15 rejections

[jasveen]

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Hi guys,

I just wanted some advice. I'm a fourth year chem major at UBC (Vancouver). My GPA is ~3.3 (but it was ~3.1 when I applied). I took the MCAT 2x (1st:23 2nd:25). I have done a lot of extra-curricular activities, but no research. I applied to 15 schools and got rejected from all 15 without any interviews. I tried my best for the MCAT the second time, but you can see my mark, so I don't think I can improve if I do it for the 3rd time and I don't wanna waste another summer. So, I decided to go into teaching, but both my parents are extremely upset. I think they are going to force me to do something I don't wanna do and I don't know what I wanna do anymore. My biggest fear is that I will not be able to handle the workload and will be a crappy doctor. Can somebody please offer some advice?

Thanks,
j

 

[GuyLaroche]

Hi guys,

I just wanted some advice. I'm a fourth year chem major at UBC (Vancouver). My GPA is ~3.3 (but it was ~3.1 when I applied). I took the MCAT 2x (1st:23 2nd:25). I have done a lot of extra-curricular activities, but no research. I applied to 15 schools and got rejected from all 15 without any interviews. I tried my best for the MCAT the second time, but you can see my mark, so I don't think I can improve if I do it for the 3rd time and I don't wanna waste another summer. So, I decided to go into teaching, but both my parents are extremely upset. I think they are going to force me to do something I don't wanna do and I don't know what I wanna do anymore. My biggest fear is that I will not be able to handle the workload and will be a crappy doctor. Can somebody please offer some advice?

Thanks,
j

What I am hearing here is what I like to call the "parent factor." You cannot do anything and do it well if your primary motivation is to please your parents. Your MCAT scores are not very good. This, however, cannot be the reason all 15 schools rejected you. Your commitment to medicine is in question from your post alone, I am certain your application will echo this ambivalence.

If you like teaching, go for it. Perhaps you never wanted to go into medicine and that's why you weren't able to raise your score that well. It might be a subconscious thing... who knows! In any case, if you really wanted to go into medicine, you should look at DO schools or take the MCAT again a 3rd time. Sounds painful, but commitment will go a long way to getting you to your final goal.

I should tell you that I know someone at Duke with a 27. He got in because he was able to demonstrate his interest in research and medicine. He has certainly proved the adcom right from his excellent performance in Duke's rigorous program.

 

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[jasveen]

just to clarify. it was my decision to go into medical school. i have wanted to go to med school my whole life. i worked hard, but i didn't get the high grades. i think my lack of motivation is probably due to the fact that i dont think i will do well in med school and i'm afraid of being a horrible doctor. i just wanna hear from somebody like me that did well in med school. my parents are just putting the pressure on me starting this week. they are stubborn and will not listen to anything i have to say, esp. my mom. i just dont know how to show them my side and how difficult it is to get into med school.

thanks,
j

 

[Haybrant]

just to clarify. it was my decision to go into medical school. i have wanted to go to med school my whole life. i worked hard, but i didn't get the high grades. i think my lack of motivation is probably due to the fact that i dont think i will do well in med school and i'm afraid of being a horrible doctor. i just wanna hear from somebody like me that did well in med school. my parents are just putting the pressure on me starting this week. they are stubborn and will not listen to anything i have to say, esp. my mom. i just dont know how to show them my side and how difficult it is to get into med school.

thanks,
j

id recommend you move out if that is an option. Parents will not understand this process; it will take alot of explaning to make them understand at least. Even friends dont understand; I told my friend I probably got rejected from harvard since they are done interviewing and he goes "you didnt even get an interview?!" And its like i could explain that its hard and all this other stuff, but what a hassle and how demeaning. If this is what your parents are like and/or if they put unfair pressure on you to perform, living in that kind of environment is bad news.

 

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[Psycho Doctor]

Hi guys,

I just wanted some advice. I'm a fourth year chem major at UBC (Vancouver). My GPA is ~3.3 (but it was ~3.1 when I applied). I took the MCAT 2x (1st:23 2nd:25). I have done a lot of extra-curricular activities, but no research. I applied to 15 schools and got rejected from all 15 without any interviews. I tried my best for the MCAT the second time, but you can see my mark, so I don't think I can improve if I do it for the 3rd time and I don't wanna waste another summer. So, I decided to go into teaching, but both my parents are extremely upset. I think they are going to force me to do something I don't wanna do and I don't know what I wanna do anymore. My biggest fear is that I will not be able to handle the workload and will be a crappy doctor. Can somebody please offer some advice?

Thanks,
j

first of all..only .04 posts per day???? 😕 You're not interacting with this group enough!

Seriously, what schools did you apply to? Whereas both your MCAT and GPA are low for Amercian allopathic schools, you could try DO and Caribbean schools. Take a course for the MCAT and retake it ONLY when you are scoring consistently higher on real practice tests under testing conditions. Take more courses and raise your GPA significantly. Show an upward trend. Did you have a bad year due to extenuating circumstances that you can explain? Do some research, even if it means taking a year off...personally I don't have research either and I think it's going to hurt me in the process but at least I have fairly competitive scores/gpa. What are your ECs like? Any shadowing? How are your LORs (sorry if you answered these further below; I didn't read the whole thread)? You need something to make yourself REALLY stand out from the other candidates since you don't have competitive scores.

Make sure you know this is what you really want; med school and a career in medicine takes a lot of fortitude and tenacity and if you are ready to give up so easily, this may not be for you. And I question youir strength if you are ready to cave in to your parents. Sorry, I don't mean to come on strong but this is your life and youneed to evaluate what you truly want and what you are willing to work for. Good luck!

 

[RaistlinMajere]

i dont think i will do well in med school and i'm afraid of being a horrible doctor.

If it is truly your dream to go to med school, then do whatever you can do to make it happen. I feel for you for getting rejected at these schools, but you need to sit down and figure out ways you can improve your application. Take the MCAT again with the goal of raising your score into the high 20's at least. You can raise your score by a few points so it's possible. Also, make sure you have good essays, LORs and ECs. Your grades are what they are, but improving on the MCAT is the single fastest way to improve your chance for acceptance.

As to your quote above, I think that it is that type of fear that will make you a great doctor because it will motivate you. But you have to control it and right now it's controlling you. Think about the upside of helping people and do not focus on failure. You will only be a bad doctor if you choose to be one.

 

[sistahnik]

hey Jasveen, how are you? first of all from what I have seen and heard from others that have gotten into med school, your mcat score isn't all that bad and you did raise it SOME. I don't believe that anyone can say for sure why you got rejected from those schools, so if you really are interested in getting in call the schools and see if you can find out why they didn't accept you. It could have been because of the GPA more or less, or even a combination of things. just find out from the horses mouth. now if you are even remotely serious about this, then you need to get out of the dumps and get a plan going. I have had so many days where I just wanted to give up, but I refuse to let myself be my worst enemy! 😉 you can do it!! don't let any of the road blocks keep you from obtaining your final prize, get what you want out of life. wishing you all the best!! 😍

 

[ShyRem]

Jasveen, I'm a chem major, too - with a 3.5 GPA (if you ignore my first attempt some years ago - 3.1 if you don't) and a 29 MCAT. I got rejected by almost every place without an interview as well. Don't say it's because I'm not committed to medicine: I've been in EMS for 12 years, and drove 250 miles each way to volunteer my medical experience at least 40 hours a month for 10 years. I have one "interview waitlist" and at this point I don't think I'm going to get an interview before time's up.

I don't know what the magic formula is - but I'm going to try next year. Already have a PS written for it. And I'm going to try DO schools, too - they're known to be more willing to take non-trads.

 

[neuronerd]

Sorry if I repeat anything said before, I haven't read every post. But it seems to me that your lack of motivation comes not from your lack of interest but your fear of failure. I think that you are not trying hard enough because you think that if you do try as hard as you can and you fail then it's the end of the world (if this is not the case then ignore my ramblings because I'm self-medicating!).

ANYWAY, your parents aren't evil (hopefully) and I have a feeling that your parents see your potential but also see that your attitude of defeat will not let you reach that potential. They are trying to get you out of that mindset. My parents and older siblings are doing the same thing to me right now. As long as you show them motivation and commitment to something (as in if you REALLY want to teach and that's final) then I think that they would support you. I'm totally speculating here but your post reminded me A LOT of my parents.

The point is that it's not the end of the world and you have to put your all into this. You will make a great doctor if you want to be a great doctor and it doesn't matter any other way.

I really had to take a step back, think about what I wanted and then change my pessimistic attitude which I'm still having a hard time working on. If you want this . . .focus and make it happen. It will happen . . .good luck.

 

[Without Wax]

Jasveen,
It seems like you're from an Asian or East-Indian background, where it is common for parents to want something for their children that the children don't want for themselves. Don't fall victim to this... let me tell you why.

Why is it that you assume he is from an Asian background?

 

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[virilep]

I agree. it's an asian thing. prolly desi. and it happens a lot more. "my parents are upset" it's hard jasveen. but in the end, you want to be able to look back in 10 years and he happy with what you are. no matter if it's a doc or a teacher. gluck.

 

[swifteagle43]

I am looking for a trophy wife in 3 years from now. How tall are you?






But seriously...consider a post bacc program or taking more classes to boost ure gpa post graduation....

It is not worth becomming a doctor for the money....

 

[jasveen]

thank you all so much for these great posts. 🙂 my parent will not support me if i go into teaching even if i was super serious about that. trust me. fear is definitely something that is holding me back. it just hurts so much doing horrible on the mcat 2x and not having a great gpa. getting rejected also takes a lot out of me. i also dont feel i would fit in cuz most of the med students i talk to have a 4.0gpa and awesome mcat or ok gpa and great mcat or great gpa or maybe i should try the caribbean and both mine suck. i'm just so lost right now. and by the way, 5'3 punjabi girl 😀

 

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[winstonm]

Hey,

If this is what you want, then don't give up. The thing about Canadian schools is that there are a bunch of different entrance requirements, with some looking at your last two years, some dropping X number of low grades if you've done X number of years etc...what I'm getting at is that you may be able to still get in to a Canadian school if you do 1/2 more years, and work really hard at the MCAT. If you have the means, I would seriously recommend a prep courses for the test as it will help you focus on what's important if nothing else.

I had a bunch of s*** happen in my life in 1st year and did horribly but worked my ass off for the next few years and I have interviews at 3 schools here and I am hoping for Toronto. You can do this, but you have to really want it.

If you want to try other routes, look to the Caribbean as mentioned above.