MCAT score?

[sammy2003]

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Thoughts/suggestions?

Ugrad (foreign degree - grading system is way different = no GPA)
Senior year at US college (English is second language) 3.483
Grad (US college) 3.957
Postbacc 4.000 (organic, physics) enrolled in Ed.D. program
AP in gen bio

Waiting for MCAT score

Nontraditional and foreign (Indiana resident)

ECs:
Director of nonprofit
Board of Directors for several nonprofits
Research associate
Technical writer
Lab assistant
Volunteer 2 yrs in ER
Shadowed 2 physicians
One 1st author, one 2nd
Several more…

What kind of MCAT score do I need to get in to Indiana U? I interview pretty well. Took MCAT in July, do I retake if my score is low (September)?

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[sammy2003]

Just got my scores:
11/7/9 verbal/phy/bio = 27M

 

[sammy2003]

anyone have any idea?

 

[richse]

Just got my scores:
11/7/9 verbal/phy/bio = 27M

I'm really surprised at your score distribution because english is your second language. What do you think the problem is with the PS and BS sections? A 27M is on the low end but you still have a shot with a good GPA and the graduate work will probably help out some. If you have trouble I would suggest studying really hard for the bio and physics or taking a prep course and retaking the MCAT. Your gpa definitely indicated that you have the ability to do better on those sections and your verbal score, in my opinion, is amazing for someone who didn't grow up speaking english.

Someone else is going to need to chime in on the specifics of applying as a foreign studen. I don't know anything about that, but I would assume you need to have at least taken the pre-req classes in the US.

 

[Food]

This would be a lot easier to predict if your distribution was 11/7/9 instead (PS, V, BS).

If your verbal was about a 7, with 10+ in the sciences, med schools would find consistency with the English as Second language aspect. I think if you can hit a 32+ you would be guaranteed some interviews...but I am giving you worse possible scenario. You might only need the 27 to get an interview.

I had a friend who was an international student and English was not his first language either (though he was from Pakistan and English is a widely spoken language there). He had a 32 MCAT and only interviewed at once place (Vanderbilt) and he was accepted there. The difference is he was an undergrad, with a degree from the U of Florida, so he had a GPA...but since you are non-trad (since you have a graduate degree) + international, I think you'd be fine. I'd recommend retaking though, to improve your sciences. A 7 in PS, and a 9 in BS will be tough to deal with.

 

[sammy2003]

well i am a technical writer and i was mostly surprised by the writing scores. most people can't tell i'm foreign when talking to me; they're surprised when i tell them. what's also strange is that i always did the best on physics on the practice exams. my advisor didn't recommend i retake because of my good grades and ECs. frankly i think hte major problem with the PS/BS is that it's been 10 years since i took bio and chem. i took organic in the us and physics, but tested out of bio and transferred my gen chem. i have about 50 ugrad/grad credits from the us, and almost all my reqs (all except chem) are from here.

thanks guys, i really appreciate your advice!

ps. what is the deal with the rec letters? do they not tell you what to do with them? seems like you just have to figure all that out for yourself. IU does not have a sec application so i am just sending the letters directly per my advisor's recommendation. i am going for 4 of them per an old email from the admissions office. all their responses are very cryptical... thanks!

 

[sammy2003]

i just got an interview! 😀