2016-2017 Underdogs thread

[vladnix]

---

Members do not see this ad.

499 mcat (124,123,123,129) 3.5 undergrad Gpa, 3.0 in masters D.O program (first year of medical school courses in TouroCom with D.O students)

 

[787593]

This thread feels like a microcosm of SDN as a whole

"Guys I have a 3.7 and a 518, which Carribean school should I shoot for???"

Is that enough for the Carribean? Might want to consider a gap year.

 

[libertyyne]

Is that enough for the Carribean? Might want to consider a gap year.

or a gap decade.

 

[Chromium Surfer]

or a gap decade.

savage

 

[LittleEngineCould]

@Healer@1994 -- 4 rejections with those stats? Wtf.
Either:

1. They were incredibly low ranked schools and they were self-aware of being safety nets,
2. They were incredibly high ranked schools where the competition is tough as hell,
3. You wrote on your Personal Statement "Goals: Fornicate with females, acquire currency."

 

[787593]

@Healer@1994 -- 4 rejections with those stats? Wtf.
Either:

1. They were incredibly low ranked schools and they were self-aware of being safety nets,
2. They were incredibly high ranked schools where the competition is tough as hell,
3. You wrote on your Personal Statement "Goals: Fornicate with females, acquire currency."

VCU - Reason 1
Tulane - Reason 1
U Pitt - Reason 2
U-WI - no clue...

And people with better stats can get rejected anywhere. Yield protection, ECs, etc.

Lots of schools to hear back from though.

Edit: also rejected from BU and U Rochester

 

[JGGoobers]

Decent stats, LizzyM of 68.7, strong ECs with very strong LORs including the Medical Director of the hospital I currently scribe at..

but 3rd time reapplicant, last applied 2014 cycle, took a gap year in 2015 and had some major changes to app.. 0 IIs as of now..

 

[libertyyne]

Decent stats, LizzyM of 68.7, strong ECs with very strong LORs including the Medical Director of the hospital I currently scribe at..

but 3rd time reapplicant, last applied 2014 cycle, took a gap year in 2015 and had some major changes to app.. 0 IIs as of now..

State of residence? Asian? Mcat breakdown? What schools are you applying to? And wait for thanks giving.

 

[bananafish94]

Decent stats, LizzyM of 68.7, strong ECs with very strong LORs including the Medical Director of the hospital I currently scribe at..

but 3rd time reapplicant, last applied 2014 cycle, took a gap year in 2015 and had some major changes to app.. 0 IIs as of now..

That's utterly bizarre. Your MCAT didn't expire, did it? What kinds of extracurriculars do you have?

 

[JGGoobers]

State of residence? Asian? Mcat breakdown? What schools are you applying to? And wait for thanks giving.

Resident of TX.
I am indeed ORM.
My GPA is below average (3.57) with strong upward trend
My MCAT breakdown: 128/127/130/129

I applied to all of the TX schools, I was slightly late in the cycle, secondaries submitted in mid-late August.

I also applied OOS for MD schools, did some research for OOS friendly schools (GWU, Temple, Wake Forest, NYMC, Tufts, and a host of other schools), I finished the majority of my secondaries mid-late September, early October, still have a couple left I'm trying to find time to finish and send out in the midst of work.

I'm also applying for DO schools, just got a bunch of secondaries back, so I'm beginning to work on them and send them out as well.

I'm considering sending out the rest of my D.O. secondaries before my remaining M.D. ones, thoughts?

That's utterly bizarre. Your MCAT didn't expire, did it? What kinds of extracurriculars do you have?

I retook my MCAT in May of this year, so there's no way it expired.

Quick summary of ECs:

200 hours of hospital volunteering through college and after.
200 hours of shadowing in ORs
500 hours as a medical assistant
over 1900 hours in the ER as a scribe (on-going) - received an award for excellence and promoted to leadership position
300 hours undergraduate research in a learning/memory lab
600 hours of research at Dell's Children's Medical Center with a publication as an author in pediatric epilepsy
700 hours of volunteering (non-clinical) related to outreach to international students in both Houston and Austin, basketball coaching for inner city schools in Austin, etc

 

[TheStallion16]

Got an acceptance to a Texas school as an OOS resident with a 504 yesterday. It's not all about the MCAT, don't let it get you down!

 

[libertyyne]

Resident of TX.
I am indeed ORM.
My GPA is below average (3.57) with strong upward trend
My MCAT breakdown: 128/127/130/129

I applied to all of the TX schools, I was slightly late in the cycle, secondaries submitted in mid-late August.

I also applied OOS for MD schools, did some research for OOS friendly schools (GWU, Temple, Wake Forest, NYMC, Tufts, and a host of other schools), I finished the majority of my secondaries mid-late September, early October, still have a couple left I'm trying to find time to finish and send out in the midst of work.

I'm also applying for DO schools, just got a bunch of secondaries back, so I'm beginning to work on them and send them out as well.

I'm considering sending out the rest of my D.O. secondaries before my remaining M.D. ones, thoughts?



I retook my MCAT in May of this year, so there's no way it expired.

Quick summary of ECs:

200 hours of hospital volunteering through college and after.
200 hours of shadowing in ORs
500 hours as a medical assistant
over 1900 hours in the ER as a scribe (on-going) - received an award for excellence and promoted to leadership position
300 hours undergraduate research in a learning/memory lab
600 hours of research at Dell's Children's Medical Center with a publication as an author in pediatric epilepsy
700 hours of volunteering (non-clinical) related to outreach to international students in both Houston and Austin, basketball coaching for inner city schools in Austin, etc

You have a pretty strong application with the mcat score. What was your previous MCAT score? Did you apply late the previous cycles?

 

[LittleEngineCould]

@JGGoobers

Quick summary of ECs:

200 hours of hospital volunteering through college and after.
200 hours of shadowing in ORs
500 hours as a medical assistant
over 1900 hours in the ER as a scribe (on-going) - received an award for excellence and promoted to leadership position
300 hours undergraduate research in a learning/memory lab
600 hours of research at Dell's Children's Medical Center with a publication as an author in pediatric epilepsy
700 hours of volunteering (non-clinical) related to outreach to international students in both Houston and Austin, basketball coaching for inner city schools in Austin, etc

Jesus Christ, is this a typical EC resume for the average student? Wtf have I been doing with my life.

 

[libertyyne]

@JGGoobers


Jesus Christ, is this a typical EC resume for the average student? Wtf have I been doing with my life.

Dude has a very strong app. Probably had a subpar MCAT score previously coupled with late application that led to his being a reapplicant X3. 514 =33

 

[LittleEngineCould]

Dude has a very strong app. Probably had a subpar MCAT score previously coupled with late application that led to his being a reapplicant X3.

I don't want to go through this again. Hold me, liber sloth.

 

[meddesire]

Got an acceptance to a Texas school as an OOS resident with a 504 yesterday. It's not all about the MCAT, don't let it get you down!

Your gpa if you don't mind? URM vs. ORM? disadvantaged?

 

[libertyyne]

I don't want to go through this again. Hold me, liber sloth.

I have faith in you.

 

[baratheonfire]

I have faith in you.

hold me too

 

[libertyyne]

hold me too

I have faith in you as well Baratheon

 

[TheStallion16]

Your gpa if you don't mind? URM vs. ORM? disadvantaged?

3.9 GPA, white male, not disadvantaged

 

[laurenlee3]

I have faith in you as well Baratheon

Awwwww

 

[JGGoobers]

You have a pretty strong application with the mcat score. What was your previous MCAT score? Did you apply late the previous cycles?

My previous MCAT was a 32R (12/10/10), I had to retake cause it expired from 2012; I also thought it was about time for me to update my MCAT score anyway.

During the last cycle, I submitted my TMDSAS first week of June, submitted my secondaries by the second week of July. I finished everything by late September. I'm later this time cause of summer turnover for scribes and a lot of new people need to be trained. No II's last year either, I called the schools, got some vague answers to the extent of "do what you feel is best for your application", took a year off to do research, volunteer/shadow more, become a scribe, and become a U.S. citizen. Now I'm back at it again.. same place as last year..

 

[libertyyne]

My previous MCAT was a 32R (12/10/10), I had to retake cause it expired from 2012; I also thought it was about time for me to update my MCAT score anyway.

During the last cycle, I submitted my TMDSAS first week of June, submitted my secondaries by the second week of July. I finished everything by late September. I'm later this time cause of summer turnover for scribes and a lot of new people need to be trained. No II's last year either, I called the schools, got some vague answers to the extent of "do what you feel is best for your application", took a year off to do research, volunteer/shadow more, become a scribe, and become a U.S. citizen. Now I'm back at it again.. same place as last year..

ahh. There it is.

 

[Blueberriesyumm]

hold me too

hoping the best for you too

 

[JGGoobers]

I was previously a permanent resident; I originally thought that schools showed little to no preference for PR vs Citizens, however, after 2 cycles of completely being shut out, I'm more suspicious of the schools' stance to this. But given that I'm in the same position as I was a year ago after becoming a citizen, it may, after all, not be entirely attributable to this factor..

 

[Pusheen]

ahh. There it is.

That's what stood out to me when I read it. Aren't permanent residents considered equally with citizens though? I'm assuming that's what he was before

 

[libertyyne]

I was previously a permanent resident; I originally thought that schools showed little to no preference for PR vs Citizens, however, after 2 cycles of completely being shut out, I'm more suspicious of the schools' stance to this. But given that I'm in the same position as I was a year ago after becoming a citizen, it may, after all, not be entirely attributable to this factor..

That's what stood out to me when I read it. Aren't permanent residents considered equally with citizens though? I'm assuming that's what he was before

Your app is very strong. A LizzyM of 68 is in the lower half of Asian applicants. That being said I am surprised that this app hasn't received any IIs over three cycles.

 

[JGGoobers]

Well, I'm in full panic mode now, trying to figure out what I can do starting now to make my app even stronger for future applications, but it's honestly very hard to know what schools are looking for without interviews. Any recommendations are welcome!

 

[baratheonfire]

ahh. There it is.

I was previously a permanent resident; I originally thought that schools showed little to no preference for PR vs Citizens, however, after 2 cycles of completely being shut out, I'm more suspicious of the schools' stance to this. But given that I'm in the same position as I was a year ago after becoming a citizen, it may, after all, not be entirely attributable to this factor..

That's what stood out to me when I read it. Aren't permanent residents considered equally with citizens though? I'm assuming that's what he was before

I'm positive that permanent residents are considered to be in the same category as US Citizens. Luckily though I became a US citizen prior to submitting my AMCAS (naturalized in June 2016 lol).

 

[baratheonfire]

hoping the best for you too

thanks fam

 

[libertyyne]

Well, I'm in full panic mode now, trying to figure out what I can do starting now to make my app even stronger for future applications, but it's honestly very hard to know what schools are looking for without interviews. Any recommendations are welcome!

Well do you have a negative gpa trend ? Cc credits? Sci gpa?

 

[MDProspect]

LizzyM 68. Reapplicant. Went from one II last year, to 4II and 3 acceptances this year. There is still hope for us.

 

[JGGoobers]

Well do you have a negative gpa trend ? Cc credits? Sci gpa?

Largely positive GPA trend, had a sophomore slump, made up for it during Junior/Senior year with 2 consecutive 4.0 semesters followed by a strong final semester. I have a 3.5 sGPA. I did take 2 Community College courses over the summer, but they weren't science courses, only minor history courses towards my degree plan.

 

[baratheonfire]

still living the underdog life
applied DO tho lol

 

[Lnsean]

Largely positive GPA trend, had a sophomore slump, made up for it during Junior/Senior year with 2 consecutive 4.0 semesters followed by a strong final semester. I have a 3.5 sGPA. I did take 2 Community College courses over the summer, but they weren't science courses, only minor history courses towards my degree plan.

I dont think it's solely because you're ORM. Are you sure your essays, ps, and LORs are decent? I mean a generic LOR will look really bad. Bad essays and ps also look bad. I don't think you should overlook these aspects of the application because I don't think stats is what's keeping you out...stats wise you look pretty okay to decent to me.

 

[JGGoobers]

I dont think it's solely because you're ORM. Are you sure your essays, ps, and LORs are decent? I mean a generic LOR will look really bad. Bad essays and ps also look bad. I don't think you should overlook these aspects of the application because I don't think stats is what's keeping you out...stats wise you look pretty okay to decent to me.

My LORs are very strong: research PI I published with, Medical Director of my hospital, and professor I was close with. My essays should be pretty decent, I had people look over them and they didn't point out any glaring red flags in the essays.

 

[libertyyne]

My LORs are very strong: research PI I published with, Medical Director of my hospital, and professor I was close with. My essays should be pretty decent, I had people look over them and they didn't point out any glaring red flags in the essays.

You are an anomaly. You should be up getting some love.

 

[sofpink]

500-504 MCAT range
science GPA 3.46
others GPA 3.75
total GPA 3.62
Applied to 17 MD and 6 DO school... index finger getting tired of refreshing email inbox

 

[sofpink]

500-504 MCAT range
science GPA 3.46
others GPA 3.75
total GPA 3.62
Applied to 17 MD and 6 DO school... index finger getting tired of refreshing email inbox

Forgot URM

 

[Chelsea FC]

Forgot URM

Hi ! I just wanted you to know there is a really supportive/informative URM application thread I'm going to link below. Stop by and say hi if you have a chance.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2016-2017-urm-medical-school-application-thread.1197746/

 

[wizzed101]

 

[WickedNorth]

Underdog checking in. Non-trad.

GPAc: <3.2 GPAs: <3.4 MCAT: 32

There are Fs and Ds on my transcript in upper level courses due to one bad year of school. Top 20 undergrad. 3 upper level Bio classes at alma mater since graduating. All A grades while working a full time job. MCAT taken while working full time.

1 II so far. 7 rejections. 19 totally silent since July. At least I'm not untouchable. 😳 I don't know how some people go through 2 or 3 cycles. I may find out, but this process is absolutely brutal. It's been a hard climb back to medicine and I poured my heart into my essays. It would be nice to have an acceptance to show for it.

 

[libertyyne]

Underdog checking in. Non-trad.

GPAc: <3.2 GPAs: <3.4 MCAT: 32

There are Fs and Ds on my transcript in upper level courses due to one bad year of school. Top 20 undergrad. 3 upper level Bio classes at alma mater since graduating. All A grades while working a full time job. MCAT taken while working full time.

1 II so far. 7 rejections. 19 totally silent since July. At least I'm not untouchable. 😳 I don't know how some people go through 2 or 3 cycles. I may find out, but this process is absolutely brutal. It's been a hard climb back to medicine and I poured my heart into my essays. It would be nice to have an acceptance to show for it.

Keep your chin up! Getting a II is good!

 

[deleted751373]

LizzyM 68. Reapplicant. Went from one II last year, to 4II and 3 acceptances this year. There is still hope for us.

What did you do to improve your app??


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[MDProspect]

What did you do to improve your app??


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Rewrote my entire application, submitted it earlier, got a committee letter, got more volunteering hours, started my own registered non-profit that has been helping juveniles, started a new independent research project and discovered my own organic synthesis method and presented my results at two national conferences, started psych research and published as a second author in a top-tier psych journal.

Not bragging, just pointing out that I stepped my game up since the last application cycle.

 

[sofpink]

Rewrote my entire application, submitted it earlier, got a committee letter, got more volunteering hours, started my own registered non-profit that has been helping juveniles, started a new independent research project and discovered my own organic synthesis method and presented my results at two national conferences, started psych research and published as a second author in a top-tier psych journal.

Not bragging, just pointing out that I stepped my game up since the last application cycle.

It sound like you put in a heck of a lot of work, amazing and congrats!

 

[jontron]

@baratheonfire was admitted into 1 MD school and 2 DO schools

 

[RogueBanana]

@baratheonfire was admitted into 1 MD school and 2 DO schools

I was literally wondering what happened to him this morning. Good for him.

 

[laurenlee3]

.

 

[787593]

@baratheonfire was admitted into 1 MD school and 2 DO schools

wow