What are my chances, doc?

[126990]

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I have a 3.74 GPA, cumulative, non-science, and science, a BA in English, an MA in clinical psych. I am bilingual Spanish. I have a decade of professional clinical experience and 4 years of hospital volunteer experience with the underserved. i have other non-clinical volunteer experiences, all underserved population. my letter writers adore me. i have a summer of 2 research projects. i have a poster presentation. i am a non-trad. I have shadowed 2 DO's. I got a 10 in Physical. I got an 8 in Verbal. I got a flippin' 5 in Bio. I got an R in Writing.

Why the 5? Because I hadn't taken Cell Bio and Biochem and the MCAT is just that. Also, I was on 4 hours of sleep, from nerves the night before the test. Last, I ran out of time and was trying to rush the test taking date, knowing i needed more help with bio.

So, I would have "reasons" in an interview, though I'm not trying to make excuses right now...just showing what's up...

What are my chances? Should I go ahead and apply? i REALLY REALLY want to go to Western in Pomona. I'm an L.A. native. i'm taking biochem and cell bio this fall and am planning on a retest (after the berkeley review) in early may, to send out early apps.

one adviser says to apply, that DO schools might really like the application and see the bigger picture, another adviser says to withdraw it...

i say give it a try and see what happens, since DO schools might not penalize for re-applying later.

thank you.

 

[drdan83]

retake MCAT because those numbers are lopsided.

 

[126990]

retake MCAT because those numbers are lopsided.

i'll definitely retest. i forgot to mention i'm mexican-american and from an underprivileged background. just looking for my chances...but yes, i'll certainly retest. thank you.

 

[Everglide]

You will have to retake because a 5 is way too low for bio section and may not meet some school's absolute minimums.

MCAT bio is intro bio and organic. Taking cell bio and biochem just for the MCAT is way overkill, a review book would be more than enough for a few topics intro bio may not cover.

Also: https://www.aamc.org/students/download/85566/data/bstopics.pdf

 

[jinobi]

i forgot to mention i'm mexican-american and from an underprivileged background. just looking for my chances...but yes, i'll certainly retest. thank you.

Heritage doesn't matter for squat if schools don't believe you can pass first year classes (heavy molecular cell biology). Underprivileged background does not magically add points onto your low MCAT score, especially for that 5 in Biology. You may want to check with Western and see if they require minimum subscores for each part of the MCAT.

Western's MCAT average is on the high-end (28). If you're retaking it again, might as well study for Phys/Verb so you don't forget the material and have a higher chance of scoring higher in those subjects as well.

 

[drdan83]

retake MCAT and try to do something that might differentiate you from the pack. Try and get a leadership position if you can.

What is your clinical experience?

 

[126990]

retake MCAT and try to do something that might differentiate you from the pack. Try and get a leadership position if you can.

What is your clinical experience?

jinobi: haha. true that...

dr. dan: decade in mental health field for work (pt's from all walks of life, including under-rep, under-served, and everything else;
volunteer co-creator of hospital prog. for underserved pop, prim. span-spkg pt's.
span-eng office visit translator b/w pt's and docs (all underserved)

 

[Dave Chester]

Retake! DO schools want at least a 6 on Verbal. Only one more point, you can do it!

 

[fiznat]

i forgot to mention i'm mexican-american and from an underprivileged background.

OH IN THAT CASE!

Why do you even bring this up? Are you suggesting the standards should be lowered for you? A 5 in bio is too low. You know it is...

 

[Bacchus]

Moved to What Are My Chances?

 

[126990]

OH IN THAT CASE!

Why do you even bring this up? Are you suggesting the standards should be lowered for you? A 5 in bio is too low. You know it is...

of course i'm not suggesting the standards for me should be lowered. i've layed out prior to your question what i'm doing and it all points to more classes, more prep, and another testing, to be competitive with everyone and fully prepared, with zero holes in my application.

i'm confused because sooo many people are telling me that i should apply, anyway, because of the other facets to the big picture of my application. i don't know who to believe and am moving ahead, anyway, trying to increase the awful biology score since i'm not about resting on those other facets.

i was hoping to get input from people who know more than i do about these kinds of things. i totally know it's too low. it's a disgrace.

 

[fiznat]

Alright fair enough.

Personally I think you're going to get screened out at a lot of schools with a 5 in any section. That said, don't let anyone tell you it "can't" be done. If you are willing to spend the time, money, and effort on this application season- why not? Your other stats are pretty good. Just don't forget about that MCAT re-take and let all your previous studying effort lapse. Plan on retaking in January and hopefully you'll be in a position to update schools with new scores.