Which top schools look less at numbers and more at everything else?

[Premed2003]

Are there certain top schools that look at the whole app instead of just MCATs? I have great GPA from a top school, great ECs, and everything. I would be confident about getting into one of my top choice schools if only I had a higher verbal (maybe I gridded in wrong, I don't know what happened)! (7, 13, 12)

So...now I'm applying to more top schools to hopefully get into at least 1. Are there any I should definitely apply to? Like I wasn't planning to apply to UChicago, but maybe I should? Do they look beyond #s? I think WashU is one that puts a lot of emphasis on MCATs, right? What schools don't put so much emphasis on 1/3 of the MCAT?

Thanks

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[AJM]

How was your writing section? If you do well on your writing sample, typically it will balance out a not-so-hot performace in verbal. Given that you have amazing scores in your other sections, the verbal score will likely just raise a red flag to the reviewer to make sure that you can write and speak coherently. Make sure that you have well-written essays on your application. If your GPA is high enough, then it should get your foot in the door at most places. The goal is to get a human being to read your application and realize that your verbal score was not accurate.

 

[AJM]

As far as which schools are more or less numbers-heavy, I think it's very hard to say. You will find that this process is much more random than you think. Friends of yours with better stats than you may not even get secondaries at schools that you end up getting interviews at, and vice-versa. Try to pick a good range of schools, and pick out schools that you'd think you might want to go to. It's hard to predict who will like you best.

 

[Premed2003]

Thanks AJM.

Your posts made me feel much better about this terrible number on my app. I think it's my only flaw on my app b/c I have great recs, I'm even a humanities and science double major. I write lots of papers. I consider myself more of a humanities person than a science person. Something went terribly wrong on that verbal section, and I don't know what happened.

In answer to your question, my writing is a Q.

 

[missbonnie]

I would stop stressing over your numbers, do you think they define you? Does everyone who get into Harvard, Yale, Hopkins have a 36+ mcat? No way. Ppl with 29, 30 get into these schools, maybe even less. It's the whole package. If you're gpa and other stuff is top nothc, stop worrying. What's that doing for you anyway?

-b

 

[relatively prime]

I PMed you

 

[relatively prime]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by missbonnie:
•I would stop stressing over your numbers, do you think they define you? Does everyone who get into Harvard, Yale, Hopkins have a 36+ mcat? No way. Ppl with 29, 30 get into these schools, maybe even less...

-b•••••Yes, but how many non-URMs get into such schools with a 7 in verbal!! To most schools, a 10V 10P 10B. is going to look a lot better than her/his score. Don't patronize this student, it's not going to help him/her. S/he needs to apply to a lot of lower-tier schools... and s/he really shouldn't get his/her hopes up about any top schools.

YOu may think I'm mean... but it's better to tell it like it is so that s/he proceeds with caution and makes sure s/he gets into ~a~ medical school... than to be nice and enourage her/him to apply to mostly top 50 schools and have her not get in anywhere!

If she/he applies to a wide enough range of schools... including lower tier... then s/he might end up with multiple acceptances... but if he/she only applies to top 50... the prospects aren't so good.

 

[none]

I think you CAN get into a school with that score, probably a couple of schools. But, know that the 7 verbal is a major red flag. Major. You are lucky to have that Q in writing. What about your English/literature classes in college? How was your performance in them and from what college are you? Regardless, please apply to a very wide range of schools and a lot of schools. Don't be misled by how a school's average MCAT total compares to yours...apply somewhat lower, but if Chicago is your dream school, you should apply there as well. And I definitely second the idea that a balanced 30 is better than a completely imbalanced 32. If you know you can do better a second time, consider it. Some points sacrificed in the other sections would definitely be worth it.

 

[Premed2003]

I'm from Princeton, and I got As in all humanities courses (1 A- in an art history class though).

Something went wrong on that verbal. I never got 7s on practices! Did I grid in wrong? I don't know what I did! That doesn't show my ability <img border="0" alt="[Pity]" title="" src="graemlins/pity.gif" />

Chicago isn't my dream school...harvard is. or hopkins or stanford...but now I"m going to apply to all top schools hoping to get into at least 1 (hopefully more, please oh please!) any suggestions about top schools that might put less emphasis on this one number?

Please help me...

 

[relatively prime]

Univeristy of Washington has the lowest average stats... you might try there

If you think it was a bubbling mistake or something... why don't you just retake?

 

[missbonnie]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by relatively prime:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by missbonnie:
•I would stop stressing over your numbers, do you think they define you? Does everyone who get into Harvard, Yale, Hopkins have a 36+ mcat? No way. Ppl with 29, 30 get into these schools, maybe even less...

-b•••••Yes, but how many non-URMs get into such schools with a 7 in verbal!! To most schools, a 10V 10P 10B. is going to look a lot better than her/his score. Don't patronize this student, it's not going to help him/her. S/he needs to apply to a lot of lower-tier schools... and s/he really shouldn't get his/her hopes up about any top schools.

YOu may think I'm mean... but it's better to tell it like it is so that s/he proceeds with caution and makes sure s/he gets into ~a~ medical school... than to be nice and enourage her/him to apply to mostly top 50 schools and have her not get in anywhere!•••••I'm not patronizing and I don't think you are mean. I'm not encouraging her to apply to only top 50 schools either. I'm also not being "nice."

I'm telling her (I think it's a her) to stop worrying (cuz worrying buys you nothing) and instead to take some action. Whetehr it means for her to retake or be OK with her scores, is up to her. My point was that if she is confident that she is a great candidate (why wouldn't she?) then that will shine through. People get too caught up in this numbers game.

I know the numbers of the ppl from my school who got into top schools. I know ppl personally whith "less than stellar" numbers who get in. It's not just a numbers game.

 

[Scooby Doo]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Premed2003:
•I'm from Princeton
Chicago isn't my dream school...harvard is. or hopkins or stanford...but now I"m going to apply to all top schools hoping to get into at least 1 (hopefully more, please oh please!) any suggestions about top schools that might put less emphasis on this one number?

Please help me...•••••Hahah...you came to the wrong forum kid....Damn...Well, if you are not a URM and you have those scores...I am assuming a 3.9 GPA right? It's pretty good but why don't you share some of your EC's if you are wondering what schools put more emphasis on other community things rather than just academics...Also, if you go into this process thinking you HAVE to get into a top school, you are not going to be happy with your final result. Your end result was a 32 on your mcat which is good. SO chilax. The 7 will be offset by your humanities major so chilax again. If you aren't such a stress case at your interviews you will get in to many good places...probably NOT top 10..maybe not even top 20. Schools that look at more tahn just numbers are: Einstein, Yale, and Columbia which are all really good schools.

But come on...get over your whole "name" issue with schools. You go to princeton...so you probably have a feeling that you "HAVE" to go to another top name medical school. GET OVER IT...

 

[Toejam]

Frankly, I think that it makes little difference if you attend a "top-tier" school vs. one that is in the middle or whatever.

What makes a difference is how you do on your boards and what residency you end up with.

 

[bebe2]

I just had to reply to this. Honestly, what do we know about how each of the top ten looks will look at your score. I feel after being through this process that, as everyone says the process is a crapshoot. I applied to few top tens, more top 30 schools and some how someone saw something in my application and decided to accept me.

But I mention that I am attending a top-ten this fall because, I did my homework before I applied to this school. I knew their program inside and out, I spoke to the Dean of Admissions at med school fairs, etc, new a lot about their extrordinarily generous financial aid, had a friend who is a first-year,etc. I did not apply to any top-ten without knowing the program through and through. That is why I have a problem with you wanting to go to any top-ten. Not every one of them is going to be for you. If you are so stuck on the idea of going to a top-ten at least research the schools first. So what if someone heard that a friend of a friend got into Harvard with a 7 verbal. So what. Do you really know you want to go to Harvard. Why? Your interviewers will ask you and if you can only come up with "cause you are a top-ten" then that will be a bigger read flag than your verbal score. Do you see what I am saying here?

But on the other hand, if you want to apply to all the top tens then go ahead. Some schools do appear more appealing after the interview, but you have NO clue until you apply. Please stop posting this question. I know you are worried. I was worried about being accepted at all during this period. But what are these posts really telling you. One says something and the next disputes it. Also some are applying right now and others have already been through the process. You will never know until you try! Go ahead and apply to the schools you want to go to. Decide if you want to re-take the MCAT or not, pump up your other assets on your application and secondaries. I don't know if you have seen secs but have a space where you can talk about anything. Use this section to talk about why you want to go to their school and ad a blurb about how the MCAT verbal does not match your abilities. I wish I could tell you to stop worrying but I can tell from your posts that you will continue to do so, so my suggestion, develop and action plan, and execute it.

Good luck.

 

[missbonnie]

Bebe-

Well said!

 

[Tweetie_bird]

Premed,
A doctor is a doctor is a doctor. Stop getting to stresed about about Hopkins and Harvard. I am not sure if you mean this, but I am seeing an elitist attitude in your words and frankly, it's not becoming of you. Come on guy, I know you can think on a higher level than that.

I can't tell you how ridiculous it seems to me that you're so bent on going to a top ten. Chill. You know you have a good application, and you know you will make it there. MAKE IT HAPPEN. Don't stress so much, and enjoy your path while getting there..think of how you will be affecting the lives of patients and their families; not how a silly cerficicate from Hopkins or Harvard will look on your office wall tha no patient will even see. I personally would do anything to have your MCAT scores, and there is no reason for you to have so much nervous energy. . . no reason. Be well and go for a run. It will do your nerves some good.

Tweetie

 

[Michelys]

Premed2003,

Ehh--as for what schools don't emphasize '1/3 of the MCAT'--all the med schools emphasize the verbal section! As if you didn't know already--but in any case I don't know what exactly you're referring to as 'top medical schools' --if you care to know Rochester looks at the 'whole package' including EC's, research, and service.