Another Adcom, ask me (almost) anything

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I recently found out that one my LOR writers wrote in my letter that I am very shy and would need to deal with this issue in medical school. It wasn't a large part of the letter but it was still there. I got no interviews throughout this application season, and honestly I applied to schools in my range and I have a fairly high GPA with an average MCAT and pretty good ECs. I'm not saying I don't have any fault in not getting any interviews, but do you think this LOR could be part of the reason I didn't get a single interview?
 
Drmo0ose said:
Hushcom,

I have recently had an unsuccessful application cycle due to a low sGPA. I am torn between retaking a few science courses that I received Cs in vs doing an SMP. Would you prefer seeing an applicant retake those courses or complete an SMP? If you suggest retaking those courses, would it matter if I took them at a Community College vs a University.

Thanks for your time.
Click to expand...

Tough call. I generally look at SMP's as a means to repair significant GPA damage. If you are still enrolled then retakes would obviously be the easiest and quickest approach, but you need to ace them. Going from a C to a B might look even worse for you.
 
BasilDancingCheese said:
Hushcom,

What is your favorite thing about an interview?

Is there some questions or some part of the interview you look forward to?
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I have never really thought about this. I suppose it is somewhat gratifying when I interview someone, recommend them for admission, and they matriculate. When that happens I can lead myself to believe that I have impacted someone's entire life in a positive manner. Removing me from the equation might not change the outcome, though, so it's a hollow, albeit pleasant sensation.
 
krogers21 said:
Hushcom,

What is the lowest percentile on the MCAT that is typically not screened out?
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I only know the screening criteria at my institution, and sharing that information would not be informative. Every place does it differently, and I'm sure some are very strict and others have more flexibility.

You can always peruse the applicant/matriculant data available through the AAMC to get a sense of where you stand.
 
Have you ever caught an applicant lying about there race? If you thought you did what happened to the applicant? Also, can you ever be sure if there lying or not?
 
Another one

One situation or something the inteviewee said that made you laugh out loud during or immediately after an interview.
 
My biggest problem is that I was not a good student until now (sophomore). I'm still improving, but I went through some things and just had to adjust to actually studying for the first time. My EC's also aren't too strong until now. Does a strong uptrend compensate for a few Cs?
 
I have interviewed at 5 schools (MD) so far and have been put on 4 of their wait lists. I still have yet to hear from the last school. Every time I get wait listed my heart sinks. I feel like I must be a poor interviewer. I feel like all the schools like me enough to interview me but then I have trouble presenting myself in a way that is impressive. I've tried mock interviewing and preparing my answers but it doesn't seem to help all that much. I feel like I have gotten better at interviewing each time but I still don't think I'm amazing. I try to act confident but I guess I am who I am and there's not much I can change at this point.

First off, do you think I am correct in assessing that I am not a great interviewer? And second, do you have any advice to offer?

Thanks hushcom.
 
1. Since you mentioned many of the personal statements you read are interchangeable, how would you feel about one that is more "creatively" written? For example, using liberties that some fiction writers use like incomplete sentences, a somewhat casual discourse (without veering into immaturity), or starting in media res and explaining everything by the end - in other words, something that reads like a page out of a novel rather than a cover letter.

2. Personal question - I started premed late in my undergrad career (poly sci major) and was only able to fit in the minimal prereqs, so I did not take biochem. My sGPA is 4.0 and I have a 14 on BS, and one of my LOR's is from my bio II professor who knew me very well. I'm going to be in a gap year when I apply, and though I plan to have a job, I can potentially take biochem at a community college in the evenings. How important is it for me to emphasize this in secondaries/interviews for schools that require it or strongly recommend it?

Thanks!
 
I wrote my PS in the form of a short story. I think it worked to my advantage, but I didn't hear anything about it, either positive or negative.
 
touchpause13 said:
I wrote my PS in the form of a short story. I think it worked to my advantage, but I didn't hear anything about it, either positive or negative.
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Thanks! I'm reading this great book right now and am so tempted to write my PS in this style, which is very engaging, but if that's not the "norm" I don't want it to be branded unprofessional.
 
infinitessimal said:
Thanks! I'm reading this great book right now and am so tempted to write my PS in this style, which is very engaging, but if that's not the "norm" I don't want it to be branded unprofessional.
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I did it at the advice of my mentor (an English professor who had gone to medical school)

I think if you can do it well, it's to your advantage because of how many personal statements these people read, yours will stand out.

Feel free to PM it to me if you decide to go that route, I'd be happy to offer critiques.
 
touchpause13 said:
I did it at the advice of my mentor (an English professor who had gone to medical school)

I think if you can do it well, it's to your advantage because of how many personal statements these people read, yours will stand out.

Feel free to PM it to me if you decide to go that route, I'd be happy to offer critiques.
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An English professor who finished medical school... iiinteresting... :thinking:
And I really appreciate that! I'll let you know when I have something drafted.
 
One of the things I learned early on in applying to grad school was to NOT apply to a place just because one guy did exciting research. What if one went there and found the guy to be a huge jerk? Then where would you be? So, always keep in mind what schools might be a good fit for y'all.

I would strongly advise you to not start with the schools you want to attend. Apply to all your state schools, and then start with the private ones where you will be most competitive based on your numbers. Definitely shoot for some reach schools, although how many will be dictated by the number of applications you are willing to file. The point is to get in, not to get in to a particular institution.[/quote]
 
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mynameissss said:
I recently found out that one my LOR writers wrote in my letter that I am very shy and would need to deal with this issue in medical school. It wasn't a large part of the letter but it was still there. I got no interviews throughout this application season, and honestly I applied to schools in my range and I have a fairly high GPA with an average MCAT and pretty good ECs. I'm not saying I don't have any fault in not getting any interviews, but do you think this LOR could be part of the reason I didn't get a single interview?
Click to expand...

I doubt it, as we learn to take all comments in LOR with a grain of sale and a "I'll see for myself" attitude, but from what you have described there seems to be no easy answer for you lack of luck.
 
CollegeGirl94 said:
My biggest problem is that I was not a good student until now (sophomore). I'm still improving, but I went through some things and just had to adjust to actually studying for the first time. My EC's also aren't too strong until now. Does a strong uptrend compensate for a few Cs?
Click to expand...

Yes, yes it can.
 
infinitessimal said:
1. Since you mentioned many of the personal statements you read are interchangeable, how would you feel about one that is more "creatively" written? For example, using liberties that some fiction writers use like incomplete sentences, a somewhat casual discourse (without veering into immaturity), or starting in media res and explaining everything by the end - in other words, something that reads like a page out of a novel rather than a cover letter.
Click to expand...

Sometimes people take chances with the PS. I can think of 1-2 that "worked." The rest came off somewhere in the spectrum of self indulgent to bizarre. Tread with caution.

infintessimal said:
2. Personal question - I started premed late in my undergrad career (poly sci major) and was only able to fit in the minimal prereqs, so I did not take biochem. My sGPA is 4.0 and I have a 14 on BS, and one of my LOR's is from my bio II professor who knew me very well. I'm going to be in a gap year when I apply, and though I plan to have a job, I can potentially take biochem at a community college in the evenings. How important is it for me to emphasize this in secondaries/interviews for schools that require it or strongly recommend it?
Click to expand...

I don't think you need to emphasize it at all. With your sGPA and a 14 on the BS few people will doubt your bio ability. It's still a good course to have under your belt - in some ways biochem has become the new orgo.
 
Hi, a few questions:

Background:
I'm currently a 1st year Master's (in biology) student with the likelihood of graduating this June, which is when I'm also applying to med school. My over GPA during college (3.43) wasn't the best, but this is due to lower div science (physics, gen chem, and math) courses taken in freshmen year as well as GE courses. I have, however, gotten very good grades in anything bio/ochem related upper div courses (All As in biology and orgo classes except for 2 A-s; 3.95 biochem major upper div GPA). My GPA was very unhealthy during my first 2 quarters of freshmen year, but it steadily increased. My MCAT scores aren't top notch (32R: 12BS, 11VR, 9PS). I have 3 abstract published (1 being 1st author), a poster presentation, and will be doing an oral presentation at the AACR meeting this coming April. I've LoRs from my PI and 2 biology professors (1 from undergrad and 1 from grad classes). I've done 2 years of volunteering at 2 hospitals (1 year per hospital). I've also been a TA for the last 2 years (started as undergrad and continued in grad school).

My questions:
1. Does it matter whether I graduate from grad school when I apply? or would it not really matter if I wait and graduate after all the application craziness has passed?
2. Because my lower div science classes grades were not good (not 1 single A), my sGPA consequently was dropped despite the high upper div sGPA. Do schools take this into account at all?
2. How much emphasis should I put into my time in grad school in terms of the works and activities sections?
3. Would not having rec letters from non science professors hurt me for schools that don't specifically require them (it is a bit hard to get one like that now...)?
4. Would having stronger research experience affect the decision making process at a school that is more clinically oriented?

Thanks in advance!
 
SamL said:
Hi, a few questions:

Background:
I'm currently a 1st year Master's (in biology) student with the likelihood of graduating this June, which is when I'm also applying to med school. My over GPA during college (3.43) wasn't the best, but this is due to lower div science (physics, gen chem, and math) courses taken in freshmen year as well as GE courses. I have, however, gotten very good grades in anything bio/ochem related upper div courses (All As in biology and orgo classes except for 2 A-s; 3.95 biochem major upper div GPA). My GPA was very unhealthy during my first 2 quarters of freshmen year, but it steadily increased. My MCAT scores aren't top notch (32R: 12BS, 11VR, 9PS). I have 3 abstract published (1 being 1st author), a poster presentation, and will be doing an oral presentation at the AACR meeting this coming April. I've LoRs from my PI and 2 biology professors (1 from undergrad and 1 from grad classes). I've done 2 years of volunteering at 2 hospitals (1 year per hospital). I've also been a TA for the last 2 years (started as undergrad and continued in grad school).

My questions:
1. Does it matter whether I graduate from grad school when I apply? or would it not really matter if I wait and graduate after all the application craziness has passed?
2. Because my lower div science classes grades were not good (not 1 single A), my sGPA consequently was dropped despite the high upper div sGPA. Do schools take this into account at all?
2. How much emphasis should I put into my time in grad school in terms of the works and activities sections?
3. Would not having rec letters from non science professors hurt me for schools that don't specifically require them (it is a bit hard to get one like that now...)?
4. Would having stronger research experience affect the decision making process at a school that is more clinically oriented?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

1. Some institutions (like mine) will accept current graduate students who are on track to finish before starting medical school. I believe others will not consider you until you are finished with your current program. I think you can see the trade-off that you face.
2. Yes, if you make it past the screen then it should be fairly easy to see the upward trend.
3. I usually see one entry for the major project that you are working on, and then additional entries for each abstract/paper/presentation generated from you work. For you that would mean four entries, which is plenty.
4. No, it shouldn't matter. We spend a lot of time discussing strength of LOR's and very little talking about who they came from, although there are always exceptions.
5. Not necessarily. Graduate study is something a lot of students undertake in order to gain some more experience, maturity, and positive academic performance. Getting a Masters may indicate that you want to become a researcher, or it may not. You also have 2 years of hospital volunteering, which indicates an interest in clinical medicine. You could sell yourself in either direction (medical research type versus practicing clinician), depending on your actual interests. The sort of applicant I am wary of is the PhD student with nine years of research experience and multiple high level publications who claims he/she wants to become a rural family medicine doc. Yeah. Sure.

You didn't mention shadowing, which would be a nice addition to your application.
 
hushcom said:
1. Some institutions (like mine) will accept current graduate students who are on track to finish before starting medical school. I believe others will not consider you until you are finished with your current program. I think you can see the trade-off that you face.
2. Yes, if you make it past the screen then it should be fairly easy to see the upward trend.
3. I usually see one entry for the major project that you are working on, and then additional entries for each abstract/paper/presentation generated from you work. For you that would mean four entries, which is plenty.
4. No, it shouldn't matter. We spend a lot of time discussing strength of LOR's and very little talking about who they came from, although there are always exceptions.
5. Not necessarily. Graduate study is something a lot of students undertake in order to gain some more experience, maturity, and positive academic performance. Getting a Masters may indicate that you want to become a researcher, or it may not. You also have 2 years of hospital volunteering, which indicates an interest in clinical medicine. You could sell yourself in either direction (medical research type versus practicing clinician), depending on your actual interests. The sort of applicant I am wary of is the PhD student with nine years of research experience and multiple high level publications who claims he/she wants to become a rural family medicine doc. Yeah. Sure.

You didn't mention shadowing, which would be a nice addition to your application.
Click to expand...

Not to start a big argument, but I get the impression that AdCom members do not appreciate how difficult it is to get shadowing hours for certain groups. I am first in my family to go to college and I am not related to, nor do I know any physicians. I volunteer in a hospital, but this hospital along with many other places I have asked explicitly forbid shadowing citing issues such as privacy and liability. I am also nontraditional, so I do not have the advantage of a student group or program that helps set up shadowing opportunities. I am not just making excuses, which is what the usual feedback is on SDN. I work full time, and I have tried to shadow at every opportunity that I can think of and pull any strings I can. I just think it is unfair to have a requirement that so blatantly favors those privileged enough to have physician parents or to have the type of family that has physician friends. If and when I do get some shadowing, I doubt the effort put into getting those few hours I can will be viewed differently from the 50, 100, or more hours that the son or daughter of a physician or someone with similar connections gets. Or will it?
 
I agree it is very difficult to get shadowing experience. It took my D 6 months to get one of trying everyday. Finally it was a professor who knew a doctor who knew another doctor, she had to get blood work done, urinalysis and they let her do rounds with a group of M1 students. She lucked out. Others she knew didn't get anywhere with it.
 
I've seen you answer that you want a viable explanation for switching careers even inside medical professions, like nurse or pharmacist, to physician. What would you like to see from a PA though, considering the job details are basically the same with perhaps just less autonomy and responsibility? Should they just expand on the desire for more autonomy, responsibility, and education? Which would be the truth in my situation.

Would successful work as a US Navy PA be a significant positive?

Would you see a person switching from RN career to PA and now applying to MD as fickle, or just someone trying to further educate themselves in a role they already play? As an explanation, my wife since graduating college did not want me to attend medical school, but as the years have gone on and seen me unhappy at my current level, she has given me the blessing to go.
 
Does being placed on a school's wait list necessarily mean the student didn't impress the school's interviewers? If not, why would a school wait list someone who did well on the interview?
 
Thanks Dr. Hushcom for doing this!

I have done a fair amount of research: for an environmental company, for a psychology professor, and in our university's chemistry dept. However, none of it has resulted in posters, publications, or clinical. Is that considered so-so? I'm applying for MD, not MD/PhD.
 
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As a freshman, I've received A's and A-'s across the board except in Gen Chem 1 in which I earned a D+. I neglected my studies first semester, and I have no excuse for that grade other than immaturity and laziness. I'm now in my second semester, I've corrected the habits that allowed me to slip so badly, and I'm retaking the class. I currently have an A- and expect to end the semester with that grade.

If I'm starting off my college career with several EC's, a job, and a year that is otherwise academically strong, does this D+ have a big impact on how my application will be viewed?

Thank you for your time!
 
On a related note to difficulty finding shadowing (which I've had difficulty with as well), how would you view someone with limited clinical experience but otherwise alright ECs. Due to the size of my school, there is an application (gpa, essay, grades in all premed courses) to volunteer at the hospital; it's incredibly competitive. I have other quasi - clinical volunteering (children vision screenings, meals on wheels, etc) and some shadowing but almost no volunteering at an actual hospital.

Thanks!
 
How do you view an applicant who reapplies but already had an acceptance to a medical school in a prior app cycle?
 
Hey, Does staying a fifth year in undergrad look bad? To top 10 or 20 schools. Particularly if you had to raise ur gpa? What if your able to get straight A's (I know hypothetical...but a gyal can dream?) For 3+ years and boost your gpa 3.6+
 
What are your thoughts on med student debt and the high price of med school?
 
Hello. Again.

Could, depending on the level of exposure, shadowing an ob/gyn count as primary care and specialty shadowing? I do plan to shadow a few other non PCPs as well.
 
Hi Hushcom. Thanks a lot for taking the time to respond to this thread. It has been very informative so far. I just have a few questions:
1. How does the adcom view applicants who are first generation college graduates?
2. I worked as a waiter during most of my undergrad. How will this be seen as an EC? This is in addition to my EMS work, hospital volunteering, teaching, and shadowing.
3. I scored a 30(10 PS, 8VR, 12BS) on the MCAT. Would you recommend a retake to bring up the 8 in VR? I've been told it should be good enough by a few people on here, but I just want to get as many opinions as possible. I have a 3.65cGPA and 3.58 sGPA.
 
I originally went back to school to become a medical scientist and now I am interested in becoming a pathologist (the reason I will have to explain a change of major). Would it raise concerns about my intention for going into medicine if I am already expressing interest in pathology (considering it is known to involve little if any interaction with patients)? I have experience being a live-in care provider for a quadriplegic woman over a summer many years ago, and helping my permanently disabled step-mother through most of my childhood. However, I'm afraid that even with experience in caregiving, my interests might be met with rejection by adcoms as those of someone better suited for research. Is this in the territory of worrying too much, or is it real cause for concern?
 
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How much weight would a LOR from Barack Obama or the Surgeon General hold?
 
For everyone's information, I am contending with tandem spring breaks right now, and will resume activity in this thread when things quiet back down. Thanks for your patience.
 
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PreciousHamburgers said:
Not to start a big argument, but I get the impression that AdCom members do not appreciate how difficult it is to get shadowing hours for certain groups. I am first in my family to go to college and I am not related to, nor do I know any physicians. I volunteer in a hospital, but this hospital along with many other places I have asked explicitly forbid shadowing citing issues such as privacy and liability. I am also nontraditional, so I do not have the advantage of a student group or program that helps set up shadowing opportunities. I am not just making excuses, which is what the usual feedback is on SDN. I work full time, and I have tried to shadow at every opportunity that I can think of and pull any strings I can. I just think it is unfair to have a requirement that so blatantly favors those privileged enough to have physician parents or to have the type of family that has physician friends. If and when I do get some shadowing, I doubt the effort put into getting those few hours I can will be viewed differently from the 50, 100, or more hours that the son or daughter of a physician or someone with similar connections gets. Or will it?
Click to expand...

I can certainly appreciate the difficulty that many people face in securing clinical exposure, particularly for non-traditional students and ones coming from undergraduate programs with weak premed advising. I did not mean to overstate its importance in assessing your overall application.
 
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Denatured said:
I've seen you answer that you want a viable explanation for switching careers even inside medical professions, like nurse or pharmacist, to physician. What would you like to see from a PA though, considering the job details are basically the same with perhaps just less autonomy and responsibility? Should they just expand on the desire for more autonomy, responsibility, and education? Which would be the truth in my situation.

Would successful work as a US Navy PA be a significant positive?
Click to expand...

This is one of the tougher sells for the very reason you point out. PA's are in demand, and the spot you took in PA school could have been filled by someone content to practice at that level. I would need to see a fairly precise and compelling reason for the change in order to support the applicant.

Denatured said:
Would you see a person switching from RN career to PA and now applying to MD as fickle, or just someone trying to further educate themselves in a role they already play? As an explanation, my wife since graduating college did not want me to attend medical school, but as the years have gone on and seen me unhappy at my current level, she has given me the blessing to go.
Click to expand...

My first impression would certainly be fickle. Our days are finite, son. At some point you have to make a choice and live with it. Also, consider whether your wife was blessing or relenting.
 
kel148 said:
Does being placed on a school's wait list necessarily mean the student didn't impress the school's interviewers?
Click to expand...

Not at all.

kel148 said:
If not, why would a school wait list someone who did well on the interview?
Click to expand...

Because the school has to consider that individual in the context of all the other applicants, many of whom also had strong credentials and did well in the interview. You can be a perfectly fine candidate and yet not rise immediately to the level of outright accept.
 
CatLady123 said:
I know multiple MCATs are never a good thing and unfortunately I'm in that boat. Would your school and other MD schools in general, give an applicant like me (took MCAT 3X, highest score is a 29;11PS-8VR-10BS) a chance given everything else on my application is good (3.9+ gpa and good mix of ECs)? I'm Asian/Immigrant/ESL. Thank you for doing this, I really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

We have accepted applicants who share the basic characteristics you have described. We typically do not trip over ourselves to offer said acceptances. There are many variables which could make your application more or less compelling.
 
ThisCouldBeYou said:
Thanks Dr. Hushcom for doing this!

I have done a fair amount of research: for an environmental company, for a psychology professor, and in our university's chemistry dept. However, none of it has resulted in posters, publications, or clinical. Is that considered so-so? I'm applying for MD, not MD/PhD.
Click to expand...

Lack of publication is the norm, at least for applicants to this institution. If you were shooting for MD, PhD at Wash U I would be concerned. Otherwise you will just have to roll with it.
 
inhumanbean said:
As a freshman, I've received A's and A-'s across the board except in Gen Chem 1 in which I earned a D+. I neglected my studies first semester, and I have no excuse for that grade other than immaturity and laziness. I'm now in my second semester, I've corrected the habits that allowed me to slip so badly, and I'm retaking the class. I currently have an A- and expect to end the semester with that grade.

If I'm starting off my college career with several EC's, a job, and a year that is otherwise academically strong, does this D+ have a big impact on how my application will be viewed?

Thank you for your time!
Click to expand...

An isolated bad grade is easy to overlook when subsequent ones are strong. If anything it may demonstrate that you are capable of assessing your own weaknesses and making appropriate changes. Might as well own it.
 
rotarman said:
On a related note to difficulty finding shadowing (which I've had difficulty with as well), how would you view someone with limited clinical experience but otherwise alright ECs. Due to the size of my school, there is an application (gpa, essay, grades in all premed courses) to volunteer at the hospital; it's incredibly competitive. I have other quasi - clinical volunteering (children vision screenings, meals on wheels, etc) and some shadowing but almost no volunteering at an actual hospital.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

If you have some shadowing under your belt I would not give a lack of hospital volunteering much weight. Remember, the whole point of getting clinical exposure is so you have some authority when I ask you "how do you know medicine is right for you?"
 
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