Will They Look Down On Me?

[shaq786]

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Got my scores in today and here was my concern:

Verbal 36%
Biology 89%
Reading Comp. 37%
Quantitative 79%
Chemistry 97%
Composite 80%

I feel like my composite is good enough to be considered for the school I am applying to, but I am getting nailed pretty badly in Verbal and reading comprehension. If the schools see this weakness will they exploit it at the interview and will they look down on me in the admissions process?

 

[ADN1226]

Is there a reason for this? A friend of mine got a low verbal & reading score but they've only been in the US for a couple of years therefore its understandable that their english is poor. If thats the case, i'm sure the adcom will understand.

 

[shaq786]

I been living in the U.S. all my life, but I live with an non-english speaking family. The funny thing is English is my strongest language, so I am very fluent. Theoretically there isnt a strong excuse becuase other people with the same situation as me have gotten 90's on the pcat.

Maybe the best way for them to assess my fluency and response skills would be by an interview right?

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

Most schools, I believe, require at least 50% in each section in order to consider your PCAT. I may be wrong though. I would retake the PCAT.

 

[Gilmore2B]

You're right. Those are low scores, but there are ways to show the admissions committee your qualifications. Is there any way you can demonstrate your writing skills before the interview? Perhaps in an admissions essay, a letter of intent, or a cover letter for your supplemental application? Have you taken the PCAT multiple times? If so, were those section’s scores your best so far? The admissions committee may consider them even though they are not from your best composite score.

 

[Swanchick84]

shaq786, I got around the same reading comp and verbal scores as you. It totally KILLED my composite. 🙁

Let's just say I'm not too happy about my PCAT score. boo...

I suck at these standardized verbal and reading comp stuff b/c there is a time limit. I came to the US when I was 5 and have been here since. I speak fluent English, graduated from a 4-yr college and even got accepted into a pharm school already. I just never enjoyed reading. As a result, I read significantly slower than others and it takes me longer to understand something I read.

 

[shaq786]

shaq786, I got around the same reading comp and verbal scores as you. It totally KILLED my composite. 🙁

Let's just say I'm not too happy about my PCAT score. boo...

I suck at these standardized verbal and reading comp stuff b/c there is a time limit. I came to the US when I was 5 and have been here since. I speak fluent English, graduated from a 4-yr college and even got accepted into a pharm school already. I just never enjoyed reading. As a result, I read significantly slower than others and it takes me longer to understand something I read.

Its good to know you got into a pharm school 🙂 thanks for the encouraging words.

 

[abt04]

Its good to know you got into a pharm school 🙂 thanks for the encouraging words.

in truth, my reading score killed my composite too(first 30 and then 45 second time around) . and the funny thing is that i was born here!!! I was sort of learning english, viet and ASL when i was a kid and i think i got confused from then on as well as the schools i went to were just horrible. it could be that english can naturally be your strong suit or not. nevertheless, i got invited to 5 interviews, 2 new schools, but the other 3 were accredited and pretty reputable. and they often times just look at the composite score. so no worry, if you think you can improve the score, then do it, it doesnt hurt to try once more. otherwise, good luck to you and i think you'll be fine. 🙂


oh yea... alot of school interviews only give the interviewers your essay, its not always open file so some people dont even see your scores. but the adcom committee does look at it along with your gpa and interview when deciding your fate. so yea..

 

[howsoonisnow]

I wouldn't worry too much about the PCAT. My science scores were low (50 bio, 60 chem) because I hadn't taken A & P or O-Chem prior to the PCAT. My verbal scores were both 99, so they significantly increased my composite (87)

The point is, I got accepted with no way of proving myself in the interview. Since they rarely ask you to demonstrate dehydrohalogenation in an interview, you can't exactly prove your aptitude in sciences.

You have the chance. Based on your posts, you clearly can communicate effectively. The point of the verbal sections is to weed out those who can't write a paper or coomunicate in full sentences, which I'm sure you can. Once you have the interview you'll be fine.

 

[bashaut]

i just got denied from Shenandoah for low verbal and reading PCAT scores.

 

[vtdancer731]

i just got denied from Shenandoah for low verbal and reading PCAT scores.

Did you have an interview already with Shenandoah? I interviewed Dec. 1 and am still waiting to hear back from them!