in your lowest section need to shut it. I have an interview in 2 weeks at a school that very rarely accepts people with a VR score as low as mine. I've actually had people who have seen my score (but don't know me) ask me if English is not my first language (and in case you're wondering, I am a native English speaker). So unless you have to try and figure out how to explain a sub-8 score in any section, I suggest you realize that your score is awesome and quit complaining.

Stepping down from soapbox now.

Actually my premed advisor asked if english was my second language when he saw my writing sample, and it is!

 

[154465]

ok-what about those who REALLY do need to explain (par example, moi)
verbal-10
ps-9
bs-7👎

it's not a 35..but i have one interview 😳

Finally, someone on SDN that I can relate to. If people are worried about 35's what the hell am I to do?

Congrats on the interview!

 

[mindquick]

Is there any GOOD way to explain why you didn't do as well in a section(s) as you would have liked/expected? Not bad enough to retake, mind you, just not stellar.

Ex: "So... Picklesali, I was looking at your file and...that's right, your the one who did completely average on the MCAT if it hadn't been for your verbal score. What happened in the science sections?...you are a science major, right?"

You can tell them that you tried your best, but science is not your strong point. Tell them that you will try to improve.

 

[Picklesali]

You can tell them that you tried your best, but science is not your strong point. Tell them that you will try to improve.

Yeah, that's the thing... Science IS my strong point. I'm a molbio major, and I'm good at it. My score doesn't reflect that. Maybe because when you take advanced courses you lose sight of a lot of the more basic things - maybe this is why non-science majors often do better on the MCAT than science majors... Maybe I was too confident going in on the bio section...

 

[mindquick]

Yeah, that's the thing... Science IS my strong point. I'm a molbio major, and I'm good at it. My score doesn't reflect that. Maybe because when you take advanced courses you lose sight of a lot of the more basic things - maybe this is why non-science majors often do better on the MCAT than science majors... Maybe I was too confident going in on the bio section...

Aha! I think that explanation would do the trick.

 

[artaxerxes]

Yeah, that's the thing... Science IS my strong point. I'm a molbio major, and I'm good at it. My score doesn't reflect that. Maybe because when you take advanced courses you lose sight of a lot of the more basic things - maybe this is why non-science majors often do better on the MCAT than science majors... Maybe I was too confident going in on the bio section...

I think you should spin it positively by first saying, "my course work and research reflect my dedication to science and aptitude for the knoweldge required for medicine" as oppose to saying anything negative about yourself (overconfidence) unless your interviewer decide to be an ass and corner you about it.

 

[SpartanBlueJay2]

Actually my premed advisor asked if english was my second language when he saw my writing sample, and it is!

My point was that my VR score was so bad that people thought English wasn't my first language when it really is. It's kind of insulting. I'm hoping that my retake scores (which come out Wednesday ) will reflect that I'm really not a VR dunce.

 

[LadyLightning20]

95th percentile for all test-takers maybe. For SDN, a 35 is like 4th percentile

lol.