3.5, 33 MCAT, Multiple IAs. Any hope?

[ComebackMD]

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I apologize ahead of time for the long post. I am planning on applying this cycle and wanted some feedback on what I can expect. I originally thought that these incidents would not need to be reported because they were strictly with res life. Come to find out our res life is in charge of disciplinary actions. Aka the stuff that would be reported to medical schools if they ask for a disciplinary report.

Anyway I'll lay it all out here, with the details. I have three IAs. All of which are for being in possession of or around alcohol. In the last month of freshman year, I was written up for drinking by my RA because I was getting sick from having drank too much. He wanted to make sure I was okay and called security. I was written up for alcohol for this incident. The first day back to school sophomore year (yes, literally the first day back) I received a write up from security for having possession of alcohol outside of a dorm. Two weeks later I was written up for having a lot of people in my room, and everyone was drinking. Drunkenly, I mouthed off to security and the cops were called. The cops basically just told us to knock it off and were on their way. (so all three IAs within about 2 months of school)

I fully accept my past and the consequences, and I performed the counseling and things that were expected of me. For the final IA, I received counseling from the school's health services for the remainder of the school year (basically all of fall and spring term minus one month). I understand now that these things were extremely childish, and I should not have been consuming alcohol at all, or at the very least, not in the manner that I was. I honestly was extremely immature at this time and have grown immensely since, but I would just like to know how this is going to affect me and how I should go about explaining these instances. Any way of making them sound less severe? Like " on xx/201x, xx/201x, and xx/201x, I received write-ups for being in possession of alcohol" then going on to explain how that was long ago and I have matured?

I in no way want to make excuses, but my parents were openly considering a divorce at this time, and I know that my lack of caring was somewhat brought on by this. Should I mention this or just man up and state that I am a different person now? As I have said, I do not want to come off as making excuses in any way.

All of this kind of mirrors my application too. I started with poor grades (3.0 - 3.15 first two years) and have since finished my final two years with a 4.0 GPA for an overall at 3.5 and sGPA 3.7. I have become heavily involved on campus through clubs and TAing, and in the community by volunteering at the hospital and with a group that involves mentoring children of my community. 33 MCAT. I am now a senior about to graduate so all IAs were 2.5 years ago or more.

Thank you ahead of time for all of your help and feedback!

 

[Alejandro]

I am glad you've learned your lesson but those incidents maybecome an issue. Not exactly sure what exactly is an IA, but at least its not a DUI. BUT, there are a lot of no bueno things going off there...drinkin a bunch, mouthing off a cop, etc.

Also even if you have your stuff together, grades do not necessarily mean that you are mature either. That said, i dunno. Hard to predict how your cycle will be.

All in all, i wish you the best but tbh, i can't guarantee much because first of all, i don't know how much of adisciplinary action will shwo up on your record, and furthermore I really just don't know how much you may have matured. Yes your grades have turned around, but heck you're just graduating college. I'd be more supportive if you graduated, got a job, and did well professionally, to be entirely frank. Sorry I can';tbe more positive, but that's my personal opinion.

 

[ComebackMD]

I am glad you've learned your lesson but those incidents maybecome an issue. Not exactly sure what exactly is an IA, but at least its not a DUI. BUT, there are a lot of no bueno things going off there...drinkin a bunch, mouthing off a cop, etc.

Also even if you have your stuff together, grades do not necessarily mean that you are mature either. That said, i dunno. Hard to predict how your cycle will be.

All in all, i wish you the best but tbh, i can't guarantee much because first of all, i don't know how much of adisciplinary action will shwo up on your record, and furthermore I really just don't know how much you may have matured. Yes your grades have turned around, but heck you're just graduating college. I'd be more supportive if you graduated, got a job, and did well professionally, to be entirely frank. Sorry I can';tbe more positive, but that's my personal opinion.

I understand the concerns one may have with all of this. IAs are institutional actions by the way. Also, I did not mouth off to the cops. It was the security guards. Not that this is in any way better. I thought maybe that since these all happened in a very short period of time and over 2 years ago that they may be able to be overlooked a little bit easier. I understand that they are still a big deal, but I have most definitely matured and believe I could express this in applications as needed. I am left wondering if there is any use in applying at this time?

 

[Goro]

Sorry, this is an excuse. You MUST own your transgressions.

I in no way want to make excuses, but my parents were openly considering a divorce at this time, and I know that my lack of caring was somewhat brought on by this. Should I mention this or just man up and state that I am a different person now? As I have said, I do not want to come off as making excuses in any way.


I think that your grades show that the you of then is not the you of now, and the IAs will probably not be a factor.

I suggest the following schools:
U Colorado
U AZ (both)
U VM
U Toledo
USF Morsani
Miami
St. Louis
Albany
Albert Einstein
Rochester
Rush
Rosy Franklin
BU
NYMC
VCU
EVMS
Wake Forest
Jefferson
Temple
Drexel
Creighton
George Washington
Emory
Duke
USC
Tulane
Dartmouth
Loyola
Creighton
Any new MD school, except Central MI.
Any DO program
Your state school(s).

 

[ComebackMD]

Sorry, this is an excuse. You MUST own your transgressions.

I in no way want to make excuses, but my parents were openly considering a divorce at this time, and I know that my lack of caring was somewhat brought on by this. Should I mention this or just man up and state that I am a different person now? As I have said, I do not want to come off as making excuses in any way.


I think that your grades show that the you of then is not the you of now, and the IAs will probably not be a factor.

I suggest the following schools:
U Colorado
U AZ (both)
U VM
U Toledo
USF Morsani
Miami
St. Louis
Albany
Albert Einstein
Rochester
Rush
Rosy Franklin
BU
NYMC
VCU
EVMS
Wake Forest
Jefferson
Temple
Drexel
Creighton
George Washington
Emory
Duke
USC
Tulane
Dartmouth
Loyola
Creighton
Any new MD school, except Central MI.
Any DO program
Your state school(s).

Thank you for your reply Goro! I really hope that those reviewing my application will see it the way that you do. I though that my explanation may come off as an excuse but wanted to check. I will not state anything about the family situation. How do you suggest I explain the IAs? Do I need to go into extreme detail as I did in the OP or can I simply describe them as alcohol violations?

 

[Goro]

You explain them exactly as you did in your OP.

Thank you for your reply Goro! I really hope that those reviewing my application will see it the way that you do. I though that my explanation may come off as an excuse but wanted to check. I will not state anything about the family situation. How do you suggest I explain the IAs? Do I need to go into extreme detail as I did in the OP or can I simply describe them as alcohol violations?

 

[Old&InTheWay]

I personally think that bad decisions such as yours made by young people should be perfectly understandable to people with an understanding of adolescent development. I made some terrible choices when I was a teenager/young adult and recognize them as such. I also cut myself some slack knowing that prefrontal cortex development continues into early adulthood. I think it's ok to say you were going through a hard time, as long as you emphasize that your response was not ideal.

 

[ComebackMD]

I personally think that bad decisions such as yours made by young people should be perfectly understandable to people with an understanding of adolescent development. I made some terrible choices when I was a teenager/young adult and recognize them as such. I also cut myself some slack knowing that prefrontal cortex development continues into early adulthood. I think it's ok to say you were going through a hard time, as long as you emphasize that your response was not ideal.

Well, I sure hope that adcoms take the opinion that you have taken. I think I will just explain what happened though and that I have learned from these mistakes and am not that person now. I, in no way, want to give the impression that I have not learned by making excuses.

 

[ComebackMD]

I hate to tag you all, as I know you are all constantly getting alerts, but I would really appreciate opinions from more adcoms about how you would consider these IAs. @gyngyn @Catalystik @mimelim @LizzyM @hushcom Thank you all ahead of time!!!

 

[ComebackMD]

You explain them exactly as you did in your OP.

I will do just that. Thank you very much Goro!

 

[gyngyn]

Three ETOH IA's will certainly get discussed if you get to committee.
The screener may decide that the risk is not worth taking, but without the whole application and the duration of IA-free behavior it is difficult to predict.

 

[ComebackMD]

Three ETOH IA's will certainly get discussed if you get to committee.
The screener may decide that the risk is not worth taking, but without the whole application and the duration of IA-free behavior it is difficult to predict.

All of these occurred in a period of 2 school months, and the most recent was more than 2.5 years ago. Also, 3.5 gpa (4.0 last 2 years), 3.7 sGPA, 33 MCAT, college athlete, hospital volunteering, TA, clubs on campus, Big Brothers Big Sisters, possibly first author publication during app cycle. Thank you for replying and I hope this will give you the kind of information you need.

 

[Alejandro]

Hm. college athlete...as in varsity athlete or club athlete? Kinda makes a big difference imo.

I think as i said earlier, some time would benefit your app. With regards to committees...that's COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE. That will vary based on school, and even from school, it may differ based on who is serving on committee that day. soooo, there will be some chance-taking involved.

 

[ComebackMD]

Hm. college athlete...as in varsity athlete or club athlete? Kinda makes a big difference imo.

I think as i said earlier, some time would benefit your app. With regards to committees...that's COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE. That will vary based on school, and even from school, it may differ based on who is serving on committee that day. soooo, there will be some chance-taking involved.

Division 3 varsity athlete. I played my first three years of college and chose not to this year to focus on school and other commitments. I also did not have the passion for the game that I used to have. I understand this situation is difficult to predict though. I just want to have an idea of what I can expect or if there is even any use in applying at this time.

 

[ComebackMD]

Just to provide a conclusion and hopefully help for others in a similar situation, I did go ahead and apply to medical school in the 2015-2016 application cycle.

I applied early and to many schools. I had many eyes read over my personal statement, my activities, and my secondary applications which I pre wrote and submitted within two weeks of receiving.

Through all of this effort, I was interviewed at two schools in my home state. One public. One private.

I was accepted to the private school and am currently on the waitlist at the public school.

I was not sure what to expect when applying but tried to remain hopeful and it paid off. Even though I was rejected by a lot of schools, the important part is that I am going to medical school, and I am going to be a doctor!

I hope that others who are in a similar situation will see this and know that it is possible to turn things around if you take the time to rebuild your application and show that you have changed for the better!

The link to my mdapps is below so people in a similar situation can see which schools were willing to offer me a secondary, waitlist me for further review, interview me, and even accept me.

https://www.mdapplicants.com/profile/30736/comebackmd


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[OpieFromMayberry]

Congrats on your acceptance!


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