Advice

[Kitra101]

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Hi,

I wanted to explain my situation and see if I could get some advice -

I have a 28Q and a 3.86 cum and a 3.9 something science GPA. I have 1 year cancer research experience, shadowing experience a written screen play and some community service activities. I applied EDP to a state school, got rolled over and then at about Oct 4th-ish, applied to 21 schools. Of those schools, I found myself waitlisted at two of them (one of which was the school I applied EDP to). Do you think I have good chances of getting in off the wait lists (at Tulane or the medical college of Ga) and what do you think hurt me the most?

Here is my profile just to look at a more in depth review about me:

http://www.mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?id=2706

Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks

 

[emgirl]

Hi there-

Your GPA is great, your MCAT seems fine and balanced.. The only thing I can think of that may have held you up is (1) applying late to the other schools cuz of EDP (though I'm not sure what was up with the GA people not taking you!) and *maybe* (2) lack of ECs in college-- did you do more than just a few comm svc projects on your semester abroad or your one summer counselor job (anything yearlong+ or with leadership?). That is honestly all I can think of since your numbers are fine. Don't give up hope yet on the waitlists... send a letter of intent to your number one and play up your research this year! If (and I doubt this) you don't get off a waitlist this year, apply *really* early in the 2006 cycle and I think you will be ok. Best of luck to you! 🙂Em

 

[ntmed]

I applied EDP to a state school, got rolled over and then at about Oct 4th-ish, applied to 21 schools.

I agree with emgirl. Applying late (after your EDP status changed), can make it difficult to get accepted. Most schools use a rolling admissions policy, where those who apply early tend to have an easier change of getting in. The other problem might be your MCAT, which is below the average of those who get accepted.

On a related point, the EDP (early decision program) is probably something most people should avoid. It seems to only work best if you are positive that you want to attend a particular school, and if you have a stellar application.

Hope for the best, that you will get accepted this year. But also, plan for the worst, and start doing things right now to improve your application, assuming you will reapply again next year. If you can apply on June 1st next year, and raise your MCAT, you should fair much better.

 

[Kitra101]

Hi there-

Your GPA is great, your MCAT seems fine and balanced.. The only thing I can think of that may have held you up is (1) applying late to the other schools cuz of EDP (though I'm not sure what was up with the GA people not taking you!) and *maybe* (2) lack of ECs in college-- did you do more than just a few comm svc projects on your semester abroad or your one summer counselor job (anything yearlong+ or with leadership?). That is honestly all I can think of since your numbers are fine. Don't give up hope yet on the waitlists... send a letter of intent to your number one and play up your research this year! If (and I doubt this) you don't get off a waitlist this year, apply *really* early in the 2006 cycle and I think you will be ok. Best of luck to you! 🙂Em

Hi -

My summer counselor thing was every year for the last 6 years except the summer I took the MCAT. One of these summers I worked with special needs kids and one I was the supervisor of 14 staff members and 170 kids. Abroad, I participated in three very different svc projects. I also helped tutor english to disadvantaged hispanic students in my college town. I had a lot of leadership experience in high school...president of a youth group with over 250 members...so was sort of burnt out by college. I did a resident hall community council thing in my first year and was a rush committee member for my fraternity the following year.

As for the waitlists, MCG has a locked wait list that wont tell your place nor how many people are on the list. I dont think a LOI will help since it is locked and they know they are my number 1 as I did apply EDP. As for Tulane, I sent 4 additional LOR directly from my professors who wrote them (not through our pre-med office), I am forwarding them my new transcripts and I sent them update letters on my research. Beyond that, what shold I do? Do I really need to call the dean on a regular basis? Isnt that annoying to them?

Thanks,

Adam

 

[tmarsh]

The 8 on PS is why you did not get an acceptance. Hopefully the waitlist will work out for you.

 

[Kitra101]

Does anyone else have any thoughts, advice, etc?? Please, any help, positive, negative, whatever you may have is greatly appreciated.

thanks

 

[Hoya11]

Applying late hurts a LOT. Apply as early as possible.

Your ECs are good, dont go crazy trying to change them or do more.Maybe in the year off if things dont work out, do something very clinically based like working in a doctors office or something. Fact is, this process is mostly numbers/academic driven.

The fact that you are a writer and have an 8,9 in science is sketching people out. THey want to know that you will do the work. Med school is not fun like writing, are you ready for it? Im not being a jerk, Im just saying, this is most likely what they are thinking. They need for you to PROVE that you can handle the SCIENCE load. SUre your smart, but are you ready for MED school, not law/writing school.


That being said, I think the answer is yes you are prepared. THis process is totally random and you are probably another borderline victim. The fact that you were waitlisted is GREAT. ALso, the fact that you are a female is great.

You have a good enough mcat. You are female (i assume). You have a good gpa. This should honestly be enough. Even though I said what I said above, knowing the difficulty of preparing for/taking the mcat, I would not retake it if I were you. 7, retake. 8, dont, especially since your a female. This 8 will be the cause of difficulty. BUt if you are just willing to go anywhere and not take the mcat again, i would just apply again next year with a kick ass clinical job like EMT or working in an office or teaching in a bad area or whatever.

It is never a bad idea to send an LOI. Schools want to keep their accepted/enrolled ratio high to appear that lots of students "Want" to go there when in fact they only take students who say that school is their #1. So write a letter that tells every school they are your #1 choice, and if you got off the list you would go there immediately. I mean its true right? Thats my advice, from someone who got in off the waitlist themselves.

good luck

 

[emgirl]

Whoah- to the last poster what's all this talk about "your 8 is ok since you're a female" business? Last time I checked the majority of med school applicants and students were female so please don't act like being a female gets you extra slack in this process. I don't know why you are critizing the OP's numbers but then saying they will be ok since they are "female". Your comments are demeaning and ignorant- women do not get special treatment in this process and ADCOMS don't let us get away with having lower scores than men just because we're WOMEN- that's ridiculous! You sound like the President of Harvard.

 

[Kitra101]

Whoah- to the last poster what's all this talk about "your 8 is ok since you're a female" business? Last time I checked the majority of med school applicants and students were female so please don't act like being a female gets you extra slack in this process. I don't know why you are critizing the OP's numbers but then saying they will be ok since they are "female". Your comments are demeaning and ignorant- women do not get special treatment in this process and ADCOMS don't let us get away with having lower scores than men just because we're WOMEN- that's ridiculous! You sound like the President of Harvard.

I am not female. I am a writer yes, but I am - not being cocky - a good science student. I have a 3.92 BCMP GPA with a BS in biology. I am worried that is it not the numbers, but the ECs. I do not have an outstanding MCAT which may or may not bring down the value of my GPA at UGA. However, I am waitlisted at MCG, the GA state school who takes many kids from UGA and knows the weight of a UGA GPA. I know plenty of students that have higher MCATs than me, but lower GPA from my school. I am just triying to understand exactly what the ADCOMMs are really evaluating and how I can look better if I have to go through this another time.

I appreciate your advice very much and even moreso, the time you have spent to really think about it. Thank you and if you have more to say, please do!

 

[neriberi]

I have a masters in social work, a BA in English, wrote several plays that were produced professionally, did research in neuroscience, and had stats quite similar to yours...and I just finished my first year of medical school! I wasn't sure at first and did tons of research to see where I should apply; I applied to three schools to be close to my fiance and was accepted at all three. There are schools out there that are looking for folks like us, so hang in there. I wouldn't retake the MCAT unless you were 100% sure that you would improve; maybe call the admissions office and see if you could speak to one of the counselors for input. Good luck! Your background has an edge and you'll be a great physician!

 

[MoosePilot]

I am not female. I am a writer yes, but I am - not being cocky - a good science student. I have a 3.92 BCMP GPA with a BS in biology. I am worried that is it not the numbers, but the ECs. I do not have an outstanding MCAT which may or may not bring down the value of my GPA at UGA. However, I am waitlisted at MCG, the GA state school who takes many kids from UGA and knows the weight of a UGA GPA. I know plenty of students that have higher MCATs than me, but lower GPA from my school. I am just triying to understand exactly what the ADCOMMs are really evaluating and how I can look better if I have to go through this another time.

I appreciate your advice very much and even moreso, the time you have spent to really think about it. Thank you and if you have more to say, please do!

I don't think it's your ECs as much as your MCAT. Your GPA is outstanding, but your MCAT makes it look like it's either inflated, you're not good at retaining knowledge, or you're not good at synthesis. I think an early app to a wide range of schools is all you need for a fix though, because I'd bet you're close.

 

[Hoya11]

Whoah- to the last poster what's all this talk about "your 8 is ok since you're a female" business? Last time I checked the majority of med school applicants and students were female so please don't act like being a female gets you extra slack in this process. I don't know why you are critizing the OP's numbers but then saying they will be ok since they are "female". Your comments are demeaning and ignorant- women do not get special treatment in this process and ADCOMS don't let us get away with having lower scores than men just because we're WOMEN- that's ridiculous! You sound like the President of Harvard.

Females are like URMS in this process. Its a tough pill to swallow, but swallow it.

They get in easier since there have been historically less of them.

Ex: U. Conn. first year class 66%female as you claim. Do you think just more females apply? maybe 5% more. Still favoritism. Dont kill the messenger its the truth, and by the way the OP is not a women I found out, my bad.