Need some MCAT advice

[camng22]

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[AlteredScale]

Hello,

I took the MCAT in december and got an abysmal score on the verbal section with a 26 overall (11/5/10). I attribute that mostly because I skipped 11 questions(blindly guessed on them) because I ran out of time. Since then, I've been doing a lot of verbal and I'm confident that the minimum score I'll get is a 6 on VR if I don't skip any passages. My range for practice on my sciences were 10-12 and 5-7 on VR before my december mcat, and since then I've only been doing light review for sciences but full lengths VRs everyday.

My MCAT is next week and my question is, how much of an increase in my MCAT score would be considered good for DO schools? I have a 3.5 cgpa/sgpa and would like to apply this cycle. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

How have your VR scores been lately?

If you improve your VR to an 8+ and your science scores stay the same then you've hit a 30 and are solid for any DO program and even some MD programs, your GPA is solid too. Getting 11's on PS and BS is no easy task, so good job on that and good luck on test next week!

 

[Azmah]

I'm not sure which DO school you're aiming for specifically but some DO schools have averages of 24 and 25. Your GPA is pretty good and you have good scores for PS and BS so if you can up the verbal by 2-3 points then you should be able to get in a school of your choice (hopefully you're good at interviews and your extra currics are good).

Good luck with the MCAT, don't stress yourself out before you take the exam.

 

[camng22]

How have your VR scores been lately?

If you improve your VR to an 8+ and your science scores stay the same then you've hit a 30 and are solid for any DO program and even some MD programs, your GPA is solid too. Getting 11's on PS and BS is no easy task, so good job on that and good luck on test next week!

Thanks for your response. I actually don't think I'll hit 30 to be honest mainly because I rarely ever get 8s on the VR section. So I would say I've been getting more 6s and 7s than 5s(which I still got a few times) from EK/TPRH passages but it's been consistent in the 6-7 range.

 

[camng22]

I'm not sure which DO school you're aiming for specifically but some DO schools have averages of 24 and 25. Your GPA is pretty good and you have good scores for PS and BS so if you can up the verbal by 2-3 points then you should be able to get in a school of your choice (hopefully you're good at interviews and your extra currics are good).

Good luck with the MCAT, don't stress yourself out before you take the exam.

Don't you think there'd be cutoffs for the 5 in VR? I think that's an extremely low score and most schools wouldn't accept it

 

[AlteredScale]

Thanks for your response. I actually don't think I'll hit 30 to be honest mainly because I rarely ever get 8s on the VR section. So I would say I've been getting more 6s and 7s than 5s(which I still got a few times) from EK/TPRH passages but it's been consistent in the 6-7 range.

A 7-8 will be ideal for DO schools. A 6 is fine...I know from personal experience.
Just make sure to not waste your money on AZCOM, CCOM, Touro-CA/NY, RVUCOM or WesternCOMP since these schools are very stats heavy.

 

[AlteredScale]

Don't you think there'd be cutoffs for the 5 in VR? I think that's an extremely low score and most schools wouldn't accept it

A 5 in VR is a redflag to most DO schools, not saying it's impossible to get in, I do know of one applicant who was accepted to Marian this year with a 5VR. But unless you have some extenuating circumstance (being legit ESL) then you are doing the right thing to bump your score.

 

[camng22]

A 7-8 will be ideal for DO schools. A 6 is fine...I know from personal experience.
Just make sure to not waste your money on AZCOM, CCOM, Touro-CA/NY, RVUCOM or WesternCOMP since these schools are very stats heavy.

Also, how would you think schools would view if I get say a 27 (11/6/10) on my next attempt? I want to keep my options open since I might take the new MCAT.

 

[AlteredScale]

Also, how would you think schools would view if I get say a 27 (11/6/10) on my next attempt? I want to keep my options open since I might take the new MCAT.

I wouldn't retake the MCAT thrice even if it's a new form. You'll be solid with a 27.

 

[Azmah]

Don't you think there'd be cutoffs for the 5 in VR? I think that's an extremely low score and most schools wouldn't accept it

It is a pretty low score for verbal but I'm sure there are people accepted with a 5. I don't know how your application as a whole is. Maybe if you've got good extra currics the school might not care too much?

 

[chizledfrmstone]

Also, how would you think schools would view if I get say a 27 (11/6/10) on my next attempt? I want to keep my options open since I might take the new MCAT.

Why are you doing this to yourself?

 

[Goro]

A 26 is good Do NOT retake!

Apply broadly and skip the NY and CA Touros, AZCOM, CCOM and Western.

Hello,

I took the MCAT in december and got an abysmal score on the verbal section with a 26 overall (11/5/10). I attribute that mostly because I skipped 11 questions(blindly guessed on them) because I ran out of time. Since then, I've been doing a lot of verbal and I'm confident that the minimum score I'll get is a 6 on VR if I don't skip any passages. My range for practice on my sciences were 10-12 and 5-7 on VR before my december mcat, and since then I've only been doing light review for sciences but full lengths VRs everyday.

My MCAT is next week and my question is, how much of an increase in my MCAT score would be considered good for DO schools? I have a 3.5 cgpa/sgpa and would like to apply this cycle. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[camng22]

Why are you doing this to yourself?

I forgot to add that, just in case I void or do worse then I'd have to retake the 2015 mcat, no? If I feel good about the test next week, I'll score and if I score better , even if it's by 1 point, I'll keep my score

 

[camng22]

A 26 is good Do NOT retake!

Apply broadly and skip the NY and CA Touros, AZCOM, CCOM and Western.

Goro, even with a 5 in VR, you wouldn't advise to retake? I want to maximize my chance to get in some DO schools

 

[Goro]

Do not retake unless you fix that VR deficit.

Goro, even with a 5 in VR, you wouldn't advise to retake? I want to maximize my chance to get in some DO schools

 

[user3]

Goro, even with a 5 in VR, you wouldn't advise to retake? I want to maximize my chance to get in some DO schools

your numbers are competitive as is. Apply to 15-20 schools and you should get in somewhere.

 

[MightBeACylon439]

So here's the question I feel hasn't been adequately addressed on this thread: what have you done to increase your ability to score well in the verbal section? Have you tried kaplan/princeton review courses? Reading magazines like the economist and the scientific american and other selected reading lists to get used to the type of random/dense material that typically comprises MCAT passages?

 

[camng22]

So here's the question I feel hasn't been adequately addressed on this thread: what have you done to increase your ability to score well in the verbal section? Have you tried kaplan/princeton review courses? Reading magazines like the economist and the scientific american and other selected reading lists to get used to the type of random/dense material that typically comprises MCAT passages?

Well I was ranging from 5-7 on my practice scores and on top of that, I guessed blindly on 11 questions on the test so I scored on the low end of my practice range. I practiced full lengths VR sections every day for about 2 weeks since I received my score early january. Before my last mcat I only did 2-3 passages a day and sometimes I skipped days. So the only thing I improved during these two weeks is probably timing.

 

[YourMD]

Personally I would not retake with that score. You risk a decrease in your PS & BS sections. Since you're already registered, and have been studying I would take the exam However, If I feel just the slightest bit uneasy about my performance I would void. The risk is too great considering you already have a sufficient score for admission to most D.O programs. Listen to Goro!

 

[camng22]

I'm having second thoughts on scoring the exam next week. I'm not URM or I don't consider myself ESL. English is my second language but I was born and raised in the U.S. so I can't really blame that for my 5 in VR. How many schools do you guys think I am "qualified" for with the 5 in VR? I'm assuming the low tier schools so maybe 5-10 schools? I'm really disappointed because I know I can perform better than a 26 but at this point, I haven't taken any practice tests for more than a month since I've used up all of my tests so I can't gauge my score. I've scored 28/29 and even 31 on some of the AAMCs but that was more than a month ago. So it's a bit daunting to score the test next week even if I feel confident about the test.

I might consider taking the 2015 mcat because I want to get in the first time I apply and not having a "low" chance of getting into most DO programs. I rather be safe in applying to schools rather than being lucky, so what do you guys think?

 

[YourMD]

I'm having second thoughts on scoring the exam next week. I'm not URM or I don't consider myself ESL. English is my second language but I was born and raised in the U.S. so I can't really blame that for my 5 in VR. How many schools do you guys think I am "qualified" for with the 5 in VR? I'm assuming the low tier schools so maybe 5-10 schools? I'm really disappointed because I know I can perform better than a 26 but at this point, I haven't taken any practice tests for more than a month since I've used up all of my tests so I can't gauge my score. I've scored 28/29 and even 31 on some of the AAMCs but that was more than a month ago. So it's a bit daunting to score the test next week even if I feel confident about the test.

I might consider taking the 2015 mcat because I want to get in the first time I apply and not having a "low" chance of getting into most DO programs. I rather be safe in applying to schools rather than being lucky, so what do you guys think?

I think you just outlined more reasons you should not retake.

 

[camng22]

I think you just outlined more reasons you should not retake.

You're probably right. I've been extremely stressed these past few weeks considering this is the last time the old mcat is being offered and I only have one more chance to take it, and do well on it. So I've been doubting myself lately. I'll take the test next week and I'll decide whether I'll void or not. In the back of my mind though is if I do the same.. or even worse.. then I'll take the new MCAT. I surely cant do worse than a 5 on VR, and I feel like minimum I'll get for sciences is a 10 with room to get 11s or maybe even 12.

Sorry for the ranting, but I'll keep in mind what everyone said for next week. Thanks everyone !

 

[IslandStyle808]

I would suggest retaking this test because the 5 is more lethal that what people are making it out to be. You need to have a 7 or above in all sections for CUSOM, KCUMB and an 8 for PCOM (or you will get auto screened).