Advice for borderline applicants

[orangeman25]

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Hello all, I was hoping I could get advice from people about applicants that are borderline based on metrics (3.5/31 candidates). Because I'm asking such a question, you can assume I will be one of these applicants.

What do adcoms look for in these applicants? Do you need extraordinary ECs? Publications? Certain number of schools to apply to?

 

[1012526fs]

Of course, I'm not an adcom, but I would think they are all looking for a few basic things in each of their potential future colleagues:

1. First, can you even pass med school and pass your licensing exams? No one can know this for sure, but you have to SHOW them you can. Even with a crappy undergrad GPA, did you at least take upper level courses lately and ace them, or graduate school of some sort?

2. Second, I'd like to assume they're looking for someone with a passion for medicine and taking care of people. How are you SHOWING them that? Have you volunteered? Do you give up your time for altruistic type endeavors?

3. Third, they'd probably want to know that you know what you're getting into. How passionately can you PROVE to them that you know what the medical field is all about? Did you shadow physicians? Did you work in healthcare somehow, etc? And how amazingly did you do it and stand out from those with better number metrics than you?

4. Last, I think they'd want to know you're an interesting and enjoyable future colleague. Do you have ANYTHING in your life that you're passionate about outside of science and medicine and school? If not, figure that out. This is where you can really shine on the "uniqueness" of your app.

Well, I'm sure everything I just wrote is common sense, but I figure those are the categories I excelled in to SHOW and PROVE as much as can be possible to the adcoms that I was what they were looking for. Good luck!

 

[repititionition]

I'll just leave this here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/advice-for-the-marginal-applicant.1037147/

 

[Lya]

Applying broadly (I applied 35+ low- and mid-tier schools) and applying early (submit everything as early yet with good quality as you can) are the best things you can do.

 

[teachdoc]

My stats were almost identical to yours when I applied this past cycle, and I received multiple acceptances. As stated above, applying early and broadly is excellent advice. Make sure you have significant clinical experience (scribing, volunteering, working as an EMT, etc). I think leadership experience is also a must. I don't think you need publications or unbelievably unique ECs, but you need something that will catch ADCOM's eyes, since your stats probably won't. This unique something can be anything from military service, work in the peace corps, running a service club in college, research publications, or just a really unique perspective or experience that makes for an awesome PS. I think that if you have a genuine, unique story that conveys why you want to practice medicine, you'll have a really good shot.

 

[orangeman25]

Thank you guys. So what I'm understanding is that, academically adcoms will look specifically on how you have done in upper level science courses. They will also like to see that you have done things outside academics; I'm assuming your ECs should go far and beyond those with good metrics.

Could @Goro and @gyngyn perhaps chime in? What do you like to see in applicants with borderline metrics?

 

[gyngyn]

Could @Goro and @gyngyn perhaps chime in? What do you like to see in applicants with borderline metrics?

I will assume that you are going to apply to MD schools where your stats are near the 10th%.
All schools are looking for evidence of the following characteristics:

integrity, ethics
reliability, dependability
service orientation
social, interpersonal skills
capacity for improvement
resilience, adaptability
cultural awareness
verbal skills
teamwork

At my school, your application will be compared to other applicants with similar stats. If your application rises to the top of the stratum into which your metrics have placed you, and depending on how many students from this stratum can be sampled, you will get an interview.

 

[orangeman25]

I will assume that you are going to apply to MD schools where your stats are near the 10th%.
All schools are looking for evidence of the following characteristics:

· Integrity and Ethics


· Reliability and Dependability


· Service Orientation


· Social and Interpersonal Skills


· Capacity for Improvement


· Resilience and Adaptability


· Cultural Competence


· Oral Communication


· Teamwork

At my school, your application will be compared to other applicants with similar stats. If your application rises to the top of the stratum to which your metrics have placed you, and depending on how many students from this stratum can be sampled, you will get an interview.

Thank you for such a thoughtful response. Yes, for most schools my GPA (3.5) will be around the 10th percentile; my MCAT (31) will be below average at many. It will come down to expressing myself through qualitative values, so I appreciate that you have highlighted some.

 

[Goro]

This is why gyngyn and I always suggest applying strategically. I don't think your numbers are marginal...below avg, yes. Marginal for NYU or Baylor? Yes.

BUT there are plenty of schools where you'd be competitive. So don't settle for marginal.

Aim for the low tier MD schools and all new MD programs. Don't forget your state schools, unless you live in CA. If your GPA rose greatly in the last two years (the classic rising trend) that's a plus in your favor. You're highly competitive for DO programs.

I'm not a fan of applying to places where you're in the bottom 10th percentile, unless your ECs are spectacular, like service in the military, or Peace Corps.

Thank you for such a thoughtful response. Yes, for most schools my GPA (3.5) will be around the 10th percentile; my MCAT (31) will be below average at many. It will come down to expressing myself through qualitative values, so I appreciate that you have highlighted some.

 

[teebear]

I had the same borderline stats as you: 3.5 cGPA 3.3 sGPA (12 units post bacc w a 4.0sGPA) and 32 MCAT. I was confident in my ECs: public health TA and internships, clinical and non-clinical international volunteer work, clinical research, shadowing, leadership positions, local youth mentoring. I applied broadly to MDs and selected some DO schools that I would be interested in.. I'm also fr California so I knew my school list would have to be extensive. I ended up with 2 DO acceptances early in the cycle and out of 5 MD ii's I'm on 2 WLs, 2 acceptances, and still waiting on one decision.

Just to reiterate what everyone said: apply early and push through all your secondaries the best you can - applying to a lot of schools (30+) will be overwhelming but you gotta do it with borderline numbers!

Hope this helps! When I went to my premed advisor with my numbers she said I'd be somewhat competitive for DO schools and had a very tiny chance at MD schools.. But I did the best I could anyways and I'm very pleased with my cycle!

Good luck!! 🙂

 

[orangeman25]

I had the same borderline stats as you: 3.5 cGPA 3.3 sGPA (12 units post bacc w a 4.0sGPA) and 32 MCAT. I was confident in my ECs: public health TA and internships, clinical and non-clinical international volunteer work, clinical research, shadowing, leadership positions, local youth mentoring. I applied broadly to MDs and selected some DO schools that I would be interested in.. I'm also fr California so I knew my school list would have to be extensive. I ended up with 2 DO acceptances early in the cycle and out of 5 MD ii's I'm on 2 WLs, 2 acceptances, and still waiting on one decision.

Just to reiterate what everyone said: apply early and push through all your secondaries the best you can - applying to a lot of schools (30+) will be overwhelming but you gotta do it with borderline numbers!

Hope this helps! When I went to my premed advisor with my numbers she said I'd be somewhat competitive for DO schools and had a very tiny chance at MD schools.. But I did the best I could anyways and I'm very pleased with my cycle!

Good luck!! 🙂

I had a similar response from my pre health advisor. He basically told me
to choose an alternative career choice. Made me feel worthless. They seem to only cater to 3.7+/33+ applicants.

I am definitely going to apply to as many schools as possible. I'm quite excited actually, and less nervous. I've been waiting for this process for a while so now that it is finally here, I can't wait to put my best foot forward.

Thank you for sharing your experience and good luck deciding on your choice of medical education!