Importance of MCAT Writing Sample Score (a low score)

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bounce22

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Hey guys, my first post here. I was wondering if anybody had any experience or advice about how heavily med schools emphasize the writing sample score from the mcat. I took the MCAT in august and received a 36L. I'm a little worried 🙁
 
I have an M and it has never been mentioned in my interviews... I have been told that my MCAT score was good... Overall I have a 30.
 
I'm sure it doesn't matter as long as your personal statement and essays for the schools are well written they will see that you know how to write.
 
Bounce, I would look at that L as an acronym for "Lordy, with a 36, I'm going to med school!"
 
bounce22 said:
Hey guys, my first post here. I was wondering if anybody had any experience or advice about how heavily med schools emphasize the writing sample score from the mcat. I took the MCAT in august and received a 36L. I'm a little worried 🙁
I got the same numerical mcat score but a M on the written and like the other poster said it was never issue. You have nothing to worry about.
 
Thanks a lot for your input. I feel a lot better 🙂 . I can definitely say my secondary essays are not "L" material and hopefully that will get me through.
 
bounce22 said:
Thanks a lot for your input. I feel a lot better 🙂 . I can definitely say my secondary essays are not "L" material and hopefully that will get me through.

Bounce 22, don't be worried at all!. Do you know how insignificant that L is next to a 36? I got an 8 in VR and I got accepted to a top tier school, so it they definitely look at more than just one section of your MCAT or whatever.
 
bounce22 said:
Hey guys, my first post here. I was wondering if anybody had any experience or advice about how heavily med schools emphasize the writing sample score from the mcat. I took the MCAT in august and received a 36L. I'm a little worried 🙁


That's a great score. Don't worry about the writing, because no one cares. Seriously, as long as you wrote a ps that isn't full of grammatical errors, is relatively coherent, and shows why you want to go into medicine, I'm sure you're golden. Hey, I'd take your score over mine anyday!!
 
You'll be fine. I had a M. It was never mentioned once. I was accepted at all five schools I applied to.
 
I recieved an L too. In my case I am guessing it was a legibility issue. The graders probably didn't want to spend a lot of time trying to decipher my chicken scratch. I am still debating if it's worth the $50 to have it rescored. I am just filling my secondaries out now, so I don't know if it will be an issue or not.
 
Yea, writing scores don't matter. It's a pain having to explain this to family members who saw my score report. They all think I "failed" the MCATs with a 37N. lol
 
Will Ferrell said:
Yea, writing scores don't matter. It's a pain having to explain this to family members who saw my score report. They all think I "failed" the MCATs with a 37N. lol

I received an 'E' on the writing sample. I think that's like the worst you can do.
 
10yearmedic said:
I recieved an L too. In my case I am guessing it was a legibility issue. The graders probably didn't want to spend a lot of time trying to decipher my chicken scratch. I am still debating if it's worth the $50 to have it rescored. I am just filling my secondaries out now, so I don't know if it will be an issue or not.

I think it might be a legibility issue too (lazy graders 🙄 ), 10yearmedic, and I actually did request the AAMC to rescore my test. The worst part is, it apparently takes 60 days for them to rescore and get it back to you. I called twice. They send it out to some company to look at it again, and all through the process, they're clueless as to its status. So, even requesting a rescore on the day scores came out (for us aug-mcaters and which I did do), that would be an ETA of mid-december. From fellow SDN'ers, though, it doesn't look like med schools care about the WS score. 🙂
 
tulane06 said:
An E? I thought the scale was from J-T for some reason.
It definetly goes from J-T i think the kid with the E is hallucinating...

And don't worry about the writing sample I was always told it doesn't matter so I didn't even put any effort into it even though I somehow got an R...
 
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