URGENT ADVICE NEEDED, Please read.......

[UrSexyLatinDr]

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Hey amigos/as, que pasa?

OK, I am asking this for a friend: He has taken the MCAT twice, first time he got a 26, this time ( April one) he got a 25 and a 5 on Verbal.. He is a student at a top 25 school with a gpa of 3.8, 3 years of Research and 3 years of hopsital volunteer. As you might think, he is confused and wanted some advice, should he even bother to apply or you guys think he might have a chance? Also, what would be some institutions he could apply to? Thanks guys...

Eduardo

P.S. He is not URM

 

[superdood68]

yipes... a 5 on verbal??
i dunno about this one =/

 

[sunflower79]

Couple questions first:
What was the writing score?
Why such a low verbal? i.e. are your writing skills ok?

If the writing score is decent (p+) then by all means apply. Just make sure you have a well-written personal statement (ah, the bane of my present existence). Your gpa and activities are stellar.

 

[Mr.D]

I don't know, but I think that the 5 on his verbal might be the Achilles heel that prevents him from getting in somewhere, even with his great GPA and ECs. Sometimes medical schools screen strictly by numbers alone (before even getting to your personal statement and ECs), so having such a low score on the verbal might just cut him off from some schools at the get go. I think a 7 on the verbal is borderline, but a 6 or a 5 is REALLY pushing it. I don't want to sound mean or anything, but I definitely think he should retake it. If he can bring it up to about an 8 (realistically within 3 months) and maintain everything else or better, he has a really good shot. I wish your buddy well.

 

[paean]

Your friend may need to take a prep class to learn more test taking skills.

If the low score is because he always runs out of time, he may want to spend the money to be tested for dyslexia and other learning disablities, to see if he qualifies for extra time or a quiet room or other accomodations.

 

[jmejia1]

My opinion would be that ANYONE, URM or not, should retake the MCAT if they score a 5VR or lower. If he had a 6, then there would be some hope.

 

[UrSexyLatinDr]

Hey

Thanks for the advice, this is the problem guys. On the first try, he got a 6 or 7 on the verbal, but on this one it went down. Also, he has taken two prep courses, Princeton Review and Berkeley's Review, I dont know whats wrong with him.....

Eduardo

 

[Bradleyp]

Sounds to me like he needs to take more verbal practice tests. The good thing about a five is he can pull it way up and look great, I pulled a seven to a ten. I simply practiced taking the verbal sections over and over while being timed. Eventually, I began to comprehend more and more while reading at a faster rate.
Also, he may want to look into a speed reading class.

 

[seaturtle112]

hey, apply to a ton of schools early, and don't be afraid of DO! he'll be a doc! i'm sure he'll be great!

 

[LizardKing]

your friend should not apply this cycle. friend should take MCAT, get at least a 7 or 8 on verbal, then apply.

 

[jmejia1]

There was girl at my school that kicked butt on the Sciences but scored a 5 on VR. She didn't get in to any M.D. schools, though she did get into an Osteopathic school.

I don't think it matters that he took it twice. He has to lift the VR score above that 5, otherwise, his only shot would be DO school.