Is a 6 too low for a mcat section?

[BigOlLollipop]

Like I had posted before I received a 25 (6/11/8), I'm retaking it, even though people say I will be fine if i don't. However I still want to know that if I do not retake it, will the 6 in PS completely shut me out from D.O. and M.D. schools?

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[theyellowking]

I would retake it. Most schools would not look highly upon anything lower than an 8 or a 9.

 

[jsx1]

You should be fine for DO schools. While a 6 is not great, your other scores are good, specifically your VS.
VS supposedly gives the best indication on your critical thinking and predictor on how you will do on the boards.
I would not re-take it if I were you.

 

[DocKingh]

I would retake it. Anything lower than a 7 is a sign that you should retake. In the end it depends on which schools you apply to. The top schools are not going to like anything lower than an 8/9. I suggest you practice/study some more and retake it. Your verbal score is great and your BS score is not too bad. I think you will definitely be able to raise your score by retaking though. Keep in mind that a 30 is the average score for most test-takers. Good luck!

 

[baxt1412]

I would retake it. Anything lower than a 7 is a sign that you should retake. In the end it depends on which schools you apply to. The top schools are not going to like anything lower than an 8/9. I suggest you practice/study some more and retake it. Your verbal score is great and your BS score is not too bad. I think you will definitely be able to raise your score by retaking though. Keep in mind that a 30 is the average score for most test-takers. Good luck!

i've read that the average test is a 24 whereas the average applicant is about a 28. and average matriculant is 31.


https://www.aamc.org/students/download/361080/data/combined13.pdf.pdf page 7
https://www.aamc.org/download/321494/data/2013factstable17.pdf

 

[IslandStyle808]

You should be fine for DO schools. While a 6 is not great, your other scores are good, specifically your VS.
VS supposedly gives the best indication on your critical thinking and predictor on how you will do on the boards.
I would not re-take it if I were you.

Nope. BS score is the best predictor, VR is the worst and there are journal articles that support this.

 

[Gauss44]

Probably. Retake.

 

[DocKingh]

i've read that the average test is a 24 whereas the average applicant is about a 28. and average matriculant is 31.


https://www.aamc.org/students/download/361080/data/combined13.pdf.pdf page 7
https://www.aamc.org/download/321494/data/2013factstable17.pdf

Woah. Thanks for the links. I have never read those stats before. A Kaplan instructor once told me that a 30 is average. I guess he was talking about people who get accepted or something. Regardless, I feel that in order to be a competitive applicant one should at least score around 30. However, I've heard of people who score lower and get in. It depends a lot on what schools you apply to and how strong other characteristics of your application (GPA, ECs, leadership, etc.) are.

 

[baxt1412]

i'd say a 27 and you start having some doors open. 30 and you are much more likely. 35 and you are probably good to go just about anywhere. again this is all speculation though and obviously an application depends on more than just mcat.

all in all, even with any score you need to apply intelligently. if you have a 35 and apply to a lower tier, you won't even get an interview.

 

[jsx1]

Nope. BS score is the best predictor, VR is the worst and there are journal articles that support this.

ok. well I've read VR, as it is not something you can learn, unlike BS. but either way...

 

[AmishExpressWay]

OP retake the MCAT and do even better than you did before. It's not about being accepted into the crappiest MD/DO school, it's about doing the best you can and getting what you deserve; acceptance to the top tier of medical schools.

You can do it, just trust in the power of caffeine.