In the secondary where it asks you to "explain anything not mentioned in your application" (optional)...

[ayjaystud]

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...should i bring up how my being an immigrant whose English is a 2nd language played a role for my really low CARS (122) score?

 

[Catalystik]

In the secondary where it asks you to "explain anything not mentioned in your application" (optional)...

...should i bring up how my being an immigrant whose English is a 2nd language played a role for my really low CARS (122) score?

When did you begin to learn English? How many years were you residing in the US before you took the MCAT?

 

[ayjaystud]

When did you begin to learn English? How many years were you residing in the US before you took the MCAT?

I moved to the US when I was 18, and then attended college right away. I'm a non-trad applicant and have been in the US for 10 years.

 

[deleted966164]

Lolz, I’ve been here 14 years and my cars was 124...

 

[Brain Whisperer]

I moved to the US when I was 18, and then attended college right away. I'm a non-trad applicant and have been in the US for 10 years.

10 years is plenty of time to get good at a language so if anything, mentioning it will make you look even worse, in my opinion

 

[Catalystik]

I moved to the US when I was 18, and then attended college right away. I'm a non-trad applicant and have been in the US for 10 years.

The AMCAS application lists your Country of Birth, Childhood Primary Residence, Language Proficiency & Use in the Childhood Home, Secondary School, and colleges, so it will evident from that information that you were not a not a native-English speaker. Having been in the US 10 years, IMO you'd be unlikely to get leeway for a low CARS score, so mentioning it explicitly in a Secondary essay is unlikely to help you.

 

[deleted966164]

10 years is plenty of time to get good at a language so if anything, mentioning it will make you look even worse, in my opinion

Yes and no. A 2013 study revealed the following:

The researchers found that native adult speakers of English understand an average of 20,000 to 30,000 vocabulary words, and native speakers learn about one word a day from ages 16 to 50.
In contrast, non-native speakers living in English-speaking countries for many years learn 2.5 words a day, over twice the rate of native speakers. Even with that breakneck speed, researchers found that adults know on average 10,000-20,000 words less than their native counterparts, or a native English speakers’ 8- to 14-year-old vocabulary level.

 

[Brain Whisperer]

Yes and no. A 2013 study revealed the following:

The researchers found that native adult speakers of English understand an average of 20,000 to 30,000 vocabulary words, and native speakers learn about one word a day from ages 16 to 50.
In contrast, non-native speakers living in English-speaking countries for many years learn 2.5 words a day, over twice the rate of native speakers. Even with that breakneck speed, researchers found that adults know on average 10,000-20,000 words less than their native counterparts, or a native English speakers’ 8- to 14-year-old vocabulary level.

It's not just 10 years of being in an English speaking country, it's 10 years while 1. coming here relatively young allowing you to learn easier and faster 2. coming here and going to university as opposed to just looking for work. CARS is also about understanding the meaning, and whilst having a wider vocabulary can help, it's not the main score defining factor. Plus it's not like he's explaining why he didn't get 130+, 122 is only 25th percentile.

 

[ayjaystud]

The AMCAS application lists your Country of Birth, Childhood Primary Residence, Language Proficiency & Use in the Childhood Home, Secondary School, and colleges, so it will evident from that information that you were not a not a native-English speaker. Having been in the US 10 years, IMO you'd be unlikely to get leeway for a low CARS score, so mentioning it explicitly in a Secondary essay is unlikely to help you.

Sounds good. So it sounds like it's better to just leave the optional question blank than attract any unwanted attention?

 

[Catalystik]

Sounds good. So it sounds like it's better to just leave the optional question blank than attract any unwanted attention?

Yes. Or find something else to mention in that space.