What is the minimum VR score for MD admissions?

[FutureERDoc16]

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I will be sitting for the MCAT next Thursday. So far, I've taken AAMC 3-10, and I've been averaging ~32 cumulative scores. My VR, until today, was consistently in the 9 range (with one 8 and one 10). Today I had a little trouble concentrating, and I ended with a VR score of a 7. This score is obviously atrocious, and I'm freaking out pretty bad. Lets say, on test day, that I get the score I received on AAMC 10 (13,7,11), how would this affect me in admissions as a Texas resident/URM? Should I postpone?

 

[Pacna]

A 31 is a fine score. Someone might ask you about verbal in an interview, but it's not going to bar your from anywhere. Do not postpone. I had scored max 32 on all of my practice exams and I got a 36. Believe in yourself! 🙂

 

[midnight0il]

All else being equal, aim for a 10 or higher on each section. 9 in verbal is fine. 8 is skimming the surface a little bit. My advice: don't burn yourself out before the big day.

 

[Narmerguy]

If your goal is just to get in somewhere, I wouldn't postpone. I think a 7 would obviously hurt you, but it sounds like you're not normally in that 7 range. You'll get in somewhere even with a weak verbal.

Here's an example applicant: URM, VR 8 (MCAT 29) who got into A&M and a bunch of other schools. http://mdapplicants.com/profile.php?id=28174

 

[FutureERDoc16]

I think the biggest thing for me was seeing the scale for AAMC #10 before actually starting the exam. It made me freak out on verbal. The passages were actually easier than the other AAMC's, but I couldn't remain focused. I just really hope I don't lose focus on the real thing.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Yeah, I would assume that the Texas/URM thing will give you a bit more leeway, but I would try to shoot for nothing lower than an 8. It sounds like the 7 was a fluke, so I don't think you should worry too much.

 

[Pacna]

I think the biggest thing for me was seeing the scale for AAMC #10 before I actually started the exam. It made me freak out on verbal. The passages were actually easier than the other AAMC's, but I couldn't remain focused. I just really hope I don't lose focus on the real thing.

If you're worried about focusing, you may consider ADDing somEthing to youR studying practices. After ALL, you only get one shot at the MCAT, and it's important!

 

[FutureERDoc16]

If you're worried about focusing, you may consider ADDing somEthing to youR studying practices. After ALL, you only get one shot at the MCAT, and it's important!

. .

 

[FutureERDoc16]

Yeah, I would assume that the Texas/URM thing will give you a bit more leeway, but I would try to shoot for nothing lower than an 8. It sounds like the 7 was a fluke, so I don't think you should worry too much.

Would an 8 be much less competitive than a 9, for instance? At what point should I consider retaking on the real thing?

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Would an 8 be much less competitive than a 9, for instance? At what point should I consider retaking on the real thing?

You're getting into dangerous territory with an 8, but I think it would still be acceptable and wouldn't need a retake. I'm not really that familiar with Texas and URM admissions, though. 7 is typically when people start thinking about a retake.

 

[FutureERDoc16]

You're getting into dangerous territory with an 8, but I think it would still be acceptable and wouldn't need a retake. I'm not really that familiar with Texas and URM admissions, though. 7 is typically when people start thinking about a retake.

Is there anything I should do over the next week to increase my score, if it all possible?

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Is there anything I should do over the next week to increase my score, if it all possible?

Probably not a ton you can do in a week. It is, however, important to not burn yourself out so close to your test date. At this point, just make sure you are rested, confident, and mentally prepared. Don't take a practice MCAT the day before your test like I did.

 

[DrCharlemagne]

Is there anything I should do over the next week to increase my score, if it all possible?

1) Relax.

2) Try some more advanced "leisure" reading and practice the verbal strategies you've developed. The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Science and Nature Editorials and the like will have longer articles you can practice analyzing.

3) Stop studying 24 hours before the test. No, for real, at that point there's nothing more you can do beyond getting yourself into a better headspace.

 

[Plue00]

If your goal is just to get in somewhere, I wouldn't postpone. I think a 7 would obviously hurt you, but it sounds like you're not normally in that 7 range. You'll get in somewhere even with a weak verbal.

Here's an example applicant: URM, VR 8 (MCAT 29) who got into A&M and a bunch of other schools. http://mdapplicants.com/profile.php?id=28174

Holy crap, I can't believe he got into that many schools with those stats...

 

[bora]

i got interviews at harvard, stanford, northwestern, and duke with a 7 in vr....overall i had 11 interviews and so far 3 acceptances...the process is very holistic...the most important thing is to trust yourself and send out only good vibes!

 

[justAstudent]

i got interviews at harvard, stanford, northwestern, and duke with a 7 in vr....overall i had 11 interviews and so far 3 acceptances...the process is very holistic...the most important thing is to trust yourself and send out only good vibes!

I didn't get quite as much love, but also had a 7 (27 cumulative) and got II's. Got into a school just fine. I wouldn't suggest getting a 7 but it's definitely not the end of world.

 

[FutureERDoc16]

Thanks guys! I know many of you said not to push too hard, but I went ahead and purchased the EK 101 Verbal book a couple of days ago and worked through it for 9 hours non-stop last night, and 3 hours today. I think I've gotten the hang of it (we'll see tomorrow on AAMC #11). I went from scoring an 8 on my first EK exam yesterday morning, to 11-12's on the ones today.

 

[okokok]

I don't know if this adds anything to the conversation since it's not in VS, but I got a 7 in PS and received multiple acceptances.

 

[MDforMee]

If your goal is just to get in somewhere, I wouldn't postpone. I think a 7 would obviously hurt you, but it sounds like you're not normally in that 7 range. You'll get in somewhere even with a weak verbal.

Here's an example applicant: URM, VR 8 (MCAT 29) who got into A&M and a bunch of other schools. http://mdapplicants.com/profile.php?id=28174

As an URM the OP should be fine.

I'm not an URM, but I received an 8 on the VR, and have a 30 overall (12P, 10B, R). I'm not going to retake it, and I'll be sure to post my admissions decisions when I have some worth talking about; I have seen this question many times before, on here.

 

[baconshrimps]

30 MCAT (8v, 10p, 12b) and I have multiple MD acceptances. I am not URM.

 

[knv2u]

My guess would be a 7 or 8. Anything below a 9 would seem to be a negative to me, but not necessarily fatal to your application (as evidenced by those above with acceptances).

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

You've been taking MCAT practice tests since 2010…

I've been toldVR scores of 7 or below correlate with difficulty passing Step 1, so they probably get more scrutiny.

If you're URM, from Texas, and break 30 on the MCAT, the number of full tuition scholarship offers you receive will probably be larger than your VR score.

 

[Lexipi]

I will be sitting for the MCAT next Thursday. So far, I've taken AAMC 3-10, and I've been averaging ~32 cumulative scores. My VR, until today, was consistently in the 9 range (with one 8 and one 10). Today I had a little trouble concentrating, and I ended with a VR score of a 7. This score is obviously atrocious, and I'm freaking out pretty bad. Lets say, on test day, that I get the score I received on AAMC 10 (13,7,11), how would this affect me in admissions as a Texas resident/URM? Should I postpone?

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[FutureERDoc16]

Just took AAMC 11. I think this is exam, by far, was the easiest of all (despite it's reputation). I scored a (13,9,13) which gives me a 35. This is the first exam where I've broken an 11 on BS, primarily due to the attention on experiments rather than actual concepts. Looking at the questions I got wrong, it seems all of them were from lack of knowledge (mostly discrete questions) rather than my inability to understand an experiment. This is a pretty nice confidence boost going into the exam. I just really hope I can maintain my 9 in verbal, and that the 7 last week was a fluke.