low on VR. any comment?

[Birdy]

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I got 25M(12PS, 3VR, 10BS) in Aug last year. I sent my AMCAS before I got my MCAT. (I didn't see that 3 coming)

I took it again this year, and I got 29M(14PS, 6VR, 9BS).
My cul gpa is 3.0 and science gpa is 3.0 as well.
I went to uc berkeley engineering. (I know it's not a good reason for my low gpa)
I move to the US in summer of '98 from Korea.

What's my chance?
Should I apply now or 1-2 years later with more experiences?

I'm not planning to apply for the same schools this year, since I am more realistic than last time. So, I don't really have to show big difference COMPARED to last year. But I'm just unsure if my score is enough.

 

[EPA7X1]

My opinion is that you should raise the VR score before you reapply. 29 is not too shabby (I got in with a 29), but the low VR combined with (presumed) non-US origin might raise question about your english communication skills.

 

[TheMightyAngus]

My opinion is that you should raise the VR score before you reapply. 29 is not too shabby (I got in with a 29), but the low VR combined with (presumed) non-US origin might raise question about your english communication skills.

Usually you need to score at least an 8 in VR for most schools, although many have gotten accepted with 7's and 6's. If I were you I'd take the MCAT again in August and focus only on VR for the next two months. You're PS score is awesome. Since you're a non-native speaker, med schools do cut you a little slack but they have to be sure that communication isn't a problem.

 

[firebird69guy]

My opinion is that you should raise the VR score before you reapply. 29 is not too shabby (I got in with a 29), but the low VR combined with (presumed) non-US origin might raise question about your english communication skills.

Where did you get in, if I may ask?

 

[firebird69guy]

I got 25M(12PS, 3VR, 10BS) in Aug last year. I sent my AMCAS before I got my MCAT. (I didn't see that 3 coming)

I took it again this year, and I got 29M(14PS, 6VR, 9BS).
My cul gpa is 3.0 and science gpa is 3.0 as well.
I went to uc berkeley engineering. (I know it's not a good reason for my low gpa)
I move to the US in summer of '98 from Korea.

What's my chance?
Should I apply now or 1-2 years later with more experiences?

I'm not planning to apply for the same schools this year, since I am more realistic than last time. So, I don't really have to show big difference COMPARED to last year. But I'm just unsure if my score is enough.

IMO, I would retake. That will be a something ADCOMs see along with your GPA. However, if you are from Korea and English is your second language, there is hope for you to get in. You might want to include in your PS something about the language barrier, but that you can articulate well (if your writing score is good). You didn't mention your writing score though.. Sometimes this can offset at bad verbal score, but only for some schools.

 

[EPA7X1]

Where did you get in, if I may ask?

St. Louis University, University of Tennessee, East Tennessee State. I had a science GPA of 3.97 from a state school, and good volunteer and work experience. I had MCAT of 10,10,9, and whatever the lowest score on the written part is. I am a fairly crappy interviewee. My PS was quite corny, looking back.

 

[PrincetonRocks]

I think 29 is a solid, competitive score. The 6 on the Verbal, however, will hurt you. I was always told that to have a chance at most med schools you need at least a 8 on Verbal (which is the national average). Schools are putting a lot of emphasis on Verbal because high Verbal scores tend to strongly correlate with good Step 1 scores. If I may be honest, I think a 3.0 GPA will also hurt you; usually you want to aim for at least a 3.5. I know that some schools feed students through a computer system and weed out students based solely on numbers before sending secondaries (ie. UCI).

My recommendation to you is to apply to both allopathic and osteopathic schools concurrently. Your chances of getting into an osteopath is pretty good (ie. Western or Touro in Cali). I don't recommend taking the MCAT again...at least not yet. Try your luck with this admissions cycle first. Even with research and strong extracurriculars, I honestly don't think a 6 in Verbal will get you into an allopathic program since you're not considered an ethnic minority.

Best wishes...let me know if you need any help with personal statements. I'm doing research this summer in derm, so i'll be checking in periodically.

 

[t33sg1rl]

A 3 is the score you'd expect by randomly picking answers. I strongly suggest that you:
1. Call the AAMC and request that your exam be re-graded by hand.
2. Take a practice test and see how you do. If you get a 6 or above on the practice test, then something definitely happened...
With a score this low, the mostly likely cause is a frameshift error early in the section-if you skipped a question on the grid, then all of your answers prior to that will be wrong. If that happened, you can't have your score adjusted. 3. Re-take the MCAT. An acceptable score will basically prove to schools that the first Verbal score was a mistake due to filling in bubbles incorrectly.
4. Keep your spirits up. All is not lost! You have time to correct this.

 

[hottie]

if you have lots of community service..try University of Vermont...