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[sammyers_sm]

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[OxToCA]

I've dealt with similar things, and learned to focus on what I can instead of can't control. For instance, I received a C in an upper division science class due to a poor TA, couldn't prepare for the VR portion of the MCAT since I had to deal with an unexpected situation, etc. Instead of dwelling, I did things to improve my CV in ways that would address the above (e.g. took the GRE and received a good verbal score, earned A's in harder classes within similar subjects) while pursuing my interests. Bad people, difficult situations, etc are part of life, but how you handle them when they present themselves and what you do afterward are more important than worrying about the areas you mentioned.

So, my advice would be to study for the MCAT next time if you'll retake it and more or less learn perspective. As far as target schools, find a match with your research interests outside of the really competitive ones and tailor your research/ECs to those. Your future PI will care more about your ability to be a productive, interested researcher than the areas you're concerned about, while medical school admissions committees see things in more black and white; the post-baccalaureate forum is useful for the latter, although I think there are better options than SMPs in your case.

 

[dl2dp2]

Your MCAT is way too low. I wouldn't even apply at this point. 3.67 overall isn't a kiss of death.

 

[sammyers_sm]

Your MCAT is way too low. I wouldn't even apply at this point. 3.67 overall isn't a kiss of death.

Hi sluox,

Yeah I definitely understand that. I obviously don't plan on applying with that score. I'm retaking it soon and will apply if I do much better. Do you think with my stats there's a specific number I should be aiming for? I was thinking 515 +

 

[sammyers_sm]

I've dealt with similar things, and learned to focus on what I can instead of can't control. For instance, I received a C in an upper division science class due to a poor TA, couldn't prepare for the VR portion of the MCAT since I had to deal with an unexpected situation, etc. Instead of dwelling, I did things to improve my CV in ways that would address the above (e.g. took the GRE and received a good verbal score, earned A's in harder classes within similar subjects) while pursuing my interests. Bad people, difficult situations, etc are part of life, but how you handle them when they present themselves and what you do afterward are more important than worrying about the areas you mentioned.

So, my advice would be to study for the MCAT next time if you'll retake it and more or less learn perspective. As far as target schools, find a match with your research interests outside of the really competitive ones and tailor your research/ECs to those. Your future PI will care more about your ability to be a productive, interested researcher than the areas you're concerned about, while medical school admissions committees see things in more black and white; the post-baccalaureate forum is useful for the latter, although I think there are better options than SMPs in your case.

Thanks for your advice! I am studying for the MCAT now and will apply if the score is good. Do you have a few suggestions for schools I should look into? I saw on another form that I should use the US Med school rankings as a metric to judge, but do you know of any other criteria?

 

[OxToCA]

Thanks for your advice! I am studying for the MCAT now and will apply if the score is good. Do you have a few suggestions for schools I should look into? I saw on another form that I should use the US Med school rankings as a metric to judge, but do you know of any other criteria?

You're welcome, and your idea about applying with an improved MCAT is the right one. Since most medical school rankings are based on research metrics, however, they may or may not be of any use to you. Assuming your MCAT score improves to what you're estimating and you do something significant, you could apply to the higher ranked MSTPs which have PhD programs in your area, base your choices on a thread like this one https://forums.studentdoctor.net/th...-average-gpa-mcat-ranking-gpp-stipend.918777/, or find another way to create a list of places to apply. I'd advise against using research rankings for that purpose, and agree with what @Fencer mentioned in the above thread "IMHO, a better ranking to use is the NIH awards by medical school..." that I referenced in a previous post.

If you want to go somewhere more competitive, you'd probably have to intercalate an MS/MPH https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/admissions/degree-programs/dual-degrees/ into the MD you'd do elsewhere, pursue an MS as a new graduate or fellow http://med.stanford.edu/epidemiology/grad_programs/MS-overview.html, earn a PhD during your residency http://www.jhsph.edu/academics/graduate-training-programs-in-clinical-investigation/degree-programs/ & https://medicine.yale.edu/investigativemedicine/, or do something similar beforehand. I applied to the Stanford program and had some contact with the Directors of Johns Hopkins' clinical pharmacology program http://www.jhuclinicalpharmacology.org/trainingProgram/index.asp that awards the above PhD along with UCSF's clinical research program (http://ticr.ucsf.edu/) last year, and currently live a block away from the Harvard Chan School of Public Health -- although I'm not doing any of these degrees -- so feel free to PM me with more specific questions.

 

[cloudstrife2054]

There's a reason you have to write essays and include letter writers. Numbers don't say much. I have a ppt from a med school that says GPA and MCAT totals to only 20% of your application's score. Posts like these are pointless. You only know for sure if you apply and if you are accepted, come back and tell your success despite your stats.

 

[nonamesleft]

There's a reason you have to write essays and include letter writers. Numbers don't say much. I have a ppt from a med school that says GPA and MCAT totals to only 20% of your application's score. Posts like these are pointless. You only know for sure if you apply and if you are accepted, come back and tell your success despite your stats.

The 20% thing is generally post-interview. All interviewees are "acceptable" on paper, so post-interview, there is consideration of the actual interview to further stratify candidates.

 

[cloudstrife2054]

The 20% thing is generally post-interview. All interviewees are "acceptable" on paper, so post-interview, there is consideration of the actual interview to further stratify candidates.

I forgot to include the cherry on top. Admissions committee for this specific school do not even look at GPA or MCAT scores. The PPT is called The Effective Medical School Letter of Recommendation from University of Utah.