The Official "What does having a 9 mean" when applying to top-tier schools thread

[physiologyguy]

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Many of us have one on an otherwise spotless transcript and 3.9+ grades.

When applying to the Dukes and Harvards, what does this mean?

Does the subject matter? (a 34 with a 9 in V versus 34 with a 9 in BS?)

 

[deleted106503]

If you had a choice of sciences vs. VR for double digit scores, I'd go with the sciences. I don't know how you could have a 3.9+ GPA and not be expected to get at least a 10 in the sciences, but that's just me...(not an adcom member, lol)

 

[physiologyguy]

well, yes, my situation is the 34 with 9 in verbal...

 

[deleted106503]

well, yes, my situation is the 34 with 9 in verbal...

I'd say that's fine. My cousin got a 34 with a 9 in VR (he was pissed about that 9) and is finishing up his MD/PhD at UT-Houston. It's not the greatest school. He went to UPenn for undergrad and did okay, but didn't get accepted for med school there.

 

[superwillis]

I'd say that's fine. My cousin got a 34 with a 9 in VR (he was pissed about that 9) and is finishing up his MD/PhD at UT-Houston. It's not the greatest school. He went to UPenn for undergrad and did okay, but didn't get accepted for med school there.

Hey, similar story here, I go to UPenn, got a 36 with a 9 in verbal. Your cousin's story gives me hope!

 

[drslc134]

n/a

 

[TMP-SMX]

so this has just made me a bit more uneasy...

in my case:
34N w/ an 11 in VR, but a 10 in Bio...

what do y'all think?

What are you uneasy about? That's a great score. There are very very few schools with median MCAT scores above 34. The N doesn't matter much at all anyway.

 

[IckeyShuffle]

What are you uneasy about? That's a great score. There are very very few schools with median MCAT scores above 34. The N doesn't matter much at all anyway.

i agree with this. i think once you above a 30 the EC's become the most important.

 

[theunremarkable]

crap, what about 2 9s. . PS and VR. . bah!

 

[deleted106503]

Hey, similar story here, I go to UPenn, got a 36 with a 9 in verbal. Your cousin's story gives me hope!

Are you applying MD/PhD, too? That's the only way he applied because he couldn't afford more loans for regular MD since he had to take out loans for UPenn.

 

[superwillis]

The thought had crossed my mind. But I'm not applying until next summer so I have time to decide 😉

 

[solitude]

Many of us have one on an otherwise spotless transcript and 3.9+ grades.

When applying to the Dukes and Harvards, what does this mean?

Does the subject matter? (a 34 with a 9 in V versus 34 with a 9 in BS?)

I think it will depend on a lot on the other factors. You have to keep in mind that the averages at these schools are 35-36, so you're right about in the range, but will likely need a good push (e.g. your 3.9) to get you in the door. Do adcoms look at the subscores, sure. Do they really care about the breakdown *that* much? Who knows.