ADCOMS: Semi-Solicited Advice [Part II]

[Kraazy]

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Hello dear Adcoms,

I would like to know how you feel about personal recommendations. So far, all of my letters are academic (1 science prof, 1 humanities prof, 2 PIs). My premed committee allows me to have 5 letters total, and I was debating between getting a letter from another science prof or one from my choir director, since that was one of my major undergrad activities. It's certainly not related to medicine, but I think that my director could write about my personal qualities that may not be so obvious in the classroom/lab, i.e. how I am with people.

Do schools generally look down on personal LORs? For some reason I recall reading that applicants should not submit LORs from coaches and the like. Or do they prefer to have at least one non-academic letter?

If it comes down to a personal letter or one more academic letter, both of which should be good, which one would you recommend?

Thanks!!

 

[rainsymphony]

Thanks so much for reading through my rather long post! I just have one other quick question:

When people are talking about research experience, do they mean clinical or non-clinical research? Do adcoms prefer one over the other?

Thanks again!

 

[moto_za]

Hi LizzyM,

thanks for the advice you give. I was wondering if it would be frowned upon if I graduate in 5 years? I still have classes to take and have been working part time in college so I have been mostly taking 12-15 credits per semester. Will this be ok when applying or should I just take more classes and get my major done with. One last question, do students have to have a degree completed (BS degree) before starting med school? thanks

 

[LizzyM]

Hello dear Adcoms,

I would like to know how you feel about personal recommendations. So far, all of my letters are academic (1 science prof, 1 humanities prof, 2 PIs). My premed committee allows me to have 5 letters total, and I was debating between getting a letter from another science prof or one from my choir director, since that was one of my major undergrad activities. It's certainly not related to medicine, but I think that my director could write about my personal qualities that may not be so obvious in the classroom/lab, i.e. how I am with people.

Do schools generally look down on personal LORs? For some reason I recall reading that applicants should not submit LORs from coaches and the like. Or do they prefer to have at least one non-academic letter?

If it comes down to a personal letter or one more academic letter, both of which should be good, which one would you recommend?

Thanks!!

Some schools want 2 letters from science professors so I'd suggest that. A choir director isn't, in my mind, a personal letter. An example of a personal letter is one from a physician whose daughter you are dating (no lie, I read one of those once & almost died laughing). Are your PIs also professors in an academic setting? If so, then you could get away with a letter from the choir director... just be sure that the person is primed to write an informative letter. Coach and employer letters of this sort can often address work ethic, collegiality, integrity, dependibility, etc. which I find valuable.

 

[LizzyM]

Thanks so much for reading through my rather long post! I just have one other quick question:

When people are talking about research experience, do they mean clinical or non-clinical research? Do adcoms prefer one over the other?

Thanks again!

This may depend on the adcom. "Mine" will count any research as "scholarly activity" even social sciences or humanities (e.g. a history major who does history research). Unless you are shooting for an MD/PhD I don't think that it matters but it may matter at some schools. Bench research seems to be most common among applicants.

 

[LizzyM]

Hi LizzyM,

thanks for the advice you give. I was wondering if it would be frowned upon if I graduate in 5 years? I still have classes to take and have been working part time in college so I have been mostly taking 12-15 credits per semester. Will this be ok when applying or should I just take more classes and get my major done with. One last question, do students have to have a degree completed (BS degree) before starting med school? thanks

I've never seen an adcom member comment on anyone who was on the "5 year plan". Taking a heavier load and doing well is considered "stronger" than taking a light load but you will also list your work hours in the experience section and an adcom will see that you were keeping busy during your college years.

Yes, one must complete a degree that is underway before matriculating to med school (this goes for MS, MPH, MBA and PhD as well as BA or BS).

 

[LifetimeDoc]

Yes, one must complete a degree that is underway before matriculating to med school (this goes for MS, MPH, MBA and PhD as well as BA or BS).

That's not what my pre-med advisor and medical school admin said about a second BA/BS. For example, I'd have to take another year of classes to finish my second bachelors degree which would add nothing to my preparation for medical school. One class is a course in computers, which they would not allow me to test out of. I find this laughable because I own a computer company and have been a computer programmer for years! lol

 

[LizzyM]

Originally Posted by moto_za
do students have to have a degree completed (BS degree) before starting med school? thanks

Originally Posted by LizzyM
Yes, one must complete a degree that is underway before matriculating to med school (this goes for MS, MPH, MBA and PhD as well as BA or BS).

That's not what my pre-med advisor and medical school admin said about a second BA/BS.

Well, obviously, a second BA/BS is a different situation than "a degree" which was moto_za's question.

 

[rain21]

Are there schools that won't accept C's to fulfill prereq's? Thanks.

Did you get an answer to this question? Also, are there some schools that require biochemistry?

 

[JeeSTAR]

Hello! thank you for all of your patience and information you have provided us!

I am currently a 2nd year at a UC (in california), however, I got accepted to transfer next year to a much higher ranked UC school. The reason why i wanted to transfer, was because i drive about an hour to get to school everyday. however, I am hesitant to transfer becuase getting adjusted to this new school might interfere with my studies, as I do not want to compromise my GPA in the process.

does adcomms take into account the reputation/rank of the school? or should i stay at the lower ranked UC and focus on doing well on my classes herE?

 

[AzuraDragon]

Hello Adcomms!
Thank you in advance for your generous help!

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with options and could use a hint or two. My Post-Bacc premed advisor was just awful to me and I really don't want to turn to him again.

I have applied fairly late to 30+ MD schools of all tiers. Now I have a spot on 4 waitlists. I have been working as a lab technician for 1 year after college. My recommendations and extracurriculars are great, but my past scores are lacking. (3.1 GPA 28 MCAT).

Now I fear that I will not get off any of my waitlists.
My question is, what's the next best step for me to improve my chances next time around?

A)Stay with my job in my hometown and re-apply early, possibly with more publications.

B)Take a Post-bacc course load that reviews everything I already have taken, then apply early. (this is my least favorite idea, but it keeps costs down because I could stay in my hometown)

C)Scramble to apply for an out-of-state one year program which puts me in medical school classes and proves that I can excel. (This is fairly expensive, but at least I'm learning something new)

D) Any other ideas that I missed?

Thanks again!

 

[dochoov]

Lizzy,

I just received my MCAT scores: PS-13 VR-8 BS-13 and W- O.
My BCMP GPA is 3.9+ and overall GPA is 3.93. I come from a small, relatively unheard-of liberal arts school, have research experience, minimal clinical, lots of volunteer, and should have good LORs. I'm worried that my VR score is going to really hurt me. My questions:

1) How does my MCAT breakdown look to an ADCOM (please be brutally honest)?

2) Does this disqualify me from top tier (or even mid/lower tier) schools?

3) Should I retake?

Any response would be greatly appreciated.

 

[NewYorkDoc]

Lizzy, another question from me. I just found out I received a C- in chem II. I have also receieved a C- in Chem I and a F in Bio I, retaking now with a C+. Would it hurt me if I stop doing pre-medical classes at my current college and just finish my majors (Spanish and Mathematics) and do a post bacc at Columbia? Lets assume I did very well at the Columbia post bacc. Or is it better for me to not give up and pull A's in the rest of my pre-med classes? I'm upset right now I thought I was ging to get a A- in chem II not a C-. Can you give me some advice? I don't know what to do.

 

[DoctorPardi]

In light of recent changes to SDN (addition of the mentor forum among other things) I will be closing this thread. If pre-meds want advice of this nature they should visit the new mentor forum which can be found here:
Medical school admissions

The Mentor Forum should be approached as a professional arena, not simply an internet forum where internet colloquialisms and slang are the standard. The mentors offering career and academic advice there are professionals, students or "experts" in their field, as such your questions should be addressed to them in that manner.

Please read the rules for this forum before participating in any discussions. Thank you, the rules can be found here:
Rules of the Road - READ THIS FIRST!

-Doctor Pardi