Verbal 7, but rest of numbers ok

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slick27

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May 2008

MCAT 2008 29O
PS 10
VR 7
BS 12
WS O


May 2005 28M
PS 11
VR 8
BS 9
WS M

GPA 3.75

I have worked as a CNA and EMT for two years now, do you think I have a chance to get in?
 
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slick27 said:
MCAT 29O
PS 10
VR 7
BS 12
WS O

GPA 3.75

I have worked as a CNA and EMT for two years now, do you think I have a chance to get in?
Click to expand...

Your numbers are eerily similar to mine before my latest MCAT. Can you consider taking it again? That 7 will hurt you, especially in places that screen pre-secondary...some places require at least 8's in all sections. You definitely still have a chance, but retaking would help. I'll let others with more knowledge in this field give you more details on schools, chances, etc.
 
I just want to get moving forward in my life. i have already taken two years off. i don't want to retake the MCAT. I'm even considering nursing as a career if i don't get in.
 
You're very competitive for Osteopathic school and would likely have very nice choices amongst DO schools.

For Allopathic, a 7 in VR is a significant weakness. You have a chance of getting in, but it's going to be tough (unless you're from a state whose state school is not that selective). Which state are you a Resident of?
 
i'm from Wisconsin. the university of wisconsin is pretty selective, even for state residents. also medical college of wisconsin has a 8 min requirement.
 
If I were you, I'd definitely give it a shot. And if it doesn't work out, you've got the DO route, which is also a great plan. Put your stats into the spreadsheet and see what it spits out. Maybe post a preliminary school list here for some feedback.... And I would also go to mdapps and put in the 7 and see what schools interviewed/accepted people with a 7 in one section. MDapps is self-reported, of course, but it might give you some insight into which schools won't automatically screen you out.
 
You're right: UW is tough to get in and is unlikely to take anyone with a score of 7 in any section. Didn't know about MCW's requirements, though.

If I were you, I'd focus on DO schools. You can apply to a few MD schools, but it's not worth the time or money to apply to a lot. I don't recommend the shotgun approach; people tend to do it when they are not confident in their application, but it's usually not a good idea. Consider: RFUMS, NYMC, Tulane and Drexel.

Do you have any outside talents, such as renowned musician, athlete, etc? That can help.

Otherwise, I recommend applying to the DO schools you like best. I wouldn't be surprised if you got into to most (if not all) of them.
 
special talents...not really. i have run a couple marathons (two), but that is about it.
 
abcabc1 said:
If I were you, I'd focus on DO schools. You can apply to a few MD schools, but it's not worth the time or money to apply to a lot. I don't recommend the shotgun approach; people tend to do it when they are not confident in their application, but it's usually not a good idea. Consider: RFUMS, NYMC, Tulane and Drexel.
Click to expand...

I definitely agree. You could also try EVMS, VCU and Creighton. And I think I recall someone posting that was from CA (i.e., OOS) and got into Wayne State with a 6 in VR. Granted, I don't remember anything else about their stats/application, and who knows if it's true, but it's definitely something to look into. :luck:
 
I don't really have any research experience....all i have is two years working full time as CNA and volunteering at my local fire department as a EMT for two years. do you think Drexel, NYMC....all the other schools you named will still consider me. i know most of the med schools look for research expereicnes now a days.
 
slick27 said:
I don't really have any research experience....all i have is two years working full time as CNA and volunteering at my local fire department as a EMT for two years. do you think Drexel, NYMC....all the other schools you named will still consider me. i know most of the med schools look for research expereicnes now a days.
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I don't think the lack of research experience will be a problem. They're not research-heavy schools, and should find your great clinical experience attractive. Just write the best essays you can and cross your fingers. :luck:
 
Keep in mind EVMS and VCU are public schools. They may take OOS applicants, but your numbers are not going to be high enough to be considered. I would not recommend any public schools besides Wisconsin.


Research is not that important for MD programs at middle tier schools. It comes into play more for the higher end schools and, especially, MD/PhD.
 
I'm thinking about applying to:

Drexel
NYMC
Creighton
George Washington
MCW
Kirksville College of Osteopathic
Des Monies University
Midwestern - Chicago

What do you think?
 
That's fine. Unless you have ties to Creighton or are Jesuit (which is kind of a tie to Creighton), you should eliminate it from your list.
 
abcabc1 said:
That's fine. Unless you have ties to Creighton or are Jesuit (which is kind of a tie to Creighton), you should eliminate it from your list.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. I know a couple of people who got in who weren't Jesuit or had any ties to Creighton, but I think they may have gone to Loyola undergrad in Chicago, which is a Jesuit school as well. So perhaps that's the "tie." Accordingly, abcabc1 is likely on the money. Admittedly, I'm not as familiar with Creighton's ideal applicant.

Also, for GW you'll get less bang for your buck since GW, Georgetown and BU receive the most applications in the country. But if you've got good health care policy or global health ECs, definitely go for it. They look for that in particular.
 
oh, i forgot to add Saint Louis University to the list.
 
I think RFU would be a good school to put on your list as well. It's mid-way between Chicago and WI. They do seem to be trying to up their MCAT stats, but I would still think you've got a shot there (possibly even a little better of a shot than at SLU). :luck:
 
The problem with my application is my EC's are pretty average. I do have two years (full time) as a CNA and volunteer EMT, but no research. I have volunteered at my local hospital for 5 years now, but nothing major when volunteering. I have a feeling my letters won't be that good, since I have been out of school for two years. I have also run a couple marathons.
 
I think you should go with the list you posted in post # 13. Creighton and GW maybe tough, but you can keep them. You can add SLU and RFUMS as well. I'm not sure if RFUMS is intentionally trying to raise its mean MCAT score, but I believe it has been rising nonetheless. They get thousands of very strong applicants from states that are very competitive (namely, California), so it is difficult to get in.
 
slick27 said:
The problem with my application is my EC's are pretty average. I do have two years (full time) as a CNA and volunteer EMT, but no research. I have volunteered at my local hospital for 5 years now, but nothing major when volunteering. I have a feeling my letters won't be that good, since I have been out of school for two years. I have also run a couple marathons.
Click to expand...

It's much better to have significant clincal experience (like you have) and no research, than lots of research and no clinical experience. Of course, it may be another story if you were applying to MD/PhD programs, or really research heavy schools, but you're not, so really - don't worry about your lack of research. And your volunteering sounds solid too. You're really minimizing what you bring to the table. Be sure to sell yourself a little more confidently when writing your application essays. You want to be sure to stress the perspective and experience you bring from your CNA and EMT experiences, and the passion you'll bring to medicine. That's much more meaningful than a year working in a lab with no publications (which is what many pre-meds who have "research experience" have). You just gotta work with what you've got.
 
Phoenix. said:
It's much better to have significant clincal experience (like you have) and no research, than lots of research and no clinical experience. Of course, it may be another story if you were applying to MD/PhD programs, or really research heavy schools, but you're not, so really - don't worry about your lack of research. And your volunteering sounds solid too. You're really minimizing what you bring to the table. Be sure to sell yourself a little more confidently when writing your application essays. You want to be sure to stress the perspective and experience you bring from your CNA and EMT experiences, and the passion you'll bring to medicine. That's much more meaningful than a year working in a lab with no publications (which is what many pre-meds who have "research experience" have). You just gotta work with what you've got.
Click to expand...

I also think you look like a great applicant. I have a friend who got 7 MD interviews and got into a few of those schools with a 27 MCAT and good GPA. I think you should absolutely try this cycle as opposed to waiting another year. I would be surprised if you didn't get a couple of interviews somewhere.

I'm also under the impression that Albany Medical College in New York emphasizes MCAT less than other schools--am I right?
 
PS. I am taking the MCAT solely because I got a 6 in the verbal section on May 10th. I'm retaking Aug 5th. If I can keep my scores in the other sections and raise to a 7, **** it, I'm applying.
 
how would i go about getting a letter from a DO?
 
slick27 said:
how would i go about getting a letter from a DO?
Click to expand...


at this point, it might be difficult to get a strong LOR...and so if you have an MD LOR, then that one would be more useful.
However, if you really spend a lot of time with a DO from here to whenever you need to send in that letter...all you have to do is pick up a phone book and look for a DO physician in your area. I literally called about 15 DOs before I found one that I liked and would let me shadow him extensively and at the same time giving me lots of patient exposure.
but the point is--you have to actively search out a DO.
hop on the phone and get crackin!
 
Your MCAT is not good enough....
You have both low/mediocre verbal AND writing score
I would recommend applying to a Master of Science/Public health at the same time so you would be going to school regardless if you don't get in

My application was great except my verbal score, and I ended up going to a middle tier med school. Look at my profile to see what activities I did. Make sure you are well-rounded in all other aspects.

Be prepared to defend your verbal/writing score if you get invited for interview or even in your personal statement.
And I would think about adding Rosalin Franklin, Albany Medical College, Temple, Univ. of Toledo, and SUNY Buffalo to the mix. Apply to more schools.
 
if i retook the MCAT, what should i do to increase my verbal? i have already taken all the aamc practice tests and all of the EK verbal exams.
 
I would not recommend applying to Jefferson. It's an excellent school and they receives thousands of applications. While they may or may not formally require a minimum of 8 in each section, it's unlikely they interview many people who have scores below 8 in any section.
 
okay, updated list:

RFU
MCW
NYMC
Drexel
Creighton
GW
SLU
Temple
Albany
Kirksville
Des Monies
Midwestern - Chicago

what do you think?
 
I think it looks good. abcabc1 is absolutely right about not having good chances at UIC or Rush, but I'd add those if it were me and I were a WI resident (i.e., from a neighboring state to IL). Of course, it is most likely a waste of money, but if you've got it....
 
I got a very low verbal..actually the lowest possible???
 
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one standard deviation is between 6 and 10....i think with some practice you could get within those numbers.
 
abcabc1 said:
Keep in mind EVMS and VCU are public schools. They may take OOS applicants, but your numbers are not going to be high enough to be considered. I would not recommend any public schools besides Wisconsin.


Research is not that important for MD programs at middle tier schools. It comes into play more for the higher end schools and, especially, MD/PhD.
Click to expand...

VCU is a very difficult school to get into, even in-state. They do take a lot of OOS though (which I guess explains why it is so difficult to get in IS).
 
so i submited my application and my schools were:

creighton University
NYMC
Medical College of WI
Drexel
George Washington
Saint Louis University

What DO schools should I apply to? I'm thinking about applying to 4, but so far the must haves on my list are:

midwestern - chicago
des monies

i need two more.
 
You're competitive for essentially all DO schools, so you should choose the ones you like based on location and or other factors.
 
Hi! Do u think I have a chance getting into MD or DO schools?

I also got a 27 on my MCAT, with a 7 in my VR. I got 10's in BS and PS. My writing score was an M. 🙁

I took the MCAT 4 times. 😱 My scores were, in chronological order: 19, then 26Q, then 27M, then 26M. I took the last two in 2008.

My G.P.A. is 3.4. My science G.P.A. is about 3.2. My major was Biochem.

These are my ECs:
-Volunteer in ER of hospital for 1.5 yrs
-Shadowed 3 doctors
-Member of two honor societies
-Dean's List in college
-Volunteered as a tutor and a substitute teacher in local high school
-Did research in college as part of a course
-In high school, I was valedictorian, and I was a member of the Debate Team, Decathlon, and participated in the Regional and State Science Fairs, where I won 1st and 2nd prize respectively, and I was Vice President of Student Council.
-This August, I am starting my MPH degree at UIC.

I am a resident of Illinois. My question is, do u think I have a chance of getting any MD schools? DO schools? Also, do you recommed using any med school admission consulting services? If so, which one? Do u recommend any other EC's? Thanks for ur help!
 
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Hi,
I forgot to add some details.

I graduated in Dec. 2005. I took the MCAT in Apr. 06. Then, I worked for a year in a scientific industry as a lab assistant. The work was not clinically related. The company made skin care and hair care products. After that, I took a year to study for MCATs again, while shadowing doctors.
 
i'm thinking about doing emergency medicine, would any of the DO schools be better at this than others? i'd prefer to stay in the midwest or head out west.
 
i don't think it would make a big difference, though some of your previous experience as an EMT will help.
 
Any new opinions out there about my chances? I had all my MD secondary application complete by sept 1st. DO secondaries I plan on waiting a little bit on, what do you think?
 
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Did I read this correctly that Rosalind Franklin/Chicago Medical School (MD) was removed from your list? I would add them back on as I just missed the interview cutoff (per the school) last year with one section score of 6, overall MCAT score similar to yours, and no clinical experience (at the time of the primary amcas app last year). You'd have a decent shot there.
 
Does anyone know a list of schools that do not look at verbal as highly as the other sections or who emphasize more on the two science sections?
 
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