Another Adcom, ask me (almost) anything

[TREDWISE]

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If the reason had to do with family issues, such as not wanting to move away from a sick parent or the consideration of a spouse's career, then I can see turning down an acceptance and reapplying. If the reason has to do with perceived lack of fit with the school in question then yes, I would most likely hold that against you.

Yeesh. I'm beginning to think that I shouldn't have applied to this school. They have one campus in the city that I'm from, and another one at my undergraduate institution, which I have a strong desire to move on from and not be in that environment any longer. The second campus also has no neurology residency, and no neurology research, which I'm primarily interested in. And unfortunately it sounds like the main campus is full already.

Do you think that it would help me to withdraw my application before they have a chance to admit me? Thanks for your advice.

 

[Derpz]

Does it hurt the competitiveness of an application to be missing a requirement at the time of applying? I'm taking O-Chem2 next fall - otherwise carrying a sGPA of 4.0

 

[Starry]

Hi hushcom! Thanks for doing this AMA.

How and why did you become an adcom member? Are you happy being one?

 

[hushcom]

Yeesh. I'm beginning to think that I shouldn't have applied to this school. They have one campus in the city that I'm from, and another one at my undergraduate institution, which I have a strong desire to move on from and not be in that environment any longer. The second campus also has no neurology residency, and no neurology research, which I'm primarily interested in. And unfortunately it sounds like the main campus is full already.

Do you think that it would help me to withdraw my application before they have a chance to admit me? Thanks for your advice.

Without knowing which campuses you are talking about, I can say a couple of things with absolute certainty:
1. Your experience in medical school will be absolutely nothing like your experience in undergrad, regardless of the institution or physical location.
2. You do not need neurology research to match into neurology. At all. Seriously, nobody is going to care.

Medical school does not last forever. Think long term.

 

[hushcom]

Does it hurt the competitiveness of an application to be missing a requirement at the time of applying? I'm taking O-Chem2 next fall - otherwise carrying a sGPA of 4.0

If it comes up as a current/future course in AMCAS the screeners might let it slide. I am not entirely certain.

 

[hushcom]

Hi hushcom! Thanks for doing this AMA.

How and why did you become an adcom member? Are you happy being one?

I would rather not discuss the details of my joining the committee. It is more work than you may think, but the process is fascinating. Overall it is very enjoyable, although it will be somewhat nice to be a regular Joe, MD again when my tenure is up.

 

[Starry]

I would rather not discuss the details of my joining the committee. It is more work than you may think, but the process is fascinating. Overall it is very enjoyable, although it will be somewhat nice to be a regular Joe, MD again when my tenure is up.

Thanks for replying! Just curious since I think it would be fascinating to sit on the other side of the table one day, to serve the institution I would be affiliated with, and to help shape the face of the future (however small my influence may be.)

 

[jjmusicman29]

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions.

I have heard that it is generally not a good idea to ever mention mental illness on an application...but one of the major reasons why my grades were poor my first year was because I had an undiagnosed, really bad anxiety problem that was worst whenever I had to take exams. I had about a 2.3 my first year. I went to the doctor and I have been treating my anxiety ever since with medication and therapy. Since then I make mostly A's and a few B's and I'm a Chemical Engineering major. I am now at a 3.4 GPA. If I were asked about my grades my first year, should I refrain from mentioning this at all and just say "well I was just trying to figure out college"? I wouldn't want to be discriminated against for an illness that I seem to have under control now.

 

[Mr Roboto]

Thanks for taking the time to do this. Your answers have been very helpful.

If I am accepted at a DO school this cycle, but chose to withdraw my application in hopes of an MD acceptance next cycle, could that be found out by adcoms and held against me?

 

[ChemNerd07]

Thanks for doing this!

If you could go back, what would you recommend to your MS-1 self?

 

[Ramzy]

Doctor,

I am a recent PharmD grad applying for Fall 2015. I am also Canadian. What is your general view on pharmacists applying for medical school?

I am also a bit worried about whether the comittee would take into consideration that I have been working full time as a pharmacist for the past year and a half, while moving around quite a bit, which had some repercussions: I have little to no community service during the past year (although I do have many hours before pharmacy school and throughout). In addition, I am only comfortable obtaining letter of recs from my pharmacy professors, a physician, and from my pharmacy manager at work. There were no non-science professors in pharmacy school, and I am mostly certain no non-science professor from my undergraduate years would be able to write a proper letter of rec as it has been quite a long time (5 years).

Additional information: GPA 3.85, MCAT 28

Thank you so much.

 

[hushcom]

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions.

I have heard that it is generally not a good idea to ever mention mental illness on an application...but one of the major reasons why my grades were poor my first year was because I had an undiagnosed, really bad anxiety problem that was worst whenever I had to take exams. I had about a 2.3 my first year. I went to the doctor and I have been treating my anxiety ever since with medication and therapy. Since then I make mostly A's and a few B's and I'm a Chemical Engineering major. I am now at a 3.4 GPA. If I were asked about my grades my first year, should I refrain from mentioning this at all and just say "well I was just trying to figure out college"? I wouldn't want to be discriminated against for an illness that I seem to have under control now.

Nobody can force you to disclose personal medical information in your app, but yes, it is tricky when it's part of the story. I honestly don't think that mentioning it will invite a great deal of negative scrutiny, mainly because your subsequent academic record is fairly impressive. You could leave it somewhat vague, like you had a lot of test anxiety early in college that you learned to overcome, and the results speak for themselves. If you are cool and confident during the interview that would look even better.

I see a lot of upward trend apps, and the most common reason I get for the freshman blues is that the applicant was just unfocused (read lazy) before he/she decided on medicine.

Anecdotally, I don't think that anxiety in med school has quite the stigma of other mental health issues, perhaps because premeds are stereotypically high anxiety, and medicine itself is rather high anxiety.

 

[hushcom]

Thanks for taking the time to do this. Your answers have been very helpful.

If I am accepted at a DO school this cycle, but chose to withdraw my application in hopes of an MD acceptance next cycle, could that be found out by adcoms and held against me?

AAMCAS and AACOMAS are two entirely separate systems, so you wouldn't be found out through your primary application. I believe some secondary applications ask about prior acceptances, so that would uncover your past. If you have an application pending at a DO school that you don't want to attend, first examine the reasons for not wanting to attend. If they remain viable after deep consideration, then withdraw before getting a decision.

 

[hushcom]

Thanks for doing this!

If you could go back, what would you recommend to your MS-1 self?

Study quickly but with repetition rather than grinding through every detail once. And date the other girl.

 

[Santana90]

No. You do NOT get to pull that. You are not gay. You should not fake being gay to get into med school. That is unethical and messed up in the head.

I was just asking a question...don't be so butt-hurt sheesh -_-

 

[touchpause13]

I was just asking a question...don't be so butt-hurt sheesh -_-

No you (or your "friend")were trying to find a way to cheat the system.

 

[ducksau5]

Thanks for answering my previous questions! I just had one more:

I had to retake my MCAT 2 years ago because I did a lot worse than I did on practice tests. I ended up improving by 7+ points on the 2nd try and my application process has been going well in terms of IIs. I just wanted to know, will adcoms average 2 scores that are clearly so far apart? And if I was interviewed already, can my first MCAT score still prevent me from gaining admission?

Thanks

 

[hushcom]

Doctor,

I am a recent PharmD grad applying for Fall 2015. I am also Canadian. What is your general view on pharmacists applying for medical school?

I am also a bit worried about whether the comittee would take into consideration that I have been working full time as a pharmacist for the past year and a half, while moving around quite a bit, which had some repercussions: I have little to no community service during the past year (although I do have many hours before pharmacy school and throughout). In addition, I am only comfortable obtaining letter of recs from my pharmacy professors, a physician, and from my pharmacy manager at work. There were no non-science professors in pharmacy school, and I am mostly certain no non-science professor from my undergraduate years would be able to write a proper letter of rec as it has been quite a long time (5 years).

Additional information: GPA 3.85, MCAT 28

Thank you so much.

You fall into the "has to articulate convincingly why medicine will do something for you that pharmacy cannot" camp. That will be your first challenge.

Your LOR strategy sounds fine. We see a lot of non-traditional applicants, and when they are too far away from undergrad they often have to resort to slightly unconventional choices for LOR writers. It is definitely good to have at least one physician weigh in.

The two big drawback I can see in your post are 1.) your 28 MCAT is aboot 3 points below the mean for accepted applicants, so that's going to be an uphill battle, and 2.) if you're a Canadian in Canada the fight to get into med school is brutal, and if you're Canadian in the US it's even worse. To stand a realistic shot at US schools you need to be a permanent resident of the US. On the plus side your PharmD will help you stand oot from other applicants, which some adcom somewhere may find appealing.

 

[hushcom]

Thanks for answering my previous questions! I just had one more:

I had to retake my MCAT 2 years ago because I did a lot worse than I did on practice tests. I ended up improving by 7+ points on the 2nd try and my application process has been going well in terms of IIs. I just wanted to know, will adcoms average 2 scores that are clearly so far apart? And if I was interviewed already, can my first MCAT score still prevent me from gaining admission?

Thanks

MCAT scores actually have a confidence interval associated with them. If you took it five times in two weeks your scores would not be identical but they would likely cluster around "true" values given your level of preparation and test-taking abilities at that point in time. Hence, under some circumstances it makes sense to average the scores.

In your case, however, the long gap between your two sittings negates the averaging strategy. For someone like you I would look solely at the most recent score.

Edit: It's not just the length of time, but also the size of the score change. 7 points is a significant bump, and would be perceived as a better indicator of your potential.

 

[Ramzy]

Thank you!

 

[choyphin]

Say an applicant had to work throughout college to support family back home and consequently, hasn't had the time to engage as deeply in his extracurriculars has he would have liked.

How does one speak about this without giving off the impression of a sob-story?

 

[hushcom]

Say an applicant had to work throughout college to support family back home and consequently, hasn't had the time to engage as deeply in his extracurriculars has he would have liked.

How does one speak about this without giving off the impression of a sob-story?

List the employment in AMCAS under experiences, mention in your personal statement that you had to support multiple people while going to college, and let us connect the dots.

 

[Chipster.]

Thoughts on the AOA/ACGME merger?

 

[justAstudent]

Thoughts on the AOA/ACGME merger?

+1

 

[hushcom]

Thoughts on the AOA/ACGME merger?

You mean the failed AOA/ACGME merger? I don't know much about it, but I can tell you from watching various health system mergers over the years that there is a wall of BS a mile thick between the truth and what comes out in press releases. The politics guiding it all are likely more complicated and dark than any of us know. Best not to think about it.

 

[docterjew]

stand oot

Was this on purpose?

 

[touchpause13]

You mean the failed AOA/ACGME merger? I don't know much about it, but I can tell you from watching various health system mergers over the years that there is a wall of BS a mile thick between the truth and what comes out in press releases. The politics guiding it all are likely more complicated and dark than any of us know. Best not to think about it.

It passed today.

 

[Ramzy]

That's another in there too lol

 

[hushcom]

It passed today.

This is what I get for not being up on GME. I will have to ask some people more in the know than I am.

 

[corndogger]

Does it hurt the competitiveness of an application to be missing a requirement at the time of applying? I'm taking O-Chem2 next fall - otherwise carrying a sGPA of 4.0

just to expand, I had several pre reqs missing when I was applying (but I was registered in them) and it never came up. that being said, perhaps it worked against me at the schools where I didn't get an interview. These were English though, not "hard" ones like ochem or physics.

 

[bearmedic]

Hushcom, I enjoy the thread I am learning alot.

My question is about LOR I am a non-trad taking my prerequisites piece meal. I have been involved in emergency medicine for 6 years in different capacities currently I am doing pediatric and neonatal critical care transports as a Paramedic. I have several clinical managers, MDs I have worked with that can write awesome LORs for me that I feel will strongly express my abilities and dedication as a healthcare provider. It has been several years since my undergrad and I doubt my professors from then would remember enough about me to very strong letters. The classes I am taking now are huge 160 plus students and its difficult to connect to the professors. If I am getting As in my classes how important is it for me to have letters from professors as I feel they truly won't know me. Clearly I am demonstrating success in the classroom. Thanks

 

[ReadyToRumble]

Thanks for this thread hushcom.

Strengths: LORs, ECs, studied at top institution known for rigorous curriculum (we've never had a 4.0 GPA valedictorian)
Weakness: Applied late, academic record--academic blips in pre-reqs ages ago, retook the courses, took upper-level post-bac classes, GPA is not stellar but above baseline cut-offs, still get questions about blips at interviews.

1. I'm on a couple of waitlists (also waiting on a few other post-interview decisions, no post-interview rejections yet). It seems screeners like me (I've had several interviews, they've gone well despite being asked about blips at open file interviews) but adcoms aren't yet willing to take me at this point and perhaps regard me as a risk because of my academic past, despite everything else being strong. Because my ECs are strong, I don't foresee naming ongoing or new activities in an LOI, like others do, making a difference for my candidacy. Is an LOI that simply states that I'm still interested the most I can do at this point or do you have other recommendations?
2. If I have to reapply what advice can you give for someone in my situation? My MCAT is mediocre (mean for accepted applicants) so I've considered retaking it if it seems I can get a much higher score to show strength in core pre-med subjects, along with applying very early, as a way to boost my chances for the upcoming cycle--I don't think taking more post-bacc courses would add much to my application at this point. Might that prove more successful or do I need to take a few cycles off and do something more drastic? Thanks in advance.

 

[hushcom]

Hushcom, I enjoy the thread I am learning alot.

My question is about LOR I am a non-trad taking my prerequisites piece meal. I have been involved in emergency medicine for 6 years in different capacities currently I am doing pediatric and neonatal critical care transports as a Paramedic. I have several clinical managers, MDs I have worked with that can write awesome LORs for me that I feel will strongly express my abilities and dedication as a healthcare provider. It has been several years since my undergrad and I doubt my professors from then would remember enough about me to very strong letters. The classes I am taking now are huge 160 plus students and its difficult to connect to the professors. If I am getting As in my classes how important is it for me to have letters from professors as I feel they truly won't know me. Clearly I am demonstrating success in the classroom. Thanks

Given your situation, if you are acing your classes an impersonal LOR will not add much. I would not lose sleep over it.

 

[hushcom]

Thanks for this thread hushcom.

Strengths: LORs, ECs, studied at top institution known for rigorous curriculum (we've never had a 4.0 GPA valedictorian)
Weakness: Applied late, academic record--academic blips in pre-reqs ages ago, retook the courses, took upper-level post-bac classes, GPA is not stellar but above baseline cut-offs, still get questions about blips at interviews.

1. I'm on a couple of waitlists (also waiting on a few other post-interview decisions, no post-interview rejections yet). It seems screeners like me (I've had several interviews, they've gone well despite being asked about blips at open file interviews) but adcoms aren't yet willing to take me at this point and perhaps regard me as a risk because of my academic past, despite everything else being strong. Because my ECs are strong, I don't foresee naming ongoing or new activities in an LOI, like others do, making a difference for my candidacy. Is an LOI that simply states that I'm still interested the most I can do at this point or do you have other recommendations?
2. If I have to reapply what advice can you give for someone in my situation? My MCAT is mediocre (mean for accepted applicants) so I've considered retaking it if it seems I can get a much higher score to show strength in core pre-med subjects, along with applying very early, as a way to boost my chances for the upcoming cycle--I don't think taking more post-bacc courses would add much to my application at this point. Might that prove more successful or do I need to take a few cycles off and do something more drastic? Thanks in advance.

1. An LOI is unlikely to help, but if it is earnest (and only directed at your genuine top choice) then it won't hurt. If you are on multiple wait lists there is an excellent chance that you will come off of at least one of them.

2. I would be extremely hesitant to retake a 31 MCAT. It isn't the thing that is holding you back. If you do have to reapply just make sure you get your app in early next time. Also, contact the schools you applied to and see if any of them will give you feedback. You may have a blind spot.

 

[ReadyToRumble]

1. An LOI is unlikely to help, but if it is earnest (and only directed at your genuine top choice) then it won't hurt. If you are on multiple wait lists there is an excellent chance that you will come off of at least one of them.

2. I would be extremely hesitant to retake a 31 MCAT. It isn't the thing that is holding you back. If you do have to reapply just make sure you get your app in early next time. Also, contact the schools you applied to and see if any of them will give you feedback. You may have a blind spot.

Thank you, I will get in touch with schools. Just to clarify though, if I contact schools and they say my issues are in fact only applying late and past academic issues without other blind spots, then this is one of the few cases where turning almost the same application in (same ECs, LORs, MCAT, etc., different PS and secondaries) but applying early the very next cycle might be acceptable? I would apply to some of the same schools but also throw in new ones for a cleaner slate.

 

[bjt223]

Thank you so much for doing this Hushcom,

I was wondering, as an adcom, how do you view at people's extracurricular activities? How do you confirm that they may actually did these activities? Do you consider that some applicants may "lied" on their activities?

Thanks.

 

[touchpause13]

How do you view political activism as an EC? Phone banking, door knocking, etc.

 

[hushcom]

How do you view political activism as an EC? Phone banking, door knocking, etc.

Have not seen much of it, but as long as you aren't canvassing neighborhoods for Westboro Baptist Church I could care less.

 

[hushcom]

Thank you, I will get in touch with schools. Just to clarify though, if I contact schools and they say my issues are in fact only applying late and past academic issues without other blind spots, then this is one of the few cases where turning almost the same application in (same ECs, LORs, MCAT, etc., different PS and secondaries) but applying early the very next cycle might be acceptable? I would apply to some of the same schools but also throw in new ones for a cleaner slate.

You can turn in the same app, but if an interviewer asks how you spent the gap year it best not be met with a blank stare.

 

[Ryan17]

Hushcom,

Will a "W" on my transcript from dropping a pre-calculus course raise the smallest red flag or is this nothing to worry about at all? I'm a nontrad postbac student and dropped this class this semester with a "W" to focus more on my calculus class and english class, in addition to working full time. Will be starting on the science pre-reqs this summer. Thanks.

 

[chillaxbro]

How common is it for "overqualified" applicants to be waitlisted simply because they most likely will not matriculate anyway?

 

[Willy38]

Hi Hushcom,

What is your opinion on applicants with lack of research ? I have fairly high stats (3.89 gpa 38 MCAT), played D1 baseball, was drafted and am currently playing professionally but have no research experience? How do you think this will be viewed at research oriented schools? I'm planning on applying this cycle and my schedule is crazy which leaves no time to really add any research or other experiences to my app. Do you think it is worth applying or is it a waste of app money to shoot for top tier research schools?

 

[BigBoy99]

Is a C- in a prereq course an app killer? Got that mark in first year first term and have since changed my study habits and now I am a 3.8+ student.

 

[BasilDancingCheese]

Hey Hushcom,

What's your view on two strong LOR but one impersonal LOR. The two strong LOR are from my Eng professor (one of the hardest classes I have taken) and my neuroscience professor.
Also, if I have Cumulative 4.0 but 29 MCAT, do you think I have a decent chance at MD? I have mediocre ECs with Volunteering, Shadowing, Research, Clubs, TA position, and Work (16 hr/week avg for 3 years). Major (duel degree) Biochemistry and psychology
Retake MCAT? or Give a shot with this stats.

Input appreciated! Good day.

 

[hushcom]

Hushcom,

Will a "W" on my transcript from dropping a pre-calculus course raise the smallest red flag or is this nothing to worry about at all?

You should not worry about it either way, what's done is done. But no, it will not raise a red flag for any except the harshest of interviewers. Personally I look for patterns in applications, and a single W is not a pattern, so it's not informative.

 

[hushcom]

How common is it for "overqualified" applicants to be waitlisted simply because they most likely will not matriculate anyway?

I think I mentioned earlier that most schools are sophisticated enough to not invite many "overqualified" individuals to inteview, but I have seen this debate occur, and I have seen such applicants end up high on the wait list after a vote. We loose a lot of OOS applicants to their state schools over cost issues, so if we really want such an individual the financial aid office will be asked to produce a scholarship offer.

 

[hushcom]

Hi Hushcom,

What is your opinion on applicants with lack of research ? I have fairly high stats (3.89 gpa 38 MCAT), played D1 baseball, was drafted and am currently playing professionally but have no research experience? How do you think this will be viewed at research oriented schools? I'm planning on applying this cycle and my schedule is crazy which leaves no time to really add any research or other experiences to my app. Do you think it is worth applying or is it a waste of app money to shoot for top tier research schools?

Do you wish to do research as part of your career?

 

[hushcom]

Is a C- in a prereq course an app killer? Got that mark in first year first term and have since changed my study habits and now I am a 3.8+ student.

No, it's not an app killer. Not even close. Many people have to find their footing, and the good thing for you is that your changes seem to have worked.

 

[Gaborik10]

Hello hushcom, I'm enjoying the thread. My cgpa is about 3.5 and my post-bacc gpa is about 3.8. My undergrad was fine arts so most of my science has been done in the post bacc, but I'm a little frustrated how seemingly impossible it's been to raise my cumulative. I'm currently looking through the MSAR and my cgpa is fairly low for a lot of the schools I'd otherwise like to apply to (right at the 10th percentile or just below). Generally how much more consideration will be placed on my post-bacc rather than my cumulative? And in general should I still avoid applying to schools where my cgpa is just below what they typically accept? Thanks.

 

[hushcom]

Hey Hushcom,

What's your view on two strong LOR but one impersonal LOR. The two strong LOR are from my Eng professor (one of the hardest classes I have taken) and my neuroscience professor.
Also, if I have Cumulative 4.0 but 29 MCAT, do you think I have a decent chance at MD? I have mediocre ECs with Volunteering, Shadowing, Research, Clubs, TA position, and Work (16 hr/week avg for 3 years). Major (duel degree) Biochemistry and psychology
Retake MCAT? or Give a shot with this stats.

Input appreciated! Good day.

I don't need all the LORs to be highly personal, especially coming straight from undergrad it can sometimes be difficult to find three faculty members who you really connected with. At this point you got what you got.

Your MCAT /GPA issue is trickier, because there are several possible ways to explain a 4.0 with a 29. One is that your undergrad institution is not very challenging or has serious grade inflation, and the 29 represents a more accurate assessment of your academic ability. Another is that your undergrad institution is challenging, making you are an exceptional student but a mediocre standardized test-taker on the day you took the MCAT.

Either way you might get in somewhere with your package, or you might not. A higher MCAT score would help your case, but if you retake and score lower it's going to hurt a lot. I don't know the details of how you got your 29, so it's somewhat difficult for me to say.