Question on an unbalanced MCAT score

[sdnUser500]

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hi guys,

I'm just wondering what you all think the admissions committee will feel about an applicant with a 7 in VR. (total 30..12BS, 11PS, 7VR) do you think they'll cut me for an interview b/c there are TONS of others with atleast 9s or 10s in all sections?

Thanks for your input!

 

[CA med app]

I also have a smiliar score as you with a 7vr. I took the Aug mcat, so I'm not sure where I stand right now. I'm trying to be optimistic and hope for some interview invites by the end of this year.

What schools did you apply to? PM me if you want to talk more.

Have faith and Good Luck!

 

[kappasigMD41]

I wouldn't say they would automatically cut you off. However, understand that VR is the most important section, as it reflects your reading comprehension and the ability to digest a ton of material quickly. You will get the Bio stuff all over again first year anyway. I have a friend who took the MCAT 4 times to up his VR score (he always got 10 or 11 on BS & PS). He kept getting rejected, we think because he kept getting 4 or 5 on VR as english is his 2ns language (so 7 is not THAT bad). Last year he got a 9 on VR and was accepted to several places. I know this is somewhat subjective, but I can only tell you about situations I have seen. For now, I wouldn't worry about it. There is nothing you can do but wait for interviews and do your best. Good Luck!

 

[Mistress S]

Hey sdnuser500,

I have sort of the same situation as you, but reverse--I took the Aug 2003 MCAT and got a 12 VR, 7 PS, 10 BS (29Q). I was unhappy with the 7, so I retook this past Aug. My score went up, but it's still really unbalanced--15 VR, 8 PS, 9 BS (32P). I have heard that a 7 or below in any section looks bad since that is below the avg, but who knows--certainly a lot of people have stories about getting in with 7's. I'm glad I retook since I went up, if only a little bit, but it was a lot of work and stress, and if you've already applied all you can do is wait and hope. Anyway, I'm still waiting to hear something, so we'll see what happens.

 

[Code Brown]

However, understand that VR is the most important section, as it reflects your reading comprehension and the ability to digest a ton of material quickly.

No need to scare people. The VR is not the most important section everywhere. It all depends on who is looking at your application. It is true that a majority of people look at the VR section as the most important, but is it that 34% (assuming BS gets 33% and PS gets 33% - the essay gets the big "0" here), 50%, or 70% are the figures? No one knows. I was at an interview and talked to my interviewer about this and he said they treat the PS section more importantly than the VR (which was good for me 😀 ). It all depends on the person/school looking at your file. I have heard this about other schools as well. Personally, I would look at the PS section as well if I was on the adcom, but that's just me.

Back to my point, just look at the 7 as a flaw in your application. We all have at least one of these (being an older student, low GPA, not-to-many EC's, coming from a state school, having gone to a community college, etc.) in some form or another and people will discriminate based on this. However, not all of them will do so and these are the places you can get into. Each school is different and expects different things from it's applicants, which is why we all apply to a wide range of schools. Good luck!

 

[ezmoney1]

I honestly dont think you have to worry about your 7VR, considering you have a composite of 30. I have gotten an interview with a composite below 30, and a 7VR.

Most schools look at the whole person, not just the MCAT score.

 

[preetster]

I hope you're right! I have an unbalanced score as well (with a 7) so I'm worried about interviews. Oh well, can't do much but wait I guess 😀

 

[velo]

hi guys,

I'm just wondering what you all think the admissions committee will feel about an applicant with a 7 in VR. (total 30..12BS, 11PS, 7VR) do you think they'll cut me for an interview b/c there are TONS of others with atleast 9s or 10s in all sections?

Thanks for your input!

basically, they'd feel a lot better if it were a 30 composite that broke down 10VR 10BS 10PS

 

[derf]

hi guys,

I'm just wondering what you all think the admissions committee will feel about an applicant with a 7 in VR. (total 30..12BS, 11PS, 7VR) do you think they'll cut me for an interview b/c there are TONS of others with atleast 9s or 10s in all sections?

Thanks for your input!

are u foreign born or english as a second language. If so, I think a 7 or 8 doesn't look as bad to the adcom. We had a UCLA adcom member present to answer questions for students, and he said the the first thing the adcom looks at, even before GPA and MCAT, is the birthplace.

 

[TheElephant]

are u foreign born or english as a second language. If so, I think a 7 or 8 doesn't look as bad to the adcom. We had a UCLA adcom member present to answer questions for students, and he said the the first thing the adcom looks at, even before GPA and MCAT, is the birthplace.

So, is being a foreign born a disadvantage? What if your verbal score is good and English is your second language, what does that tell adcom?

 

[kappasigMD41]

No need to scare people. The VR is not the most important section everywhere. It all depends on who is looking at your application. It is true that a majority of people look at the VR section as the most important, but is it that 34% (assuming BS gets 33% and PS gets 33% - the essay gets the big "0" here), 50%, or 70% are the figures? No one knows. I was at an interview and talked to my interviewer about this and he said they treat the PS section more importantly than the VR (which was good for me 😀 ). It all depends on the person/school looking at your file. I have heard this about other schools as well. Personally, I would look at the PS section as well if I was on the adcom, but that's just me.

I am not trying to scare anyone, I am just restating what was said when I took the Princeton Review. They told us that VR was the most important section for the reasons previously stated. They didn't break it down into percentages or anything, but they made it seem that a high verbal score would be looked upon as more impressive than a high BS or PS. Also, why do you say PS is most important? I thought that was the easiest part by far, and it has much less to do with med school than the other two.

 

[adamj61]

coming from a state school

My state school is one of the best in the country....1/6 of all people who have degrees have one from UW...I don't think that is a flaw haha I think maybe you mean small state schools though

 

[derf]

So, is being a foreign born a disadvantage? What if your verbal score is good and English is your second language, what does that tell adcom?

I meant foreign born or ESL *relatively* new to this country and to the english language. This is just a circumstance that has been and may be considered by some adcoms.

 

[Code Brown]

I am not trying to scare anyone, I am just restating what was said when I took the Princeton Review. They told us that VR was the most important section for the reasons previously stated. They didn't break it down into percentages or anything, but they made it seem that a high verbal score would be looked upon as more impressive than a high BS or PS. Also, why do you say PS is most important? I thought that was the easiest part by far, and it has much less to do with med school than the other two.

I can feel the flames coming already, so I won't really say why. Not trying to avoid it, I just don't want to deal with 30 messages of bickering at the moment.

 

[Code Brown]

My state school is one of the best in the country....1/6 of all people who have degrees have one from UW...I don't think that is a flaw haha I think maybe you mean small state schools though

I hear ya and I go to a great state school as well, but believe it or not, there is something called elitism out there that is still going strong. If you didn't pay $30K per year, you're not one of "them". One of my interviewers at an un-named school even brought this up. I was startled, but not too surprised.

 

[sdnUser500]

thanks for all your help!

for all of you w/ 6 or 7VR scores , have faith! i just got invites for rush and nymc yesterday, so you guys will be fine!

on that note..any comments on either of those schools? does one have a better reputation/ program than the other?

 

[cammy1313]

thanks for all your help!

for all of you w/ 6 or 7VR scores , have faith! i just got invites for rush and nymc yesterday, so you guys will be fine!

on that note..any comments on either of those schools? does one have a better reputation/ program than the other?

YAY! Congrats on the interviews! I was just gonna say that I have an 8 in VR with a composite less than 30 and I have had 7 interviews to date. There is DEFINATELY hope! I have heard of people getting in with 6s in VR as well, just be confident and you will do fine.

P.S. I interviewed at NYMC also so if you have any Qs I'd be glad to answer 'em 🙂