How to explain MCAT score deficiencies on secondary applications?

[fourandtwo]

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Hello, I received a 128/124/125/130 on my MCAT. I'm not going to retake it because 507 is good enough for me and I work like 50-60 hours a week.

There was something that happened at the test center that I believe caused this discrepancy. During the verbal and bio sections, the proctors failed to ask testers to be mindful about going in and out of the room. Although I had headphones on, I was deeply distracted by the opening and closing of the doors, and I actually had to remind the proctors more than once to be more considerate.

I don't know how to explain this without seeming like I'm blaming others for my shortcomings. Because after all, I can't actually prove that the distractions caused it. Will asking the adcom to simply consider this be good enough? "Hey, check out my sGPA and read the millions of essays I have written for you. Will you please use this info to deduce for yourself whether or not I could have done better on the verbal and bio sections?"

The last piece of the puzzle: I took the old MCAT a long long time ago (like 7 years ago), and I received a 22. That's because my heart wasn't into it, and I hardly studied. So I wonder if adcoms will think, "Okay, your sGPA is good, but your old MCAT score sucked so there's nothing you can say to convince us you're proficient at verbal and bio."




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[jazzcartier]

you're delving into this too much! you did great on your mcat! esp for DO. i don't think the discrepancy is large enough for it to be questioned, but if so i wouldn't go with that explanation. i think they'll focus on your fantastic improvement since your last mcat score instead, in all honesty. 🙂

 

[fourandtwo]

you're delving into this too much! you did great on your mcat! esp for DO. i don't think the discrepancy is large enough for it to be questioned, but if so i wouldn't go with that explanation. i think they'll focus on your fantastic improvement since your last mcat score instead, in all honesty. 🙂

Haha thank you @jazzcartier, for kindly reminding me to take a chill pill. So you think that when they ask me about any academic discrepancies, I should just leave those parts blank then?


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[jazzcartier]

Pm me

 

[cjcarter]

I took the MCAT 3 times, first two times scored a 23, third time scored a 504. Wasn't asked about it once during interviews. I wouldn't worry about it!

 

[kamakazi5]

I wouldn't make excuses, especially saying you were distracted.

507 is fine for DO schools so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[luckyely91]

I took the MCAT 3 times, first two times scored a 23, third time scored a 504. Wasn't asked about it once during interviews. I wouldn't worry about it!

I was in a similar boat! OP, I wouldn't worry - a 507 is a great score. 🙂 I wouldn't even mention it in any essay if they ask you to "explain something about your academic discrepancies". When I first took the MCAT (I did not study for the verbal reasoning whatsoever), I got a 19, and I still got accepted to several schools this past round.

 

[Mr. D.O.five]

I know someone who got into 3 reputable DO schools with a lower MCAT and a lower CARS score. Don't worry about it and don't bring it to attention. Never highlight a negative aspect of your application.