Unbalanced MCAT score

[Schadenfreude]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I recently received my MCAT score and, unfortunately, it's really unbalanced. I got a 30 (13/6/11). I am not ESL. I plan on retaking, but I wanted to know if there is any U.S. allopathic (or even osteopathic) school that may accept this score, considering the rest of my application below.

Undergrad: School in MI (also a MI resident)
Major: Biochemistry
cGPA/sGPA: 4.0

Research:
Done quite a bit. Few years involvement including competitive summer internships, poster/oral presentations, and publications.

ECs:
Non-clinical volunteering with a major organization involving 1 week overseas projects (Done 4, 5th will be coming up) as well as local projects
Patient transporter (250+ hours)
Hospice volunteer (75+ hours, ongoing)
Boys & Girls club tutor (20+ hours)
Physician shadowing (both clinical and surgical exposure; 150+ hours)
Gen Chem lab TA (1 semester)
Ambassador in Honors program

Finally, not URM or disadvantaged

UPDATE: Second MCAT score in (32), see post #11 below

 

[Doug Underhill]

You have a perfect cGPA and sGPA and your total MCAT is decent. Generally speaking, 4.0/30 applicants have a 78.3% chance of acceptance to at least one MD program. However, 6 VR is pretty bad, given that the average test taker scores somewhere between 8 and 9.

How did your practice AAMC full-length exams go? Were you scoring much higher? If you were, you may want to consider a retake.

 

[Catalystik]

I recently received my MCAT score and, unfortunately, it's really unbalanced. I got a 30 (13/6/11). I am not ESL. I plan on retaking, but I wanted to know if there is any U.S. allopathic (or even osteopathic) school that may accept this score, considering the rest of my application below.

Undergrad: School in MI (also a MI resident)
Major: Biochemistry
cGPA/sGPA: 4.0

Research:
Done quite a bit. Few years involvement including competitive summer internships, poster/oral presentations, and publications.

ECs:
Non-clinical volunteering with a major organization involving 1 week overseas projects (Done 4, 5th will be coming up) as well as local projects
Patient transporter (250+ hours)
Hospice volunteer (75+ hours, ongoing)
Boys & Girls club tutor (20+ hours)
Physician shadowing (both clinical and surgical exposure; 150+ hours)
Gen Chem lab TA (1 semester)
Ambassador in Honors program

Finally, not URM or disadvantaged

In general, you're fine for DO med schools. For MD, you'd want to seek out those that do not set a subscore minimum (Oakland, FIU, Colorado, UKMC have been in this category) or who only look at the composite (historically, Commonwealth in Pa and EVMS). Policies change from year to year so you'd have to call around to schools you'd like to target if explicit information isn't on the website.

 

[Schadenfreude]

You have a perfect cGPA and sGPA and your total MCAT is decent. Generally speaking, 4.0/30 applicants have a 78.3% chance of acceptance to at least one MD program. However, 6 VR is pretty bad, given that the average test taker scores somewhere between 8 and 9.

How did your practice AAMC full-length exams go? Were you scoring much higher? If you were, you may want to consider a retake.

FL AAMC Average: 32
AAMC 10-11 Avg.: 32
Section Averages: ~ 12/8/11

For verbal specifically, the range among the 8 AAMC practice exams was 7-9 with all 8s and 9s except for one 7.

In general, you're fine for DO med schools. For MD, you'd want to seek out those that do not set a subscore minimum (Oakland, FIU, Colorado, UKMC have been in this category) or who only look at the composite (historically, Commonwealth in Pa and EVMS). Policies change from year to year so you'd have to call around to schools you'd like to target if explicit information isn't on the website.

Thanks for the info. Any idea what my chances would be like at any of the MI schools with my current MCAT score?

 

[Goro]

My get tells me that the VR6 will be lethal, especially if you're a native English speaker. A 6 is in the < 10th %ile for all schools.

You might want to try an app cycle, warts and all, after contacting some Admissions deans to ask if you're competitive at their schools.

Your chances for DO and much greater than at MD schools.

 

[Catalystik]

Any idea what my chances would be like at any of the MI schools with my current MCAT score?

Sorry, no recent information. Besides checking websites or calling, you might also take a look at this year's School-Specific threads to see if comments are made about subscore cutoffs.

 

[Schadenfreude]

My get tells me that the VR6 will be lethal, especially if you're a native English speaker. A 6 is in the < 10th %ile for all schools.

You might want to try an app cycle, warts and all, after contacting some Admissions deans to ask if you're competitive at their schools.

Your chances for DO and much greater than at MD schools.

Yeah, that's my thought as well. I'm currently studying for a retake with the help of a tutor to see if I can boost my VR score.

Do DO schools have subscore cutoffs? I have the MSAR, but I couldn't find any information on MCAT statistics for DO schools.

Sorry, no recent information. Besides checking websites or calling, you might also take a look at this year's School-Specific threads to see if comments are made about subscore cutoffs.

Ok will do. Thanks again.

 

[Goro]

I think my school cuts off below 6, others I know cut off at 5.

Unfortunately, there is no "DOSAR" or "COMSAR",

Yeah, that's my thought as well. I'm currently studying for a retake with the help of a tutor to see if I can boost my VR score.

Do DO schools have subscore cutoffs? I have the MSAR, but I couldn't find any information on MCAT statistics for DO schools.



Ok will do. Thanks again.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Bump. Was wondering if anyone else had some insight.

 

[Schadenfreude]

So I've been going through the MSAR extensively. A 7 in VR seems to be the 10th percentile for a fair number of schools. Aside from the Puerto Rican schools, the only schools I believe that have 6 at the 10th percentile are UNM, FSU, Marshall, and Howard. Any idea what my chances would be like at these schools?

Additionally, it seems my PS score is at or above the 90th percentile for practically all of the schools that have 6 or 7 as the 10th percentile for VR. Would this perhaps help to compensate for my low VR score?

 

[Schadenfreude]

BUMP!

So today I received my new MCAT score. I'm pleased that it is now more balanced: 32 (13/9/10).

As of now, I'm thinking of applying to:

Michigan (do I have a realistic chance here or would an application just be a donation?)
MSUCHM
OUWB
Wayne
Central
Western

I have the MSAR, but I'm not sure which OOS schools would be best to apply to given the info in the OP. Would appreciate some guidance on this.

 

[gyngyn]

BUMP!

So today I received my new MCAT score. I'm pleased that it is now more balanced: 32 (13/9/10).

As of now, I'm thinking of applying to:

Michigan (do I have a realistic chance here or would an application just be a donation?)
MSUCHM
OUWB
Wayne
Central
Western

I have the MSAR, but I'm not sure which OOS schools would be best to apply to given the info in the OP. Would appreciate some guidance on this.

Look for schools that matriculate at least 15% OOS with a median MCAT about 30-31. These will tend to be private. For example: Chicago Med, NY Med, SLU, Jeff...

 

[Schadenfreude]

Thanks a lot @gyngyn!

Would like to also hear from @Goro, @Catalystik, @LizzyM, and, of course, anyone else with some insight.

 

[Catalystik]

BUMP!

So today I received my new MCAT score. I'm pleased that it is now more balanced: 32 (13/9/10).

As of now, I'm thinking of applying to:

Michigan (do I have a realistic chance here or would an application just be a donation?)
MSUCHM
OUWB
Wayne
Central
Western

I have the MSAR, but I'm not sure which OOS schools would be best to apply to given the info in the OP. Would appreciate some guidance on this.

Congrats on the score increase and improved verbal.

As for applying to UMichigan, there's nothing wrong with including a reach if your ECs are in perfect accord with their mission.