hi I am a senior studying biology at an average university i have a 3.7 cGPA and a 3.7 sGPA. I took the MCAT twice the first time I got an ps8 vr6 bs8 and the second time i got ps8 vr5 bs11. I have good Ec's, great LOR and research. English is my second language so thats why my verbal is on the lower end. I am only applying Osteopathic and I was wondering what schools I have a good shot at, and if I even have a shot at all. Please don't tell me to retake the MCAT because I have heard it a million times. I am already taking a year off so let me know what you guys think.
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- Thread starter Mushy003
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I personally think you do not have a shot but the lower tier schools may be ok with that score. As much as you do not like the retake mcat suggestion, a score below 7 on verbal is an app killer. Your GPA is strong and hopefully your activities, PS, and LOR are strong also. I suggest maybe lower tier/newer DO schools but even those will be tough with that mcat score. Sorry for this news.
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He's only applying DO, you can get a sub-7 in DO and still be viable.
24 MCAT and a 5 VR for your second attempt is questionable, however. I think you have a shot at newer DO schools. Nothing in life is certain, but your sGPA is a good two tenths of a point higher than the average DO applicant and probably a tenth of a point higher than the MD kids, so you have that going for you.
24 MCAT and a 5 VR for your second attempt is questionable, however. I think you have a shot at newer DO schools. Nothing in life is certain, but your sGPA is a good two tenths of a point higher than the average DO applicant and probably a tenth of a point higher than the MD kids, so you have that going for you.
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Newest schools are your best chance: all three VCOMs, PCOM-GA, ACOM, Wm Carey, KYCOM, LMU.
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I have heard of some schools that do accept highest subsections. Dunno if it's still true but that makes it a 25 with 6 in VR. I've heard that a lower VR is acceptable for ESL students. Since the sweet spot is 8+ in VR for DO i think adcoms would take the ESL into consideration and move on. Like @Goro said stick to the newer southern schools
Thank you for the posts!
Do you think getting a masters would help me get into higher ranked D.O. schools? I spoke with an admissions advisor at MSUCOM and she was saying that I would need to prove to the admissions committee that i can perform well in verbal but i would have to wait a a few months to take the 2015 MCAT because they won't know what a good verbal score will look like until that see some stats. I also focused mainly on my verbal when preparing for the retake and ended up getting a point worse 🙁 i am already taking a year off hopefully i won't have to take two.
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No the masters is going to help with your gpa which is already excellent. The only way to show that you can perform well in verbal is to do well on the MCAT. Call the admissions of each school and explain that you are ESL and if your scores will be a nail in the coffin. If you didn't take an MCAT course maybe try that they will be able to give you pointers on how to do well on verbal
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No, getting a higher MCAT score will get you into the more competitive DO schools.
Do you think getting a masters would help me get into higher ranked D.O. schools? I spoke with an admissions advisor at MSUCOM and she was saying that I would need to prove to the admissions committee that i can perform well in verbal but i would have to wait a a few months to take the 2015 MCAT because they won't know what a good verbal score will look like until that see some stats. I also focused mainly on my verbal when preparing for the retake and ended up getting a point worse 🙁 i am already taking a year off hopefully i won't have to take two.[/QUOTE]
Do you think getting a masters would help me get into higher ranked D.O. schools? I spoke with an admissions advisor at MSUCOM and she was saying that I would need to prove to the admissions committee that i can perform well in verbal but i would have to wait a a few months to take the 2015 MCAT because they won't know what a good verbal score will look like until that see some stats. I also focused mainly on my verbal when preparing for the retake and ended up getting a point worse 🙁 i am already taking a year off hopefully i won't have to take two.[/QUOTE]
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Yeah, your GPA is great, it's the MCAT that is holding you back. You can't pile on extra GPA to overcome that deficit: adcoms already know you can handle the aspects of medical school that undergrad GPA is a predictor of.
