2014-2015 Underdawgs Thread

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Brew, thanks for posting the instructions!

Underdog status is defined as anyone that feel as if their application may not be good enough.
 
AlbinoHawk DO said:
Sounds like someone that projects low self-esteem. It would make him/her be terrible at interviews. Therefore, underdawg.

Lawyered.
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I know someone who has like a 4.0 and probably will get a 35+ mcat score who has legacy at the medical school she wants to go to and thinks she won't get in anywhere.... she also has great clinical ECs. Nervous wreck to an extreme.
 
It is pretty odd to come to think of it, in recent years I know more kids who scored exactly a 35 than any other score and the range is from 18-36.
 
DO NOT ERASE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
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2) Delete the quote brackets at both the top and the bottom of the post.
3a) Add your username alphabetically if it is not on the list.
3b) To update your information, just find your username and ONLY change your information!
4) If you see some formatting errors and you have time, try to fix them.
5) Click "Post Reply"

Member cGPA/sGPA / MCAT / AACOMAS Verified/ Interviews/ Acceptances/Special Consideration
*Special Consideration: Military Service, International Student, IA

bowser20 3.03 cGPA/3.03 sGPA/pending MCAT
danny89 3.27 cGPA/3.07 sGPA/pending MCAT
docemmetbrown 3.07 cGPA/3.0 sGPA/pending MCAT
Dr.bonesmccoy 3.20 cGPA/3.0 sGPA/pending MCAT
DrTurkelton 3.08 cGPA/3.13 sGPA/31 MCAT (retake planned)
medhopeful811 3.3 cGPA/3.3 sGPA/pending MCAT
stickshifthonda 3.41cGPA (not including study abroad)/3.1sGPA/(pending retake scores)
westernredcedar 3.3 cGPA/3.3 sGPA/pending MCAT
victoriah 3.25 cGPA/3.29 sGPA/pending MCAT
Sean Lee 3.5+ cGPA/3.25+ sGPA/pending MCAT
Dreamstoo 3.3 cGPA/3.3 sGPA/pending MCAT
IWillOneDay 3.4 cGPA/3.2-.3 sGPA/26 MCAT (retake in July after applying)[/quote]
 
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Yeah underdawgs!

I am an underdog as well. 3.5 cGPA, 3.0 sGPA, MCAT 26. Retaking a couple classes this summer, if I get As in the two science classes, I can bump up my sGPA to a 3.3! Im not gonna apply this year however.

Underdawgs, never forget the power of the grade replacement. DO school is possible for the people who want it and are willing to put everything on the line for their dream to become a reality.
 
GypsyHummus said:
Yeah underdawgs!

I am an underdog as well. 3.5 cGPA, 3.0 sGPA, MCAT 26. Retaking a couple classes this summer, if I get As in the two science classes, I can bump up my sGPA to a 3.3! Im not gonna apply this year however.

Underdawgs, never forget the power of the grade replacement. DO school is possible for the people who want it and are willing to put everything on the line for their dream to become a reality.
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Why not? A 3.5/3.3/26 wouldn't be bad at all.
 
chizledfrmstone said:
Why not? A 3.5/3.3/26 wouldn't be bad at all.
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Because I couldn't get the application with the grades updated until August. Don't you think that would be too late to apply?
 
GypsyHummus said:
Because I couldn't get the application with the grades updated until August. Don't you think that would be too late to apply?
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August is not late at all. Maybe get verified earlier by submitting to 1 school then add all of the other ones after grades are updated in aacomas in august?
 
GypsyHummus said:
Because I couldn't get the application with the grades updated until August. Don't you think that would be too late to apply?
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If your primary was done by then and you prewrote secondaries and started getting them by then you'd be fine.

Try the method of sending a non-finished app by June and apply to one school. Afterward once you're finished with the retakes move forward.
 
DO NOT ERASE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
1) Click "Reply" on the most recent underdog list.
2) Delete the quote brackets at both the top and the bottom of the post.
3a) Add your username alphabetically if it is not on the list.
3b) To update your information, just find your username and ONLY change your information!
4) If you see some formatting errors and you have time, try to fix them.
5) Click "Post Reply"

Member cGPA/sGPA / MCAT / AACOMAS Verified/ Interviews/ Acceptances/Special Consideration
*Special Consideration: Military Service, International Student, IA

bowser20 3.03 cGPA/3.03 sGPA/pending MCAT
danny89 3.27 cGPA/3.07 sGPA/pending MCAT
docemmetbrown 3.07 cGPA/3.0 sGPA/pending MCAT
Dr.bonesmccoy 3.20 cGPA/3.0 sGPA/pending MCAT
DrTurkelton 3.08 cGPA/3.13 sGPA/31 MCAT (retake planned)
medhopeful811 3.3 cGPA/3.3 sGPA/pending MCAT
stickshifthonda 3.41cGPA (not including study abroad)/3.1sGPA/22MCAT (pending retake)
westernredcedar 3.3 cGPA/3.3 sGPA/pending MCAT
victoriah 3.25 cGPA/3.29 sGPA/pending MCAT
Sean Lee 3.5+ cGPA/3.25+ sGPA/pending MCAT
Dreamstoo 3.3 cGPA/3.3 sGPA/pending MCAT
IWillOneDay 3.4 cGPA/3.2-.3 sGPA/26 MCAT (retake in July after applying)
Stephanopolous 3.0cgpa/3.1sgpa/mcat 8/21/14




28 year old hispanic female
Paramedic x 4 years, volunteer EMT for 2 years before that, 6 years total in EMS
Awards x 2 for paramedic/provider of the year.
Chief Scribe x 4 years, x 1 year for two hospitals
Volunteer lab instructor for EMT-intermediate and EMT-basic students x 2 years
Volunteer in a free health clinic
Made Dean's and President's lists for a few semester's of undergrad- graduated paramedic program with 3.9 GPA
 
Awesome Sauceome said:
Wish I could be part of this list, just for the sake of adding more numbers to the list. But I am probably a pretty average applicant...
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Lol, is this subtle bragging?

I wish I could be an UD but my stats are too good. J/k 😉
 
chizledfrmstone said:
Lol, is this subtle bragging?

I wish I could be an UD but my stats are too good. J/k 😉
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Noo no, sorry. What I meant to say is I am barely over the line to be considered an underdog. So I would feel rude to categorize myself as that, since there are some people going over monstrous hurdles. But I definitely feel like an underdog through this process, especially since I am still, by no means, a shoo-in applicant.
 
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GypsyHummus said:
Yeah underdawgs!

I am an underdog as well. 3.5 cGPA, 3.0 sGPA, MCAT 26. Retaking a couple classes this summer, if I get As in the two science classes, I can bump up my sGPA to a 3.3! Im not gonna apply this year however.

Underdawgs, never forget the power of the grade replacement. DO school is possible for the people who want it and are willing to put everything on the line for their dream to become a reality.
Click to expand...
You should apply now.

Apparently, I was just awarded a trophy for being a 10 year member! That bitch is going in the trophy case.
 
Do I qualify?

3.6 cGPA, 3.3 sGPA, 35 MCAT
 
tripl3s3v3n said:
I would just apply broadly to compensate for the delayed MCAT and definitely submit on 6/1 so that your transcripts get verified as that takes a while.
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I'll definitely do that, thanks for the advice. I'm looking forward to and dreading applying all at the same time. Tough with money, etc, but I know in the long run it'll be worth it. One day at a time. I thought about taking the Mcat earlier but I don't want to sacrifice a potentially better score for an earlier complete application.
 
Bowser20 said:
Whats the "very early" time-frame for applications to be completely submitted?
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From what I understand the application will open early May, but can't be officially submitted until very early June. So having everything in and done by that day would be very early.
 
Shoot. I knew they opened in June and my MCAT is June 13.. (friday):ninja:... So my score wont be back until around mid July conservatively. I'm hoping that will still beat much of the rush?

Stephanopolous said:
From what I understand the application will open early May, but can't be officially submitted until very early June. So having everything in and done by that day would be very early.
Click to expand...
 
There's so many factors but I still feel that's nice and early to be complete. I won't be complete until the end of September.
 
Bowser20 said:
Shoot. I knew they opened in June and my MCAT is June 13.. (friday):ninja:... So my score wont be back until around mid July conservatively. I'm hoping that will still beat much of the rush?
Click to expand...
You will still be super early. Just remember when you get your MCAT score back your have to manually send it to your AACOMAS. That takes like 2-3 days or so for it to show up in your application.
 
tripl3s3v3n said:
You will still be super early. Just remember when you get your MCAT score back your have to manually send it to your AACOMAS. That takes like 2-3 days or so for it to show up in your application.
Click to expand...

Great advice thanks! Do you make this request from the Mcat site. Will it automatically go to the AMCAS?
 
I just wanted to say good luck to everyone this year and I hope we can help each other out as much as possible throughout the application cycle. There's so many ups and downs through this process but I have to say I'm feeling pretty good. I got my third letter of recommendation so far yesterday and I'm really happy with it. I need to get one more from a DO that I work with and he already approached me and offered to write a few weeks ago, so I just need to give him the information and packet I put together. Classes are going well, my A&P II midterm grade was an A and Orgo II was a B. I've been putting together a list of schools and practicing interview questions. I need to start working on my personal statement and start eating better but hey I've been working out so that counts for something!
 
Stephanopolous said:
I just wanted to say good luck to everyone this year and I hope we can help each other out as much as possible throughout the application cycle. There's so many ups and downs through this process but I have to say I'm feeling pretty good. I got my third letter of recommendation so far yesterday and I'm really happy with it. I need to get one more from a DO that I work with and he already approached me and offered to write a few weeks ago, so I just need to give him the information and packet I put together. Classes are going well, my A&P II midterm grade was an A and Orgo II was a B. I've been putting together a list of schools and practicing interview questions. I need to start working on my personal statement and start eating better but hey I've been working out so that counts for something!
Click to expand...
We will all be here for you man.
 
I'm diggin the positive energy! I know it's still pretty early but every little reminder to stay up-beat and to attack this whole process gives me a little boost. Underdogs gotta have the fight in them. :luck:

Stephanopolous said:
I just wanted to say good luck to everyone this year and I hope we can help each other out as much as possible throughout the application cycle. There's so many ups and downs through this process but I have to say I'm feeling pretty good. I got my third letter of recommendation so far yesterday and I'm really happy with it. I need to get one more from a DO that I work with and he already approached me and offered to write a few weeks ago, so I just need to give him the information and packet I put together. Classes are going well, my A&P II midterm grade was an A and Orgo II was a B. I've been putting together a list of schools and practicing interview questions. I need to start working on my personal statement and start eating better but hey I've been working out so that counts for something!
Click to expand...
 
That's right- and if I don't get in this year then it wasn't meant to be. I have an awesome job so I can work full time and chip away at my undergrad debt. I do have dreams about getting an acceptance this cycle though!!!!!
 
3.3 sgpa being an underdog?

What are the definitions people would set as underdog. I think especially with the person above, there are differing opinions for DO and MD schools. What would be a hard and fast definition of an underdog for Osteopathic schools?
 
Awesome Sauceome said:
3.3 sgpa being an underdog?

What are the definitions people would set as underdog. I think especially with the person above, there are differing opinions for DO and MD schools. What would be a hard and fast definition of an underdog for Osteopathic schools?
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The thread owner has stated that you decide whether or not you're an underdog.
 
Very valuable information from an Adcom that was posted in a previous thread. Hope this helps some of you out. APPLY EARLY

Goro said:
Do not apply until you have the best possible app
Do NOT take the MCAT until you're fully ready.
Make sure your LOR writers know you well enough to write a good LOR
ECs: While not required by med schools, they really are so make sure to have enough patient contact experience (volunteer or otherwise), have some research experience, and non non-clinical volunteer experience. Demonstrate your altruism and humanity.
Medical missions are not really useful unless your actually digging water wells or delivering babies.
Don't bother with LOIs. They're worthless.
KNOW what you're getting into.
1 or 2 Cs will not kill your medical career. Ditto W's.
It's OK to take coursework at CCs, especially if you're a non-trad, or doing grade repair, or are a transfer student from a CC with an AA/AS degree, going to a 4 year UG school.
The more eyeballs looking over your app, the better.
Worry about getting into medical school before worrying about your residencies/specialties.
Always remember it's a marathon, not a sprint. You're in this for the long haul.
Have or develop good coping skills
Have good time mgt skills. We expect you to walk and chew gum at the same time.
Invest in MSAR and apply strategically. If you have an MCAT of 31 and GPA of 3.5, you're not getting into Harvard or UCSF. Rosy F or NYMC, most probably, and that's fine!
If you're a poor standardized test taker, get that fixed.
Don't have cookie cutter ECs. Do something that will make you stand out.
We're not impressed by double majors, or any minor. Take courses that interest you, and do well in them. THAT impresses us.
It's OK to be human. There are med schools that indeed reward reinvention. rising trends ARE a good thing.
LEARN from your mistakes.

Do NOT bull your way through a semester if life throws you a bean-ball. Take the Ws, not the F/D/C.
Ditto for the MCAT. If you're sick that day, or your beloved dog dies, do NOT take the test. Or, void the test.
Do NOT take the MCAT cold! We consider poor choice making as a factor in who we accept. Prepare as needed. Take as many practice tests as needed.
If you're applying to MD schools, do NOT think that a high MCAT will overcome a poor GPA (or vice versa).
Do NOT go into Medicine if it's your parents' choice, and not yours.
Apply early. That's June or July for MD. June through Dec for DO.
Do NOT expect that one more LOR will somehow move you off of a wait list.
do NOT re-take the MCAT if your score is >30, even if imbalanced. Retaking with a good MCAT score is an exercise in hubris.
Do NOT be discouraged by rejection. Get feedback, improve on your deficits, and apply stronger the next cycle.
Do NOT apply to a school you have no intention of attending. Do your homework and think hard about living in X city for four years.
In that same vein, make sure you have a support group in the area. Homesickness is real.

At interviews, do NOT babble. Be concise. Display grace under pressure. Know what's in your packet. Do NOT lie. Do NOT embellish. Look over the Feedback forum for the types of questions asked at particular schools.
Make eye contact, even if this is not normal for your culture.

Hope that helps
Click to expand...
 
Lost Vagus said:
Very valuable information from an Adcom that was posted in a previous thread. Hope this helps some of you out. APPLY EARLY
Click to expand...
I love this post especially the NYMC and Rosy F comment. A lot of people who apply to MD believe just because they have a 3.5/30 they will get in somewhere. I've seen a few cases however of them getting into fantastic schools and not the lower tier ones.
 
I'm applying this year and I plan to take the MCAT in august or september. I will have a 3.3/3.3 when I apply maybe slightly higher, will that be a factor that my MCAT score probably won't be seen by schools until october?
 
Dreamstoo said:
I'm applying this year and I plan to take the MCAT in august or september. I will have a 3.3/3.3 when I apply maybe slightly higher, will that be a factor that my MCAT score probably won't be seen by schools until october?
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I'm taking my Mcat 8/21 so I'm in the same boat. Still apply early, when the scores come out make sure you go to Mcat site and have them sent to AACOMAS.

To answer your question yes we're not going to be applying as early as ideally possible. However, for me spending the time to get a great Mcat grade makes more sense than rushing to apply with a subpar grade.
 
Dreamstoo said:
I'm applying this year and I plan to take the MCAT in august or september. I will have a 3.3/3.3 when I apply maybe slightly higher, will that be a factor that my MCAT score probably won't be seen by schools until october?
Click to expand...
No. It shouldn't be an issue. But don't use your pending mcat as an excuse to procrastinate. Get those letters of recs sent to interfolio, write your personal statement, and get all your transcripts in. Basically complete your application as soon as you can so that all you have left to do is report your MCAT. October is still early.
 
Lost Vagus said:
No. It shouldn't be an issue. But don't use your pending mcat as an excuse to procrastinate. Get those letters of recs sent to interfolio, write your personal statement, and get all your transcripts in. Basically complete your application as soon as you can so that all you have left to do is report your MCAT. October is still early.
Click to expand...

We can't start submitting transcripts until May right?
 
Stephanopolous said:
We can't start submitting transcripts until May right?
Click to expand...
I believe so. It's something like that. But whenever the app opens up, start typing in your grades. It's a huge pain in the ass. You have to hand type all of your undergraduate courses, their course numbers, your grade, and then you have to correctly sort them in to a specific category (biology, non science, math, etc). It takes a couple of hours and I'm glad I was able to roll my application over. I would have hated doing that over again. You can also pre write your personal statement and then copy and paste it in.

My best advice for letters of rec is when you ask, make sure to give the writer a deadline. If you just say "write it whenever you have free time", they will never do it. Also, don't feel bad about reminding them. It's not annoying. If they miss the deadline, shoot them a polite email and remind them again.
 
There are always people who have fantastic life stories or remarkable ECs, and these make up for numbers that fall below the 10-90th %iles of acceptees. These are the ones who make up those "few people who get into fantastic schools". Either that, or they have a large donation check in hand. So when I say apply strategically, I also mean "apply realistically".

Dreamstoo said:
I love this post especially the NYMC and Rosy F comment. A lot of people who apply to MD believe just because they have a 3.5/30 they will get in somewhere. I've seen a few cases however of them getting into fantastic schools and not the lower tier ones.
Click to expand...
 
Goro said:
There are always people who have fantastic life stories or remarkable ECs, and these make up for numbers that fall below the 10-90th %iles of acceptees. These are the ones who make up those "few people who get into fantastic schools". Either that, or they have a large donation check in hand. So when I say apply strategically, I also mean "apply realistically".
Click to expand...

So how much is it to buy one's way into a medical school? It really seems awkward. It's like ... here is a million dollars, by the way I'm applying this year. Is that how the conversation goes? 😀
 
victoriah said:
So how much is it to buy one's way into a medical school? It really seems awkward. It's like ... here is a million dollars, by the way I'm applying this year. Is that how the conversation goes? 😀
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Probably about 200-500 grand directed to the governor of your selected state. Which will get that AOA fm-Derm type hand shaking thing except for medical school.
 
Goro said:
There are always people who have fantastic life stories or remarkable ECs, and these make up for numbers that fall below the 10-90th %iles of acceptees. These are the ones who make up those "few people who get into fantastic schools". Either that, or they have a large donation check in hand. So when I say apply strategically, I also mean "apply realistically".
Click to expand...

Yes, that what I meant. I have a friend who got into 4 MDs and matriculated into a mid tier MD with DO statistics. Was not a URM but had fantastic ECs and went to a top university. That is very true, I know of students who had similar stats and squeaked themselves into a low tier MD by getting of the waitlist sometime in July.
 
Dreamstoo said:
Yes, that what I meant. I have a friend who got into 4 MDs and matriculated into a mid tier MD with DO statistics. Was not a URM but had fantastic ECs and went to a top university. That is very true, I know of students who had similar stats and squeaked themselves into a low tier MD by getting of the waitlist sometime in July.
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Time to go dig some wells in Africa I guess..
 
serenade said:
Time to go dig some wells in Africa I guess..
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Aha, nothing like that. This applicant I speak of had very solid research publications and a great letter. Also this applicant is a very easy person to talk to and I can see this individual doing very well in interviews.
 
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