I don't know, to be honest. Didn't want to make myself look look unconfident.Did they say what they wanted your MCAT score, at a minimum, to be? Congrats dude!
I don't know, to be honest. Didn't want to make myself look look unconfident.Did they say what they wanted your MCAT score, at a minimum, to be? Congrats dude!
When did you apply? I'm trying to apply this month but still don't have an LOR from a podiatrist1. GPA cGPA 3.5, sGPA3.35
2. MCAT Pending
3. ECs; EMT 4 years, Sports clubs, volunteer at special Olympics and shadowing.
4. Schools applied to; Kent, NYCPM, Temple
5. Acceptances+ scholarships: Accepted Kent State pending acceptable MCAT for scholarship/matriculation(So, basically they are holding my seat). On hold at Temple, had an interview. NYCP won't grant an interview until MCAT scores.
Although, I am not 100% accepted just updating since I got through 66.6% of my interviews and heard back from both Temple and Kent. I assume my MCAT is low 500's. Just showing late MCATs don't hurt you. Just hoping my MCAT doesn't turn out to be a 472.
Any update on where you've decided to go?1. GPA
cGPA: 3.60 sGPA: ~3.25
2. MCAT
499
3. ECs
4. Schools applied to
- College basketball
- Love Your Melon Captain/Founding ambassador on campus
- Student Organization of the Year Award
- Rental Manager
- Tons of hours at local ARL
- Lots of various community service projects
- 30+ hours shadowing family physician
- 20-30 hour work week bartending/waitressing during school/basketball
- 1 year of research
- 2 strong LORs from undergrad professors
- Outstanding Biology Student Award
5. Acceptances+ scholarships
- AZ
- DMU
- Kent
- Scholl
- Accepted at AZ (AZ doesn't offer scholarships)
- Waiting to hear back from DMU
- Accepted at Kent ($5k)
- Did not send Scholl LORs, so they never even responded to me
I haven't accepted anything, still weighing my options. How did you guys decide?! Help!
1. GPA
cGPA: 3.60 sGPA: ~3.25
2. MCAT
499
3. ECs
4. Schools applied to
- College basketball
- Love Your Melon Captain/Founding ambassador on campus
- Student Organization of the Year Award
- Rental Manager
- Tons of hours at local ARL
- Lots of various community service projects
- 30+ hours shadowing family physician
- 20-30 hour work week bartending/waitressing during school/basketball
- 1 year of research
- 2 strong LORs from undergrad professors
- Outstanding Biology Student Award
5. Acceptances+ scholarships
- AZ
- DMU
- Kent
- Scholl
- Accepted at AZ (AZ doesn't offer scholarships)
- Waiting to hear back from DMU
- Accepted at Kent ($5k)
- Did not send Scholl LORs, so they never even responded to me
I haven't accepted anything, still weighing my options. How did you guys decide?! Help!
March 15th. No Pod letters yet, although I gave them the office info.When did you apply? I'm trying to apply this month but still don't have an LOR from a podiatrist
Any update on where you've decided to go?
See ya in a couple of months!!I chose Midwestern! Having lived in the Midwest most of my life, I like the idea of exploring another part of the country. Yhe board pass rates/tough curriculum/ample community service opportunities/weather help too.
Id give up my future first born for that MCAT score. Congrats man!1. GPA: 2.85s/3.15c
2. MCAT: 511
3. ECs: Nothing spectacular, but I had several leadership positions in college.
4. Applied: AZPOD, Temple, NYCPM, Western (canceled my interview here though)
5. Accepted: AZPOD, Temple (+scholarship), NYCPM (+scholarship)
1. GPA: 2.85s/3.15c
2. MCAT: 511
3. ECs: Nothing spectacular, but I had several leadership positions in college.
4. Applied: AZPOD, Temple, NYCPM, Western (canceled my interview here though)
5. Accepted: AZPOD, Temple (+scholarship), NYCPM (+scholarship)
Thats amazing that you got scholarships with your GPA... I have similar stats so this is making me feel pretty good. Do you mind saying how much the scholarships are?1. GPA: 2.85s/3.15c
2. MCAT: 511
3. ECs: Nothing spectacular, but I had several leadership positions in college.
4. Applied: AZPOD, Temple, NYCPM, Western (canceled my interview here though)
5. Accepted: AZPOD, Temple (+scholarship), NYCPM (+scholarship)
Temple gave me $11k for the 1st year, and NYCPM gave me $8k per year that could be renewed for a potential $32k across the 4 years. Both schools use set formulas to calculate how much scholarship money they give, so I lucked out in that my MCAT was high enough to outweigh the weak GPA... I definitely didn't go into the application process expecting scholarship money either!Thats amazing that you got scholarships with your GPA... I have similar stats so this is making me feel pretty good. Do you mind saying how much the scholarships are?
Where will you be heading in the fall?! Congrats!!Thanks for the kind words, everyone!
Temple gave me $11k for the 1st year, and NYCPM gave me $8k per year that could be renewed for a potential $32k across the 4 years. Both schools use set formulas to calculate how much scholarship money they give, so I lucked out in that my MCAT was high enough to outweigh the weak GPA... I definitely didn't go into the application process expecting scholarship money either!
Thanks, I sent you a PM.Where will you be heading in the fall?! Congrats!!
2 days for me!!! KentHow long did it take for you guys to hear back from the schools after the interviews? I am going to my first interview at CSPM next week. Any advice you guys can give me?
How long did it take for you guys to hear back from the schools after the interviews? I am going to my first interview at CSPM next week. Any advice you guys can give me?
1. uGPA -3.1, sGPA-3.25, gGPA -3.7
2. MCAT - 487, 490 (oh boy...)
3. ECs - 6 years as a medic/corpsman in the Navy, medical instructor, agricultural/molecular bio research + publications, 4000 hrs of volunteer activities, lots of shadowing, strong LORs, fluent in Russian language, figure ice skater
4. Schools applied to: Western, CSPM, Barry.
5. Acceptances+ scholarships: Accepted to Western - $4000, CSPM- $0. Barry - cancelled the interview. The GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon will cover about 75% of my tuition and living expenses, but the cost of living is cheaper in Pomona vs Oakland, plus I am a single mom of a crazy 3 year old, staying closer to family.
1. uGPA -3.1, sGPA-3.25, gGPA -3.7
2. MCAT - 487, 490 (oh boy...)
3. ECs - 6 years as a medic/corpsman in the Navy, medical instructor, agricultural/molecular bio research + publications, 4000 hrs of volunteer activities, lots of shadowing, strong LORs, fluent in Russian language, figure ice skater
4. Schools applied to: Western, CSPM, Barry.
5. Acceptances+ scholarships: Accepted to Western - $4000, CSPM- $0. Barry - cancelled the interview. The GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon will cover about 75% of my tuition and living expenses, but the cost of living is cheaper in Pomona vs Oakland, plus I am a single mom of a crazy 3 year old, staying closer to family.
I wish I was a Russian US Navy figure skater parentThose extra curriculars tho.
Congrats from one veteran to another!!!Best of Luck to you!!!1. uGPA -3.1, sGPA-3.25, gGPA -3.7
2. MCAT - 487, 490 (oh boy...)
3. ECs - 6 years as a medic/corpsman in the Navy, medical instructor, agricultural/molecular bio research + publications, 4000 hrs of volunteer activities, lots of shadowing, strong LORs, fluent in Russian language, figure ice skater
4. Schools applied to: Western, CSPM, Barry.
5. Acceptances+ scholarships: Accepted to Western - $4000, CSPM- $0. Barry - cancelled the interview. The GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon will cover about 75% of my tuition and living expenses, but the cost of living is cheaper in Pomona vs Oakland, plus I am a single mom of a crazy 3 year old, staying closer to family.
Congrats from one veteran to another!!!Best of Luck to you!!!
Damn I don't mean to sound insensitive because your MCAT score is great, but how the heck did you get accepted with those gpas?! I mean that's still awesome it's just...they're so low! I can tell you obviously are intelligent because of that MCAT so I'm sure you have a very logical reason for the gpas! I'm no perfect student myself, but that 2.49...forgive me, but it just doesn't seem fair for that low of a GPA to be accepted.Long time lurker, first time poster I hope my stats will give some people hope
1. sGPA: 2.49/cGPA: 2.9
2. MCAT: 499
3. ECs: Volunteered at a hospital, currently work in a hospital as a newborn hearing screener, medical fraternity, shadowed podiatrist
4. Schools applied to: All
5. Acceptances+ scholarships: Accepted to KSUCPM and NYCPM.
I was sad because my first choice was Western but I am grateful I have gotten in to the two schools I interviewed at! I also have a really good backstory and person experiences.
Damn I don't mean to sound insensitive because your MCAT score is great, but how the heck did you get accepted with those gpas?! I mean that's still awesome it's just...they're so low! I can tell you obviously are intelligent because of that MCAT so I'm sure you have a very logical reason for the gpas! I'm no perfect student myself, but that 2.49...forgive me, but it just doesn't seem fair for that low of a GPA to be accepted.
I agree with you. I guess "not fair" wasn't fair, because I don't know their circumstances and I have no doubt they'll be great, but like you said, it raises my eyebrows too!I identify with this statement as well. I wouldn't go as far to say "its not fair" but it certainly raises some eyebrows.
So far it is the lowest score with acceptances I have seen this cycle.
Perhaps your last 60 hours were a tremendous push? SMP or Post Bac?
I sincerely hope you do well in podiatry school. With your MCAT score there is a lot of promise and potential.
Damn I don't mean to sound insensitive because your MCAT score is great, but how the heck did you get accepted with those gpas?! I mean that's still awesome it's just...they're so low! I can tell you obviously are intelligent because of that MCAT so I'm sure you have a very logical reason for the gpas! I'm no perfect student myself, but that 2.49...forgive me, but it just doesn't seem fair for that low of a GPA to be accepted.
I identify with this statement as well. I wouldn't go as far to say "its not fair" but it certainly raises some eyebrows.
So far it is the lowest score with acceptances I have seen this cycle.
Perhaps your last 60 hours were a tremendous push? SMP or Post Bac?
I sincerely hope you do well in podiatry school. With your MCAT score there is a lot of promise and potential.
I agree with you. I guess "not fair" wasn't fair, because I don't know their circumstances and I have no doubt they'll be great, but like you said, it raises my eyebrows too!
I ask them that for a specific reason: MD/DO offers greater scope of practice and does not deal with parity issues as much as DPMs do. I am not slandering either profession. It is what it is. If I had the stats, I would have applied MD/DO. However, I made my peace, worked with what I had, and decided on podiatry.Why not?
Why does it raise eyebrows, bro?
& You know what's interesting? lol... on the other end of the spectrum, when a high stats applicant writes about their acceptance, you've asked on a few occasions why they chose podiatry even though they could have landed an MD/DO acceptance.
Why does it raise eyebrows, bro?
Lol.... why the eyebrow raising though?
haha it's okay.Damn I don't mean to sound insensitive because your MCAT score is great, but how the heck did you get accepted with those gpas?! I mean that's still awesome it's just...they're so low! I can tell you obviously are intelligent because of that MCAT so I'm sure you have a very logical reason for the gpas! I'm no perfect student myself, but that 2.49...forgive me, but it just doesn't seem fair for that low of a GPA to be accepted.
I agree. Wasn't the lowest science GPA like 2.3?I don't know why we should be surprised when we already know the lowest accepted GPAs (and MCATs) from published stats.
I agree. Wasn't the lowest science GPA like 2.3?
these low GPA's are eyebrow raising because they are just that, very very low. No offense to anyone, but the only reason they look at GPA is to help determine your work ethic and dedication. Yes you cant determine what kind a person they are just based on their GPA, but it still is a good factor in determining who worked hard in undergrad for the most part. I'm a firm believer that you get what you put in. You don't have to be a genius or incredibly smart to get good grades, just hard work. There are always different circumstances for people, and some with extremely low GPA's may have had extenuating circumstances and that's fine, but for most people, low GPA is very indicative of your work ethic. If a student has a 2.0 GPA and are being accepted into a medical field program, that is very concerning to me. 1. if you do have that bad work ethic, carrying it into podiatry school is a bad idea and you most likely fail out or quit with thousands of dollars of loans 2. I don't want a podiatrist or doctor that coasted through school with C's and didnt try hard to be my physician. I'm sure there are some that have much lower than average GPA's and end up succeeding in podiatry school, but its still not the normal and nor should it be.
Also if podiatrists and schools want to begin to gain parity they really need to have higher average stats and need to be able to attract better students. The average matriculate stats aren't bad, but they aren't good either.
Long time lurker, first time poster I hope my stats will give some people hope
1. sGPA: 2.49/cGPA: 2.9
2. MCAT: 499
3. ECs: Volunteered at a hospital, currently work in a hospital as a newborn hearing screener, medical fraternity, shadowed podiatrist
4. Schools applied to: All
5. Acceptances+ scholarships: Accepted to KSUCPM and NYCPM.
I was sad because my first choice was Western but I am grateful I have gotten in to the two schools I interviewed at! I also have a really good backstory and personal experiences.
I just get the impression some might
concerning the bold --- be honest and realistic here. I'm sure you've visited doctors (for medical purposes, treatment) at some point in your life. Now when you went to see said doctor, did you at any point during the visit ask him/her: (1) what were your grades in school? (2) what were your board scores? (3) how did you do during residency? (4) bonus question -- what school did you graduate from?
Most likely you're going to answer "No" to about 90%+ of the 4 questions I asked. Maybe when you shadowed you might have asked such questions but when you're sick and want treatment, I don't think you bother with, "... I don't want a doc that coasted through school with C's....". When you read reviews & ratings about doctors, I've yet to read "Dr. XYZ got C's in school..." the reviews are usually in regards to how good his treatment is, people skills, post-op results, etc. Is a C in medical school classes the same as a C in college science courses?
I think there are enough "filters" in place to really weed people out before they make it to stage where they're licensed to practice. Reading through the match thread, residents AmA thread sheds some light on it.
Finally, I think y'all are putting too much weight on the GPA. It's an entire package so you have to look at all the components. Not to mention GPA has way too many variables like - major, school inflation, professor's grading, credits taken per semester etc.
my $0.02 - Idk why but I get this impression some people feel like their acceptance is somehow less of an acceptance if the schools are accepting "anybody"
Thanks! I ended up applying later than I wanted to. Verified March 3. NYCPM gave me an interview the same day, KSUCPM sent me an interview a couple weeks after. NYCPM notified me of my acceptance about a week and a half after interviewing, and KSUCPM told me after 3 business days!Congrats on getting accepted! That's awesome! If you don't mind me asking, when did you turn your application in and when did you get notified of your acceptances? Did you apply early or late in the cycle? Congrats again!
I totally understand. I'm sure it was a difficult time during undergrad but again, nice job on your awesome MCAT and for continuing to pursue being a doctor despite it all!haha it's okay.
I had to work 30 hours a week during undergrad since I did not have support from my parents and my father ended up having a lot of health issues so I guess that is my best excuse for the low GPA. I knew the MCAT was my last chance at podiatry school and I ended up having more time to study. I don't plan on working during podiatry schools so I know I can do it.
I have a plethora of clinical experience as well but I think the whole working a lot during school was what the schools saw in me. Also, every one of my semesters was 18 units.
Thank you! Honestly, I'm ready to kick butt and devote the next 4 years to studying. Through my current job at the hospital I know I have the patient skills to be a great doctor. I wish you the best of luck as well!I totally understand. I'm sure it was a difficult time during undergrad but again, nice job on your awesome MCAT and for continuing to pursue being a doctor despite it all!
Agree with you 1000%. I hate the "grades dont mean anything when youre a doctor" response.you can nitpick what I said, but again I said that there are some extenuating circumstances for people and you can still be a hard worker and good doctor and successful in podiatry school even if you had a bad undergraduate GPA. You can be, but GPA is a main factor and determinant of your work ethic and for most people, a bad GPA is from not working hard. YES there is a whole package of a person and you have your EC's and such, no one debated that, but there is a very big reason as to why some schools screen by GPA and why there is a big focus on it. Its not something to just ignore because you volunteered a lot of hours or seem like a really nice guy.
also, your argument about asking doctors those questions is a straw man statement. No one wants a bad doctor period. And bad doctors leave bad impressions. Its not just about impressing and helping your patients, but giving podiatry a good name if they ever want to achieve parity or have certain rights in a group or hospital or wherever. Especially since there are much fewer podiatrists, bad ones can make big impressions on the field. That starts with accepting good students. BUT AGAIN, GPA is not everything, but it is a big indicator on most students' work ethic. again, most, not all. and comparing circumstances from people is unfair since some people handle things differently.
no one is disputing the achievements of CappnNono or anyone else that gets into podiatry school with whatever GPA or MCAT that they have. It does not change the fact that schools accepting low GPA's is eye brow raising and for the most part rare, being that the average matriculate has a 3.3 cGPA and 3.2 sGPA.
What do you think was your strong point as an applicant that made them accept you? Did they bring up your GPA/MCAT in interviews?Lurked all year and applied last week of March. Here's a little something for people who need motivation to JUST APPLY.
1. sGPA/cGPA: 2.85/2.82
2. MCAT: 23/496
3. ECS: 1.5 years undergrad research. 2.5 years of work experience (regulatory affairs). Leadership position in fraternity.
4. Applied: Everything but the Cali schools and AZpod (all western schools)
5. Accepted: Got II from every school but DMU. Interviewed at Barry and NYCPM, 5k scholarship from Barry. Declined all other interviews and submitted deposit for NYCPM.
If anyone got questions, feel free to PM me
Lurked all year and applied last week of March. Here's a little something for people who need motivation to JUST APPLY.
1. sGPA/cGPA: 2.85/2.82
2. MCAT: 23/496
3. ECS: 1.5 years undergrad research. 2.5 years of work experience (regulatory affairs). Leadership position in fraternity.
4. Applied: Everything but the Cali schools and AZpod (all western schools)
5. Accepted: Got II from every school but DMU. Interviewed at Barry and NYCPM, 5k scholarship from Barry. Declined all other interviews and submitted deposit for NYCPM.
If anyone got questions, feel free to PM me
What do you think was your strong point as an applicant that made them accept you? Did they bring up your GPA/MCAT in interviews?
Barry's approach is very holistic. There is a short-answer survey that they have you fill out with like 5 or 6 "interview-type" questions. They also make you take a personality test and they include the results in their file. I think since I was the only person to interview that day (other person cancelled), I was able sell myself better and leave a more lasting impression.
Both schools questioned my GPA and MCAT and I feel like the best way to answer those questions is to own up to whatever grades you got, emphasized the impact that the low grades had, what did you do to change your grades, and finish off by stating whatever accomplishments there are in those areas. For myself, I always had an upward trend after my freshmen year and took 17+ credits after second semester of Sophomore year. I made sure to point that out during the interview.In terms of MCAT, I improved one of my weak sections from the previous exam. Also, once again mention how you studied and what you took away from the experience.
In terms of being a strong applicant, I feel that my work experience and maturity played a huge role. I had strong recommendation letters and I prepared intensively for the interviews.
BTW Weirdy, thank you so much for everything this past year. From your PM's to your replies on this forum, the messages kept me grinding and believing I had a chance this cycle. Cheers to class of 2021!
Thank you! That's really awesome to hear-good bedside manner is incredibly important. Wishing you the best as well! Start off pod school with a clean academic (and mind) slateThank you! Honestly, I'm ready to kick butt and devote the next 4 years to studying. Through my current job at the hospital I know I have the patient skills to be a great doctor. I wish you the best of luck as well!