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My stats really depend on how you measure them .
If AMCAS reads them, then I got a 27P (2007) and then a 27R MCAT (2008) ugh AMCAS GPA is 3.16 Sci, 3.4 Culm.
If UMass Boston (where I graduated and did 70+ credits) reads them, then my GPA is 3.7 culm, honors/distinction/magna cum laude yadayada. Sci GPA is 3.5 or so.
The difference is due to my bombed out sophomore year at UMass Amherst.
Other than that, I've done a bunch of leadership positions, publications, actually paid my way through school, had a very close encounter with cancer and am an accredited "Green Building Professional" (LEED AP for those who know about it) as well as certified Rape Crisis Counselor and a bunch of other stuff that I won't bore all of you with. Oh, and I know the Chancellor at UMass Med due to my student activism when he was Chancellor at UMass (I like to think he liked me 😛)
Considering that I've been interviewed only at UMass after two years of applying (7 schools in 2007 -> 1 interview UMass, 18 schools in 2008 --> 2 pre-interview hold and 1 interview@umass), I think that last paragraph of non-stat information does not really matter much UNLESS your stats are good. Well, you knew that already.
As far as backup plans go, I have a good job that is non-medical and could stay here for a while before applying again. OR go and get an MS in Bioinformatics or a Caribbean MD. If I go the MS/work route, then I would take MCAT again...I am not crazy about special Master's programs and would rather just go to St. George's, to which I've already applied...
But I really hope I get into UMass! So we'll see in April/May - maybe I'll have a nice b-day present on May 16.
Do people think it would make a difference if I write a nice letter of interest to UMass (which I did not do last year) explaining how much I love them, and wanna have like, 10,000 of their babies?
I'm in a similar situation GPA-wise, due to a bombed-out freshman year, though I certainly can't claim the other hardships you've had to go through. But I can get a feel for where you're coming from.
I wrote a letter of intent (since it's post-interview, I think you can skip the letter of interest) to umass that said, in so many words, that I really did want to have (or maybe deliver) 10,000 of their babies. I can't comment yet whether it helped me or not, but I guess the standard response is that it can't hurt. Unless your spelling is awful or something🙂.
Also - did/will you apply DO?