- Joined
- Oct 31, 2014
- Messages
- 631
- Reaction score
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Before I say anything, I would like to give a shot-out to @Goro @LizzyM @gyngyn and thank them for their wisdom, honesty, and sometimes humor. As adcoms, they offer fantastic advice and perspective, but they are also very realistic and won't hesitate to say things like "you have little to no chance".
To assure all the neurotic premeds on SDN (and I used to be a neurotic premed just like everyone else), you do NOT need to have a "perfect" application to get accepted into medical school! Allow me to give you a brief overview of my background and application.
-CA resident and ORM (double whammy when it comes to medical admissions)
-Cumulative GPA ~3.6, science GPA <3.4, 33 MCAT (which, let's keep it real, is very good, statistically)
-Graduated from a top 10 national university
-"Unique" major (PM me if you want to know which major - hint: it is not a science)
-Fairly diverse and substantial ECs
-A few minor "red flags" (PM me if you want to know the specifics)
-Not disadvantaged in anyway (I have some of the most amazing and supportive parents out there)
And below is some perspective I wish to share. Now, these are solely based on my own experiences and feelings, and they may or may not be accurate depending on your unique circumstances. I am NOT an expert on medical admissions, but I do think the points below make a certain amount of sense.
1) Your stats are very important, everyone knows that, but once you get above a (surprisingly low) minimum threshold, they aren't as important as you may think. Official studies have shown that a 26 MCAT is sufficient enough for successful completion of medical school, and GPAs can vary tremendously based on the rigor of the school or even different professors within the same school. However, given the competitive nature of medical school admissions, it is unfortunately of the utmost importance that applicants get their numbers as high as possible.
2) Diversity is very important, but diversity goes way beyond racial and socioeconomic factors. When people think of diversity, they often think along racial and socioeconomic lines. And while those are factors that medical schools consider, diversity comes in other, perhaps more subtle ways. What did you major in college? Did you have any significant accomplishments within your chosen major? What unique perspectives can you bring to our class? What are some of your most meaningful activities? All those things matter when schools pick out which candidates to accept.
3) Your passion for specific schools and your overall "fit" can make the difference between rejection and acceptance. My academic stats are competitive for the school that I got accepted into, but throughout recent history, many applicants with much higher stats (and more impressive ECs) were denied even interviews. While it is difficult (in fact, impossible) to come up with a genuine reason why you want to attend a particular school for every school that you apply to, do think about what genuinely draws you towards a particular school. Is it the unique curriculum? Or are you a strong believer in its mission statement? Do you like the school's laid back culture and atmosphere? Or do you have strong personal ties to a school's particular region? At your interviews, it is very important to demonstrate passion and genuine desire to attend that specific school.
4) Apply early! I don't think I need to elaborate much with this one. Just know that some schools place much stronger emphasis on early applications than others, but regardless, having your primary verified by the end of June should be a top priority. I can say with near absolute certainty that I would not have been accepted (or even granted an interview) if I didn't apply as early as I did. I submitted my application early June, and my primary was verified in around 10 days. Therefore, my application was sent to schools on the first possible day.
5) California schools are mercilessly competitive! Again, this should be no secret. The UC medical schools are absolutely fantastic institutions, but because of the caliber and number of CA applicants, these schools should be considered reaches for all but the strongest of applicants. In my opinion, you shouldn't feel confident in an UC acceptance unless your have a 3.8+ GPA and 35+ MCAT. There are certainly exceptions, but for most UC hopefuls, make sure your numbers are up to snuff.
6) Be proud of your non-medical achievements! While it is vital to have ECs that demonstrate exposure to the various aspects of medicine (shadowing, hospital volunteering, research, medically-related work experience, etc) activities and accomplishments that have nothing to do with science and/or medicine DO have a place on your medical school application. Medical schools want applicants who have demonstrated academic competence, but they also want well-rounded human beings with genuine interests, passions, and sometimes quirks. Also think about it from the admission's point of view. They get thousands of applicants with shockingly similar applications that all check off the usual boxes of activities. If you have substantial achievements in areas that aren't typically represented in the applicant pool, it will at the very least catch some of the attention of the admissions committee. And sometimes, that can make all the difference.
7) If your stats are not in line with the accepted averages of MD medical schools, PLEASE consider DO medical schools. I don't want to get into the MD vs DO debate, but do you know what you'll be called after you graduate from a DO medical school? A doctor. DOs have the same training (in fact, DOs are trained in MORE areas of medicine) as their MD counterparts, and in the real world, DOs are equally regarded and compensated as their MD counterparts. DO medical schools adhere to the osteopathic principle, which places a strong emphasis on treating the whole person. Because of this philosophy, a significant percentage of osteopathic physicians pursue primary care fields. However, DOs can be found in all specialties across the board, and you are NOT limited to primary care specialties if you attend an osteopathic medical school. My mentor (who is a DO) has classmates who are currently emergency trauma surgeons, radiologists, ophthalmologists, etc. Finally, while DO medical schools don't require as high GPAs and MCAT scores as MD schools, please don't mistakenly assume that they are "easier" to get into. Many DO applicants have clinical experiences that absolutely embarrasses the typical 22 year-old MD matriculant, and many DO medical schools recommend or require a letter of recommendation from an osteopathic physician. In the end, if your goal is to become a physician (not just an MD), then the DO route is a slightly different (but equal) path to take. @Goro if he wants to chime in.
8) No applicant is perfect! Okay, maybe a small percentage of applicants are so perfect and stupendous that they give ADCOM members wet dreams, but medical schools know that applicants are people who have flaws and make mistakes. Maybe your transcript has more Cs and Ws (or worse) than you are comfortable with. Perhaps you got into some trouble at school because of alcohol or drugs. Or maybe you were involved with more serious matters involving law enforcement. Whatever it may be, come to terms with your weaknesses and "red flags", and if you are asked to disclose any institutional actions or criminal background incidents, be honest in your explanation and accept responsibility for your actions.
9) And this partly relates back to the previous point. Barring extraordinary circumstances (felony convictions, expulsion from school because of egregious conduct violations, severe mental or physical illness, absolutely appalling academic record, etc.), nothing will keep you from medical schools. If your GPA is under 3.0? Do a post-bacc or SMP and demolish the MCAT. Not enough ECs? Start contacting local hospitals, clinics, and doctor offices. No matter what deficiencies your application may have, there are always ways to address and improve them. If you want to be a physician, you WILL get there. It might take you a while, but everyone's on a different timeline. Speaking of which...
10) Whatever you do, DON'T compare yourself to your peers! Everyone (especially people on SDN) has the tendency to compare with his/her peers and attempt to "keep up with the Joneses", but everyone has different life-stories and unique circumstances, so it really is pointless comparing yourself to your peers. When I was an undergrad at my competitive university, many of my peers went straight from undergrad to medical school. They have impeccable applications, astronomical stats (every cycle on average, around 60-80 people from my undergrad have MCAT scores above a 36), and incredible ECs (multiple years of research, publications, international service experiences, major leadership roles), and during my senior year, I was very envious (and even a bit bitter) towards my peers. When they were getting their acceptances to top medical schools and scholarship offers at even better schools (are they human?), I was sitting on a sub 3.2 sGPA, and the mere thought of taking the MCAT would send chills down my spine. Back then, I was incredibly frustrated and angry that I won't be able to join them in medical school. But now, just over 2 years later, I have my acceptance to a fantastic medical school that will equip me with everything I need in my future career. Bottomline: you will feel the occasional bout of frustration, envy, or even anger towards your peers who have gotten into incredible schools. These are normal human emotions and reactions. But know that you are different from your peers, and that you will get there eventually. Medicine is a marathon, not a sprint.
Wow that's a long post. If you actually read through the whole thing, then you have my sincere gratitude and admiration. If you want to know more personal/detailed aspects of my application, feel free to PM me.
And please feel free to chime in and disagree/elaborate on anything I've said.
To assure all the neurotic premeds on SDN (and I used to be a neurotic premed just like everyone else), you do NOT need to have a "perfect" application to get accepted into medical school! Allow me to give you a brief overview of my background and application.
-CA resident and ORM (double whammy when it comes to medical admissions)
-Cumulative GPA ~3.6, science GPA <3.4, 33 MCAT (which, let's keep it real, is very good, statistically)
-Graduated from a top 10 national university
-"Unique" major (PM me if you want to know which major - hint: it is not a science)
-Fairly diverse and substantial ECs
-A few minor "red flags" (PM me if you want to know the specifics)
-Not disadvantaged in anyway (I have some of the most amazing and supportive parents out there)
And below is some perspective I wish to share. Now, these are solely based on my own experiences and feelings, and they may or may not be accurate depending on your unique circumstances. I am NOT an expert on medical admissions, but I do think the points below make a certain amount of sense.
1) Your stats are very important, everyone knows that, but once you get above a (surprisingly low) minimum threshold, they aren't as important as you may think. Official studies have shown that a 26 MCAT is sufficient enough for successful completion of medical school, and GPAs can vary tremendously based on the rigor of the school or even different professors within the same school. However, given the competitive nature of medical school admissions, it is unfortunately of the utmost importance that applicants get their numbers as high as possible.
2) Diversity is very important, but diversity goes way beyond racial and socioeconomic factors. When people think of diversity, they often think along racial and socioeconomic lines. And while those are factors that medical schools consider, diversity comes in other, perhaps more subtle ways. What did you major in college? Did you have any significant accomplishments within your chosen major? What unique perspectives can you bring to our class? What are some of your most meaningful activities? All those things matter when schools pick out which candidates to accept.
3) Your passion for specific schools and your overall "fit" can make the difference between rejection and acceptance. My academic stats are competitive for the school that I got accepted into, but throughout recent history, many applicants with much higher stats (and more impressive ECs) were denied even interviews. While it is difficult (in fact, impossible) to come up with a genuine reason why you want to attend a particular school for every school that you apply to, do think about what genuinely draws you towards a particular school. Is it the unique curriculum? Or are you a strong believer in its mission statement? Do you like the school's laid back culture and atmosphere? Or do you have strong personal ties to a school's particular region? At your interviews, it is very important to demonstrate passion and genuine desire to attend that specific school.
4) Apply early! I don't think I need to elaborate much with this one. Just know that some schools place much stronger emphasis on early applications than others, but regardless, having your primary verified by the end of June should be a top priority. I can say with near absolute certainty that I would not have been accepted (or even granted an interview) if I didn't apply as early as I did. I submitted my application early June, and my primary was verified in around 10 days. Therefore, my application was sent to schools on the first possible day.
5) California schools are mercilessly competitive! Again, this should be no secret. The UC medical schools are absolutely fantastic institutions, but because of the caliber and number of CA applicants, these schools should be considered reaches for all but the strongest of applicants. In my opinion, you shouldn't feel confident in an UC acceptance unless your have a 3.8+ GPA and 35+ MCAT. There are certainly exceptions, but for most UC hopefuls, make sure your numbers are up to snuff.
6) Be proud of your non-medical achievements! While it is vital to have ECs that demonstrate exposure to the various aspects of medicine (shadowing, hospital volunteering, research, medically-related work experience, etc) activities and accomplishments that have nothing to do with science and/or medicine DO have a place on your medical school application. Medical schools want applicants who have demonstrated academic competence, but they also want well-rounded human beings with genuine interests, passions, and sometimes quirks. Also think about it from the admission's point of view. They get thousands of applicants with shockingly similar applications that all check off the usual boxes of activities. If you have substantial achievements in areas that aren't typically represented in the applicant pool, it will at the very least catch some of the attention of the admissions committee. And sometimes, that can make all the difference.
7) If your stats are not in line with the accepted averages of MD medical schools, PLEASE consider DO medical schools. I don't want to get into the MD vs DO debate, but do you know what you'll be called after you graduate from a DO medical school? A doctor. DOs have the same training (in fact, DOs are trained in MORE areas of medicine) as their MD counterparts, and in the real world, DOs are equally regarded and compensated as their MD counterparts. DO medical schools adhere to the osteopathic principle, which places a strong emphasis on treating the whole person. Because of this philosophy, a significant percentage of osteopathic physicians pursue primary care fields. However, DOs can be found in all specialties across the board, and you are NOT limited to primary care specialties if you attend an osteopathic medical school. My mentor (who is a DO) has classmates who are currently emergency trauma surgeons, radiologists, ophthalmologists, etc. Finally, while DO medical schools don't require as high GPAs and MCAT scores as MD schools, please don't mistakenly assume that they are "easier" to get into. Many DO applicants have clinical experiences that absolutely embarrasses the typical 22 year-old MD matriculant, and many DO medical schools recommend or require a letter of recommendation from an osteopathic physician. In the end, if your goal is to become a physician (not just an MD), then the DO route is a slightly different (but equal) path to take. @Goro if he wants to chime in.
8) No applicant is perfect! Okay, maybe a small percentage of applicants are so perfect and stupendous that they give ADCOM members wet dreams, but medical schools know that applicants are people who have flaws and make mistakes. Maybe your transcript has more Cs and Ws (or worse) than you are comfortable with. Perhaps you got into some trouble at school because of alcohol or drugs. Or maybe you were involved with more serious matters involving law enforcement. Whatever it may be, come to terms with your weaknesses and "red flags", and if you are asked to disclose any institutional actions or criminal background incidents, be honest in your explanation and accept responsibility for your actions.
9) And this partly relates back to the previous point. Barring extraordinary circumstances (felony convictions, expulsion from school because of egregious conduct violations, severe mental or physical illness, absolutely appalling academic record, etc.), nothing will keep you from medical schools. If your GPA is under 3.0? Do a post-bacc or SMP and demolish the MCAT. Not enough ECs? Start contacting local hospitals, clinics, and doctor offices. No matter what deficiencies your application may have, there are always ways to address and improve them. If you want to be a physician, you WILL get there. It might take you a while, but everyone's on a different timeline. Speaking of which...
10) Whatever you do, DON'T compare yourself to your peers! Everyone (especially people on SDN) has the tendency to compare with his/her peers and attempt to "keep up with the Joneses", but everyone has different life-stories and unique circumstances, so it really is pointless comparing yourself to your peers. When I was an undergrad at my competitive university, many of my peers went straight from undergrad to medical school. They have impeccable applications, astronomical stats (every cycle on average, around 60-80 people from my undergrad have MCAT scores above a 36), and incredible ECs (multiple years of research, publications, international service experiences, major leadership roles), and during my senior year, I was very envious (and even a bit bitter) towards my peers. When they were getting their acceptances to top medical schools and scholarship offers at even better schools (are they human?), I was sitting on a sub 3.2 sGPA, and the mere thought of taking the MCAT would send chills down my spine. Back then, I was incredibly frustrated and angry that I won't be able to join them in medical school. But now, just over 2 years later, I have my acceptance to a fantastic medical school that will equip me with everything I need in my future career. Bottomline: you will feel the occasional bout of frustration, envy, or even anger towards your peers who have gotten into incredible schools. These are normal human emotions and reactions. But know that you are different from your peers, and that you will get there eventually. Medicine is a marathon, not a sprint.
Wow that's a long post. If you actually read through the whole thing, then you have my sincere gratitude and admiration. If you want to know more personal/detailed aspects of my application, feel free to PM me.
And please feel free to chime in and disagree/elaborate on anything I've said.
