Writing about a low MCAT score/section on Secondaries, Yes or No?!

[_SR_]

Hello everyone,

I've been hearing a lot of contradictory advice in regards to writing about a low MCAT score/section for secondary applications and was wondering what your thoughts were? Personally, for me, I did pretty well for every section except for CARS, where I experienced a severe headache that impacted my vision at the time. I read past threads on this site where at all costs you should not bring about a negative unless they specifically ask you about it. I totally understand that logic, however, I have also gotten advice where you cannot hide your MCAT score or low GPA. So, why not face it head-on and explain in your secondaries the reason why behind it (which I understand might come across as an excuse) take full responsibility, and how it made you into a better person? Additionally, is it possible to explain a bad score in terms of getting a migraine, but then write about perseverance to push through and finish the last two sections strong?

Thoughts and advice? Thank you!

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[gyngyn]

Don't do it.

 

[_SR_]

Don't do it.

What would be the main reason why?!

 

[shotgunlagoon]

If you're using it as your adversity essay, it's going to look really bad next to people writing about more serious situations such as the death of a parent, or living through the aftermath of a hurricane, or serious poverty. adcoms will read it as an excuse for a low score, not as an example of you struggling and coming out stronger in the end.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Hello everyone,

I've been hearing a lot of contradictory advice in regards to writing about a low MCAT score/section for secondary applications and was wondering what your thoughts were? Personally, for me, I did pretty well for every section except for CARS, where I experienced a severe headache that impacted my vision at the time. I read past threads on this site where at all costs you should not bring about a negative unless they specifically ask you about it. I totally understand that logic, however, I have also gotten advice where you cannot hide your MCAT score or low GPA. So, why not face it head-on and explain in your secondaries the reason why behind it (which I understand might come across as an excuse) take full responsibility, and how it made you into a better person? Additionally, is it possible to explain a bad score in terms of getting a migraine, but then write about perseverance to push through and finish the last two sections strong?

Thoughts and advice? Thank you!

Will you explain why you didn't cancel the score or why your migraine impacted your CARS section but not your other section scores?

 

[KnightDoc]

Will you explain why you didn't cancel the score or why your migraine impacted your CARS section but not your other section scores?

This^^^^. IMHO, there is no way any explanation involving a medical condition that only impacted one notoriously difficult section in the middle of an exam is going to come off as anything other than an excuse, no matter how legit.

How bad is the overall score, as well as the CARS score? Since you are asking now, I'm going to assume you haven't applied yet. If that's the case, rather than telling a story about a migraine that came and went in the middle of an exam (or that you were able to push through, with no negative impact to 3 out of 4 sections), why not just show the adcom by retaking the exam, depending on how bad the score is and what your potential is?

 

[Kyler Mwwrray]

Taking responsibility for a low score would be to retake it and score higher. A migraine is going to sound like a weak excuse to point out something that doesn’t need to be pointed out. I also wouldn’t consider this worthy of an adversity essay. You pushed through a test with a migraine… Is there not anything else you could right about for that? Also, OP, how bad was the score to warrant unneeded attention brought to it if you seemingly did well on everything else?

 

[Goro]

Additionally, is it possible to explain a bad score in terms of getting a migraine, but then write about perseverance to push through and finish the last two sections strong?

No, this would be telegraphing your bad judgement for continuing to take a high stakes, career-deciding exam when you weren't at your best. The MCAT is a measure of judgement as well as competence.

Who else is advising you to discuss your MCAT in a secondary? Ignorant pre-meds? Or idiot UG advisors?