ADCOMS: Semi-Solicited Advice [Part II]

[gujuDoc]

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Dear adcom 2,

Thank you for your advice. At this point should I retake the MCAT's for a third time eventhough I did not do well the previous two times? What is non-URM?

URM would include african americans, puerto ricans, mexicans, and native americans.

Non-URMs are essentially everyone else.

My personal advice is retake it if you are consistently doing better and believe you can improve your score and still hold out hope with a chance for an MD application in the following cycle. However, seeing that you've been accepted to the DO school in NYCOM, I don't think that is a bad option seeing how I've seen past match lists and they tend to do pretty well in the match and placing people in good residency positions. So unless you absolutely are against OMM and the whole idea of going the DO route, I wouldn't drop your acceptance to their school. But if you feel that there is any chance what so ever of bringing it up, then a retake probably wouldn't be a problem at most schools. At schools here in Florida, UMiami, FSU, and USF have all told me that they take a look at the most recent score as do I believe UF does. Some schools average scores, others look at the most recent, and very very few take a look at the best subsections across different scores if you've taken it multiple times. The only school I know that does the last of those options is Tufts but there may be one or two others.

Again, speak directly with schools of interest.

 

[gujuDoc]

Hi Adcoms,

I also got waitlisted at my top choice. I've already sent a LOI, and I'm wondering if there is anything else I can do to help me get in. Would it help if I did something like start volunteering more and send them an update letter?

Some people suggested meeting with the dean. How can I do that? Do I just call the admissions office and ask to set up a time to meet with a dean? Also, what should I talk to the dean about? Is it okay to ask him directly what I can do to improve my application?

Thanks for the advice!

Yes you'd call the Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions or email them. I'd probably give them a call unless you know they are the kind of person to email you right away. Don't be afraid of calling Admissions offices and asking to speak with the Dean of Admissions or Director of Admissions of those schools. Most schools tend to be very open about discussing your application with you especially once you've been waitlisted or rejected and would like to correct any red flags either for the current or next application cycle.

 

[gujuDoc]

doing it: contacting the admissions office with a letter several times if you're on the waitlist.

overdoing it: calling your interviewer, calling the admissions office, sending letters that make it sound like you'll end your life if you don't get in, etc.

if you have normal social skills, you don't overdo it. 🙂

Ha! Thanks for that clarification.

 

[gujuDoc]

Dear Adcom2 and gujudoc,

I have a 3.8 GPA and a 3.6 science GPA. I did lousy on the MCAT's twice (vr 6, ps 9, bs 9 ,second mcat was about the same). I have alot of EC's, LOR's. (Youth group leader, Research, shadowed a doctor, lifeguard,play an instrument...) I have been accepted to DO school and I have two interviews at med schools. What chance do I have to be accpted? For one of schools I've only recived the interview in March. Is it the interview that is sole factor for an accptance at this point or is the applicant totally re-evaluated after the interview?

I just saw your initial post which I didn't catch previously. Retaking the MCAT will mean delaying your application for another year and giving up a DO acceptance so only do it if you really are sure you won't be happy if you don't give it one more shot.

If your other subscores had been a bit higher to give you an overall higher score, they might have overlooked it. However, 24 is the minimum at many state schools like MUO in Toledo or USF and UMiami in Florida. Although it is not to say that people do sometimes get in with scores like that, it does put a red flag and will need to be overcome by a retake in most cases. Only a small percentage of people get in with scores such as that when you look at the overall applicant pool. Therefore, if you are absolutely sure you want MD and a US allo school it would be my sincere advice to try to bring your Verbal up by 2 pts at least and to bring your science scores up by 1-2 pts. If you are not doing that much better then you are better off taking the DO acceptance and running with it. That is my sincere advice because I don't necessarily think an SMP would do much to help your situation as your grades and other factors are already strong. Try taking a prep course or something if you decide to retake.

 

[gujuDoc]

when you do reasonably well on the verbal section, speak fluently in an interview, and have a personal statement completely and totally free of errors, we do not really look at the WS.

In the Fl. schools I know they rarely look at the writing score in the same light as they look at the numerical score. They look more heavily at your Verbal and science scores then they look at writing. Maybe REL can comment on this sometime, but my bet would be that they look at Writing less because it is a more subjectively graded portion of the MCAT. Adcomm perhaps you can comment on that as well.

 

[gujuDoc]

Hey Gujudoc,

Thanks for your advice I sincerely appreciate it. 🙂
My masters will be a master's in biomedical sciences. Basically, I'm taking the full first year PhD curriculum but instead of doing lab rotations I have begun my research work. Currently my GPA is a 3.7. I'm hoping to keep it up this semester with some hard work.

Oh and thank you Adcomm for your honest advice and encouragement.
Thanks,
Mathew

Give the credit to REL. 😉.

 

[Kappy1]

I just saw your initial post which I didn't catch previously. Retaking the MCAT will mean delaying your application for another year and giving up a DO acceptance so only do it if you really are sure you won't be happy if you don't give it one more shot.

If your other subscores had been a bit higher to give you an overall higher score, they might have overlooked it. However, 24 is the minimum at many state schools like MUO in Toledo or USF and UMiami in Florida. Although it is not to say that people do sometimes get in with scores like that, it does put a red flag and will need to be overcome by a retake in most cases. Only a small percentage of people get in with scores such as that when you look at the overall applicant pool. Therefore, if you are absolutely sure you want MD and a US allo school it would be my sincere advice to try to bring your Verbal up by 2 pts at least and to bring your science scores up by 1-2 pts. If you are not doing that much better then you are better off taking the DO acceptance and running with it. That is my sincere advice because I don't necessarily think an SMP would do much to help your situation as your grades and other factors are already strong. Try taking a prep course or something if you decide to retake.

Thanks.

 

[LizzyM]

Hi adcoms -

You may have answered this question, but I can't seem to find it directly from your mouths -

what do you consider an "early" application? More specifically, what is the calendar range of an "early" application? June 1 - ?


Thanks!

Gujudoc suggested that I help out a bit on this forum. I've been an adcom member for >5 years.

Early means I read your application in August. This means that your AMCAS, supplemental and LORs are on my desk by Aug 20. This means getting your AMCAS finished in June and your transcripts sent to AAMC promptly, plus prompt attention to secondaries (check the deadlines - don't do them in the order in which they arrive -- some have sooner deadlines), and have cooperation from your letter writers.

 

[Beau Geste]

Gujudoc suggested that I help out a bit on this forum. I've been an adcom member for >5 years.

Early means I read your application in August. This means that your AMCAS, supplemental and LORs are on my desk by Aug 20. This means getting your AMCAS finished in June and your transcripts sent to AAMC promptly, plus prompt attention to secondaries (check the deadlines - don't do them in the order in which they arrive -- some have sooner deadlines), and have cooperation from your letter writers.

Awesome. Thanks! That's what I figured, actually, it's a little more time than I figured!

(I know who you are (from SDN) and you give great advice! Nice to have you as another adcom willing to give advice!)

 

[braluk]

Hello Everyone! This is a friendly reminder that this particular feature thread of the preallo forums- the ADCOMS- Semi Solicited Advice- should have questions only answered by the members of the admissions committee- otherwise this would not be stickied. However, the exception can be made for seasoned SDN posters not in an adcom role who have a helpful demonstrated history of posting so long as a disclaimer is made in every post that you are not an admissions committee member- this will clear up any confusion that new SDN users have about who is who, and continues to let the SDN community provide helpful information to everyone. Good luck to everyone this year, including the Adcom members- who Im sure are bogged down in phone calls and paperwork. 🙂

 

[gujuDoc]

Hello Everyone! This is a friendly reminder that this particular feature thread of the preallo forums- the ADCOMS- Semi Solicited Advice- should have questions only answered by the members of the admissions committee- otherwise this would not be stickied. This should generally be a Q & A- Q's by only SDN/Preallo users and A's given only be the adcoms who this thread was designed for. Good luck to everyone this year, including the Adcom members- who Im sure are bogged down in phone calls and paperwork. 🙂

But what if certain adcoms refuse to post in this thread but post the same information in other threads??? Also, what if we cite where our information is coming from because those same adcom members will not post in this thread but have posted elsewhere?? On a few of my posts, I only posted what was posted in a previous or current Fl. thread on the same issue because one of our adcoms posts there but does not make an effort to answer here. I've directly stated that the information was from this adcom member (REL) or from info I've received from other colleagues of his. Is that still illegit?

 

[Straight Cali]

Dear Esteemed Members of the Adcom,
I have a credit dilemma and was wondering if you could help. So, I attended a school that is on the semester system, but took first semester physics at a UC, which is on the quarter system. As a result, I only received .75 credits for my semester of physics (At my school, one credit is equivalent to a semester's worth of class). So, I have 1.75 semesters worth of physics and was wondering how this is going to effect my application (I plan to apply early for the 2008 cycle). I was planning on taking a quarter of physics at a UC this summer to address the discrepancy, but I am concerned that this will prevent my app from being confirmed early on in the cycle (ie June). What are your thoughts?

Thanks for your help.

 

[swim2006]

Hi adcoms...I posted awhile ago but never got a response.
Thanks for taking the time to go through our posts

I finished my BS in physiology in May 06 and had applied to medicals schools to start in fall 2006. Of the schools that had MD/MPH programs I applied as a combined degrees student or was planning to apply to MPH once admitted (if that's how the school admitted to combined degrees) I had 2 interviews and was waitlisted at one school and rejected at the other school. My combined undergrad GPA was 3.8 with C's both semesters in organic chemistry, but my science GPA is still in the 3.7 range (I got As in all my phsyiology and microbiology classes). My MCAT was a 28P (10VR, 8 PS, 10BS) . I had 3 years of basic sceince research in two different labs due to poor working conditions. I also was a hospice voluteer (1 year) and a NICU cuddler (3 years) and president of a club. Since the MPH was important I am currently working on my MPH (in epi and maternal and child health) and will be applying for medical school to start in 2008. During the summer I shadowed several different specialities. I am working part-time in the NICU doing a Quality Assurance program by making and maintaining a database based on admissions and will be shadowing attendings when I am able. I am also hoping to be accepted into a summer research program in which my mentor would be a neonatal epidemiologist. I am also on the medical reserve corp in my city. Also I retook the MCAT this Jan. after many people encouraged me to. I was among the group with the computer glitch. I was wondering if I should retake the MCAT if that is one of the options given by AMCAS?
Thanks

 

[LizzyM]

Hi adcoms...I posted awhile ago but never got a response.
Thanks for taking the time to go through our posts

PM'ed you, Swim2006.

 

[mdm2fly]

I don't know about the other adcomm posters but we do NOT rely on the verbal section the highest- we look primarily at the sciences. a 9 with a well-written personal statement would be fine here. how long ago did you graduate? if you can show that you carried an upper level bio load in the last few years, and have done *something* with your time off since graduation, I do not think you need further course work.

I graduated last year at the age of twenty two.

 

[mdm2fly]

why applying aug/sept? if your application was in on the very first day at my school, you would likely be interviewed at a point when we are still accepting. if you delay your application, you might get interviewed for a spot on the waitlist. if you think you can improve your MCAT score, retake it. most people I see who spoke another language as a child/at home put that as their first language... use whatever your parents spoke at home as your first language, imo.

I was born in the U.S., but my parents are first generation immigrants from Korea. What if Korean was my first language, but I stopped speaking it at home at around age six, and now I can't speak it fluently, and it often sounds funny coming out of my mouth? I still understand Korean and can read and write simple things in it because my parents speak to me in Korean and I went to Korean school as a child, but I answer in this weird Korenglish. Would I still put Korean as my first language?

 

[agniprithvy]

Give the credit to REL. 😉.

True True. Thanks REL for your advice relayed through Gujudoc! :-D

Sincerely appreciate it.

mat

 

[KCT15]

Adcom - It appears my question was accidentally skipped over. Advice on reapplication?

Adcom:

It's looking like I will be reapplying. I am limited to the Chicago area for at least the next application cycle. After my husband has been in his role for 3 years we could expand to a few more areas. My question is can I send update LORs from the same people? I recently had my LORs critiqued by a M4 and based on his feedback he thought that one letter written by my former boss did not make it clear enough that she was my boss and felt it would be counted more as a personal reference than a REAL LOR. Another letter I had was from an instructor that taught an A&P class I took and that letter was not clear that she was my instructor. Again the person that critiqued my letters thought that this letter would also count as a personal reference rather than a REAL LOR. Do I need to find new people to write LORs for me? Or could I have the writers clarify some things in their letters and submit those? I would be reapplying to the same schools that I applied to this year. I am certain that with a little coaching they both could write awsome LORs for me and would be able to stand behind everything that they say. My problem this time is that I am a non-trad and so some of the people I asked to write my LORs are not experienced in writing them for med school applicants. Your advice would be greatly appriciated.

 

[LizzyM]

Adcom - It appears my question was accidentally skipped over. Advice on reapplication?

Putting aside your backdoor method of gaining access to the content of the letters that you waived your right to see, you may request "fresh" letters for the next round of applications. You could ask specifically "would you write a letter of recommendation as my supervisor at xyz". Listing the person my name in the experience section of the AMCAS will also link them to your employment and their name on the letter links them to that AMCAS experience description, too.

I don't understand how an A&P instructor could be inexperienced in writing a LOR or not make it clear that you had been a student. 😕

 

[hlchess]

Yes you'd call the Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions or email them. I'd probably give them a call unless you know they are the kind of person to email you right away. Don't be afraid of calling Admissions offices and asking to speak with the Dean of Admissions or Director of Admissions of those schools. Most schools tend to be very open about discussing your application with you especially once you've been waitlisted or rejected and would like to correct any red flags either for the current or next application cycle.

Thanks for the advice. But I called them today and they told me that the deans won't talk with applicants until all the decisions have been made. I have already been waitlisted, so I'm afraid that would be too late. 🙁 I'm thinking about doing more stuff this spring/summer, like volunteering more or maybe working as an EMT. Do you think it will help if I write them an update letter now telling them about my plans? I want to do something before the waitlist order is determined, so that I can be placed higher on the waitlist. Any more advice for me?

Thanks!

 

[LizzyM]

It really can't hurt to stay in touch, up-date your file, and express your sincere desire to attend if selected.

If there is movement on the waitlist, you might get lucky. If not, you didn't miss anything you'd have otherwise gotten.

Sometimes deans won't meet with you to provide advice for the next cycle until it is clear that you will not be matriculating in the current season.

 

[dumplings]

hi adcomms,

i am a nontraditional student working towards my masters in biology. i currently have a 4.0 in this program and also have an mph where i had a gpa of 3.8.
my question is, do these degrees/gpas have any positive effect on my less than stellar undergrad gpa? i graduated from a UC with around a 2.8 and an mcat score of 29 (9V, 10PS, 10BS).
when i applied to my local state med school and didn't get in a couple cycles ago, i asked the dean if i should do a post-bacc or graduate school. he advised me towards going for a master's as opposed to a post bacc.
i have excellent ECs and plenty of clinical experience...and will have good LOR as well. will i be looked at or immediately tossed in the rejection pile b/c of my undergrad gpa?
thanks for your help in advance!

 

[LizzyM]

hi adcomms,

i am a nontraditional student working towards my masters in biology. i currently have a 4.0 in this program and also have an mph where i had a gpa of 3.8.
my question is, do these degrees/gpas have any positive effect on my less than stellar undergrad gpa? i graduated from a UC with around a 2.8 and an mcat score of 29 (9V, 10PS, 10BS).
when i applied to my local state med school and didn't get in a couple cycles ago, i asked the dean if i should do a post-bacc or graduate school. he advised me towards going for a master's as opposed to a post bacc.
i have excellent ECs and plenty of clinical experience...and will have good LOR as well. will i be looked at or immediately tossed in the rejection pile b/c of my undergrad gpa?
thanks for your help in advance!

Your MCAT is not enough to overcome the very poor undergrad gpa. The masters degrees (plural) are nice but the concern is always the grade inflation that one sees in grad schools and the relative lack of basic science education in schools of public health. See if you can't talk to a dean of admissions before the next admission cycle begins and get a reading on what you need to do (if anything) to have success in the 2007/08 cycle.

 

[CagedBird]

Hi adcomm. My question is about student vs. faculty interviews. Is the faculty interview weighed more than the student interview. Let's say I think I had a great faculty interview and an okay student interview, would the faculty interview somehow outweigh that of the student? Or is it the same weight distributed to both?

 

[LizzyM]

Hi adcomm. My question is about student vs. faculty interviews. Is the faculty interview weighed more than the student interview. Let's say I think I had a great faculty interview and an okay student interview, would the faculty interview somehow outweigh that of the student? Or is it the same weight distributed to both?

Time will tell.

This may be very dependent on the school but it would seem that the school wouldn't waste students' time if they didn't want to use the information obtained at those interviews. However, what may have seened "ok" to you might actually have been very good from the student's perspective.

 

[moto_za]

does it help as much to be disadvantaged (economically) as it does to be conidered a minority? thanks !!!

 

[moto_za]

Sorry, have one more question.. What does it mean to be eduacationally disadvantage? thanks a lot

 

[GoLAClippers]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=377734

Hi, will you please comment on my situation? Should I bother not applying to this school next year? 😳

 

[VoiceofReason]

doing it: contacting the admissions office with a letter several times if you're on the waitlist.

overdoing it: calling your interviewer, calling the admissions office, sending letters that make it sound like you'll end your life if you don't get in, etc.

if you have normal social skills, you don't overdo it. 🙂

Am I reading this right? Several letters!? oh jesus im screwed i haven't even sent one yet.

I have a question in that same vein though. A school where I am waitlisted says, "We will not review anybody on our waitlist until this-and-such date." The question is: Do well written letters of intent ever get people reviewed and accepted before the date mentioned or is it pretty much always strictly adhered to?

The problem is that I will hear from my top choice this month and I wanted to wait until then because if I write a letter of intent now it would be dishonest. Was I wrong to wait?

Did I screw up by being a good person!?

 

[adcomm]

does it help as much to be disadvantaged (economically) as it does to be conidered a minority? thanks !!!

no

 

[adcomm]

Am I reading this right? Several letters!? oh jesus im screwed i haven't even sent one yet.

I have a question in that same vein though. A school where I am waitlisted says, "We will not review anybody on our waitlist until this-and-such date." The question is: Do well written letters of intent ever get people reviewed and accepted before the date mentioned or is it pretty much always strictly adhered to?

The problem is that I will hear from my top choice this month and I wanted to wait until then because if I write a letter of intent now it would be dishonest. Was I wrong to wait?

Did I screw up by being a good person!?

no, just make it sincere if you send one. several may have been a bad choice of words, just meant "one or few" contacts as opposed to stalking.

 

[Kfire326]

no, just make it sincere if you send one. several may have been a bad choice of words, just meant "one or few" contacts as opposed to stalking.

adcomm, i'm just curious to know... are you a student adcom member? or a faculty member?

 

[Kfire326]

Hi adcom members,

I'm sending a pre-interview LOI to a medical school. My application was complete in early september, and some time in November I was placed on pre-interview hold. Is it a good idea to mention that despite being accepted elsewhere, I still have a strong interest in X school? Or will they take that and think "well, he's already in, he might not want to come all the way here (to interview and/or matriculate)" The truth is, the school is about a 6-7 hour drive away from me.

 

[LizzyM]

Hi adcom members,

I'm sending a pre-interview LOI to a medical school. My application was complete in early september, and some time in November I was placed on pre-interview hold. Is it a good idea to mention that despite being accepted elsewhere, I still have a strong interest in X school? Or will they take that and think "well, he's already in, he might not want to come all the way here (to interview and/or matriculate)" The truth is, the school is about a 6-7 hour drive away from me.

If you were interested in obtaining a proposal of marriage, would you tell your love interest that you already had a proposal on the table but....

NO! You are drawn to the school's excellent attributes (name a few), you believe that the school's philosophy, curiculum etc are a good fit for you, you have a social support network in the area or whatever. It is also a chance to brag a little about what you've been doing since you were last in touch (or since your AMCAS essay was written). You tell them why you should be interviewed.

Don't mention the competition.

 

[Kfire326]

If you were interested in obtaining a proposal of marriage, would you tell your love interest that you already had a proposal on the table but....

NO! You are drawn to the school's excellent attributes (name a few), you believe that the school's philosophy, curiculum etc are a good fit for you, you have a social support network in the area or whatever. It is also a chance to brag a little about what you've been doing since you were last in touch (or since your AMCAS essay was written). You tell them why you should be interviewed.

Don't mention the competition.

Thanks a lot. I would have mentioned things i like about the school, etc, like you mentioned. I just didn't know if i should include what I asked about.

Thanks!

 

[future_dr_house]

Hey LizzyM,

Thanks for fielding all of our repeated questions and I'm sorry if this has been asked before. But how much weight do LOIs really carry? Also what are some of the most memorable ones you have read? How about memorable personal statements (in case I have to rewrite mine I would like some more ideas)

Thanks in advance.

 

[deleted103644]

Hey Adcoms,
I've received 9 interview invites to fairly good schools (out of 14 apps), but so far, all the schools that have responded to me (4, possibly 5 after today) have waitlisted me. I have a middle of the pack GPA (few bad grades and a lot of A's, no trend) and an exceptional MCAT, some moderate clinical experience and good research experience. What do I need to do to get a school to commit to me/what might be going wrong with my application? I have written a few letters of interest and all of my interviewers have said positive things to me. Right now the waiting and uncertainty are starting to get to me.
Thanks.

 

[LizzyM]

Hey LizzyM,

Thanks for fielding all of our repeated questions and I'm sorry if this has been asked before. But how much weight do LOIs really carry? Also what are some of the most memorable ones you have read? How about memorable personal statements (in case I have to rewrite mine I would like some more ideas)

Thanks in advance.

If they are bad, they carry a lot of weight. If they are from someone whom we hold in high regard (there are a few highly regarded pre-med advisors who write excellent, informative letters, the same goes for some well known investigators), they carry lots of weight. If they are from a school where everyone is the best applicant ever born, they are worthless and ignored. Almost as bad as a bad LOR, is the missing LOR from someone who should have written one, particularly if you spent 12+ mos. in someone's lab.

Most memorable: my favorite hockey coach (who wrote a beautiful letter with anecdotes that reflected on the applicant's character) and one from a man who wrote that he hoped that the applicant would someday be his son-in-law.

Most memorable essay was an applicant who tied his research, employment and service together with a single noun and explained how all three were related to that word. (The third relationship was a stretch but one that brought a smile, and I've remembered it now for several years).

 

[LizzyM]

Hey Adcoms,
I've received 9 interview invites to fairly good schools (out of 14 apps), but so far, all the schools that have responded to me (4, possibly 5 after today) have waitlisted me. I have a middle of the pack GPA (few bad grades and a lot of A's, no trend) and an exceptional MCAT, some moderate clinical experience and good research experience. What do I need to do to get a school to commit to me/what might be going wrong with my application? I have written a few letters of interest and all of my interviewers have said positive things to me. Right now the waiting and uncertainty are starting to get to me.
Thanks.

You are middle of the pack. There are some people sitting on four or more offers with a few non-rolling schools yet to respond. Obviously, those applicants will be releasing seats in the next 9 weeks and some schools will find themselves with fewer matriculants than they have room for. That's where the waitlist comes in. Some waitlists move. With a middle of the pack gpa, you are not on the top of anyone's admission list but you ARE an acceptable candidate which is why you've ended up on waitlists. Change your perspective. You have a lot of "job offer" maybes and the decisions won't come until May/June/July. Enjoy the next couple of month and hope for the best in the late Spring.

 

[future_dr_house]

If they are bad, they carry a lot of weight. If they are from someone whom we hold in high regard (there are a few highly regarded pre-med advisors who write excellent, informative letters, the same goes for some well known investigators), they carry lots of weight. If they are from a school where everyone is the best applicant ever born, they are worthless and ignored. Almost as bad as a bad LOR, is the missing LOR from someone who should have written one, particularly if you spent 12+ mos. in someone's lab.

I was actually asking about a Letter of Intent, not exactly a Letter of Recommendation, but that's good to know also.

 

[kronickm]

My question is about grades. I am currently in a post-bac program, and my grades starting from freshman year of undergrad are as follows:

SAT: 1410

Freshman year(2000-2001): 1.87 (including an F in Bio-101)
Sophomore year(2001-2002): 2.3
Summer between So and Ju: 1 class 4.0
Junior year(2002-2003): 3.8 (dean's list)
Senior year(2003-2004): 4.0 (dean's list)

Overall Undergrad GPA: 3.03 in major, (philosophy) 3.45

year off (2005): took GRE's 1320

Post-Bac semester 1: 4.0 (Phys 1 and Chm 1)
Post-Bac semester 2: 4.0 (Phys 2 and Chm 2)
Post-Bac semester 3: 4.0 (O-Chm 1 and Bio 1)
Post-Bac semester 4 (in progress): 4.0 (O-Chm 2 and Bio 2)

So basically, will you and other adcoms see that I had an undergrad GPA of 3.03 and failed Bio (6 years ago), or will you see that since my sophomore undergrad year (5 years ago) I basically have a 4.0, and a 4.0 GPA in sciences with the exception of my one F in Bio. I have also yet to take my MCATs but I do very well on standardized exams and am fairly confident that I will put up a strong score.

 

[LizzyM]

I was actually asking about a Letter of Intent, not exactly a Letter of Recommendation, but that's good to know also.

Oops -- sorry about that. LO Interest carry some weight at schools with non-ranked waitlists. Qualified applicants who are enthusiastic about the school are likely to matriculate if asked and likely to be very grateful.

LO Intent -- worth the paper it's printed on, IMHO. No one can hold you to it.

 

[LizzyM]

My question is about grades. I am currently in a post-bac program, and my grades starting from freshman year of undergrad are as follows:

SAT: 1410

Freshman year(2000-2001): 1.87 (including an F in Bio-101)
Sophomore year(2001-2002): 2.3
Summer between So and Ju: 1 class 4.0
Junior year(2002-2003): 3.8 (dean's list)
Senior year(2003-2004
<snip>

You certainly have the trend thing going for you and you have an undergrad major that is not closely aligned with medicine followed by a post-bac. If you can put up a MCAT of 35 or better I think that you will have a good shot at mid-tier schools and perhaps at upper-level schools if you have ECs etc that distinguish you from the pack.

 

[noMDPHDsucks]

My questions is.....do ADCOM staff really look applicants up at MDapplicants.com and SDN? Thanks in advance!

 

[kronickm]

You certainly have the trend thing going for you and you have an undergrad major that is not closely aligned with medicine followed by a post-bac. If you can put up a MCAT of 35 or better I think that you will have a good shot at mid-tier schools and perhaps at upper-level schools if you have ECs etc that distinguish you from the pack.

Thanks for making my day 🙂

 

[LizzyM]

My questions is.....do ADCOM staff really look applicants up at MDapplicants.com and SDN? Thanks in advance!

No, but obviously we are aware that they exist.

I did do a mdapps search last year to see if anyone with a gpa of x.x or less and an MCAT of xx or less had gotten admitted to any US med school in the past 3 years. I was trying to make a case that a certain applicant with clout really wasn't admissable anywhere and therefore should be rejected without remorse.

 

[greenteapudding]

Thanks ADCOM folks😛

I heard that ADCOM can read where candidates have been accepted after the Mar 15th/Apr 15th date...I'm wondering if someone is waitlisted at the top choice, but have accepted another school's offer as a backup....what if the top choice school is ready to take the person off the list and saw that the person's been accepted....do you think this would deter the school from picking the person out of the waitlist? OR do you think that it wouldn't influence ADCOM's decision as long as they know that it's the candidate's top choice and the candidate would withdraw once accepted? (maybe from LOI, interview etc?)

 

[adcomm]

adcomm, i'm just curious to know... are you a student adcom member? or a faculty member?

🙁 I started this thread originally with a big intro post about myself and a little about my school. but now that they split it, the first "advice" is gone. that kinda sucks. I'm a 4th year, been on the committee 2 years.

 

[adcomm]

My questions is.....do ADCOM staff really look applicants up at MDapplicants.com and SDN? Thanks in advance!

they know about it... some glance, mostly to comment on how completely neurotic the premed population is and laugh at the bad advice that gets propogated peer-peer. one person from our office reads interview feedback, just for her own feedback (she's admissions staff, not an interviewer).

 

[horton thruggle]

I posted this question a couple of weeks ago, but, alas, no reply. So let me ask again.

It was originally asked to extend the question of whether graduate school grades are at all relevant in AdComms' decision making.

Do AdComms give value to a Masters degree per se, especially if its in a relevant field (say neurobiology)?

One may argue -- probably correctly -- that grades in graduate classes tend to be A's, but does the additional education/training/dedication/research etc. that a Masters implies factor into AdComms' decision making? Assume that the Masters thesis advisor provides a very positive recommendation.

Thanks in advance