Low Verbal?? HELP!

[sumwon1]

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Hi, I wanted to know how heavily weighted is the verbal score on admission for DO schools. I scored a 27R (11P, 6V, 10B, WS-R) on the mcat and have a ~3.70 gpa. I have over 300+ hrs of clinical exp and am shadowing 2 docs (1 MD, 1 DO), doing biomedical research, and active in various orgs around campus. Although my composite score is ok, will the schools frown upon my low verbal? will my R on writing compensate for any of it?

Also, I really want to stay in CA and want to know what my chances are for Tuoro and esp. Western?? Thanks!!

 

[JShineDoc]

I've heard that bio is the most important section and verbal is the least (besides the ws). I got a 7 on verbal and have been accepted to 3 DO schools. I received interview invites from both CA schools but canceled due to my FL acceptances. Your overall score is good so I dont think you'll have a prob.

 

[DadOf2Boys]

You do have some great stats otherwise and a 27 is above average for DO schools. The average is 26, I think.

 

[MossPoh]

I've heard that bio is the most important section and verbal is the least (besides the ws). I got a 7 on verbal and have been accepted to 3 DO schools. I received interview invites from both CA schools but canceled due to my FL acceptances. Your overall score is good so I dont think you'll have a prob.

Its actually a bit of the opposite. Physical sciences is the least important. Verbal is the most with Bio being a close second. There is a correlation, albeit a minor one with verbal score and board scores. Reading is pretty important. 😉 I think the OP has a high enough gpa where it doesn't matter. In the ideal world a nice equal distribution is best though.

 

[slim78]

Its actually a bit of the opposite. Physical sciences is the least important. Verbal is the most with Bio being a close second. There is a correlation, albeit a minor one with verbal score and board scores. Reading is pretty important. 😉 I think the OP has a high enough gpa where it doesn't matter. In the ideal world a nice equal distribution is best though.

This is what one of my Kaplan teachers told me.

 

[pamolive]

We have pretty much the exact same score, except I got a 7 on my verbal section. I think you'll be fine for western and touro ca. I would apply to some MD schools too though, if I were you. Maybe temple, or suny buffalo? I'd do some CA mds too just in case. You have a great GPA and that will really help you. Have you thought about retaking the mcat?

 

[CDO2012]

I think your fine... I know someone who scored a 13-5-12 and got into MD school... but if you want to improve try reading magazines like the economist, they help you prepare ... If you decide to keep the score, just make sure you have a reason for the lower score in that section, interviewers might target it...

 

[NjD00]

I think your fine... I know someone who scored a 13-5-12 and got into MD school... but if you want to improve try reading magazines like the economist, they help you prepare ... If you decide to keep the score, just make sure you have a reason for the lower score in that section, interviewers might target it...

I could easily see someone with a 5 in verbal getting into MD school (snicker)

 

[Jesus DO]

Hi, I wanted to know how heavily weighted is the verbal score on admission for DO schools. I scored a 27R (11P, 6V, 10B, WS-R) on the mcat and have a ~3.70 gpa. I have over 300+ hrs of clinical exp and am shadowing 2 docs (1 MD, 1 DO), doing biomedical research, and active in various orgs around campus. Although my composite score is ok, will the schools frown upon my low verbal? will my R on writing compensate for any of it?

Also, I really want to stay in CA and want to know what my chances are for Tuoro and esp. Western?? Thanks!!

Hi sumwon1,

Like you, verbal was my worst score (7) - however just speaking to some of the admission people at my school, having 6 isn't all bad. You have very decent Bio and Physical scores to lift you up. However I go to a very laid back school, so I fear you will have to take my comment with a grain of salt.

So I think you're going to be all right with applying. You might have some problems applying to allopathic programs with a 6 in verbal - but if you are interviewed and smoke your interview, I'm sure you'll have a shot with alloprograms too. Don't rule your self out of anything. A 6 is going to make it a little rough, but you can certaintly get more than a few interviews at osteopathic and allopathic programs.

Best of wishes!

 

[Saregamapadanis]

I think your fine... I know someone who scored a 13-5-12 and got into MD school... but if you want to improve try reading magazines like the economist, they help you prepare ... If you decide to keep the score, just make sure you have a reason for the lower score in that section, interviewers might target it...

You are kidding right? Did he know the Adcom member or something? I have a 13-10-12 , I couldn't get in to an MD school.

 

[justletmeinplz]

You are kidding right? Did he know the Adcom member or something? I have a 13-10-12 , I couldn't get in to an MD school.

You are kidding right? What's your GPA?

 

[fisko82]

Its actually a bit of the opposite. Physical sciences is the least important. Verbal is the most with Bio being a close second. There is a correlation, albeit a minor one with verbal score and board scores. Reading is pretty important. 😉 I think the OP has a high enough gpa where it doesn't matter. In the ideal world a nice equal distribution is best though.

I know I've heard these same rumors and about certain studies that indicate that verbal most directly correlates to success on step 1, but I've never seen any of these reported studies (anyone got a link?). The often quoted study is the following:

"The Biological Sciences section most directly correlates to success on the USMLE Step 1 exam, with a correlation coefficient of .553 vs .491 for Physical Sciences and .397 for Verbal Reasoning. [5] Predictably, MCAT composite scores also correlate with USMLE Step 1 success. " -wiki
​

Thus, I'll remain skeptical until I see something that suggests verbal is indeed the most important section. In fact, I think it's largely test prep companies that perpetuate the verbal rumor, perhaps to encourage pre-meds to take their courses and learn their verbal strategies, so they can then do well in "the most important section!"

 

[majik1213]

You are kidding right? Did he know the Adcom member or something? I have a 13-10-12 , I couldn't get in to an MD school.

Maybe it has something to do with your profile:

and I quote,
"Brief Profile:
Nothing extravagant. "

 

[majik1213]

Its actually a bit of the opposite. Physical sciences is the least important. Verbal is the most with Bio being a close second. There is a correlation, albeit a minor one with verbal score and board scores. Reading is pretty important. 😉 I think the OP has a high enough gpa where it doesn't matter. In the ideal world a nice equal distribution is best though.

that may be true, BUT "the Biological Sciences section most directly correlates to success on the USMLE Step 1 exam, with a correlation coefficient of .553 vs .491 for Physical Sciences and .397 for Verbal Reasoning." (source).

oops .. looks like fisko82 beat me to the punch

 

[Saregamapadanis]

Maybe it has something to do with your profile:

and I quote,
"Brief Profile:
Nothing extravagant. "

yea maybe thats it. I am sure there are many more qualified students competing for allopathic schools.

 

[RySerr21]

You are kidding right? Did he know the Adcom member or something? I have a 13-10-12 , I couldn't get in to an MD school.

dude your GPA is super super low, especially for an MD school. its not that shocking you didn't get in. by now we all know how they system works, more so MD than for DO. for some of the schools you applied to I wouldnt be surprised if they looked at you GPA and just but it in the reject pile w/o looking at what else you had to offer. i'm not saying thats how it should be nor am i saying you aren't qualified to be a physician because of your GPA.

that being said. nice job on the MCAT. i am very jealous. and congrats on your acceptances.

 

[Saregamapadanis]

dude your GPA is super super low, especially for an MD school. its not that shocking you didn't get in.

yea thanks for your opinion, thats exactly what my pre med advisor said even before I applied. Don't be jealous, you don't want my situation unless you don't care whether you are a DO or MD, if you want an MD degree, you should do well enough to get into an MD school. Good luck 😀👍

 

[Saregamapadanis]

Hi, I wanted to know how heavily weighted is the verbal score on admission for DO schools. I scored a 27R (11P, 6V, 10B, WS-R) on the mcat and have a ~3.70 gpa. I have over 300+ hrs of clinical exp and am shadowing 2 docs (1 MD, 1 DO), doing biomedical research, and active in various orgs around campus. Although my composite score is ok, will the schools frown upon my low verbal? will my R on writing compensate for any of it?

Just apply and see, if it doesn't get you in, you can re-take the mcat and apply again.

 

[CDO2012]

You are kidding right? Did he know the Adcom member or something? I have a 13-10-12 , I couldn't get in to an MD school.

No I'm not kidding... I know admissions committees look at more then just test scores... he had everything going for him and is very personable. The numbers are a big part, but so is the type of person

 

[zhousilai]

hey i have the exat same stats as you!?! and got interview to all the schools i applied to, touro-NV, touro-CA and western
and got into western, first interview and first choice, so i rejected the other two interview invites
so i would say don't worry about it
but i was able to explain my descrepencies during my interview, i mentioned my low verbal and told them that i wasn't a native speaker, and they just said (from my GPA) looks like i can communicate and listen well in english ^^ good luck

 

[CHAINCHOMPER]

Does getting a 5 in verbal really mean anything when physical and biological are quite high? I thought schools only care for the total score and not each individual parts

 

[goodrap]

I got 11-5(verbal)-11 L with 3.75gpa

I have got into DMU and NSU.
and waitlisted to MSU with a guaranteed spot for next year

 

[littlealex]

I've heard that bio is the most important section and verbal is the least (besides the ws). I got a 7 on verbal and have been accepted to 3 DO schools. I received interview invites from both CA schools but canceled due to my FL acceptances. Your overall score is good so I dont think you'll have a prob.

Verbal is known to be the most heavily weighted section. In fact, UCLA's formula is roughly 2x Verbal + PS + BS + 10x GPA.
Verbal is the one section you cannot truly prepare for, and it has the highest correlation to the Step1 test the MDs have to take (I don't know of any studies DO specific, but you can probably find some). Consequently most MD schools do not consider any verbal scores below an 8.

The best way to improve your verbal is probably just to read a lot of really difficult literature. I recommend journals like Science and Nature, work through the articles focusing on the IDEAS behind the words. Remember that Verbal is a reading Comprehension test. If you read it and understood it, you'll answer the questions well.

 

[fisko82]

Verbal is known to be the most heavily weighted section. In fact, UCLA's formula is roughly 2x Verbal + PS + BS + 10x GPA.
Verbal is the one section you cannot truly prepare for, and it has the highest correlation to the Step1 test the MDs have to take (I don't know of any studies DO specific, but you can probably find some). Consequently most MD schools do not consider any verbal scores below an 8.

The best way to improve your verbal is probably just to read a lot of really difficult literature. I recommend journals like Science and Nature, work through the articles focusing on the IDEAS behind the words. Remember that Verbal is a reading Comprehension test. If you read it and understood it, you'll answer the questions well.

Please see post 12 in this very thread, or please provide links that support this verbal myth. Thank you.

 

[littlealex]

Please see post 12 in this very thread, or please provide links that support this verbal myth. Thank you.

Fisko is totally right. I stand corrected; I also cannot find any supporting evidence. I will say that I had read a study in the past that showed verbal had the strongest correlation, but I can't find it now.

Anyway, just study hard and get to a 10/10/10, and then there'd be no worries about which section matters more.

 

[fisko82]

Fisko is totally right. I stand corrected; I also cannot find any supporting evidence. I will say that I had read a study in the past that showed verbal had the strongest correlation, but I can't find it now.

Anyway, just study hard and get to a 10/10/10, and then there'd be no worries about which section matters more.

😳

I hope my response wasn't viewed as snarky. I've just been hearing on here and elsewhere, for about 6 months now, that "verbal is the most important section evar!", "gotta do the best on verbal or you're doomed for failure", "do well on verbal and the feeling you'll get is better than sex!" ... and it drives me batty, because you guessed it, my lowest scored section was verbal. So dammit, I'm not believing these rumors until someone shows me the evidence!

 

[littlealex]

It's okay. It's my lowest too =(
But evidently it didn't keep either of us from getting in. So hurrah!

 

[MisterInBlack]

I could easily see someone with a 5 in verbal getting into MD school (snicker)

If you look into MSAR, there are schools that accepted people with a 3 in any particular section.

 

[sumwon1]

thank you for all the feedbacks, advices, replies, etc! i've been told by a few people that verbal is the most important section that med school look at, but i wasn't sure if it's just an allopathic thing or whether it applies to d.o. schools too. i'll be applying to a few allo schools, but i'm not holding my breath on it. i'm perfectly content with being a d.o. - i like their philosophy on medicine.

hopefully my verbal won't be a big deterrance like everyone said.