2-year undergrad + MS Chance me for MSTP/school lists

[Betamer]

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[gutonc]

Could we please stop using the phrase "Chance Me"?

 

[Betamer]

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[StIGMA]

Very good research experience, very low GPA (<3.5), low-average MCAT (34). Consistently average science scores on the MCAT.

You have a shot but you need to cast a very wide net (apply to 20+ MD/PhD programs including ~10 at lower ranked (20-40ish) MSTPs in addition to your reach schools). You need to be willing to go anywhere that you can receive good training (Ohio, Wisconsin, Virginia, Alabama, etc).

You could apply to some MD programs, but if you want to do MD/PhD then nearly all of your applications should be MD/PhD. Your chances wont significantly differ between MD/PhD and MD programs (especially since your research is so strong).

I don't believe your GPA excuses since you had difficulty with the MCAT. Focus on your accomplishments and not your excuses. If you apply early to enough programs (and if your letters are as good as you think) you will probably get in somewhere. See if you can get strings pulled at programs where you have done research.

 

[Betamer]

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[tr]

Overall I agree with Stigma but personally I would cut you a lot more slack on the GPA front considering you did four years' worth of work in two years for financial reasons, at the same time as devoting a lot of time to research. I'd point that out somewhere in your application if you can. Your number are on the low side (not out of the ballpark low) but at 28 credits per semester frankly anything above a Pass is pretty impressive.

The research portion is great, it's your major strength and I agree with Stigma that you should focus on MD/PhD programs vs MD only because they will be more likely to be impressed with that. I'm not even sure I would bother with MD-only applications - just apply really broadly, like to every MD/PhD program you can find, and I agree that you should look seriously into whether anyone can pull some strings for you at the institution where you did your research. CA is very competitive across the board, I'd be prepared to leave if I were you. But it doesn't hurt you to apply to reach schools unless you are super super strapped for cash, that's a personal financial decision you need to make.

On the CC classes, are you sure they will count into your UG GPA? I'm not certain you can include anything you take after you graduate as part of your UG GPA, in which case they won't help you very much. I'd look at the application form in detail to figure this out. If they can be averaged into your UG GPA it's not a bad idea to take a course or two for padding.

 

[Betamer]

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[tr]

Thanks for taking the time to offer your feedback. I agree mostly on what you and Stigma both said - specifically the benefit of having extensive research impacting MD/PhD application a lot more than MD. As for CCs, from what I remember on sdn, I believe they count because they're still undergraduate-level coursework. I'll look into this over the break, but I'm still hesitant because everyone knows CC classes are easier.

That doesn't matter. What you're trying to do is improve the numbers on your overall and BCPM GPAs, which may be the only thing from your transcript that anybody on the admissions committee registers. Nobody is going to do the mental math to readjust your GPA for the fact that you took some of your classes at a CC. But if the CC grades don't go into your undergrad GPA then it's almost pointless to take them. The only reason to do it in that case would be if you had a particularly bad grade in an important science class (B- or worse), in which case retaking that specific class might mitigate the negative impact somewhat. In that case it would make sense to take it at a regular 4-year university not a CC, since you would be trying to prove you can actually do that work at the standard undergraduate level.

- Is it unheard of for your PI who wrote you a LoR to call/chat up with the adcom, especially if the PI has been the director of MSTP program/served on adcom/big name faculty? I don't think my PI has done that for previous applicants before but it's something that a fellow has mentioned to me. I know if asked, they will give them their supportive voice, but I don't want to put them at an uncomfortable position by asking them. A postdoc friend of mine is also in the current MSTP director's lab (PI is a frequent collaborator with my PI), and he offered to ask the director if I could have a chat up. In addition, I personally know a current MSTP adcom member who I plan to try to maintain and further connection in the coming months.

-Related on that note is whether I should see if my summer PI from high school (won a small grant) remembers me... as I discovered that he's the MSTP director at a different UC. I don't think it would hurt to try to mention that I was in his lab in 2009 and just ask if he would have any tips on admissions.

You should absolutely work all these angles to the maximum extent that you are able. These are all potentially extremely helpful 'ins.' You sound pretty circumspect so I wouldn't worry about making your profs uncomfortable. They are free to choose how much they want to support you or not, but if you don't ask then it definitely will not occur to them.

-How important are patient care volunteering vs. shadowing and attending grand rounds/case conferences/clinical research journal clubs at hospital? My last volunteering that involves patients is from HS, and I had previously planned to get some clinical hours through ER tech job, but local hospitals decided not to accept EMTs for that job (the certificate that I earned). I will be going to nursing homes to play music starting in January, however.

That's not very good because people may wonder if you have any idea what you're getting into. (Of course none of us had any idea what we were getting into regardless of how much shadowing we did, but clinical 'experience' is a box you're supposed to check.) I'd try to work in at least a little more experience in a clinical setting. Playing music at nursing homes doesn't count. But if you are a certified EMT this shouldn't be hard at all - just find a different job that accepts your EMT, hell you can even get paid for it. Just pick up a few shifts so you have something to put on that line on your CV that isn't from high school, as well as something to talk about when you hit that one curmudgeonly interviewer from the med school who wants you to prove you really want to be a dr.

 

[PhysicianScientist]

Consistently average science scores on the MCAT.

Do MD/PhD programs weigh the science sections of the MCAT more heavily than the verbal reasoning section?

 

[StIGMA]

Do MD/PhD programs weigh the science sections of the MCAT more heavily than the verbal reasoning section?

I can't answer this regarding programs in general, but my program does. We seem to have a disproportionately large # of students with very high (14+) MCAT bio scores (and 3.95+ GPAs)[I don't know about verbal/physics]. High science scores are expected for people with in-depth science backgrounds who want to pursue a career in science. Verbal scores can be more variable and it wont raise many questions IMO with an otherwise pristine application. Frankly, if you are a bio major/biochem major/etc/with extensive research background, you should be able to get a 12+ on the bio section and do alright on physical sciences.

Don't worry about the MCAT too much. Do your best and apply. If you are competitive but your MCAT breakdown is not ideal, you are still competitive. By the way, "average" doesn't necessarily imply anything negative.