Help! Need more opinions...apply with current score?

[medschool11]

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My cGPA is 3.65 and sGPA is 3.5. I took the MCAT and got 5PS 10VR 10BS and "R" in writing.

I know I can raise my PS score because I had silly technical things going on at the beginning of my test. PS was my biggest weakness, so I was expecting around an "8" based on all my practices.

Anyway, I'm studying again, and will re-take end of May.

I am applying for the 2011 cycle...and I will have everything in EARLY. This means that my new MCAT score will not be shown. Should I explain my low PS score and tell them that my new scores will be available at the end of June? If so, where do I explain such a low score?

Will they look at my app before they get the new scores? If so, will that "5" in PS make me lose all chances at an MD school, or will they be nice and wait for my new score? Is there a chance they will want me even with that low score?

Does submitting an MCAT score at the end of June totally ruin the fact that I submit everything June 1? Or should I still apply early with my current stats? One person kindly wrote, "submit early, get verified with one school, then when you get your score, apply to the rest" which sounds like the best approach, but I was just wondering what other people thought 🙂

I have really good rec letters, ECs etc... so really the only thing holding me back, I feel is the 5PS and the pretty average sGPA.

 

[Anthony212]

I believe there is a question on the application that asks if you are expecting any more mcat scores so they will know, and therefore might not process your app until the new scores arrive.

And yes you should definitely explain whatever technical issue occurred and caused your low score.

But i do have to ask, if a true "technical" issue occured, why did you not file a complaint with this? taking a 25 on your record and wasting $250 is alot if its not ur fault

 

[nogolfinsnow]

My cGPA is 3.65 and sGPA is 3.5. I took the MCAT and got 5PS 10VR 10BS and "R" in writing.

I know I can raise my PS score because I had silly technical things going on at the beginning of my test. PS was my biggest weakness, so I was expecting around an "8" based on all my practices.

Anyway, I'm studying again, and will re-take end of May.

I am applying for the 2011 cycle...and I will have everything in EARLY. This means that my new MCAT score will not be shown. Should I explain my low PS score and tell them that my new scores will be available at the end of June? If so, where do I explain such a low score?

Will they look at my app before they get the new scores? If so, will that "5" in PS make me lose all chances at an MD school, or will they be nice and wait for my new score? Is there a chance they will want me even with that low score?

Does submitting an MCAT score at the end of June totally ruin the fact that I submit everything June 1? Or should I still apply early with my current stats? One person kindly wrote, "submit early, get verified with one school, then when you get your score, apply to the rest" which sounds like the best approach, but I was just wondering what other people thought 🙂

I have really good rec letters, ECs etc... so really the only thing holding me back, I feel is the 5PS and the pretty average sGPA.

Even with an 8 in PS you're still looking at a 28. That is very much on the low side for getting an interview. You'll need to have a very impressive file for people to overlook your numbers. I've seen people get interviews with a 27 MCAT, but I'm pretty sure they had a connection to the school.

The idea about getting verified early sounds like a good idea if you're going to apply this cycle.

 

[drizzt3117]

Personally I'd either just wait till you have your new score to apply or take another year to improve your credentials. Applying to MD schools with a 25 MCAT is just a waste of time and money.

 

[Vvandenn]

Apply broadly for DO schools. Retake next cycle if necessary.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Apply broadly for DO schools. Retake next cycle if necessary.

Contrary to popular belief, DO schools have standards. I doubt he'd get in with a score below a 6 in a category.

 

[imorbust]

Personally, I would wait. Many med schools automatically screen out applicants with below a score of 7 on any subsection of the MCAT.

Applying to med school is a long, expensive process...you really want to only do it once with the best possible application. If you plug your stats into the infamous MCAT/GPA grid, people with your numbers have about a 28% acceptance rate (the national average is about 46%). Of course there are *many* other factors that influence getting in (LORs, activities, achievements, etc) but stats are often what get your foot in the door.

I'd have a long talk with your premed advisor before applying with your current score....and I would take the MCAT when you are regularly scoring in the 30s on the practice exams.

 

[Melicopter]

I agree with the above poster that it would be safer to wait. You really don't know how you'll do on the next MCAT. If you get a 27, for example, that just shows a trend of low scores.

That said, I don't believe they'll screen you out if you application shows you have another MCAT score coming in. It takes several weeks for AMCAS to process you anyway, so the schools might not even see the application until that score is in.

 

[BiochemGuy]

personally i'd either just wait till you have your new score to apply or take another year to improve your credentials. Applying to md schools with a 25 mcat is just a waste of time and money.

+1