Will an 8 in any section screen you out of MD schools?

[Ahmed786]

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So I got a 10 in VR my first time but took it again and got an 8 the second time however I ended up with a 29 both times.

Would an 8 usually screen people out or will they still consider the rest of an individuals app

Michigan State GPA 3.91

Primary State Michigan

 

[dragon529]

From what I've seen, 8 is usually the cut off mark at many schools.

 

[Ahmed786]

From what I've seen, 8 is usually the cut off mark at many schools.

Does this mean they will still consider me with the 8 or without the 8 and are my chances extremely low then? Like I got 10 the first time and 8 the second time would that play any factor in helping me?

 

[MacVA]

From what I've seen, 8 is usually the cut off mark at many schools.

Concur based on conversations with student ADCOM members.

 

[Ahmed786]

Concur based on conversations with student ADCOM members.

I am still confused as to what this means though, do I make the cut then? Like once I make the cut am I ok and they are going to look at me seriously or will they look at my app and be like "well he still has an 8 etc" and I got a 10 before, will that matter at all

 

[justinbaily]

The 8 will hurt badly. The previous posters are saying that an 8 is the lowest score that their acquaintances consider acceptable.

I'm not sure how the previous 10 will affect your application though. I imagine that it's better than not having gotten the 10 in the past, but it probably won't make up for it.

 

[MacVA]

I am still confused as to what this means though, do I make the cut then? Like once I make the cut am I ok and they are going to look at me seriously or will they look at my app and be like "well he still has an 8 etc" and I got a 10 before, will that matter at all

What is your state of Residence?

And the ^^ poster is correct; it is the lowest acceptable score.

Depending on where you live (and the rest of your app), the 29 may or may not be acceptable.

 

[puffylover]

i got a 7 second time around (had a 9 the first time). same question- should i submit my primary saying that i'll take the test so they wait for mcat score? i don't want to be screened out cuz of my 7 in verbal. i'm signed up for the june 17th test... but i was thinking of sending in my primary without clicking "taking mcat this cycle- expect score" but rather resubmitting it if i take the test and feel confident about it (don't void it). i'm also concerned about taking it 3 times. i definitely don't want my test scored unless i feel semiconfident.

 

[Ahmed786]

What is your state of Residence?

And the ^^ poster is correct; it is the lowest acceptable score.

Depending on where you live (and the rest of your app), the 29 may or may not be acceptable.

Primary state of residence is Michigan and my GPA is a 3.91

 

[justinbaily]

What is your undergrad?

 

[Ahmed786]

What is your undergrad?

Michigan State

I am just trying to get into one MD school btw, whichever one would take me

 

[MacVA]

Michigan State

I am just trying to get into one MD school btw, whichever one would take me

You should be able to get into Michigan State. The school is probably very friendly to its undergraduates...

But apply to all three of your state schools and OSS friendly schools.

 

[mfrizzo3]

Some yes. Some no.

 

[Batzmarucy831]

Yes, 8 is the minimum score acceptable. What might hurt is that your score went down. Usually, if you take the exam again, ADCOM expects an improvement.

Some schools take the highest, others will look at the one sitting with highest scores. Consult the MSAR for each individual school, the bible for all pre-med applicants. It'll show the breakdown of the range of scores for each section, and you'll quickly notice that the 8 is the minimum for most middle tier school, 9 the minimum for competitive schools.

I think you have a shot though.👍 I got an 8 in verbal the second time, and I was able to get a decent amount of interviews. You're GPA should be able to help you. Remember, your ECs and PS matter largely as well.

 

[BrainBuff]

The whole medical school admission process does not depend on a VR score, people. That is absolutely ridiculous.

The OP has an outstanding GPA of 3.91 and MCAT of 29. He needs to apply broadly and present a solid application. That's all/

 

[DarknightX]

Agree with above poster. I'm on my adcom at a CA school, and I can tell you that we don't have a set cut off for MCAT scores. Obviously, you want to do as well as you can on all sections, but this idea of a hard cut off for certain scores is absolutely ridiculous. I can assure you that it does not exist.

 

[LetsGo352]

Saying there is some sort of cutoff for a section is false, in my opinion. I know someone that got a 6 in verbal and got accepted to USF.

However, in case there is a cutoff, I have a question. I got a 7 on VR in april and am retaking in July. Should I submit my primary and indicate that I am not retaking because I assume that Florida schools don't really screen out students with an overall MCAT of 27. Obviously, secondaries will be a problem if I don't improve, but I want to make sure I get the secondaries before I get my second test score back. Suggestions?

 

[justinbaily]

Nobody is saying that there is a cutoff. The MCAT is a standardized test used to compare applicants and it is a major part of anyone's application. An 8 hurts. I don't think that anyone believes that it is impossible to get into a medical school with an 8 in VR, but it obviously makes it much more difficult.

And your UCSF person is atypical. Edit: Woops, USF. Still atypical.

A person I know had a 4.0, research, strong clinical experience, good LORs, applied very broadly and to all of the Ohio schools--they were a resident--and had a 27 MCAT, but she did not receive any interviews. Personally, I would retake a 27, especially an unbalanced one.

 

[sustentacular]

Some yes. Some no.

+1 It all depends on what the rest of your application looks like and the school you're applying to.

 

[BrainBuff]

A person I know had a 4.0, research, strong clinical experience, good LORs, applied very broadly and to all of the Ohio schools--they were a resident--and had a 27 MCAT, but she did not receive any interviews. Personally, I would retake a 27, especially an unbalanced one.

A perfect 4.0 GPA and a 27 MCAT may be a red flag. Plus you do not know the rest of the app. Was it a retake MCAT, was the undergrad a top school or low tier state? Were there CC courses in the transcript ?...It is not all about the numbers.

 

[justinbaily]

A perfect 4.0 GPA and a 27 MCAT may be a red flag. Plus you do not know the rest of the app. Was it a retake MCAT, was the undergrad a top school or low tier state? Were there CC courses in the transcript ?...It is not all about the numbers.

First MCAT, low-tier state honors college, no CC courses. I agree that it's not all about the numbers but, in a lot of cases, it is mostly about the numbers. A 27 MCAT is a red-flag unto itself.

I tend to think of a generic medical school application as consisting of three main parts: GPA, MCAT and your ECs/shadowing/personal statement--bear with me because I know that this is an over-simplification. If one of those elements is severely lacking, then it is not difficult for every school you apply to to take a pass on you.

 

[cubssox2000]

OP, your score is fine. It might keep you out of top tier schools (Harvard, Hopkins, etc.), but you shouldn't have any problems just getting in. There is no minimum score or section requirement. Some school will screen out anything 6 or lower before sending out their applications, but other than that, the 8 is not a problem.

The overall 29 is also not a problem. Some posters on this forum will tell you to retake the MCAT again and try to get a 30+. DO NOT DO THIS. Take your 29 and apply. The average MCAT for acceptances is about 31, so you are right around the average. Also, since you did not improve your grade the second time you took it, there is no reason to think you will raise it the third time. Also, some schools will average your scores together, so getting a 31 overall would mean you need a 35 on a third try to get there.

Since you are from Michigan, apply to all the Midwest schools you can. They tend to have lower acceptance scores (aside from WashU, Northwestern, U of C). Your grades should be enough to get you an acceptance.

 

[NightSwim]

If I were you, I'd apply this cycle w/o retaking again. If you don't think your going to get in anywhere by mid-winter, start studying for the MCAT again and re-take. The 8 hurts, but it certainly doesn't mean you can't get into a US MD school. I had a friend with an 8 on VR, and he got interviews at great schools (Penn, Pitt), but his total score was higher.