DO What are my chances?

[Anthn853]

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I took the May 8th mcat and just received my scores today
I only got a disappointing 23 (10-5-8)
My GPA is 3.65. What are my chances of getting into a DO program?
I've heard you have a greater chance if you apply in state, I won't be applying to MD programs
as I know I hardly have a chance, but do I have a shot at any DO program? Especially in state?

The rest of my application includes:

- 150 hrs of volunteering at a hospital
-150 hrs of shadowing a medical director at a clinic
-social and community service director of the honor society Golden Key
during my college years, where I have done 100+ hrs of community service
- Active in a Vietnamese organization where I've done around 200 hrs of community service over the last 4 years (the president of this organization has written me a letter of recommendation regarding my community service)
-100 hrs of community service with HEAL International and Project C.U.R.E. combined
-I have two additional letters of recommendation, one from my physics professor (he is an Oxford professor)
and another one from the medical director whom I've shadowed
-I am trilingual (Vietnamese, Dutch and English)

 

[Stlblues17]

I took May 8th too and kind of in the same boat 10/10/6. I don't think it's a definite killer but I imagine a 5/6 in a section might be some concern (some schools have min score reqs eg kcumb >=24 and >=7 in each section). But you sound pretty good overall, maybe consider applying and retake if you think you can be ready soon. Hope this helps.

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

I took the May 8th mcat and just received my scores today
I only got a disappointing 23 (10-5-8)
My GPA is 3.65. What are my chances of getting into a DO program?
I've heard you have a greater chance if you apply in state, I won't be applying to MD programs
as I know I hardly have a chance, but do I have a shot at any DO program? Especially in state?

The rest of my application includes:

- 150 hrs of volunteering at a hospital
-150 hrs of shadowing a medical director at a clinic
-social and community service director of the honor society Golden Key
during my college years, where I have done 100+ hrs of community service
- Active in a Vietnamese organization where I've done around 200 hrs of community service over the last 4 years (the president of this organization has written me a letter of recommendation regarding my community service)
-100 hrs of community service with HEAL International and Project C.U.R.E. combined
-I have two additional letters of recommendation, one from my physics professor (he is an Oxford professor)
and another one from the medical director whom I've shadowed
-I am trilingual (Vietnamese, Dutch and English)

yikes retake the mcat. Also post in the WAMC thread not this one. You obviously don't read (that explains the 5 verbal!) But seriously you should retake. Little to no chance anywhere but Caribbean(don't go there).

 

[DrPibble]

What were the circumstances surrounding your MCAT? Was it your first time? What were you averaging on practice tests? What was your study plan like?

If you could be ready, and confident of achieving a higher score, you could retake in July or August. Again, only if you'd be ready. The rest of your application is great. But that 23, and that 5, may really hurt you- which would be a shame since you seem to have everything else in line with a strong GPA.

 

[Anthn853]

What were the circumstances surrounding your MCAT? Was it your first time? What were you averaging on practice tests? What was your study plan like?

If you could be ready, and confident of achieving a higher score, you could retake in July or August. Again, only if you'd be ready. The rest of your application is great. But that 23, and that 5, may really hurt you- which would be a shame since you seem to have everything else in line with a strong GPA.

This was my second time taking it. I voided the first time though so this was my first time actually receiving a score. When I first started, I was averaging around 20-22, and it steadily increased to 26-28, which is what I averaged on the last 3 practice tests I took before I took the mcat. Verbal indeed has always been my weak point but on practice tests, I usually average around a 7. So getting a 5 was really shocking to me. Also, is improving verbal even possible within 2 months? I mainly used the TBR and Kaplan books to study. I also used the Princeton Science workbook, and I used the aamc and princeton practice exams.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

A lower end program might give you a shot, but if you were averaging 26 to 28,you should consider retaking. A 27+ can land you into many programs.

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

This was my second time taking it. I voided the first time though so this was my first time actually receiving a score. When I first started, I was averaging around 20-22, and it steadily increased to 26-28, which is what I averaged on the last 3 practice tests I took before I took the mcat. Verbal indeed has always been my weak point but on practice tests, I usually average around a 7. So getting a 5 was really shocking to me. Also, is improving verbal even possible within 2 months? I mainly used the TBR and Kaplan books to study. I also used the Princeton Science workbook, and I used the aamc and princeton practice exams.

Consider ek 101 passages book. It improved my verbal alot

 

[Anthn853]

What should I do with my application? Should I even bother applying in state or anywhere at all? or don't apply at all and just retake?

 

[el_duderino]

A 5 on an MCAT section will probably be lethal. You'll need to retake, but you really need to understand why you're struggling so badly in verbal and correct it before thinking about a retake.

 

[DrPibble]

What should I do with my application? Should I even bother applying in state or anywhere at all? or don't apply at all and just retake?

Verbal for me improved significantly after lots and lots of practice (went from a 9 to a 12). Also, a technique that TPR teaches (the verbal workbook is awesome) is to actually read the passage and note the points of each paragraph, and then when you're done reading the passage to think about what exactly is the author trying to say. I won't go into detail but the TPR verbal reasoning review book and hyperlearning book really helped.

As far as applying this cycle. Perhaps you could apply to one school that you're not interested in just to get your app verified. I honestly think that 5 is going to hurt you, anywhere...
If I were in your situation, I would register for an MCAT in August and devote all my time to strengthening my weaknesses and getting my practice scores up and consistent. Hopefully you could get a few practice tests down 2 weeks prior to the registered date so you could cancel if your scores aren't where you'd like them. Don't retake if you're not ready.

 

[Anthn853]

Verbal for me improved significantly after lots and lots of practice (went from a 9 to a 12). Also, a technique that TPR teaches (the verbal workbook is awesome) is to actually read the passage and note the points of each paragraph, and then when you're done reading the passage to think about what exactly is the author trying to say. I won't go into detail but the TPR verbal reasoning review book and hyperlearning book really helped.

As far as applying this cycle. Perhaps you could apply to one school that you're not interested in just to get your app verified. I honestly think that 5 is going to hurt you, anywhere...
If I were in your situation, I would register for an MCAT in August and devote all my time to strengthening my weaknesses and getting my practice scores up and consistent. Hopefully you could get a few practice tests down 2 weeks prior to the registered date so you could cancel if your scores aren't where you'd like them. Don't retake if you're not ready.

Wow that's really inspiring. May I ask you how long it took you to improve your verbal from a 9 to a 12? If I were retake, I'd probably only have 2 months if I wanna take it in August. I'll definitely focus on verbal a lot this time around and look into TPR and the princeton hyperlearning book. I did do some of the hyperlearning but never finished it. Also, if I take the mcat in August, get results back in Sept and do improve my score, would I still have a chance if I applied this cycle?

 

[DrPibble]

Wow that's really inspiring. May I ask you how long it took you to improve your verbal from a 9 to a 12? If I were retake, I'd probably only have 2 months if I wanna take it in August. I'll definitely focus on verbal a lot this time around and look into TPR and the princeton hyperlearning book. I did do some of the hyperlearning but never finished it. Also, if I take the mcat in August, get results back in Sept and do improve my score, would I still have a chance if I applied this cycle?

Just a couple of months of actual practice and studying! I took the first MCAT in May of 2012. I then did a one year MS program in global health which finished the following year, which could have increased my ability to perform well. But honestly, I didn't start my MCAT studying until February and zeroed in on verbal practice/skill for a month or so. Like I said, the strategy laid out in the TPR verbal reasoning content book really worked for me and I saw immediate improvement, which was aided with the hyperlearning verbal book. If you didn't really have a strategy before, I'd definitely suggest looking into it, or any other for that matter, to find what works for you!

If your app is complete by September with the new MCAT, and especially if you submit to just one random school now to get verified, you'll be fine! I've read many times that having your app in by September is still desirable as the DO cycle is much longer. But again, make sure you're confident and ready for your next MCAT! I'm sure that, with a new strategy and 2 months of practice, you'll do great. Your science scores are good too so if you can keep those while boosting your VR, you'll be golden! Just my two cents 🙂

 

[Stagg737]

You say you're trilingual, does that mean that English is not your first language? If it isn't, some schools may be more lenient about a low verbal score. However, as most people have said a 5 is still too low imo (even for an ESL individual).

 

[darklordzzz]

You say you're trilingual, does that mean that English is not your first language? If it isn't, some schools may be more lenient about a low verbal score. However, as most people have said a 5 is still too low imo (even for an ESL individual).

why is it a common thing that DO schools become lenient on ESL student with low VR (6 or 7) but with high science scores (10 or above)? they just see something else in these students? assuming the students have high GPA and good EC and good LOR, just that VR?
Thanks!

 

[Stagg737]

why is it a common thing that DO schools become lenient on ESL student with low VR (6 or 7) but with high science scores (10 or above)? they just see something else in these students? assuming the students have high GPA and good EC and good LOR, just that VR?
Thanks!

Not saying this is common or even that schools will be lenient to ESL students, just saying they might be. You would have to be very well-rounded everywhere else (ECs, GPA, etc) and would still need at least a respectable VR (a 7 is the bottom of what I consider respectable). Getting a 5 in any section, or even a 6 would be too much of a gamble for me to feel like I had a legit shot anywhere, regardless of the circumstances.

 

[Anthn853]

You say you're trilingual, does that mean that English is not your first language? If it isn't, some schools may be more lenient about a low verbal score. However, as most people have said a 5 is still too low imo (even for an ESL individual).

Yes that is correct. I am of Vietnamese heritage but I was born in the Netherlands. I moved to the US when I was almost 14. This explains why I am trilingual. Is it true schools may be lenient towards ESL students? I wonder if a 5 in VR would give me a chance at all?

P.s: a personal friend of mine got into a DO program with a score of 6-10-10. A 6 in PS. I guess anything is possible

 

[Stagg737]

Yes that is correct. I am of Vietnamese heritage but I was born in the Netherlands. I moved to the US when I was almost 14. This explains why I am trilingual. Is it true schools may be lenient towards ESL students?

They might be lenient, they might not be. I do not know. I'm guessing that if they were to be lenient it would be for that reason. If you don't think you can pull that up to at least an 8, I'd call some schools and see what they have to say. I would also make sure that you express the fact that you're trilingual and moved to the U.S. at 14 in your app.

I wonder if a 5 in VR would give me a chance at all?

P.s: a personal friend of mine got into a DO program with a score of 6-10-10. A 6 in PS. I guess anything is possible

Your friend is definitely an exception. I've only heard of one other student that got a 6 on a section and was accepted, and that was because of her father's connections to the school. I've never heard of someone with a 5 getting in anywhere. It may have happened, but I would not think of yourself as the exception. As others have stated, a 5 in any section will kill your app. Anyone who tells you that a retake isn't necessary simply doesn't know what they're talking about...

 

[Anthn853]

They might be lenient, they might not be. I do not know. I'm guessing that if they were to be lenient it would be for that reason. If you don't think you can pull that up to at least an 8, I'd call some schools and see what they have to say. I would also make sure that you express the fact that you're trilingual and moved to the U.S. at 14 in your app.



Your friend is definitely an exception. I've only heard of one other student that got a 6 on a section and was accepted, and that was because of her father's connections to the school. I've never heard of someone with a 5 getting in anywhere. It may have happened, but I would not think of yourself as the exception. As others have stated, a 5 in any section will kill your app. Anyone who tells you that a retake isn't necessary simply doesn't know what they're talking about...

Thanks for the insight. Yeah it'd be desperate to think I could be that exception. I've already signed up for the mcat in august and ima try hard to raise that verbal score.

 

[darklordzzz]

Not saying this is common or even that schools will be lenient to ESL students, just saying they might be. You would have to be very well-rounded everywhere else (ECs, GPA, etc) and would still need at least a respectable VR (a 7 is the bottom of what I consider respectable). Getting a 5 in any section, or even a 6 would be too much of a gamble for me to feel like I had a legit shot anywhere, regardless of the circumstances.

a 5 getting in i saw like 2-3 (which may be an exception) but a 6 on VR (given ESL status and high GPA and great EC overall) are more common. there are many that got in with a 6 in VR last year though. so may be DO schools consider the ESL status!

 

[darklordzzz]

Yes that is correct. I am of Vietnamese heritage but I was born in the Netherlands. I moved to the US when I was almost 14. This explains why I am trilingual. Is it true schools may be lenient towards ESL students? I wonder if a 5 in VR would give me a chance at all?

P.s: a personal friend of mine got into a DO program with a score of 6-10-10. A 6 in PS. I guess anything is possible

if you dont believe what I posted above, you should read the under dawg thread (which may only be exceptions) but you can also read the (school specific thread for individual schools) many people got in VCOM, LECOM, low tier DO schools with only a 25-26 and slightly above GPA, they have great EC though.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

why is it a common thing that DO schools become lenient on ESL student with low VR (6 or 7) but with high science scores (10 or above)? they just see something else in these students? assuming the students have high GPA and good EC and good LOR, just that VR?
Thanks!

The holistic approach means that we use common sense instead of just being stat driven. Besides, just the fact that you speak a second language speaks positively. Studies show that those that speak multiple languages engage more areas of the brain correlated with creativity.

Getting a 5 is a lot harder to excuse than a 6 or 7.

 

[darklordzzz]

The holistic approach means that we use common sense instead of just being stat driven. Besides, just the fact that you speak a second language speaks positively. Studies show that those that speak multiple languages engage more areas of the brain correlated with creativity.

Getting a 5 is a lot harder to excuse than a 6 or 7.

ok forgive me for my question but a 6 is very close to a 7, if they can forgive and take in many 6. a 5 is not that far off a 6.
yes i totally agree with you! thanks dude!

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

ok forgive me for my question but a 6 is very close to a 7, if they can forgive and take in many 6. a 5 is not that far off a 6.
yes i totally agree with you! thanks dude!

By that logic 4 is close to 5 and then 3 is close to 4. There has to be a limit somewhere, and also, what it takes to go from 5 to 6 is more than what it takes to get from 6 to 7 in terms of questions. Getting a 14 vs a 15 can be a matter of 1 question, which is why getting above 40 total is extremely rare.

 

[darklordzzz]

By that logic 4 is close to 5 and then 3 is close to 4. There has to be a limit somewhere, and also, what it takes to go from 5 to 6 is more than what it takes to get from 6 to 7 in terms of questions. Getting a 14 vs a 15 can be a matter of 1 question, which is why getting above 40 total is extremely rare.

I see, many thanks 🙂.
I am the first time applicant and I still find it hard to believe a 6 in VR given ESL with strong EC and good GPA can fare well. Thanks for the input!

 

[Goro]

Best chances will be at the newest DO programs. I cannot recommend LUCOM.