How to bring up a possible "red flag" during the interview and explain it?

[ziprasidone1]

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My MCAT score is not balanced (11PS 7VR 12BS S) and I am worried the 7 in VR may cause concern for the admissions committee.

How should I bring this up to my interviewers if not specifically asked about it?

I'm not sure how I would explain it either - VR was just not my strength, even with extensive practice.

 

[gatorfann14]

Don't bring it up unless they bring it up. In all likelihood it is not a big deal if you are at the interview.

 

[Goro]

Calm down and stop fussing over that. Your MCAT score is is one that many people would kill to have. Never bring up any red flag; just be prepared to talk about.

A 7V is not bad. <7, then I start wondering.

 

[ziprasidone1]

Calm down and stop fussing over that. Your MCAT score is is one that many people would kill to have. Never bring up any red flag; just be prepared to talk about.

A 7V is not bad. <7, then I start wondering.

In this one interview prep book recently published (http://www.amazon.ca/Medical-School...3916/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1314489307&sr=8-6) the author said that if you do not bring up potential red flags, it can work against you when the interviewer(s) are presenting your application to the ADCOM. I.e. if the ADCOM questions the interviewers about that low VR section during your application presentation/meeting and there is no sufficient explanation, it can work against the applicant.

 

[lkthlttr]

Well, just perusing your MDapps profile, I can see you've got 6 interviews already. Clearly the adcoms are not all that worried about your 7 VR score. I would say you shouldn't worry too much about it either.

 

[jslo85]

don't bring it up unless they do. It's not like you're withholding information or lying about a misdemeanor on your record. Like the others have said, if they have offered you an interview, they've already taken it into consideration and may perhaps just ask you about it during your open file session in which you briefly touch upon it (as recognizing it) and then spin it into how you have learned from it or things that you have done to improve that since then.

 

[ziprasidone1]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone.

 

[sylvanthus]

If they are interviewing you, they don't care about that score. Just don't be a tool in the interview and you will be fine.

 

[SLC]

I was in the exact same boat last year, I had a 30 that consisted of a 12 BS, 11VR, and 7PS. At my interviews, nobody was anything but complimentary about that score.

Never once was it questioned and I'm in year one now.

You're going to be just fine. Just be ready to give your answer should someone express concern (which I'd say there's a >90% chance that they won't).

 

[scummie]

Yeah, you're trying to sell yourself...Don't bring it up! Besides, if the school had a problem with your VR, you wouldn't have gotten an interview.