I Desperately Need Some Honest Advice

[chiddy]

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I've been reading these forums for quite some time and decided to join because I'm losing my mind trying to figure out what I should do. I have a really pressing problem this semester because I need to apply to medical school this year.

The problem is that I'm not sure what my chances are to get into medical school with my current GPA/MCAT. I have never had to drop a class, but I did take C's in o'chem, and biochem. My GPA when I apply will be around a 3.55-3.57 and my science GPA will be about a 3.31-3.34. I'm majoring in premedicine with a spanish minor. My MCAT score (from Fall 2004) is strange... here is the breakdown:

PS: 9
VR: 9
BS: 10
WS: K
TOTAL: 28K

I'm really worried about my writing sample score being really bad. Most professors normally tell me that I'm an above average writer and have gotten nothing but A's in all of the English classes I have taken. I don't know if it was stress or what made me screw up my writing sample.

I was just basically wondering how anybody else in a similar situation like this has fared, if I should consider retaking the MCAT this semester, and any other advice/info. anyone has. Should I repeat the MCAT?

I'm really worried about this right now, so please give me your honest opinion.

Thanks.

 

[UTKB]

I've been reading these forums for quite some time and decided to join because I'm losing my mind trying to figure out what I should do. I have a really pressing problem this semester because I need to apply to medical school this year.

The problem is that I'm not sure what my chances are to get into medical school with my current GPA/MCAT. I have never had to drop a class, but I did take C's in o'chem, and biochem. My GPA when I apply will be around a 3.55-3.57 and my science GPA will be about a 3.31-3.34. I'm majoring in premedicine with a spanish minor. My MCAT score (from Fall 2004) is strange... here is the breakdown:

PS: 9
VR: 9
BS: 10
WS: K
TOTAL: 28K

I'm really worried about my writing sample score being really bad. Most professors normally tell me that I'm an above average writer and have gotten nothing but A's in all of the English classes I have taken. I don't know if it was stress or what made me screw up my writing sample.

I was just basically wondering how anybody else in a similar situation like this has fared, if I should consider retaking the MCAT this semester, and any other advice/info. anyone has. Should I repeat the MCAT?

I'm really worried about this right now, so please give me your honest opinion.

Thanks.

I don't know the specifics of your application, like extracurriculars and letters of recommendation, or personal statement, but if I were in your shoes I'd retake the MCAT and try to get that writing component score up, and maybe another point on the PS and VR. (Keep in mind that I was too lazy to retake the MCAT though. Really grueling. ) Apply to a broad range of schools, but don't count on "safety" schools. Keep working on other parts of your application, try to get A's, and you might be surprised where you get in.

 

[DeterminedMD]

I've been reading these forums for quite some time and decided to join because I'm losing my mind trying to figure out what I should do. I have a really pressing problem this semester because I need to apply to medical school this year.

The problem is that I'm not sure what my chances are to get into medical school with my current GPA/MCAT. I have never had to drop a class, but I did take C's in o'chem, and biochem. My GPA when I apply will be around a 3.55-3.57 and my science GPA will be about a 3.31-3.34. I'm majoring in premedicine with a spanish minor. My MCAT score (from Fall 2004) is strange... here is the breakdown:

PS: 9
VR: 9
BS: 10
WS: K
TOTAL: 28K

I'm really worried about my writing sample score being really bad. Most professors normally tell me that I'm an above average writer and have gotten nothing but A's in all of the English classes I have taken. I don't know if it was stress or what made me screw up my writing sample.

I was just basically wondering how anybody else in a similar situation like this has fared, if I should consider retaking the MCAT this semester, and any other advice/info. anyone has. Should I repeat the MCAT?

I'm really worried about this right now, so please give me your honest opinion.

Thanks.

While you might not be able to make it into the prestigous ivy league schools, I think it is possible to get into medical school. I think that members of this site tend to have higher scores. My MCAT score was not high, although my writing sample was higher than yours. I think if you write a very good personal statement and have well written and though out repsosnses on secondaries, that you have a chance. I would say retake the MCAT though. If you can raise up your score it will only help you. I would say take it in April though...not AUgust. With the way the application process works its better not to fall behind with the August MCAT. Just try to increase your volunteer/EC etc to make you application stronger.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I've been reading these forums for quite some time and decided to join because I'm losing my mind trying to figure out what I should do. I have a really pressing problem this semester because I need to apply to medical school this year.

The problem is that I'm not sure what my chances are to get into medical school with my current GPA/MCAT. I have never had to drop a class, but I did take C's in o'chem, and biochem. My GPA when I apply will be around a 3.55-3.57 and my science GPA will be about a 3.31-3.34. I'm majoring in premedicine with a spanish minor. My MCAT score (from Fall 2004) is strange... here is the breakdown:

PS: 9
VR: 9
BS: 10
WS: K
TOTAL: 28K

I'm really worried about my writing sample score being really bad. Most professors normally tell me that I'm an above average writer and have gotten nothing but A's in all of the English classes I have taken. I don't know if it was stress or what made me screw up my writing sample.

I was just basically wondering how anybody else in a similar situation like this has fared, if I should consider retaking the MCAT this semester, and any other advice/info. anyone has. Should I repeat the MCAT?

I'm really worried about this right now, so please give me your honest opinion.

Thanks.

looks ok to me

--submit your applications this summer to AMCAS & AACOMAS for sure

--retake the MCAT in August and get the essay up (they don't look at it alot anyway)

 

[Brain]

I've posted this elsewhere in this forum but I'll say it again here. No one cares about the writing sample. I got a "M" and received an interview everywhere I applied and nobody once asked about it. I had a buddy who got interviewed at UTSW who had an "O". The interviewer said "Wait a sec, you got a zero on a section of the MCAT. How did you get an interview here?" He had to explain to the person interviewing him how the MCAT writing section is scored. Don't even worry about it.

 

[pratik7]

if you apply wisely, you should get in somewhere

 

[DianaLynne]

looks ok to me

--submit your applications this summer to AMCAS & AACOMAS for sure

--retake the MCAT in August and get the essay up (they don't look at it alot anyway)

This advice is right on! Your scores could work for you, with the right ECs maybe you'll get in this cycle. And retake the MCAT, you could always do better. Also, look into a prep course for the MCAT. The writing sample is a weird beast, there's a definite formula that they're looking for. You could be a brilliant writer and create a work of art and the readers will score you poorly because you didn't follow the format.

And that being said, the word on the street is that the writing sample is the least important piece.

Good luck!

 

[DrDarwin]

I've posted this elsewhere in this forum but I'll say it again here. No one cares about the writing sample. I got a "M" and received an interview everywhere I applied and nobody once asked about it. I had a buddy who got interviewed at UTSW who had an "O". The interviewer said "Wait a sec, you got a zero on a section of the MCAT. How did you get an interview here?" He had to explain to the person interviewing him how the MCAT writing section is scored. Don't even worry about it.

This is mostly true, but some adcom members--believe it or not--will actually know that the letter in your MCAT score refers to something. Although I would say anything below an O in the WS is undesirable, I think the WS is scrutinized most closely when it is at odds with the level of writing in your personal statement and/or secondary applications. For example, if you write an exemplary personal statement and have a really low WS score, some adcoms will want to reconcile the disparity, and you may be required to provide an explanation.

Also, I would suggest that you retake the MCAT, particularly if you feel you can improve. Because your GPA will likely not be above average, it will advantageous if your MCAT is.

Finally, and most importantly, don't let anything deter you from your goal. If you know medicine is where you want to be, stay the course, and everything will eventually fall into place.

 

[chiddy]

Thanks for all your replies. I think I'm going to go ahead and take the MCAT one more time. Luckily my schedule this semester allows some time for it so I should be pretty well prepared by April, hopefully.

As far as test prep courses... I took Kaplan and their writing sample grader was on crack or something. According to him my writing samples were all R-T. Although looking back on it, I wonder if that gave me a false sense of security and thats why I ended up with the K. I know writing samples don't matter that much, but K is ridiculously low. Kinda sucks that I have to retake the MCAT over something so small, but I guess I could use the boost and I definitely want to become a doctor... no matter what it takes. 🙂

 

[bigbassinbob]

As far as the writing sample goes, I wouldn't really worry about it. I had an L, and none of my interviewers asked me anything about it or even commented on it. (Actually i brought it up at one interview, and the lady said "oh i didn't even look at your writing score," so i decided to shutup about it at the rest of my interviews). I don't know why I got an L, I'm a good writer -- all A's in 6 english classes, strong letter of rec from english prof. It's just something that's graded so subjectively that nobody really cares about it. If it's killing you, you might submit it for a regrade. It costs 50 bucks and it goes through different graders. Somebody I know got theirs regraded from a J to an L, so it's worth a try. Although I'm not sure what the deadline is or whatever. Good luck with it.

 

[Mutt]

It's just something that's graded so subjectively that nobody really cares about it. QUOTE]


Bingo!

The whole point of the MCAT is to lay down a level playing field from which "the stars can be seen" and that can only be done when subjectivity is removed - since this is not the case for the WS, most admissions people pay very little attention to it.

 

[ThrowdOffGyrl]

I've been reading these forums for quite some time and decided to join because I'm losing my mind trying to figure out what I should do. I have a really pressing problem this semester because I need to apply to medical school this year.

The problem is that I'm not sure what my chances are to get into medical school with my current GPA/MCAT. I have never had to drop a class, but I did take C's in o'chem, and biochem. My GPA when I apply will be around a 3.55-3.57 and my science GPA will be about a 3.31-3.34. I'm majoring in premedicine with a spanish minor. My MCAT score (from Fall 2004) is strange... here is the breakdown:

PS: 9
VR: 9
BS: 10
WS: K
TOTAL: 28K

I'm really worried about my writing sample score being really bad. Most professors normally tell me that I'm an above average writer and have gotten nothing but A's in all of the English classes I have taken. I don't know if it was stress or what made me screw up my writing sample.

I was just basically wondering how anybody else in a similar situation like this has fared, if I should consider retaking the MCAT this semester, and any other advice/info. anyone has. Should I repeat the MCAT?

I'm really worried about this right now, so please give me your honest opinion.

Thanks.

I say go for it and apply....My MCAT scores dropped the second time I took it....and I'm in the same boat you're in as far as the writing portion. Just work on your personal statement and make sure that it comes from the heart (so when you're being interviewed you actually remember, and can discuss what you wrote), make it interesting, but not over the top...and get good letters of rec. Don't stress over it...you'll drive yourself crazy. Don't worry about stats....if you feel like you can do better...then retake the MCAT. Some schools look at trends in the scores more than they look at the actual scores....so if it drops by a lot...it could hurt. Summary: Decide if you feel confident enough to continue the process....if the answer's yes...just do it and don't second guess yourself. You'll be fine. What's meant for you is already promised to you. 🙂

 

[mwhou]

No one will care about the writing sample. DONT RETAKE BASED ON A WRITING SAMPLE. You need a good PS and good writing on secordaries regardless of your writing sample score. (although as others have mentioned that gives the reviewer something concrete to look at if they do care.)

I dont think anyone on this board would mention retaking if you got a 34K or a 37K. I think they are more worried about the 28 when combined with a lowish GPA. In that context, applying and retaking (if you are confident you can improve your #score) does make sense. A better MCAT would help with the GPA.

Just my 2 cents... Overall I think you have a chance, but would apply broadly - and of course you must have competitive/above average EC's, LORs, PS, etc...

I love this quote - I bet the student died when they interviewer asked about the zero!!! 😱

I had a buddy who got interviewed at UTSW who had an "O". The interviewer said "Wait a sec, you got a zero on a section of the MCAT

 

[chiddy]

I'm going to go ahead and start studying for the MCAT this weekend and try to see if I can at least improve my score on the individual practice items that I have. I normally got between a 65-70% on them, which I think correlates somewhat with what I ended up with on the MCAT. So, I'll see if I can improve those and will probably hold off registering for the MCAT until next week.

Are there any schools anyone could recommend?

 

[MoosePilot]

If you do retake the MCAT, the writing sample strategy is not how you would usually write an essay for a class. There's not enough time to do a really good job. Three main thing - answer the questions exactly as asked, write neatly within the space provided, use coherent thoughts.

It might say, "Blah, blah blah blah. Explain what blah blah means. When does blah blah not hold true? What do you think is the distinction between blah blah being true or not?". Ok, just do what they say. Explain what their phrase means. Give a counter example. Try to explain what the general rule for how to decide when it applies and when it doesn't is. Close.

 

[Law2Doc]

I dont think anyone on this board would mention retaking if you got a 34K or a 37K. I think they are more worried about the 28 when combined with a lowish GPA. In that context, applying and retaking (if you are confident you can improve your #score) does make sense. A better MCAT would help with the GPA.

I think this poster makes the most sense. The writing sample alone would not be fatal -- it makes you slightly less competitive than those who got higher letters, but would not alone result in rejection. But a 28 is a low enough (borderline) score that it's worth at least considering retaking the MCAT (unless you feel that's the best you can do), so that, combined with a very low writing score it makes retaking the test seem advisable to me.

 

[skypilot]

I am surprised that no one asked about your state of residence which is one of the most important factors in your chances for admission. Are you from a good state? (Texas) or a bad state? (California) That having been said, if you apply to a range of schools you have a good shot with those scores.

 

[chiddy]

I'm from Pennsylvania... not sure if thats good or bad. What do you mean by good or bad anyway?

 

[skypilot]

PA is pretty good. They have lots of med schools, some of which give preference to people from PA. Apply to all the PA schools and a broad range of other schools in New York State, Maryland, etc and you should be fine.

Look at this list for schools which take a lot of out of staters and apply accordingly.

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2004/2004school.htm