Unbalanced MCAT?

[hylin]

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New York Resident

Graduated from one of the most competitive colleges this May.
300 hours of hospital volunteer experience/have worked at a biomedical research lab. for 7 months.
Expect to apply for medical schools next year.
3.8 cGPA/3.91 BPCM GPA
MCAT: 33 (VR8/BS12/PS13)
I am not a native speaker and have been in the US for five years. In my opinion, VR is the most challenging section for a non-native speaker.

I have searched for schools based on my GPA/MCAT, and following schools are the ones I am mostly interested in:

Mayo Medical School
Brown University
Dartmouth College
University of Rochester
Emory University
University of Texas Southwestern
University of Wisconsin
Ohio State University
Einstein Medical College
Stony Brook University
University at Buffalo
Pennsylvania State University
University of North Carolina
University of Minnesota
University of Vermont
University of Colorado
University of Maryland.
University of Iowa
Oregon Health and Science University

I know that my composite MCAT score is sufficient for most of these schools, but not sure how much my weak VR score will affect on my application? I don't think it's a good idea to retake the MCAT because 1) The best score I will get on VR is probably a 9. 2) There is risk that I will receive lower scores on science sections, even VR section if I retake it. Do admission committees consider the fact that I am not a native speaker? VR is not just a linguistic challenge, but also a cultural barrier -- I think people from different cultural backgrounds may have different responses to some of the VR questions.

 

[Louis C.K.]

You'll be fine. You have great academics, you should focus on clinical and non-clinical ECs, essay writing abilities, and interviewing skills. An 8 isn't bad, especially as a non-native speaker. In the scope of an otherwise stellar application, you'll definitely get in somewhere.

 

[Louis C.K.]

Also, it looks like you have a lot of state schools that aren't so friendly to out of state applicants. Invest in the MSAR and apply to schools that are more keen on OOS applicants.

 

[Goro]

My list:


Dartmouth College
Gtown
GWU
University of Rochester
Emory University
Einstein Medical College
Stony Brook University
All other SUNYs
NYMC
Albany
Hofstra and all other new MD schools
University of Vermont
BU
VCU
EVMS
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Wake Forest
USC
Tulane
UMiami
Tufts
MCW
SLU
Creighton
Rosy Franklin
Rush

I concur; do not retake. Sometimes one has to apply, warts and all.

I know that my composite MCAT score is sufficient for most of these schools, but not sure how much my weak VR score will affect on my application? I don't think it's a good idea to retake the MCAT because 1) The best score I will get on VR is probably a 9.


We tend to view VR more critically if you were a native English speaker. But VR is the one sexction where you'll get cut some slack. A 9 isn't that bad.
Do admission committees consider the fact that I am not a native speaker? VR is not just a linguistic challenge, but also a cultural barrier -

Unfortunately, the answer for this is "tough".
- I think people from different cultural backgrounds may have different responses to some of the VR questions.