ADCOMS: Semi-Solicited Advice [Part II]

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The SDN mods want us to start a new thread because the previous one was getting too large (greater than 1000 posts) for the servers to handle economically. The previous thread was here.

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Post your questions in this thread so that ADCOMS (Admission Committee Members from medical schools) on SDN can answer them directly with advice!
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Please refrain from answering for the ADCOMs as people are asking advice from them directly.

Original Advice from Adcomm...
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Default my semi-solicited advice
dear applicants, I hope you are all having fun. over this year's admissions season I have been reading your questions and sagas and now and then I observe something I think it would be helpful for you to know. some of these may seem like common sense but I include them here because I have actually seen people mess them up. take this as one person's experience, but I hope this random collection of tips helps some of you in the coming year. if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

1. AMCAS, personal statements- please have someone read these, preferably a premed or professional advisor and not just your roommate. hold off on including things that could be misinterpreted, are far from the norm in even a slightly weird way, or could be skewed by anyone as evidence that you might not quite be psychologically fit for the profession of medicine.

2. AMCAS, ethnic/racial designation on- love me or hate me for this one. please consider your decision to label yourself an underrepresented minority carefully. if your grandmother was born in spain but moved here when she was 2, it may be tempting to put "hispanic" even if your name is john smith, the extent of your spanish is "hola", and you've never left the state you live in. and it may be your right to do so. however, you may want to consider the possibility that this will backfire. same with "african-american" when your heritage is egyptian. I'm not saying don't do it, just be careful with it. when people designate themselves as URMs, the committee is very pleased to see things like involvement with the ethnic community, and volunteer work in related clinics.

3. AMCAS, photos- please don't include "funny" photos of yourself. there are too many digital cameras around, have a friend snap your picture. it doesn't matter if it's a bad pic of you, just don't have it be a poor choice in general.

4. AMCAS, volunteer activities- please have either this or shadowing. even having a great application otherwise is not enough to overcome lack of clinical exposure.

5. interview day, being late on- be honest if you're late. everyone is human, getting caught lying about it is enough to kill your app.

6. interview day, admissions staff and- yes, everyone you interact with has input. play your game face all day.

7. interview questions- "why do you want to be a doctor?" PLEASE, please have a solid answer for this. I don't care what it is. just don't mumble or act unsure. being fervent about a subspecialty can also backfire.

8. interview questions- "do you have any questions for me?" YES, you do. ask something you already know the answer to. ask something you could care less about. just don't say no, or even "they were all already answered".

9. waitlist, LOIs- send them.

10. waitlist, grades/courses/mcats- if you are being asked to complete something after your interview, it probably means they liked you enough that they're going to accept you once you successfully do whatever they want. so do it.
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Hi Adcoms just two quick questions:

1) Would it look bad spring semester if I took two pass/fail classes out of four?

2) I really want to go to a certain school - would it help me to send a letter of intent before being waitlisted or anything but after I've interviewed?

Thanks
 
Thanks for the help, Adcoms. I posted this at the end of the old thread but since we have a new one now I'm asking again.

I'm currently working on a masters in engineering, but I am strongly considering a shift to medicine. I've started some shadowing this quarter, and although I am insanely busy most of the time, I think I can make some room for a bit of volunteering, too. I'll need to take a year to take the bio and organic chemistry prereqs, since I concentrated in physical science, then I can take the MCAT and apply. My undergrad gpa was 3.6 and my grad gpa is about a 3.8 (from ucla and stanford, respectively). Any advice on what I can do right now or during my year of prereqs to strengthen my application? Let's just assume I do about average for matriculants on the MCAT, would I be a strong applicant?
 
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I asked this in the previous thread. I didn't know if adcoms were going to answer the last few questions on the old thread so I'm reposting my hari-kari situation here:

I read through most of these posts, and I can honestly say that I think I am screwed when, come this summer, I start the application process. The first 3 semesters, I didn't pay much attention and ended up with rough ~2.9 overall (don't even ask about science gpa). However, I jumped from a barley 3.0 kid to a barely 4.0 kid these past two semesters (spring '06 - 3.5; fall '07 - 3.85).

Right now my overall is 3.3, and science is 2.9. If I manage at least a 3.5 this semester, it might bump my overall to a 3.4 and my science to a laughable 3.0. So, how bad is this going to hurt me when i apply? I plan on taking the MCATs this may/june.

I have NO clinical exposure/volunteer/research. None. I am thinking about shadowing as much as possible this coming spring semester. Is that my best option at this time (i plan on applying this summer)? I could help out at research labs here and there, but I won't be directly involved with research in anyway. Volunteering is out of the question because pushing patients around or staring at a potted plant in ER isn't going to help me decide whether medicine is, in fact, the right choice for me.

You can be brutally honest with me. I know that I've messed up, and I know that I wasted my time all these years as an undergrad. If not '08, then '09 or year after that, or 5 years after that, or 10 years after that, no matter what, nothing is going to stop me from becoming a doctor. I am ready to do whatever it takes. I just need an honest opinion from someone who is directly involved with admission process (such as yourself).
 
montessori2MD said:
Anywho, besides venting about this admissions person, I do have questions: 1) how much do the people working in the admissions office actually know about what y'all do (because this person basically quoted the MSAR for me), and

2) what's the best way to maximize my clinical time, because I have a job, classes, the MCAT and a family, so I want to make every hour count. My choices (I live near DC):

1) volunteer at a clinic like Walker Whitman (HIV/GLBT)
2) volunteer at second hospital (already doing therapy w/ elderly pts at one hospital in med/surg)
3) do a trauma internship at my current hospital
4) shadow
5) translate
6) scribe
7) take a registration job
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I actually think that any of the above would be great. Personally, I volunteered at the local ER checking people in for a couple years, and I was very successful. TThe director of admissions generally has a pretty good idea what her committee is looking for, but if you just spoke with a staffer, I don't know. It sounds like you're doing plenty already. My committee wants to see that you have spent some time with patients in a health care delivery setting and know (and can communicate that you know) what the job's actually like.
Am I naive for thinking that working with kids ages 3 months -7 years for the past couple of years (and their parents, specialists, Head Start, social svcs) has been useful (yes, it's non clinical) experience? Am I "cheating" by putting my first aid, cpr, health assessment, medication administration, child abuse prevention, developmental training in the clinical experience section of AMCAS? I know it's not phleb or ems, but...I dunno, where does it go?
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You might want to combine some of that stuff into one experience description for fear of looking like you're padding...but absolutely include it. You sound like you've had great experiences. Best wishes.
 
jstar09 said:
1) Would it look bad spring semester if I took two pass/fail classes out of four?

2) I really want to go to a certain school - would it help me to send a letter of intent before being waitlisted or anything but after I've interviewed?
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1) as long as they aren't pre-med requirements and you're competitive GPA-wise, I doubt anyone will notice. I only go over a transcript with a fine-tooth comb if I'm really worried about someone's academic capacity.
2) Yah, probably. We don't see those in our committee, but my understanding is that many schools do.
 
armybound said:
Thanks for the first response. I have another one.. a lot less important one.

My girlfriend is in a Ph.D. program at my school of choice. Would you imagine the adcomms would care at all or place any consideration on me wanting to attend their school partially because of my relationship situation? If so, would it help or hurt me?

Would it be a good or a bad idea to state that I'd like to attend their school (in part) because I'm looking to start a future with my girlfriend, etc.?
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Well, girlfriend != spouse, of course, but I think it helps for an applicant to show their connection to the community. Maybe something to bring up in interview.
 
whatnow said:
I was just wondering what admission's committees think when they see a 3.97 in Chemistry, coupled with a 24P (all 8's), and almost done with a graduate degree (MPH) with a 4.0.

I have two publications (one science journal, one medical journal--I first authored), volunteer, clinical research experience, shadowing, etc?

I've been rejected from most schools without even an interview. Is there nothing that helps that 24?
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I'm a believer in the MCAT, more or less, so it really makes me wonder. Many on my committee place very little value on it, though. But a 24 is almost certainly getting you screened out of interviews many places (I don't know about my school, since I don't do that). You really have to take a prep course and retake the exam, most likely.
 
this is not fun said:
we are not applying as a couple officially - but we would like to go to the same school - basically i am just wondering if there is anything we can do at this point to get some more interviews/if it is worth telling the med schools?
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Cf. my response to armybound above. More something you might bring up in interview, since you're not espoused. I don't know what the heck gay couples do in the current climate.
 
Noeljan said:
Hey there
I asked for advice about my outfit for the interview and I followed what you said. Well I got accepted So thank you! (ps not that my outfit got me accepted but it was one less thing to worry about.
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Actually, I'm taking full credit for that.;) Congrats.:D
 
Adcom2 said:
Well, girlfriend != spouse, of course, but I think it helps for an applicant to show their connection to the community. Maybe something to bring up in interview.
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I plan on proposing soon, would a fiancee be any different? I'm not trying to use it as leverage, I'm just curious what an adcom would think. If it's a bad idea to mention it, I won't bring it up.

But I think you already answered it, thanks :)
 
greenfield said:
Dear Adcomm,

After an interview that consisted of strange questions and comments that did not have much to do with my ambitions of becoming a doctor, I talked to my premed advisor about the interview. My advisor thought that the first question he asked was "very inappropriate" and told me to contact the dean of admissions. Could you let me know how the admissions committee handles situations like this? I am afraid that it might be frowned upon if I contact the school to complain about my interviewer. Although the interview was awkward and the worst one I have had so far, I did not panic at the question. I think I've read that some interviewers ask inappropriate questions on purpose to see your reaction. Even if I am offered another interview, how would it be perceived at the committee meeting? I'm also worried that if I do call the dean of admissions, get another interview, and do get accepted, what if the interviewer ends up being one of my professors? Would the interviewer find out in cases like this?
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That's a tough call. If you think it's possible this was one of those "stress" interviews that supposedly some schools do, then it would probably hurt to ask for a reinterview. Otherwise, it would probably help. It would make your application stand out, at least. I certainly wouldn't stresss about your interviewer being a future prof.
 
armybound said:
I plan on proposing soon, would a fiancee be any different? I'm not trying to use it as leverage, I'm just curious what an adcom would think. If it's a bad idea to mention it, I won't bring it up.
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I wouldn't propose just to put it on your application ;) :p
No, I don't think it's a bad idea. I was advised when I applied (as a married with children non-trad) not to put anything about family in my app. After all, we can't ask you about it unless you bring it up. But when I read apps that have that kind of information in them, I think it helps "fill in" the picture I form.
 
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biobossx99 said:
For the MCAT,

Is it true that Verbal and Physical sciences are favored more over the Bio, in terms of score break down (since everyone seems to do well in bio anyways?) (I heard this from a person who is going through TPR teacher training)
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Depends on who you ask. I trust the verbal more than any other section, except for ESL applicants. It's harder to coach and so many applicants take the prep courses which are almost cheating in my book.
The UCSF - UCB Joint program director said that there is a strong correlation between doing well in med and matches for residency and high verbal scores.
Is that also true?
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According to peer-reviewed research, yes. Citations are on the AMCAS web site.
And in the end, the break down probably doesn't matter too much, so long as it's over 10 in all and over 35 anyways?
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Yah.
 
Kevon said:
Hello adcoms, quick question. I am trying to shadow, but I have run into a few patient privacy related roadblocks. I am still cold calling, having exhausted personal contacts, but will a medical trip in another country help to divert attention away from lack of clinical experience in a hospital setting?
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Yes. Also try to get some kind of clinical volunteering experience.
 
SFbiker said:
I'm curious if you know anything about deferring admission for a year. I'm in the process of applying right now, but as September inches closer, I'm wondering if I could use another year off.
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Sorry, I don't even know my own school's policy for deferment, much less anyone else's. You need to talk to the schools you're interested in.
 
CV said:
I received 4 C's in past classes. Im always hearing how students retake these courses for better grades, but my college doesnt permit us to retake courses we received a C or better. Is there any way around it? Im not sure you will be able to answer my question considering you dont know the schools policy, but hey its a worth a shot to ask...
I just never thought 4 C's can lower a GPA and not permit anything higher then a 3.7 or so in my undergrad...=(
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Realize that for MD school, retakes don't replace the old grade, just add to it, so a 3 credit C plus a retake 3 credit adds up to 6 credits of B. As for how to do it, maybe retake the courses at a differenct school (summer school, perhaps?)
 
Daydreamer2008 said:
Dear Adcoms,
I am a current 2007 applicant without any interviews so I am preparing myself to apply for the 2008 cycle. I made the mistake of initially applying to only 15 schools many of which were out of my reach, and adding schools in Oct/Nov. I have a 32P on my MCAT, 11V 11P 10B. My GPA's are both quite low, 3.4. But I have an upward trend after getting into my upper div's (all A's), and I also got my MPH with a 3.83 GPA. I also have NIH summer research experience, and am currently working as a Clinical Research Associate in radiation oncology.

My question for you is, how should I improve my application? Should I take more classes? And if so I don't think they will even show up on my AMCAS since my transcripts wouldn't be ready until June or so. What about my MCAT, should I try to improve upon that?

I am also starting to teach for MCAT prep company. Should I get more hands-on clinical experience? I worked with a homeless clinic for 3 years during undergrad, but nothing relevant in a hospital.
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If you apply to different schools the second time around, you won't technically be a reapplicant at them. Your application sounds pretty good. I should think your current job will help, and your prep company job. As for clinical experience, the homeless clinic sounds great but you want to show that you still have your hat in the ring - try to do some hospital volunteering or shadowing.
 
NRGStar said:
I'm currently working on a masters in engineering, but I am strongly considering a shift to medicine. I've started some shadowing this quarter, and although I am insanely busy most of the time, I think I can make some room for a bit of volunteering, too. I'll need to take a year to take the bio and organic chemistry prereqs, since I concentrated in physical science, then I can take the MCAT and apply. My undergrad gpa was 3.6 and my grad gpa is about a 3.8 (from ucla and stanford, respectively). Any advice on what I can do right now or during my year of prereqs to strengthen my application? Let's just assume I do about average for matriculants on the MCAT, would I be a strong applicant?
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Really depends on where you're applying. You sound pretty good for my school. Make sure that you can communicate your motivation for switching elegantly.
 
BirenJ said:
I read through most of these posts, and I can honestly say that I think I am screwed when, come this summer, I start the application process. The first 3 semesters, I didn't pay much attention and ended up with rough ~2.9 overall (don't even ask about science gpa). However, I jumped from a barley 3.0 kid to a barely 4.0 kid these past two semesters (spring '06 - 3.5; fall '07 - 3.85).

Right now my overall is 3.3, and science is 2.9. If I manage at least a 3.5 this semester, it might bump my overall to a 3.4 and my science to a laughable 3.0. So, how bad is this going to hurt me when i apply? I plan on taking the MCATs this may/june.
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You will almost certainly need to do some graduate or post-bacc work to improve that science GPA. Even with an upward trend, 3.0 won't make a lot of screens.
I have NO clinical exposure/volunteer/research. None. I am thinking about shadowing as much as possible this coming spring semester. Is that my best option at this time (i plan on applying this summer)? I could help out at research labs here and there, but I won't be directly involved with research in anyway. Volunteering is out of the question because pushing patients around or staring at a potted plant in ER isn't going to help me decide whether medicine is, in fact, the right choice for me.
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Hmm. Shadowing can be good clinical exposure. You sound pretty dead-set against working in a hospital, but in fact it can be a very enlightening experience in terms of deciding if medicine is right for you. You certainly need to show that you're interested in the health of your community by doing some kind of volunteering in it.
You can be brutally honest with me. I know that I've messed up, and I know that I wasted my time all these years as an undergrad. If not '08, then '09 or year after that, or 5 years after that, or 10 years after that, no matter what, nothing is going to stop me from becoming a doctor. I am ready to do whatever it takes. I just need an honest opinion from someone who is directly involved with admission process (such as yourself).
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I'm always "brutally" honest, but try to be supportive.
 
First of all let me thank you in advance for taking time to answer my question. What I am wondering is what kind of chance does someone have of getting accepted with a mid-range 24-26 MCAT, lower gpa 3.0-3.4 if they have been invited to interview? I am assuming that you would have to blow away the interview but how exactly does someone go about doing this? Is there anything else I could do between now and decision time that would increase my chances? Again, thanks for your assistance.
 
Hi Adcoms,

I would like to know if you can give me an idea of typical qualifications for merit based scholarships. How do they relate to GPA, MCAT score, extracurriculars and ethnicity.

Thanks!!!
 
Hi,
I'm a first time applicant applying this spring without a pre-med committee. I was thinking of taking physics II over the summer [July-August], but would that delay my application [which I want to submit in June]? I have finished all other pre-med requirements.
Would the AMCAS hold my application until it has all my pre-med requirement classes? Or would medical schools not process my application until I completed and submitted the transcript for physics II?
I appreciate any insight you could give! Thanks!
 
Here are my pre-medical course grades so far:


general chemistry: B-, B-

biology: A-

organic chemistry: B / biology: B+

organic chemistry: C+


These grades are listed in the order in which I took the courses.

My pre-medical advisor said my grades from my freshman and sophomore years were like "night and day." As long as I continue getting high grades she said I'd be fine.

How do I offset my C+ in organic chemistry? I was earning a B in the course until I literally bombed my final exam.

I am a humanities major. Should I minor in Biology or take other Biology or Chemistry courses to prove myself?

Thanks in advance!
 
I just started taking my premed prereqs this year (we're on the quarter system). I was wondering if it looked bad that I take biology 2 (we have a series of 4) and organic chem 2 this summer at my home institution (UCLA)? It may also be significant that I am in no hurry to finish the prereqs, but I want to get the MCAT out of the way after next year.
 
This is a great thread.

I have a pretty bad, embarrassing question. I asked a friend for a "peer" reference, just as an extra one to all the profs' references. Well, the friend was my ex, which was a very bad idea in retrospect, but I thought she'd help me. Turns out she wrote a really nasty letter, being bitter. What can I do?

She confessed this and seems pretty repentent. I was thinking maybe I could ask her to call the schools, or I could call myself and ask them to withdraw the letter? Or maybe she could send an "updated" letter that explained and took back the things said? What should I do?

Thank you.
 
Because of a very low undergrad GPA (less than 3.0), I am planning to apply to some sort of special masters program this fall in order to start with a clean slate and earn hopefully a good graduate GPA. For various personal reasons, I would really prefer to be in Philadelphia next year. Therefore, I am deciding between getting a Masters of Biotechnology at the University of Pennsylvania and the Drexel IMS program. At UPenn, I would be taking graduate level molecular biology courses such as Biochem and Immunology that allows you to take 1st year med school courses as well as doing independent study in labs for a year and be able to work with people in Penn's med school. Also, I would have my masters in a year and be able to use that masters to do something else interesting (maybe an interesting research project in a med school lab) while I apply. The Drexel IMS program allows me to take first year med school courses and also helps me get me involved in clinical or lab work in medicine. But, I would have to take 2 years to get a Masters in Medical Science, and would not be able to do something interesting and different in the year I apply.

Each one has their pros and cons for me, but I would like an admissions officer's experience to help me decide whether one program would be better than the other.

I have heard that the Drexel IMS program is very challenging (as expected considering that they are med school courses), and I imagine that I would get a better graduate GPA with the same effort in a traditional masters program. Would med schools recognize this, or would it be more important that I get the best graduate GPA possible regardless of which program I attend?

Would the Penn name alone carry a lot of weight? Or would the fact that this is not called a Masters of Science in Biology or something similar but instead a Masters in Biotech make a difference?

Is the Drexel IMS program universally recognized and respected (at least as much as a Masters program from a comparable university)? Even if so, would I stand out more by completing a Masters as a opposed to a program particularly geared toward premed students with poor scores?

Also when I finish my undergraduate work this semester, I will have an overall GPA between 2.99 and 3.00 and a BCPM GPA between 2.95 and 2.97. Assuming I have an excellent graduate GPA, would I still not meet certain cutoffs because of my undergraduate GPA? Or would I only be truly judged on my graduate GPA?

I apologize if these are a lot of questions, but I feel the need to be thorough. I need to get an accurate idea of what are my best options before I invested my time and money in any program. I would appreciate any insight you could offer.
 
Hey Adcom2
I have a few concerns with my app that I would like to address:
- I had a very rocky start. My freshman year was a 1.45 or a 1.9 depending on how AMCAS looks at WF and NS (no show) grades. (My community college counts those grades the same as W's) The second year was a 2.9. Basically the reason behind this was lack of prep for college, moving out on my own despite a lack of maturity, and ultimately depression. After serious effort I have overcome and learned a great deal about myself and have no worry of making such mistakes again.
- I have transfered twice. After my soph year, I moved to a large city to attend art school. My junior year had mediocre grades - ie 3.5, and senior year, I really started to hit my stride - ie 3.94. It was then that I discovered medicine. I had always been interested in science and social justice but my passion for music overcame that. However, after many years, I have decided that music is not for me for well thought out reasons that will be articulated in my PS. In addition, I feel that courses that I studied in art school and the similarities I see in music ultimately let me to medicine, which I will also address in my PS. Because of my recently found passion for medicine, I decided to transfer yet again to study biology at a university, so that I have access to the courses I need, advising, research, plus being in an environment w/ other pre-meds. I know this has been a good change for me. For once in my life, I have been as passionate about school as I was about music. I excelled my first semester here, earning a 3.97. I have five semesters left to complete my bio degree. I will apply in three. My overall AMCAS calculated gpa is a 3.12 or 3.29 depending on how those WF's are recieved. My science is a 3.9ish. I intend on doing similarly for the next three semesters until I apply. I have been getting excellent clinical experience at a clinic serving the uninsured/underserved (drawing blood/triaging patients/no scut work.) I will be tutoring homeless people how to make a resume, get a job, as well a tutoring for GED examination. I will be spending four weeks this summer in South America, volunteering in a hospital/learning Spanish. I hope to get meaningful research but this seems unlikely.
- By the time I apply, I hope to have a 3.3-3.4 overall and a 3.95 BCPM. I took a diagnostic MCAT and recieved a decent score (however this was with only Chem 1 and Bio 1 and no studying so I hope to do better on the real deal.) I feel as if I have learned greatly from my past mistakes and have overcome them. I truly believe that I have what it takes to be a doctor.

I was wondering if you feel that my application will be good enough for allopathic acceptance by the time I tend to apply or if I should wait an additional year and take a glide year while interviewing (hopefully) to better my application. Also, how will my academic ability be percieced after an upward trend of 4 years of solid grades? (1.4, 2.9, 3.5, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9) I feel that my AMCAS overall gpa will be unrepresentative of my academic abillity. Will my science gpa of 3.9 be a help or will the BCPM/overall discrepancy be a red flag? Thanks for any input.
 
Adcom2,

I want to get your feedback. I am a current non-trad applicant. My stats are as follows: cum UG-3.38, postbac UG-3.79, GRAD-3.68. I have taken the MCAT 4 times and my most recent score was a 28R (11PS, 9BS, 8VR). I was also an undergrad scholar, a postbac medical scholar and I have a lot of research and hospital volunteer experience. Currently I work in clinical research where I see patients on a daily basis.

I did have an interview before the new year which I thought went very well. The student interviewer sent me an email post interview to let me know it went really well, and I felt confident on the faculty interview also, although I was afraid I may have talked too much. Anyway, eight weeks later I got a rejection letter in the mail. I was just wondering what the main reason is that candidates are rejected post-interview, having had a good interview day in general? Additionally, my faculty interviewer recommended that I take more classes with my lab experience, positing that it did not necessarily mean that I would not get accepted. Was my fate sealed at that point?

In any case would you recommend that I retake the MCAT and aim for a 30+, or should I take more classes like the faculty said (even though I spent the whole of last year taking classes at the university in question with very good results)?

Thanks for your insight because without it I am just guessing.
 
paulzidane said:
This is a great thread.

I have a pretty bad, embarrassing question. I asked a friend for a "peer" reference, just as an extra one to all the profs' references. Well, the friend was my ex, which was a very bad idea in retrospect, but I thought she'd help me. Turns out she wrote a really nasty letter, being bitter. What can I do?

She confessed this and seems pretty repentent. I was thinking maybe I could ask her to call the schools, or I could call myself and ask them to withdraw the letter? Or maybe she could send an "updated" letter that explained and took back the things said? What should I do?

Thank you.
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Maybe I'm stupid, but why in the world would you get a "peer review" and believe it would help you in the process? It's like asking my best friend for a letter, when he can just put 100% amazing statements. Whereas, believe it or not, but Professors add a bit of objectivity... If you are not good in a particular area, they will list this in your letter of rec.
 
paulzidane said:
This is a great thread.

I have a pretty bad, embarrassing question. I asked a friend for a "peer" reference, just as an extra one to all the profs' references. Well, the friend was my ex, which was a very bad idea in retrospect, but I thought she'd help me. Turns out she wrote a really nasty letter, being bitter. What can I do?

She confessed this and seems pretty repentent. I was thinking maybe I could ask her to call the schools, or I could call myself and ask them to withdraw the letter? Or maybe she could send an "updated" letter that explained and took back the things said? What should I do?

Thank you.
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:thumbup: I can't believe this story... this sounds like some b rated movie. I don't mean to pour it on, but you seriously asked your ex to write you a letter??? Talk to your premed advisers and see if you can get that letter pulled pronto.
 
Soo I'm sure anyone could answer this not just the adcoms (thanks for everything anyway)

What is exactly IS a premed advisor...or committee? Whatever people on SDN are always talking about. :laugh: I don't think that exists at my college (in canada) and if so, no one uses it.

I was browsing through some american med school's sites and some actually request that you send letters through this mythical academic body, is that severely going to hurt me at those schools if I can't? And even if not, from what I've read it just sounds like an easy way to get phd's to write LORs for you...is that true?

*dodges sharp, flaming projectiles* I know I'm a noob
 
Dear Adcoms,

I'm waitlisted at a school that claims that they do not rank their waitlist. My question is: how do they select which students get admitted from an unranked waitlist?
 
I'm in an allied health care field. I've had three articles published in the official journal for my profession and two in the publication put out by our organization for student education.

I plan on listing them as "publications" on my med school applications. How would that be viewed by an ad com?
 
Hi Adcomms,

quick question here. Does it hurt my application at all to go for 5 years instead of 4 (ie. looks lazy/can't handle it) or anything like that?
 
I've taken three classes with this humanities professor, including one semester of independent research and I know that she'll write me an amazing letter of recommendation. However, she just recently retired, and I'm not applying until the next application cycle, which means she would've been out for more than a year! Can I still ask her for a letter? Would that still be valid for adcoms if the person writing the letter is an ex-faculty?
 
Hey Adcom,
Got a situation that maybe you could shed some light on. I have attended a US High school (all 4 yrs), presently 3rd year in US College. Long story short, ill be an international student when i apply to Medical School. I know this hinders my chances greatly since a small number of US Med Schools accept international students. (Obviously, not sure if yours do).

Got most info from:
http://www.fiu.edu/~preprofc/International_Students_School_Policies.htm

I wanted to know, those that do accept international students, sometimes 3 or 4 a year, what are they looking for in these applicants? Do they have to be special like 40's mcat, near perfect GPA? Is there a quota in those schools?
Tell me anything that might clarify anything since there is so little info out there on these students.

Thanks, appreciate your work
 
Dear Adcomms,

I have read your advice to others, and I hope you can also help me. I am unhappy at my current lab and am planning to stay here until May when I will find out for sure if I have an acceptance (currently waitlisted).

If I end up reapplying, I will be looking for a new job this summer. I think I'd like to do something non-science related, but if I will be applying to research-heavy schools, will this look like I am not really interested in research (I will have 5 years of research experience by this summer)? i.e., would it better to work for a pharmaceutical company as a lab tech or find a job with a non-profit organization (I would be interested in working with victims of domestic abuse)?

Thanks in advance!
 
Hi Adcoms. First, I think it is wonderful that you spend time answering the exceedingly redundant questions that we hopeful applicants continue to hurl in your direction. Alas, I shall hurl another. :)

If you want the long version, please view the thread I started in the Non-Traditional forum (Thoughts on Lawyer to Doctor) as I got into allot of detail on my background that may or may not be useful in answering my question. But I will do my best to keep it short here in this thread.

Essentially, I am a pre-med student that applied to three schools, waitlisted and accepted at one but by that time had already enrolled in law school (long story, as I said). Thus, I am a lawyer, been practicing patent law for a year and a half. My grades are OK I believe, 3.61 overall and something like 3.76 in major/sciences. Top 20% in law school. My original MCAT was a 31. However that was almost 7 years ago so I will be studying and retaking. My hope is to take the MCAT in a few months and apply this summer for fall 2008. However, I have virtually ZERO clinical/volunteer experience. All I have ever done is things like special olympics, I shadowed at a hospital for one day back in maybe 2000 and I volunteer time with animal rescue and my wife and I have been fostering a cat or two here and there. Obviously, I need more. I live very close to Duke, so my hope is to volunteer at the children's hospital in one of their various programs where you hang out with the kids, play with them, hold them, whatever they need. (thinking of going into pediatrics, though I am leaving myself open to being swayed while in school). I also have a friend who is a pediatrician in VA who I could likely shadow half a dozen times by the fall. Question is, would that time frame be considered sufficient for clinical exposure? Or am I looking at potentially needing to put in more time and apply in another year? And like I said, if you really want the whole story, check out that thread as it’s got the whole spiel, hehe.
 
hi adcoms,
i have a quick question about LORs. for the most part are schools looking for letters from profs you actually took a class with, doctors, work/volunteer supervisors, academic advisors, or a mixture? also, how many letters do most schools require?...i'm a sophomore at a big state school, and have trouble connecting with my profs, but i do have a lot of good connections with doctors, work/volunteer supervisors

thanks a lot
 
Hi there. Thanks for the opportunity to ask a question. :)

I graduated in May with a degree in clinical psychology, 3.6 GPA overall, and was accepted into a graduate program in social work and child development. I spent last semester in that program (3.2 GPA) but I've decided that social work isn't for me and have just started a post-bacc to complete the pre-reqs for medical school. I have a couple of questions.

1. Do you think it looks bad that I withdrew from a highly-competitive graduate program to pursue medicine? I'm worried about what the B average in grad work (even if it was only a semester) will say to schools.

2. I probably won't take the MCAT for at least another year. If all goes well, I will be 24 when I am accepted. I've been told that having a few years experience out of undergrad is viewed positively by admissions committees. Is that true?

3. I have a lot of experience working with children and adults in a clinical capacity and feel I have a good grasp of the rewarding and sucky aspects of working with people who are ill. How serious are schools about applicants having this kind of experience? How much weight is it given?

4. Finally, what is your take on letters of recommendation? I probably won't apply until fall of 2008. Would that be too far removed from my undergrad career to have my psych professors write me letters, even if they're stellar?

Thanks for taking time to answer. I know I'm just getting started on this road, but I do better the more information I have.
 
i think the word "foo" should be used more. a sense of humor to lighten the atmosphere releases calming endorphines and has been shown to lessen stress leading to a longer lived telomeres meaning a longer lived you.

and so, i submit to you, my gift to lengthen you life, foo. :)
 
Adcoms: Does leaving your PhD program after one year, 12 years ago because it wasn't what you wanted to do with your life, something that will doom your application?
 
Anyone who can give reasonable advice is welcome to answer this...

I'm a 21 year old white male who will graduate with a B.S. in medical technology from Ohio State University in June.
I have two years of research experience (in Pharmaceutics) with two publications, one as a primary author, one as a secondary author.
I have one year of clinical lab experience (cytogenetics) and some minor shadowing experience.
My GPA is 3.47, with my science GPA right around 3.27.
I scored a 29P on the MCAT, 10P, 10B, 9V, PWS.

I'm really hoping to get into to a place like Wright State University's Medical School.
Their stats show an average of about 3.57 GPA, 3.4 Science GPA and 27.5-28 MCAT.

My secondary application was complete to Wright State in October, and other than hearing that my application was complete I have not heard a thing from the admissions dept. Do I still have any chance this year?

I'm willing to do post-bac work if I have to (I know my science GPA is not the greatest...) but I would obviously prefer to get in this year.

I have already started my application to the Medical University of Ohio's Special Masters Program (a post-bac for pre-meds who didn't get in) in case everything should fall through.

If anyone can let me know if there is still hope for this year, or just to check it off and do my best in a post-bac program, I'd appreciate it.
 
I've noticed that a lot of side-talk has started on this thread. I'd like this thread left alone for questions to adcoms and answers from adcoms. It supports the process of adcoms knowing the place to go where specifically *they* are wanted. The rest of the whole of sdn is to get feedback generally. keep the thread strong! support the purpose and the structure of the thread!
 
Dear Adcoms :oops:

I've applied to medical school and am getting mostly Pre-Interview HOLDS from state schools (NY and PA schools). What Can I do to improve my application for the next cycle?

Here are my stats :cool:
- GPA: 3.49
- Science GPA: 3.0
- MCAT: 27O and 30P recently
- Major: Neuroscience (BS), Psychology (BA)
- Research: several years with couple of publications/abstracts
- Clinical: EMT-B, Patient Enroller (ER), Just started Shadowing a Doc (last December)
- Volunteer: Campus Emergency Response Team, Just started to tutor city kids (this month)

Questions: :confused:
- What Can I do to improve my application?
- Should I RETAKE the MCAT? Or is 30 good enough for my GPA?
- Should I engage in Hospital Volunteering?

Thank you very much for your time. I've been asking my premed advisors about my issue and am getting mixed responses, so I thought I'd ask you guys. Thanks again! :)
 
Hello Adcoms:

I appreciate very much all the time you've taken to answer our questions. I am a post-bacc student now (at an ivy league school if it matters) and doing well. I graduated in '04 with a 2.9-3.0 cum having taken just bio and chem as a freshman (got A's). I never took a science class since. Now as a post bacc I am finishing my pre-reqs and taking 5-6 upper level classes as well. My question is basically this: when someone applies from a post bacc program are you expecting to see "all A's" ? I ask this because I have managed to get A's in all the upper level classes I've taken, but my physics and organic chem grades are in the B range. I will likely leave my post-bacc program with around a 3.5-3.6. Is this even considered competitive after a below average undergrad GPA? I know many other factors are important, but I'm just trying to get a sense strictly based on numbers. Thanks so much!
 
heuristicdoc said:
First of all let me thank you in advance for taking time to answer my question. What I am wondering is what kind of chance does someone have of getting accepted with a mid-range 24-26 MCAT, lower gpa 3.0-3.4 if they have been invited to interview? I am assuming that you would have to blow away the interview but how exactly does someone go about doing this? Is there anything else I could do between now and decision time that would increase my chances? Again, thanks for your assistance.
Click to expand...
Quite frankly, those aren't competitive numbers at my school, which often interviews in-state applicants that have no real chance of admission. Other than sending in new, better grades as you accumulate them, and the standard LOI, I can't think of anything. It would probably be a good idea to start working on the next cycle in case this one doesn't work out - retake MCAT, some additional coursework, etc.
 
LolaGene said:
Hi Adcoms,

I would like to know if you can give me an idea of typical qualifications for merit based scholarships. How do they relate to GPA, MCAT score, extracurriculars and ethnicity.

Thanks!!!
Click to expand...
Sorry, I have no idea. Not my department, as they say.
 
irisheyes48 said:
Hi,
I'm a first time applicant applying this spring without a pre-med committee. I was thinking of taking physics II over the summer [July-August], but would that delay my application [which I want to submit in June]? I have finished all other pre-med requirements.
Would the AMCAS hold my application until it has all my pre-med requirement classes? Or would medical schools not process my application until I completed and submitted the transcript for physics II?
I appreciate any insight you could give! Thanks!
Click to expand...
So far as I know, no school cares if you have the pre-reqs completed at time of application, but rather at time of matriculation. Many people finish up their pre-reqs in the summer before matriculation.
 
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