2016-2017 Underdogs thread

BU Medical Sciences
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REALDEAL028 said:
I really wish ADCOMs cross-checked people's SDN usernames for the kinds of posts and comments they make as part of their application process. ANY person who gets a 515+ or 3.7+ and makes a comment like "DO?" or "do I have a chance" just shows their personality is one of no confidence or they just need anonymous people who they don't know on internet forums to stroke their ego. Either way, neither of those types of people would I ever want to so much as start an IV on me, let alone make life-altering decisions about my health in a time of emergency or need. This is absolutely ridiculous.
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Hey man just chillax
 
baratheonfire said:
Yeah, being ORM does affect my chances
It doesn't mean I'm automatically insecure
Idk why you have to go after my race, I've been a pretty good sport throughout this thread but this is too far
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Yea being ORM affects your chances just like me being a white male with parents who have good jobs affects mine. He wasn't "making fun" of your race. But you know what else affects your chances? The fact that you scored over a 98th percentile on your MCAT. Thinking that you even MIGHT be an underdog with that score is not only insecure, but thoughtless to the people who will read this thread who actually are underdogs, regardless of what color your skin is.
 
Having gone through the application cycle last year, and being accepted to one of my in-state favorites... It's highly possible that MCAT won't matter in comparison to GPA and life experience. If someone has a stellar MCAT, but no patient care, no stories that show why they should be a doctor, don't interview well, and have poor science grades... Not a very good chance of getting in, when there are hundreds of other applicants with the "full package".

That said, I'm an underdog. 42nd percentile with the new MCAT (though science sections were in the 60-80th percentiles). Nearly all my science classes were taken at a local community college. Mid range non-science undergrad GPA. I non traditional, took 7 years between undergrad and return to school to realize why I'm supposed to be a doc. I have a story, passion for the patients of medicine, and my school saw this and accepted me without a wait list. Who you are is becoming more and more important than the numbers you bring to the table.

There's more to the application cycle than the MCAT. Don't be intimidated by those with high grades, and don't feel like dung if yours is low.

So! To the underdogs, dreams do come true. KEEP THE FAITH!

Besides, this is the internet, anyone can say anything about their scores... 😉
 
I have a 526 and 3.9 gpa, but I think I'm still an underdog because the reason I have a 3.9 is my C in my freshman basket weaving class.
 
star.buck said:
Having gone through the application cycle last year, and being accepted to one of my in-state favorites... It's highly possible that MCAT won't matter in comparison to GPA and life experience. If someone has a stellar MCAT, but no patient care, no stories that show why they should be a doctor, don't interview well, and have poor science grades... Not a very good chance of getting in, when there are hundreds of other applicants with the "full package".

That said, I'm an underdog. 42nd percentile with the new MCAT (though science sections were in the 60-80th percentiles). Nearly all my science classes were taken at a local community college. Mid range non-science undergrad GPA. I non traditional, took 7 years between undergrad and return to school to realize why I'm supposed to be a doc. I have a story, passion for the patients of medicine, and my school saw this and accepted me without a wait list. Who you are is becoming more and more important than the numbers you bring to the table.

There's more to the application cycle than the MCAT. Don't be intimidated by those with high grades, and don't feel like dung if yours is low.

So! To the underdogs, dreams do come true. KEEP THE FAITH!

Besides, this is the internet, anyone can say anything about their scores... 😉
Click to expand...


^ Great post.

This should go on an official underdogs thread so that I don't have to scroll past OPs obnoxious post every time I go on this thread.
 
star.buck said:
Having gone through the application cycle last year, and being accepted to one of my in-state favorites... It's highly possible that MCAT won't matter in comparison to GPA and life experience. If someone has a stellar MCAT, but no patient care, no stories that show why they should be a doctor, don't interview well, and have poor science grades... Not a very good chance of getting in, when there are hundreds of other applicants with the "full package".

That said, I'm an underdog. 42nd percentile with the new MCAT (though science sections were in the 60-80th percentiles). Nearly all my science classes were taken at a local community college. Mid range non-science undergrad GPA. I non traditional, took 7 years between undergrad and return to school to realize why I'm supposed to be a doc. I have a story, passion for the patients of medicine, and my school saw this and accepted me without a wait list. Who you are is becoming more and more important than the numbers you bring to the table.

There's more to the application cycle than the MCAT. Don't be intimidated by those with high grades, and don't feel like dung if yours is low.

So! To the underdogs, dreams do come true. KEEP THE FAITH!

Besides, this is the internet, anyone can say anything about their scores... 😉
Click to expand...

Thanks for this post. My MCAT is high enough that I don't really consider myself quite an "underdog" but at the same time I have far too many Cs on my transcript. Hopefully some school realized that I was a dumb 20 year old and am a smart 26 year old 🙂
 
Jokes aside, there should really be a policy where Underdog threads are created by current Underdog applicants, successful Underdog applicants last cycle, or by the SDN staff:

Where Underdog is generally someone with <50% chance of getting into medical school (i.e. for US MD, usually GPA < 3.5 and MCAT < 29/506).

High scoring MCATs can be an underdog if their GPA is really low. But GPA can get misleading because of upward GPA trends and other factors. Example: a good friend of mine had a sub 3.0 GPA/38+ MCAT (with a 4.0 GPA upward trend in recent 4 years) and the SDN advice was to apply for SMP or DO. She ignored the advice and applied with what her GPA would be, was very successful, and is now a medical student at a Top 20 school.

Someone with a 3.47/520 is actually an above-average applicant, not an Underdog (which would be a 3.4/505 or similar).
 
Wow you guys are taking this thread way too seriously

But it's true that I'm far from an ideal candidate so I just called it an underdog thread
 
baratheonfire said:
Wow you guys are taking this thread way too seriously

But it's true that I'm far from an ideal candidate so I just called it an underdog thread
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You're delusional. You have over a 75% chance of getting an acceptance. You probably won't get into a prestigious institution but at the end of the day the smart money is on you for getting into an MD program.

Btw I'm freaking out I only have a 3.68 and a 519 with a measly 300 clinical volunteering hours and a mediocre 3rd author Cell publication. Hopefully SGU or AUC take me or else I'm going to have to do a post bac.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
 
Dr. Ivy said:
Welp... while everyone roasts OP, I shall start....

507: 126/126/127/128
2.97cGPA 3.06sGPA
URM D1 Athlete.
Click to expand...

D1 Athlete here as well!
504 MCAT: 124/125/127/128
3.923 GPA
 
mhelm816 said:
D1 Athlete here as well!
504 MCAT: 124/125/127/128
3.923 GPA
Click to expand...


Yet another D1 athlete here!!

509: 128/129/126/126

3.67 cGPA, 3.48 sGPA


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
 
I feel like the underdog of underdogs looking through these threads.

uGPA 2.6, gGPA 4.0 (in a tough physiology program, 16 credit hours so far), MCAT 509 (129/124/131/125)

Grades are significantly trending upwards (very poor work early on but ended with a 3.8 in final semester and 3.4 for last ~50 hours). Numerous departmental awards senior year. Some life experience (employment in gap year between UG and grad school), experience as employed EMT, lots of volunteer work (clinical and non-clinical), have been working in a research lab since beginning my Master's degree (won research award, publications pending), strong LORs. I know I am not going to Harvard but I am hoping some schools can MAYBE see beyond my poor work done in my early UG career that is really holding me back. If AMCAS would recalculate based on re-takes then it could be much better. Anyone else in the same boat?
 
ohiowannabedoc said:
I feel like the underdog of underdogs looking through these threads.

uGPA 2.6, gGPA 4.0 (in a tough physiology program, 16 credit hours so far), MCAT 509 (129/124/131/125)

Grades are significantly trending upwards (very poor work early on but ended with a 3.8 in final semester and 3.4 for last ~50 hours). Numerous departmental awards senior year. Some life experience (employment in gap year between UG and grad school), experience as employed EMT, lots of volunteer work (clinical and non-clinical), have been working in a research lab since beginning my Master's degree (won research award, publications pending), strong LORs. I know I am not going to Harvard but I am hoping some schools can MAYBE see beyond my poor work done in my early UG career that is really holding me back. If AMCAS would recalculate based on re-takes then it could be much better. Anyone else in the same boat?
Click to expand...

Bro, I feel you. Im barely scraping the 3.0 mark at 3.06 and my cGPA is 2.97. Honestly hoping a school is like hey you messed up but we see you're legit so well give you a chance. Hoping my MCAT, EC, and work with underserved community helps out!. I need all the prayers!
 
Dr. Ivy said:
Bro, I feel you. Im barely scraping the 3.0 mark at 3.06 and my cGPA is 2.97. Honestly hoping a school is like hey you messed up but we see you're legit so well give you a chance. Hoping my MCAT, EC, and work with underserved community helps out!. I need all the prayers!
Click to expand...
Best of luck to you! I see some very negative responses on these kinds of threads but some very positive ones that are actually encouraging. I guess what it will boil down to is what adcom's lap our application will fall into.
 
ohiowannabedoc said:
Best of luck to you! I see some very negative responses on these kinds of threads but some very positive ones that are actually encouraging. I guess what it will boil down to is what adcom's lap our application will fall into.
Click to expand...

True that! Much thanks! We got this!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
Ayy_MadScientist said:
3.63 GPA and 501 MCAT. Mixed but both my races are ORM. I applied with a late MCAT last year and got 1 II, so here's to good luck for all of us this year. :luck::xf:
Click to expand...

Goodluck! Where was your II if you don't mind me asking?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
baratheonfire said:
kek
Click to expand...

Oh God. You're horde. That explain everything. Horde scum. 😵 Get outta do underdog thread and back to Ogri or UC where you and your ilk belong. 😉
 
ugrad (1985ish): 2.196
prereqs (2010 to present): 3.9ish
MCAT: TBD (currently FL average = 512; real deal could break me in pieces)
Age: 51 (yes, really but I play WoW so don't hate on me, I'm cool 😛 )
ECs: 1000s hours volunteering
Shadowing: 100+
Leadership: executive role, $2b public company (you could have bought stock in it but I would have told you not to 😉 )
hmmm.... yeah. I'm hoping that the past 6 years have not been for naught.
 
Ad2b said:
ugrad (1985ish): 2.196
prereqs (2010 to present): 3.9ish
MCAT: TBD (currently FL average = 512; real deal could break me in pieces)
Age: 51 (yes, really but I play WoW so don't hate on me, I'm cool 😛 )
ECs: 1000s hours volunteering
Shadowing: 100+
Leadership: executive role, $2b public company (you could have bought stock in it but I would have told you not to 😉 )
hmmm.... yeah. I'm hoping that the past 6 years have not been for naught.
Click to expand...
Good luck!!
 
Ad2b said:
ugrad (1985ish): 2.196
prereqs (2010 to present): 3.9ish
MCAT: TBD (currently FL average = 512; real deal could break me in pieces)
Age: 51 (yes, really but I play WoW so don't hate on me, I'm cool 😛 )
ECs: 1000s hours volunteering
Shadowing: 100+
Leadership: executive role, $2b public company (you could have bought stock in it but I would have told you not to 😉 )
hmmm.... yeah. I'm hoping that the past 6 years have not been for naught.
Click to expand...

Wow, good luck to you. I hope your efforts bear fruit. Looking forward to hearing how your cycles go!
 
Iz_FtB said:
Wow, good luck to you. I hope your efforts bear fruit. Looking forward to hearing how your cycles go!
Click to expand...

Thank you!! (Fixed the cycle part - there be only one; now, this time, this year) 🙂 Let's go peeps! Let's do this 😀
 
Ad2b said:
Thank you!! (Fixed the cycle part - there be only one; now, this time, this year) 🙂 Let's go peeps! Let's do this 😀
Click to expand...

Good luck!! Adult non-trad here too. I start med school in 20 days!!

Try and research which schools like the non-traditional students. Your numbers look good. All 3 schools (out of 7 applied) I interviewed at really liked my non-traditional application, so don't be shy about being slightly older than most of the other applicants! That just means you've lived life and bring "more" to the team when you matriculate.

Rock this app cycle sister! Dreams are about to come true! (And yes, you might just cry when that acceptance call comes in, most do)
 
Greetings all! Interesting little thread ya'll have goin here lol.
Been around for a while but my turn finally to post up!
Louisiana res (in case it didn't show in my slang above lol) 😉
Worked as E.R. clerk/tech for a year
Offshore fluid engineer prior to back to hitting the books again.
uGPA:
1st bac: 2.18 [Communication studies 04]
Post-bac (went back 4 yrs and finishing new degree in Bio, minor in chem, honors in May17): 3.9 ish
CUMgpa:
DO: ~2.9
MD: ~2.75
MCAT sept 10th ...2 weeks so tbd [took it cold no prep tests, and never haf biochem/cell)...
Was advised to NOT take mcat for that reason...borrowed friends biochem book for a month before driving 7 hours to Texas to take MCAT lol
...LSU Nola has a 32 hour policy I fully intend to use lol (check it out pretty legit)
I honestly can say I have NO clue where to apply...DO schools aside from lsu. Advice? Good luck all!!
30 yo white guy btw lol
 
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Mjölnir318 said:
Greetings all! Interesting little thread ya'll have goin here lol.
Been around for a while but my turn finally to post up!
Louisiana res (in case it didn't show in my slang above lol) 😉
Worked as E.R. clerk/tech for a year
Offshore fluid engineer prior to back to hitting the books again.
uGPA:
1st bac: 2.18 [Communication studies 04]
Post-bac (went back 4 yrs and finishing new degree in Bio, minor in chem, honors in May17): 3.9 ish
CUMgpa:
DO: ~2.9
MD: ~2.75
MCAT sept 10th ...2 weeks so tbd [took it cold no prep tests, and never haf biochem/cell)...
Was advised to NOT take mcat for that reason...borrowed friends biochem book for a month before driving 7 hours to Texas to take MCAT lol
...LSU Nola has a 32 hour policy I fully intend to use lol (check it out pretty legit)
I honestly can say I have NO clue where to apply...DO schools aside from lsu. Advice? Good luck all!!
Click to expand...

Do you intend to apply this year?
 
Mjölnir318 said:
Yep! I know I'm SUPER late...but I won't know until I try at least
Click to expand...

True, the least you can do is try. Just realize at this point most schools are already interviewing, and a lot of the seats are already being taken by the early birds.

I'm an underdog as well, and a quarter of the way through year 1 of med school at a little school in Michigan. I applied late (end of August), without knowing my MCAT (it was mediocre), with a very non traditional background (musician). I applied to 7 schools, I got 3 interviews, one acceptance, and one school I withdrew from without knowing the final decision.

Reason I say all that: you don't know until you try. I'd stay off SDN, honestly. A lot of nay sayers, a lot of negativity, and a lot of people that will put you down to bring themselves up.

Anyway... I'd suggest: Apply to DO, instate, and schools that are known for having an underserved minded mission. You may want to consider the Caribbean, but they can have a harder time matching for residency. Talk up your life experiences, and why you want to be a doc after the life you've lived.

Best of luck to you!!
 
star.buck said:
True, the least you can do is try. Just realize at this point most schools are already interviewing, and a lot of the seats are already being taken by the early birds.

I'm an underdog as well, and a quarter of the way through year 1 of med school at a little school in Michigan. I applied late (end of August), without knowing my MCAT (it was mediocre), with a very non traditional background (musician). I applied to 7 schools, I got 3 interviews, one acceptance, and one school I withdrew from without knowing the final decision.

Reason I say all that: you don't know until you try. I'd stay off SDN, honestly. A lot of nay sayers, a lot of negativity, and a lot of people that will put you down to bring themselves up.

Anyway... I'd suggest: Apply to DO, instate, and schools that are known for having an underserved minded mission. You may want to consider the Caribbean, but they can have a harder time matching for residency. Talk up your life experiences, and why you want to be a doc after the life you've lived.

Best of luck to you!!
Click to expand...

Thank you for the advice and suggestions. I have admittedly researched enough to know that the corresponding increase in chance of acceptance to Caribbean's come with the "baggage " of decreasing chances of residency so I'm staying away from them tbh. The 32 hour policy is one I am sort of banking on bc the assistant dean of adm told me the gpa they would "use" (hence i was motivated to pop the mcat lol) but I'm specifically asling about DO programs that have a much later app deadline...are they still going to be applied to and filled (or close to it) the same timeframes as the MD programs???
I appreciate the advice about nay sayers...totally get that. My uphill goa battle was more like a vertical wall i had to learn to push myself up bc of those nay sayers...LOTS of people said it couldn't be done with THAT low of a gpa...then thry said congrats on the .003 boost per straight A semester...but you'll never get into med school.... agreed, never know until I try. But if I'm going to try, best believe it's all or nothing like most Udogs here lol. Congrats on the acceptance btw, crucial proof yet again this IS possible...how bad do we want it is what i think the adcoms need to be shown IMO. but what do I know...i dont even havr an MCAT score yet!! :yawn: is there a place with the DO programs compiled with minimum cutoff values? I went through and began trimming those with early deadlines and minimum cum's but new phone so no more list ...I'm applying to ALL that won't immediately reject my app due to low cGPA.
Thank you for your feedback and advice!
 
😉
 
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Mjölnir318 said:
Yep! I know I'm SUPER late...but I won't know until I try at least
Click to expand...

star.buck said:
True, the least you can do is try. Just realize at this point most schools are already interviewing, and a lot of the seats are already being taken by the early birds.

I'm an underdog as well, and a quarter of the way through year 1 of med school at a little school in Michigan. I applied late (end of August), without knowing my MCAT (it was mediocre), with a very non traditional background (musician). I applied to 7 schools, I got 3 interviews, one acceptance, and one school I withdrew from without knowing the final decision.

Reason I say all that: you don't know until you try. I'd stay off SDN, honestly. A lot of nay sayers, a lot of negativity, and a lot of people that will put you down to bring themselves up.

Anyway... I'd suggest: Apply to DO, instate, and schools that are known for having an underserved minded mission. You may want to consider the Caribbean, but they can have a harder time matching for residency. Talk up your life experiences, and why you want to be a doc after the life you've lived.

Best of luck to you!!
Click to expand...

Mjolnir, this poster does not have your best interests in mind. You should absolutely NOT apply this cycle. You should not apply "just to see what happens". If you were to not be accepted anywhere this cycle, you would be a reapplicant next cycle which puts you at a disadvantage. Also be aware that you are applying really late so already at a disadvantage in that regard. But hey do what you want.
 
Mjölnir318 said:
Thank you for the advice and suggestions. I have admittedly researched enough to know that the corresponding increase in chance of acceptance to Caribbean's come with the "baggage " of decreasing chances of residency so I'm staying away from them tbh. The 32 hour policy is one I am sort of banking on bc the assistant dean of adm told me the gpa they would "use" (hence i was motivated to pop the mcat lol) but I'm specifically asling about DO programs that have a much later app deadline...are they still going to be applied to and filled (or close to it) the same timeframes as the MD programs???
I appreciate the advice about nay sayers...totally get that. My uphill goa battle was more like a vertical wall i had to learn to push myself up bc of those nay sayers...LOTS of people said it couldn't be done with THAT low of a gpa...then thry said congrats on the .003 boost per straight A semester...but you'll never get into med school.... agreed, never know until I try. But if I'm going to try, best believe it's all or nothing like most Udogs here lol. Congrats on the acceptance btw, crucial proof yet again this IS possible...how bad do we want it is what i think the adcoms need to be shown IMO. but what do I know...i dont even havr an MCAT score yet!! :yawn: is there a place with the DO programs compiled with minimum cutoff values? I went through and began trimming those with early deadlines and minimum cum's but new phone so no more list ...I'm applying to ALL that won't immediately reject my app due to low cGPA.
Thank you for your feedback and advice!
Click to expand...


Let me clarify... I already said it's an uphill battle this late. But you've given a little more info which changes my mind as to advice....

I don't have any information on DO schools, but for MD the MSAR is really useful on the AAMC site. Was very useful to me when I was deciding where to apply.

At this point I would have to recommend you wait and apply early next year. Some schools aren't fond of multiple applications, some even limit how many times you can apply before prohibiting further apps. Take your time and decide on which schools to apply for, strengthen your app with some more community /volunteer / research / meaningful patient time. Make sure you have stellar recommendation letters. Go to a few schools and get a tour.

It seems as though you are rushing right now... And the more you rush the less prepared you will be, and the ADCOM's will see this in your app.

Medical school and becoming a doctor is about the marathon, not the sprint.

I may have applied in August, but I did have all my schools and my apps lined up and my essay's/apps done in June...

I'm not sure at this point if you'll even have time to properly do secondaries before deadlines.

It's better to be fully prepared, and wait, than to rush with a probable fail, and have to try again minus the cash and plus the stress. Being nearly October and not knowing which schools to apply to is a touch unwise.

IMHO.
 
But... All that said. People told me not to apply. I was too late. I wouldn't get in. I was going to fail... Blah blah blah....

I have a "real" white coat at home waiting for me to iron it.

Know what you want. Know how you are going to get it. Plan. Act. Go get it!
 
star.buck said:
But... All that said. People told me not to apply. I was too late. I wouldn't get in. I was going to fail... Blah blah blah....

I have a "real" white coat at home waiting for me to iron it.

Know what you want. Know how you are going to get it. Plan. Act. Go get it!
Click to expand...

Glad it worked out, but the fact that you had a good outcome doesn't mean applying was the right decision.
 
Gurby said:
Glad it worked out, but the fact that you had a good outcome doesn't mean applying was the right decision.
Click to expand...

Hate to say... That doesn't even make sense. The fact I was accepted is brilliant evidence I made the right decision... As waiting an additional year would have done nothing but lose me an additional year of being a doctor...

I'm going to go study now... Because... Med school.
 
star.buck said:
Hate to say... That doesn't even make sense. The fact I was accepted is brilliant evidence I made the right decision... As waiting an additional year would have done nothing but lose me an additional year of being a doctor...

I'm going to go study now... Because... Med school.
Click to expand...

Sometimes you do everything perfectly but still have a bad outcome. Sometimes you screw up but get lucky and it works out. It's important to be able to recognize what is going on in these situations and not be results oriented. Worry about making the best decision you can with the information you have, instead of focusing on the outcome. This is an important principle in poker, and I suspect also in medicine.
 
Gurby said:
Sometimes you do everything perfectly but still have a bad outcome. Sometimes you screw up but get lucky and it works out. It's important to be able to recognize what is going on in these situations and not be results oriented. Worry about making the best decision you can with the information you have, instead of focusing on the outcome. This is an important principle in poker, and I suspect also in medicine.
Click to expand...

Well stated, and not incorrect.

But for the sake of an amusing argument:

Three words:

Evidence based medicine.
 
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