Horrible Vr Score... Is It Worth Trying?

[Sheenmcbean]

I just got my score back... 14/7/14 on my MCAT 

3.92 cGPA

 

Is there any point in applying to McMaster this year, or should I just retake the MCAT?

 

Thanks.

[thsc]

I just got my score back... 14/7/14 on my MCAT 

3.92 cGPA

 

Is there any point in applying to McMaster this year, or should I just retake the MCAT?

 

Thanks.

My personal opinion is that you should retake it and it's unlikely you will get into Mac with that score even if you ace the Casper. 

[mitmtl]

IMO, apply, even if low VR. Without applying, you have 0% chance. 

[Organomegaly]

If you have the money, try it. You will gain at least something from experiencing CASper. However, be realistic: getting in with a VR of 7 is incredibly rare.

 

Four people were accepted with a VR of 6-8 in prior years:
http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/mdprog/documents/Classof2017.pdf

 

However, I would like to point out that aboriginal applicants are not judged on the basis of their VR as long as they attain the minimum score of 6. It is possible that these applicants gaining entry from the 6-8 category were not necessarily judged on the basis of increasing VR score, so it may not even be realistically feasible.

 

Yet, my hypothesis is that since the cutoff is a 6 for VR, then somehow in their formula it must be possible to gain entry with that score, otherwise it would be futile to allow applicants to apply with it. So somewhere along the spectrum of possibilities, a 6 VR might be offset by an exceptional GPA and CASper. 

Congratulations on scoring so well on the sciences, though. That is definitely something to be immensely proud of.

Best of luck

[katakari]

I know a non-Aboriginal with an 8 so it is possible. You'll need to ace CASPer and your interview though. If you can spend the money you might as well go for it.

 

I'm a little skeptical of two 14s and a 7. Verbal score is correlated to high science scores and I haven't ever seen 13+ with less than 9 verbal.

[Catalase]

I know a non-Aboriginal with an 8 so it is possible. You'll need to ace CASPer and your interview though. If you can spend the money you might as well go for it.

 

I'm a little skeptical of two 14s and a 7. Verbal score is correlated to high science scores and I haven't ever seen 13+ with less than 9 verbal.

 

Although you'd think verbal would have a correlation with science scores, this isn't necessarily the case for everyone.  My first examkrackers 101 VR score was an abysmal 4, while I consistently scored between 13-15 on AAMC PS and BS tests.  Lots of people who are science majors are used to reading physical and life sciences literature and have little experience with humanities and social science literature, which is why they struggle with the convoluted humanities and social science passages in VR.  

[Sarvish]

I know a non-Aboriginal with an 8 so it is possible. You'll need to ace CASPer and your interview though. If you can spend the money you might as well go for it.

 

I'm a little skeptical of two 14s and a 7. Verbal score is correlated to high science scores and I haven't ever seen 13+ with less than 9 verbal.

I disagree on verbal score being correlated to high science scores. I know of a few people with 13 in BS and <7 in verbal. Verbal is an entirely different skill set IMO and is a lot harder to train for than BS/PS

[Savac]

I disagree on verbal score being correlated to high science scores. I know of a few people with 13 in BS and <7 in verbal. Verbal is an entirely different skill set IMO and is a lot harder to train for than BS/PS

 

I agree completely. The reason that many people hate verbal is because of how different it is to prepare for when being compared to the science sections

[Russ]

Although you'd think verbal would have a correlation with science scores, this isn't necessarily the case for everyone.  My first examkrackers 101 VR score was an abysmal 4, while I consistently scored between 13-15 on AAMC PS and BS tests.  Lots of people who are science majors are used to reading physical and life sciences literature and have little experience with humanities and social science literature, which is why they struggle with the convoluted humanities and social science passages in VR.  

Low VR can easily be explained by not-being-an-anglophone.

[makingfetchhappen]

Your science scores are amazing! You might not have much of a chance with that VR score, but you should 100% apply for the chance to write the Casper. Did you take the AAMC practice tests for VR? Is English not your first language? I see how people who are used to sciences can be thrown off by VR, but with those science scores, I think you must have the potential/intelligence to get your VR up to a 10. Congrats on the 14s, that's amazing. Good luck improving your VR, I think that you can do it! There are some good threads on here from people who have scored well on it, they helped me.

[Sheenmcbean]

Thank you everyone for the kind and helpful replies! I've decided to apply... submitting my app tonight. Good luck to everyone who is applying this year as well!

 

There have been some questions regarding my 7 in VR score:

 

1) AAMC practice scores: I usually get around 13-15 in PS/BS, with my VR score being much more variable. I've gotten as low as a 7, and as high as 11-12. For me, it usually depends on my state of mind and the passages I read. Sometimes, there are passages in which I just don't understand  

 

2) My English abilities: I am an anglophone, and speak English at a native level though it is not my first language. Thus, 7 is kind of embarrassing, I suppose

 

3) Examkrackers: I did use the Examkrackers verbal 101, though I don't think I utilized it optimally. I was extremely busy with work during the summer and did not follow the tips to a tee (did not write out the main ideas of past passages, etc). Have you guys found it to substantially help boost your VR?

 

4) Science scores: I indeed get 14's on sciences - if you do not believe me, I can screenshot it as proof. However, I'm retaking the MCAT in January.

 

Once again, thanks everyone for the encouragement, and good luck!