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That's not ALWAYS the case. Also, depends on the event... I am a competitive rower and would most likely qualify for need-based financial aid.
Haha. Wrong regatta.Rowing? I was thinking more like a Tartan 4300.
They can't rescind seats. What they have to do is seat the "overbooked" applicants, on their (the med school's) dime. How the deans manage to NOT have this happen is a mix of art and magic.
Wouldn't overbooking give med school an extra ~50k (less for state schools) in tuition per seat?
Hey @hushcom a quick merit aid question. What, other than fantastic GPA, MCAT, and ECs, can a person do to make themselves more attractive for merit aid?
Do you like brownies?
@hushcom I have a fairly long post with my situation. Is there any way you'd look at it and reply if I linked it? Here it is. Other Adcom folks are welcome as well if anyone would point them in that direction.
What's the general cut off for a high-mid-low 3? 3.75 for high and 3.40 for mid?You tell me, a chemistry major from Harvey Mudd with a 2.98 versus a general studies major from ASU with a 3.98.
It's case-by-case, although at first glance my brain instantly separates GPAs into high-3, mid-3, low-3, and sub-3.
Hey @hushcom , would appreciate any advice on whether or not I should retake MCAT. Applied this cycle to MD only. Applied to 10 schools. Anticipate reapplying MD and applying DO early this June. Have taken the MCAT twice. June 2013- (10P, 6V, 9B) and August 2013- (10P-9V,9V).
Applied with: cGPA 3.53 sGPA 3.40. might worthwhile to list the trend starting from freshmen year:
3.35 --> 2.4 (i know, awful -_-) --> 3.85 --> 3.78 --> 3.83 --> 3.94 (i'm hoping the upward trend will compensate for the horrific freshman year) Also, last semester I had a 4.0, and anticipate a 4.0 this semester too, which would bring my cGPA to roughly 3.65 and sGPA 3.5.
Is the 28 MCAT an application killer? Is there any chance for an MD acceptance? I have great EC's and strong LOR.
I'm getting married this June, so wedding planning/busy senior year has deterred me somewhat from studying for the MCAT again. Although I think I muster up one more crack at it if absolutely necessary.
Good Evening Thank you so much for taking the time answer all these questions. Have read a lot of them and it has been helpful! I have a quick question.
If someone does terrible in some of the pre-req classes (due to illness) and stops taking the pre-req science classes to focus on their major* (non-science) but completes a post bacc (informally) to retake those classes (& the ones they did not initally take) how would the committee view this?
Let's say they are able to maintain a 4.0 in the pre-req classes and some upperlevels (while working full time, part time student status) would that be enough to convince you of their ability to succeed in medical school classes. If not, what else do you feel this applicant must do, academic wise, to put him/herself in a favorable light?
* This person was able to deans list second half of undergrad, and do very well in major and minor classes (although, again both non-science).
Thanks for you help!
What's the general cut off for a high-mid-low 3? 3.75 for high and 3.40 for mid?
Also, are you an adcom at a Canadian friendly school?
So is it true Canadians are really held to a higher standard? Or is this adcom and school dependent?My own rough guide is 3.7-4.0 = high, 3.4-3.6= mid, 3.0-3.3 = low, but that's just me and that's just the starting point for my analysis.
I don't think we're unfriendly to Canadians.
@hushcom- Thank you for taking the time to answer neurotic premed questions. As a non-trad I certainly have questions, and without a premedical advisor or committee this is particularly enlightening.
I viewed in a previously thread that an adcom might raise an eyebrow at someone who took pre-reqs one at a time and earned A's. Well I certainly don't have all A's in my pre-reqs but did have to take them one at a time. Each class was a pre-req for the next class, in that case would that be a different scenario?
I do work full time as a supervisor in a lab(microbiologist), with a family so with classes my plate is rather full, but surprisingly manageable. Early in my academic career I had taken a time management class...it helps!
Lastly, how does an adcom view non-trads that have extensive experience in the clinical lab? My position affords me the opportunity to work closely with many disciplines in healthcare, as well as projects that benefit or improve patient care.
Thanks a bunch!
@hushcom - So awesome that you're doing this, thank you.
I fall into the category of undergrads with abysmal GPAs (cGPA 3.3 sGPA 2.9).
I was not set to be a doctor from the beginning, and have slowly done better in classes, but grades are overall unimpressive. I have worked my way through college and have had multiple jobs each semester. I've improved in any class retake. My past is full many EC's, no research as of now, lots of shadowing. Most recently, I have been volunteering at a hospital for the last 8 months.
My questions - is there hope and what would be most beneficial for me to focus on now? (Start looking to an SMP? Crush the MCAT? Get research done?) I have the opportunity to do a three-month med internship in Moscow at the European Clinic in the fall. Would this help much, or would it not carry much weight?
Thank you so much for any advice.
1. When I referred to taking pre-reqs one-at-a-time I meant the core science classes required by virtually all medical schools. An example would be someone who takes General Chemistry during freshman year, General Biology during the summer, Organic during sophomore year, and Physics as a Junior, while filling the rest of the schedule with Underwater Basket Weaving Seminars and zero other science. That sort of schedule does not mean the applicant can't hack it, but he/she just hasn't really shown it.
2. I would see such experience as a big positive, although if you spin it poorly it runs the risk of making you appear one-dimensional. Fortunately that risk is comparatively small, and if you play your cards right it will help you stand out. Heck, having real time management skills will put you ahead of the game.
How much attention do you pay to how interviewees are dressed? Does it matter if someone interviews in a flashy, expensive-looking suit? Does it matter if one's dress shoes are scuffed? The folks in the interview-attire threads seem to think that the cut and color of one's suit, tie, and shoes could matter immensely, but I'm skeptical of that.
You need to look neat and professional. That's about it.
If you wear Armani with Hublot on your wrist I will just assume that you are a narcissist with a rich dad. I also interview applicants from very meager backgrounds who wear off-the-rack suits from Marshall's. Way more impressive.
http://us.suitsupply.com/en_US/suits/sienna-blue-check/P3672I.html?start=20&cgid=Suits&prefn1=lineID&prefv1=Suit Up
If I were buying a suit just to have one, I'd go with something like this. I like that the pattern makes it stand out a bit, but I'm worried it'll stand out too much for med school interviews.
Could you pass for a male underwear model?
No. I'm tall, skinny, and have an interest in fashion.
Thanks hushcom for taking so much of your time to answer many, many questions.
In next year's cycle, do you know how ADCOMs will view applications with the new MCAT compared with the individuals with the current MCAT? This isn't a question of incredible importance, I'm just curious how a bundle of applications with a wide variety of old and new MCATs will be viewed next application cycle. This will, of course, not be relevant to any significant extent in 3 or 4 years, but it will be beginning in 2015. Thank you.
If you are getting A's while taking upper level science courses and working I find that very favorable. The applicant I watch out for is someone who get's A's but takes the minimum pre-reqs one at a time. Getting a solid (30+) MCAT will also help your case.
Thank you very much for your feedback. Unfortunately, 4 pre-req classes were taken one at a time due to schedule conflicts with other pre-req classes & work (I work fulltime). I plan to take at least 2 upper levels and still work full time in addition to outside activities (most likely research and continued shadowing) next semester. I'll be doing this while I apply. Would that maybe mitigate the effects of only taken some of the classes one at a time?
How do you view post baccalaureate work from say a UC? Does it carry a lot of weight?I am a practicing physician who serves on the admissions committee of an allopathic medical school in the United States. I am also not new to SDN, having seen the cast of characters evolve here over a number of years. Some recent threads in the pre-allo forum have compelled me to start this one. While I am not a longstanding and venerated member of the committee, perhaps someone will find my two cents useful and/or interesting.
So please, have at it.
Would you recommend working at a place such as Pfizer during the gap year or work as a medical scribe and perhaps do some research on the side (although already having two years of research).
Or would you recommend to do research full time at a university?
Thanks!!
How do you view post baccalaureate work from say a UC? Does it carry a lot of weight?
I'm interested to know this as well. Also, how important is it to have LORs from MDs? I feel like the activities where I can show skill and hard work as opposed to just enthusiasm and basic organizational competence are overseen by PhDs (research and work vs. shadowing and volunteering). Would one MD letter be enough?Also, can a few very good LORs make up for one generic one?
How do you view someone coming from a small Liberal Arts College that's very unknown? Will this affect chances of getting in because it is not a well known (or even known at all) school?
Also, does lacking results in a research project mean that it was insignificant? Or are the lessons and techniques learned from research good enough?
I am wondering how a letter of recommendation written by a graduate student (TA) and cosigned by the professor looks? The TA knows me far better. Also, I come from a large public university (UC), and it is difficult to get to know your professors intimately, would that be factored in for the LOR?
Also, can a few very good LORs make up for one generic one?
Thank you so much!
I'm interested to know this as well. Also, how important is it to have LORs from MDs? I feel like the activities where I can show skill and hard work as opposed to just enthusiasm and basic organizational competence are overseen by PhDs (research and work vs. shadowing and volunteering). Would one MD letter be enough?
I'm a little late to the thread, but maybe I can still get an answer.
I have the opposite problem from a lot of previous questions in the thread, in that I started ok (~3.5 in pre-reqs) but stumbled senior year in quantum physics and an electrical engineering class. I ended up with less than a 3.0 for my senior year, although my overall GPAs were still ~3.2. After a strong semester of biology post-bacc classes, I'm back to 3.3 cGPA/3.3 sGPA, along with a low-30s MCAT. I'm starting an SMP (Boston University MAMS) in the fall and plan on applying to med schools again in Summer 2015, but I'm concerned med schools will still judge me harshly for my senior year. Am I wasting time/money with grad work when I should be doing more undergrad? Or are the grad classes, which are done alongside med students, enough?
Quick question:
If I am applying to a MD school should I have shadowed an MD? I know it seems obvious but I have a really awesome GeneralSurgeon DO that's letting me shadow him and it's a lot of fun and I want him to write me a letter.
I feel like if I shadow another doctor but an MD than it'll be for a short period of time and he won't write me as good as a letter as the DO.
Thanks again!