What are my chances?

[FloresMD]

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-3.65 GPA
-23 mcat (7/6/10) (ESL)
-Hispanic
-Volunteering at free clinic for two years
-Volunteer doing free health screenings for two years
- Volunteered at hospice for a summer
-shadowed orthopedic surgeon and pediatrician

Do I have any chance at all? Applying next cycle.

 

[IslandStyle808]

Being a URM and having such a high GPA does help (I don't think being a URM helps as much on the DO side as the MD). I would say take the new MCAT and do well on it. You will have far more doors open (even if you score in the same percentile as a 27 on the new exam).

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

Being a URM and having such a high GPA does help (I don't think being a URM helps as much on the DO side as the MD). I would say take the new MCAT and do well on it. You will have far more doors open (even if you score in the same percentile as a 27 on the new exam).

URM Hispanic doesn't help a lot in DO. Urm black does. I would say a retake would be very useful.

 

[Dr. Hopeful]

That 10 in biological sciences section is huge and will NOT be overlooked by adcoms. 6 in verbal is somewhat understandable for an ESL student as well, though you would have been in perfect shape if that were a 7. I think that even with your MCAT being a bit low, you have a decent chance. I'd still recommend taking the new MCAT, I think it will definitely help your chances, but you have a fighting chance. Most important thing is to apply June 1st, when the cycle opens. I did that and was accepted to 3 schools with a 25 MCAT this cycle, wait listed at a 4th.

 

[baxt1412]

That 10 in biological sciences section is huge and will NOT be overlooked by adcoms. 6 in verbal is somewhat understandable for an ESL student as well, though you would have been in perfect shape if that were a 7. I think that even with your MCAT being a bit low, you have a decent chance. I'd still recommend taking the new MCAT, I think it will definitely help your chances, but you have a fighting chance. Most important thing is to apply June 1st, when the cycle opens. I did that and was accepted to 3 schools with a 25 MCAT this cycle, wait listed at a 4th.

OP are you ESL? You mention Hispanic, but that doesn't mean ESL

I think right now u have a shot at newer and low tier schools.

But even a few more points would significantly increase your odds and open the doors to more schools

 

[FloresMD]

OP are you ESL? You mention Hispanic, but that doesn't mean ESL

I think right now u have a shot at newer and low tier schools.

But even a few more points would significantly increase your odds and open the doors to more schools

Well I was born in New Jersey and both of my parents spoke Spanish to me during the first few years. I didn't learn English until I started school. Idk if that counts as ESL?

 

[MetricSystem]

Well I was born in New Jersey and both of my parents spoke Spanish to me during the first few years. I didn't learn English until I started school. Idk if that counts as ESL?

I don't think that makes you ESL...
However, I do know people who were born in US and took ESL classes.
I always wondered how ESL students score well on other sections because you need to know english just as well on those sections....

 

[AlteredScale]

Well I was born in New Jersey and both of my parents spoke Spanish to me during the first few years. I didn't learn English until I started school. Idk if that counts as ESL?

If Spanish was your first language then yes, you are ESL.

My friend who has been in the US for 10 years but is also ESL was just accepted to Marian University and has two more interviews, it will be a strong point if you really emphasize not only the challenges you faced because of your background but also overcoming those challenges.

You have all the "necessary" EC's but do you have any others such as hobbies or sports? Your application will stand out better with that.

 

[Dr. Hopeful]

I don't think that makes you ESL...
However, I do know people who were born in US and took ESL classes.
I always wondered how ESL students score well on other sections because you need to know english just as well on those sections....

That's not true. A majority of the physical sciences sections has nothing to do with interpretation of the text in the passage and is mostly interpretation of formulas / data along with prior knowledge. The biological sciences is text heavy, but it's not really English heavy, per se. Sound understanding of the biological sciences can easily help you read a biology passage over a philosophical/humanitarian/sociological passage. There are plenty of ESL students who score a 25 on the MCAT by scoring 10/5/10. Verbal passages are very difficult for a completely fluent English speaker, I can only imagine how hard they would be for an ESL student...

 

[AlteredScale]

I don't think that makes you ESL...
However, I do know people who were born in US and took ESL classes.
I always wondered how ESL students score well on other sections because you need to know english just as well on those sections....

OP did not learn English until he was starting school. Therefore Spanish was his first language and is considered ESL.

As for the text in bold: The VR section is much more difficult because of the verbiage in these passages. It's harder for them to pull things out of context to answer questions because they have to first grind through "sounding out" the sentence in their head in addition to making connections of certain metaphors they may or may not have heard before.

 

[FloresMD]

If Spanish was your first language then yes, you are ESL.

My friend who has been in the US for 10 years but is also ESL was just accepted to Marian University and has two more interviews, it will be a strong point if you really emphasize not only the challenges you faced because of your background but also overcoming those challenges.

You have all the "necessary" EC's but do you have any others such as hobbies or sports? Your application will stand out better with that.

Yes I played two years of intramural soccer. I also play tennis weekly and fish occasionally. Considering my atrocious MCAT score, do you think I should even consider MD schools?

 

[AlteredScale]

Yes I played two years of intramural soccer. I also play tennis weekly and fish occasionally. Considering my atrocious MCAT score, do you think I should even consider MD schools?

Use those hobbies to your advantage during the application cycle.

I am uncertain about your chances for MD schools as there are many special programs however that are specific for Latino communities (one being the PRIME program for UC medical colleges).

Should you decided to apply MD/DO and are unsuccessful, I would suggest taking a look at this program if you are from a disadvantaged or medically underserved community: https://www.medstudent.ucla.edu/offices/aeo/rap_faq.cfm

 

[IslandStyle808]

That's not true. A majority of the physical sciences sections has nothing to do with interpretation of the text in the passage and is mostly interpretation of formulas / data along with prior knowledge. The biological sciences is text heavy, but it's not really English heavy, per se. Sound understanding of the biological sciences can easily help you read a biology passage over a philosophical/humanitarian/sociological passage. There are plenty of ESL students who score a 25 on the MCAT by scoring 10/5/10. Verbal passages are very difficult for a completely fluent English speaker, I can only imagine how hard they would be for an ESL student...

Right however, he has been in this country's educational system since he was 5. Thus has been taught from the most basic level of english reading. He maybe an ESL, but he can't use that as a reason for doing poorly on the verbal.

 

[MetricSystem]

@AlteredScale English is my second language also. I actually started learning English several years later than OP and I wasn't born in US.
However, I don't consider myself ESL anymore because I have been in US for a long time now and I can do anything an "American" can do.
Like @IslandStyle808 has said, he cannot use that as a reason to do poorly on verbal section (not saying OP is using it as an excuse).
I don't care how late you started learning English but if you had 13-15+ years in school to learn English (which is different if a person was already all grown up, but OP was a kid), you English better be just as good as a native speaker (English in this case, Spanish if we were in Hispanic countries).
Also, I found B and P sections just as hard because they threw huge curve balls at you (well at least that is what I thought).

 

[AlteredScale]

@AlteredScale English is my second language also. I actually started learning English several years later than OP and I wasn't born in US.
However, I don't consider myself ESL anymore because I have been in US for a long time now and I can do anything an "American" can do.
Like @IslandStyle808 has said, he cannot use that as a reason to do poorly on verbal section (not saying OP is using it as an excuse).
I don't care how late you started learning English but if you had 13-15+ years in school to learn English (which is different if a person was already all grown up, but OP was a kid), you English better be just as good as a native speaker (English in this case, Spanish if we were in Hispanic countries).
Also, I found B and P sections just as hard because they threw huge curve balls at you (well at least that is what I thought).

Ah I see. True true I totally get what you mean in regards to that. My friend for example has only been in the country for 7-8 years and I can tell his English is difficult, and rightly so did the admissions committee (which garnered him an acceptance). But yes, if you've been the US education model since you were young then the use of ESL as a way of excusing subpar VR scores won't fly.

 

[MetricSystem]

Ah I see. True true I totally get what you mean in regards to that. My friend for example has only been in the country for 7-8 years and I can tell his English is difficult, and rightly so did the admissions committee (which garnered him an acceptance). But yes, if you've been the US education model since you were young then the use of ESL as a way of excusing subpar VR scores won't fly.

Not trying be rude or anything. Love you.

 

[AlteredScale]

Not trying be rude or anything. Love you.

No rudeness taken! <3

 

[breezy124]

If you have a story about a struggle or any hardships you faced, especially in the context of your ethnicities community, you will be good for a good number of schools - even with that mcat.

 

[ananasmed]

Not trying be rude or anything. Love you.

No rudeness taken! <3

Cutest thing ever witnessed on SDN.

 

[AlteredScale]

Cutest thing ever witnessed on SDN.

It's the cats I swear!

 

[FloresMD]

@Goro Do you think I have a chance at any DO schools?

 

[Goro]

I think you'll get lots of interviews. the rest will be on you.

@Goro Do you think I have a chance at any DO schools?

Oh, yes it does!

URM Hispanic doesn't help a lot in DO.

 

[FloresMD]

I think you'll get lots of interviews. the rest will be on you.



Oh, yes it does!

URM Hispanic doesn't help a lot in DO.

What about my ESL? Should I even identify as ESL? I feel like admissions committees will just think it's a cop-out for my low verbal score. Honestly, I was just nervous and it was my first time taking the test. I freaked out half way through the test. It's really not representative of my ability to understand English. I can read and write just like any native.

 

[Goro]

I don't think it's necessary.

What about my ESL? Should I even identify as ESL? I feel like admissions committees will just think it's a cop-out for my low verbal score. Honestly, I was just nervous and it was my first time taking the test. I freaked out half way through the test. It's really not representative of my ability to understand English. I can read and write just like any native.

 

[MetricSystem]

You are not ESL!!!
I think that would keep you out of medical school than help you get in it.
Do you want your doctors to not know English?
Knowing English is a necessary requirement to attend a medical school in US.
Stop pushing your ESL past like it's some honorary badge.

 

[FloresMD]

You are not ESL!!!
I think that would keep you out of medical school than help you get in it.
Do you want your doctors to not know English?
Knowing English is a necessary requirement to attend a medical school in US.
Stop pushing your ESL past like it's some honorary badge.

Thanks dude. I got it.

 

[baxt1412]

You are not ESL!!!
I think that would keep you out of medical school than help you get in it.
Do you want your doctors to not know English?
Knowing English is a necessary requirement to attend a medical school in US.
Stop pushing your ESL past like it's some honorary badge.

being ESL and knowing English are not necessarily separate from each other.

also... English WAS the second language OP learned. so technically.....

 

[JW2020]

being ESL and knowing English are not necessarily separate from each other.

also... English WAS the second language OP learned. so technically.....

Growing up in an English speaking country and attending school in English starting from pre-K is not ESL, even though Spanish was the first language learned. Someone who is ESL is raised first in a non English speaking country and then begins learning English at an older age.

OP, being bilingual English/Spanish is a significant advantage in medicine. I would recommend trying to raise up that MCAT score, and I wouldn't even apply to MD schools with a 23.