Interview/Opinions/Pretentious

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Just looking for some opinions.

I'm a borderline candidate for pod school (3.0 sGPA, 3.1 cGPA) and I got an email from NYCPM encouraging borderline students to fax them an unofficial transcript. They said they'll make recommendations as to what you can do to maximize your chances of being admitted. Apparently, this ranges from recommending post bac work to setting an MCAT score to shoot for.

Is it a good idea to do this? Part of me, says it shows interest. Part of me says it may hurt me when I apply this summer.

Secondly, my inorganic chemistry professor/class has given my classmates and I a lot of grief. More so than physical chemistry. He teaches his course at an advanced level and prides himself on having more than 50 papers published with 2 having "significant impact" on the inorganic community. An A in his class is an 80, and it goes down from there.

Anyways, I got a C+ (yuck, I know) in the class which is supposedly what he sets the average at. Being 0.03 away from a B-, I went to go talk to him. Yes, for the first time in my college career I was one of those annoying students. He refused to switch my grade, BUT suggested that if I'm granted an interview to a pod school AND if they asked about the grade to tell them that I scored in the 90th percentile nationwide on the ACS Inorganic exam. He even said he'd notarize a letter with my performance for proof. For those of you who don't know, the american chemical society makes these standardized tests that a lot of chemistry students at other colleges take for their final exam.

So my question to you, is it pretentious to bring that up in an interview? Is it even worth bringing up in an interview?

Sorry for such a long winded post! Cheers

Dude you got a 90% on the ACS and got a C+... What a douchbag.

My most the chem prof's at my dept will curve you up a whole grade if you rock the ACS.

Originally Posted by natorx

Dude you got a 90% on the ACS and got a C+... What a douchbag.

My most the chem prof's at my dept will curve you up a whole grade if you rock the ACS.

He's a cool guy but he gets super hard off making his class incredibly difficult. I don't get it. It's not like I was lazy about it either.

i have similar stats and sent them my unoffical transcript. they'll just tell you your science gpa is average and your cum is below average and to get a good score on the mcat to be a strong candidate.

It cannot hurt you to send your transcript in unless they tell you something specific that you don't inevitably do. If that happens, it only hurts you at NYCPM, and no where else. Soooo send it in, I say.


As for the inorganic grade, no one will care you got a C+, and at least 80 was an "A." at my school only one girl got an A in orgo 2, but his are standard 93-100 is an A.

Good job on the ACS final though, those things suck. However, don't bring it up in your interview or have a prof send in a letter. If during your interview they ask you about your low inorganic grade (they won't) you can tell them you scored in the 90th percentile for the ACS final, and that should be sufficient.

You might slip that into your essay in a subtle way, that way they already know going in and you don't have to worry about forcing the conversation that way.

"...blah blah blah helped me successfully navigate organic chemistry, even scoring a 90% on the ACS nationwide (unfortunately earning only a C+ in my class)"

Or some other way...

It's not pretentious to bring that up an an interview, you just need to do it the right way and word it as to not sound like you're making excuses (which is easier said than done). Being successful with your bio section of the MCAT would go a long way in doing the talking for you, though.

Originally Posted by bobdolerson

It's not pretentious to bring that up an an interview, you just need to do it the right way and word it as to not sound like you're making excuses (which is easier said than done). Being successful with your bio section of the MCAT would go a long way in doing the talking for you, though.

My thoughts exactly, except wouldn't it be the Physical Science section for gen/inorganic chem?

Originally Posted by pacpod

My thoughts exactly, except wouldn't it be the Physical Science section for gen/inorganic chem?

Yeah, it would be. Bob's probably sleep deprived from all the Geriatrics studying he's been doing...

I see "inorganic" and apparently always see "organic"...I guess I think of inorganic as chem I, and don't really see the two as related sections. These are excuses.

And yes...one cannot underestimate the mental deterioration inherent with studying aging. Or pulling all-nighters as a habit. Or drinking way too many energy drinks...I'm pretty sure I piss Monster.

I think its a good idea if someone brings up that part of your transcript, but usually interviewers are more interested in figuring out how convinced you are of your own decision to pursue podiatry.