Another Adcom, ask me (almost) anything

[hushcom]

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How do you view an applicant who reapplies but already had an acceptance to a medical school in a prior app cycle?

I believe I answered this somewhere earlier in the thread. Someone with a prior acceptance needs a very good reason to have decided against matriculation. About the only ones that come to mind involve family strife and/or unintended pregnancy. Anything short of that, such as not wanting to live in Dayton or be a DO, will get you instantly killed in my book.

 

[hushcom]

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.

Are you trying to make the case that you want to be a PCP? If so then shadowing in an outpatient GYN practice can certainly give you some exposure to primary care medicine. An inpatient L&D floor, not so much.

 

[hushcom]

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?

It's a positive. We know that getting a college degree usually takes extra effort when it's not the family norm.

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.

I personally love it when I see customer service jobs on applications. When you reach residency and find yourself working long hours for low pay dealing with disgruntled people it will seem familiar.

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 would go ahead and apply with a 30, unless there is some specific, easily correctable reason that you feel kept your VR "down."

 

[deleted407021]

Are you trying to make the case that you want to be a PCP? If so then shadowing in an outpatient GYN practice can certainly give you some exposure to primary care medicine. An inpatient L&D floor, not so much.

Yeah. I'm especially interested in rural medicine and I definitely want some PCP exposure. He is a private practice ob/gyn, but I think he practices the full scope of the field including surgery. I suppose I just want to know if it will cover more than one base. It doesn't really matter, though.

 

[hushcom]

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?

Is there something in your story that lead you to pathology? I admit, I do not see many applicants who want to go that route, although it would certainly make you stand out (and not necessarily in a bad way). In general I think it is fine to have a particular specialty in mind, especially when you have some experiences/accomplishments that support it, but if you are too narrow-minded it can make you look one-dimensional. If I were you I would be honest about my aspirations, but in the meantime gathering some other clinical exposure to broaden your horizons would be advisable.

 

[hushcom]

How much weight would a LOR from Barack Obama or the Surgeon General hold?

Depends on the content of the LOR.

 

[hushcom]

Yeah. I'm especially interested in rural medicine and I definitely want some PCP exposure. He is a private practice ob/gyn, but I think he practices the full scope of the field including surgery. I suppose I just want to know if it will cover more than one base. It doesn't really matter, though.

It likely will. Most gynecologists I know are quick to tell you how much primary care medicine they dish out, especially to young women who have never picked up a regular PCP.

 

[Ace-Co-A]

@hushcom ... Thanks for doing this, doc!

Although I've been fairly fortunate this cycle with interview invites, I've been a little frustrated because I have been outright rejected at schools where I thought the interviews all went really well. I lightly assume here that being passed up for the waitlist despite average/above average stats suggests that it was something I did wrong, as opposed to just not being a dazzlingly impressive applicant (that is to say, that an ok interview might indicate the guy for the waitlist, but a bad one would indicate that the applicant be rejected despite good numbers).

I think it is important to try to analyze what it is that I'm doing poorly, as good interviewing skill will certainly come in handy down the road. However, I have become frustrated in trying to identify my weaknesses. As I recall, I maintained good posture, eye contact, and other typical interviewing skills. I don't think I said anything offensive, and I genuinely try to make the questions I ask about the school meaningful and reflective of issues that are important to me.

What observations in interviews place an applicant in a negative light? Maybe something the applicant says or does? In general, do you have any recommendations for how to evaluate an interview performance?

 

[hushcom]

What are your thoughts on med student debt and the high price of med school?

Medical education is certainly expensive, but we have not yet reached the point where it is a financially unsound decision for the vast majority of premeds. Applicants should have realistic expectations regarding their long-term financial prospects, and I believe every intern should sit down with a financial planner at least once and assemble a game plan. There are actually many ways to handle educational debt, even in specialties that are traditionally on the low end of the pay scale. The deeper and ultimately more important question is whether you are going to build your money around your life or your life around your money.

 

[hushcom]

@hushcom ... Thanks for doing this, doc!

Although I've been fairly fortunate this cycle with interview invites, I've been a little frustrated because I have been outright rejected at schools where I thought the interviews all went really well. I lightly assume here that being passed up for the waitlist despite average/above average stats suggests that it was something I did wrong, as opposed to just not being a dazzlingly impressive applicant (that is to say, that an ok interview might indicate the guy for the waitlist, but a bad one would indicate that the applicant be rejected despite good numbers).

I think it is important to try to analyze what it is that I'm doing poorly, as good interviewing skill will certainly come in handy down the road. However, I have become frustrated in trying to identify my weaknesses. As I recall, I maintained good posture, eye contact, and other typical interviewing skills. I don't think I said anything offensive, and I genuinely try to make the questions I ask about the school meaningful and reflective of issues that are important to me.

What observations in interviews place an applicant in a negative light? Maybe something the applicant says or does? In general, do you have any recommendations for how to evaluate an interview performance?

I examined your MDapps profile, and it looks like you were rejected post-interview by two highly competitive private schools, one public OOS, one public IS, and got into a highly competitive OOS.

And got into a highly competitive OOS.

Let it go, the future is calling.

 

[BasilDancingCheese]

Hushcom,

If in an interview I was asked about my hobbies and I were to reply with competitive video games among other things, would it work against me? I know lots of "Old" people have a bad perception of video games and advantages provided by strategic video games... Also, I don't have any expensive hobbies like skydiving due to lack of resources and time. Thanks for coming back and answering more questions..

 

[DokterMom]

Thank you so much Hushcom. It's good to know I have a chance, even if it small. How can I make myself more competitive at this point? Most people I have talked to, tell me to not retake the test. Would SMP programs help my case? I am currently working in the medical setting and doing a bunch of extracurriculars. Thanks again!

Not Hushcom, but I'd suggest you focus on what can be most improved in the time remaining to you. Your MCAT is what it is, so not that. 😎 Your GPA is already excellent, so in no need of improvement. 🙂 And you say your ECs are good and varied -- so probably no glaring weak spots...

So what about adding 'a hook'? Something unusual and interesting that would make a reader/interviewer want to meet you. Perhaps an interesting hobby, a talent, a creative public service, traveling through a less-traveled part of the world, scribing the life stories of hospice patients, breaking the world record for hula-hooping -- anything really. (Doesn't even have to be med school related.) Just something someone might want to ask you about in an interview that will add something unique to your med school class and be a memorable 'talking point' when the committee discusses your application.

 

[ebah99]

Hushcom, thanks so much for doing this.

What are your thoughts on a student wanting to apply to med school who is currently halfway through NP school? I'm sure it might look flippant but do you have any advice for such a person who greatly wants to become a doctor (without delaying more time and spending more money in NP school)?

Thanks!

 

[studentp0x]

How would, 200 hours of hospital-clinical volunteering (over 2 years) + brief shadowing + some leadership work (volunteer/employed) + some small stuff/few awards + long list of super exceptional athletic achievements in 2 different sports (including national and world records), look in terms of ECs?

 

[hushcom]

How would, 200 hours of hospital-clinical volunteering (over 2 years) + brief shadowing + some leadership work (volunteer/employed) + some small stuff/few awards + long list of super exceptional athletic achievements in 2 different sports (including national and world records), look in terms of ECs?

Better than most of what I see, especially the athletic achievements. It looks like you have covered your bases. If the rest of your app is solid you should have a good shot.

 

[hushcom]

Not Hushcom, but I'd suggest you focus on what can be most improved in the time remaining to you. Your MCAT is what it is, so not that. 😎 Your GPA is already excellent, so in no need of improvement. 🙂 And you say your ECs are good and varied -- so probably no glaring weak spots...

So what about adding 'a hook'? Something unusual and interesting that would make a reader/interviewer want to meet you. Perhaps an interesting hobby, a talent, a creative public service, traveling through a less-traveled part of the world, scribing the life stories of hospice patients, breaking the world record for hula-hooping -- anything really. (Doesn't even have to be med school related.) Just something someone might want to ask you about in an interview that will add something unique to your med school class and be a memorable 'talking point' when the committee discusses your application.

Ditto. Well done.

 

[hushcom]

Hushcom, thanks so much for doing this.

What are your thoughts on a student wanting to apply to med school who is currently halfway through NP school? I'm sure it might look flippant but do you have any advice for such a person who greatly wants to become a doctor (without delaying more time and spending more money in NP school)?

Thanks!

Similar to the PA-turned aspiring MD, if I am reading your application I will need a fairly specific justification for the desire to switch. If you are halfway through and NP program you presumably have a fair amount of experience in health care; show me what you are missing in your career. A vague desire for more autonomy doesn't do it for me.

 

[hushcom]

I am back out again. See you next week.

 

[studentp0x]

Better than most of what I see, especially the athletic achievements. It looks like you have covered your bases. If the rest of your app is solid you should have a good shot.

Follow up on that note, does something like athletic achievements (assuming very rare-exceptional achievements) get assessed differently depending on who's looking at it? I mean as in one adcom could view it as something outstanding and really want to interview this person while another won't care that much and see it as just a good EC.

 

[Command]

.

 

[Ehwic]

Dr. Hushcom,

I know that there are dual degrees for MD/MPH, but would there be any reason for adcoms to look down on an applicant who got their MPH first and then their MD?

 

[studentp0x]

You're a world record holder o_0 ??!

In powerlifting yes. 🙂

 

[pyrrion89]

In powerlifting yes. 🙂

Dude, if I were you I'd try to get people to ask me, "bro, do you even lift?" And I'd be all smug and say, "I hold the world record, bro. Come at me!"

 

[Hydrohammer]

Thank you for taking the time to answer all these questions Hushcom! I've learned a ton of new things from reading through this thread. I have a few questions:

1. You mentioned that getting off the Waiting List is often a matter of chance and it's best to sit tight at this point. Does that mean that when your committee is picking who to take off the WL, you use an applicant's predetermined rank and don't really look at interest, updates, or desire to attend the school?

2. If you've accepted and decide to defer for specific reasons, can other schools see if you request a deferral? Can they see if you've been granted a deferral? (Especially schools where you're on the waiting list)

3. You mention that at this point, every school can see the other schools where their accepted students are also holding acceptances. Can schools where you're waitlisted (and where you applied?) eventually see where you've been accepted? Can you go over dates regarding when this information becomes available to schools?

 

[kouentou13]

How much weight (or extra weight) does a good LOR from a member of the faculty hold?

 

[kel148]

Not at all.



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.

Thank you for your time and response!

 

[smallbiz2doc]

Is there something in your story that lead you to pathology? I admit, I do not see many applicants who want to go that route, although it would certainly make you stand out (and not necessarily in a bad way). In general I think it is fine to have a particular specialty in mind, especially when you have some experiences/accomplishments that support it, but if you are too narrow-minded it can make you look one-dimensional. If I were you I would be honest about my aspirations, but in the meantime gathering some other clinical exposure to broaden your horizons would be advisable.

Thank you for continuing to help us all out. To answer your question, it was just random exposure through online reading (after taking a career test), a cool pet-sitting client of mine being a pathologist, and hearing a discussion between doctor and patient about the pathologist's findings that made an impression on me about how important that role is in how to proceed with treatment (although I doubt that was meant for my ears).

If I understand it correctly, pathology seems like small research projects at a fast pace, knowing with each finding you just helped a patient get urgently needed answers for the best treatment plan depending on where the disease started, etc... (or in sad situations, just some much needed answers). It seems to be more of what I was looking for in research... investigative type work, but faster paced with immediate need involved. I'll get some exposure to direct patient care though first as an ER scribe.

 

[ARKR]

Hey doc, I have a rather detailed question if you don't mind!

I have awesome stats 3.9 GPA, 39 MCAT (12/12/15). I have some areas of my ECs that are absolutely fabulous. I have roughly 500-600 hours of tutoring and teaching while in college (a mix of volunteer, paid, and credit), started a club that is based on my long time hobby (and ran it for 2 years) where I compete nationally, and have 100 + hours and counting in shadowing. I've got letters from shadowing, profs I tutor for, and some profs that just had me for class. My community service however, is a bit narrow. I realize this and want to change that, so I am taking a gap year where I have some medically based community service lined up, and I'll also be doing research (trying to get into clinical, but if not I have a non-clinical position waiting). My shadowing will also continue during this time.

So my real question is, applying this cycle, if I was applying to your school, would I still be considered despite my lack of medical volunteerism? (i.e. would the future medical volunteerism + current/future shadowing be enough to make a compelling case)

 

[hushcom]

Follow up on that note, does something like athletic achievements (assuming very rare-exceptional achievements) get assessed differently depending on who's looking at it? I mean as in one adcom could view it as something outstanding and really want to interview this person while another won't care that much and see it as just a good EC.

That is certainly possible. There is no way to perfectly control for the human element of all this, but significant achievement is significant achievement, and the vast majority will likely see it for what it is.

 

[hushcom]

Dr. Hushcom,

I know that there are dual degrees for MD/MPH, but would there be any reason for adcoms to look down on an applicant who got their MPH first and then their MD?

Getting an MPH before applying to medical school is very common. The only reason judge negatively is if the applicant did not do well in the MPH program.

 

[PortlandSurgeon]

I am a practicing physician who serves on the admissions committee of an allopathic medical school in the United States. I am also not new to SDN, having seen the cast of characters evolve here over a number of years. Some recent threads in the pre-allo forum have compelled me to start this one. While I am not a longstanding and venerated member of the committee, perhaps someone will find my two cents useful and/or interesting.

So please, have at it.

Dear dr. @hushcom

i just posted this thread, would you mind giving me your advice?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...er-scribe-enough-clinical-experience.1061433/

Long story short, i just got fired for the first time from my first clinical job as the chief er medical scribe. do you think i have enough clinical experience after 6 months? how would you want an applicant to address this on amcas or in an interview? mention that they worked for 6 months, got good experience, and moved on to mcat studying and volunteering, or address the fact they were terminated and they learned from the experience?

thank you.

 

[hushcom]

Thank you for taking the time to answer all these questions Hushcom! I've learned a ton of new things from reading through this thread. I have a few questions:

1. You mentioned that getting off the Waiting List is often a matter of chance and it's best to sit tight at this point. Does that mean that when your committee is picking who to take off the WL, you use an applicant's predetermined rank and don't really look at interest, updates, or desire to attend the school?

2. If you've accepted and decide to defer for specific reasons, can other schools see if you request a deferral? Can they see if you've been granted a deferral? (Especially schools where you're on the waiting list)

3. You mention that at this point, every school can see the other schools where their accepted students are also holding acceptances. Can schools where you're waitlisted (and where you applied?) eventually see where you've been accepted? Can you go over dates regarding when this information becomes available to schools?

1. I would rather not divulge the rather specific mechanism used by my committee.

2. Deferral requests are handled within individual schools, and I am not aware of any formal means to communicate such requests between institutions. I hope you have a good reason.

3. I do not think we can ever see where applicants are wait-listed. Eventually we can see where everyone is accepted, regardless of whether we have or not. I don't know the dates by heart.

 

[hushcom]

How much weight (or extra weight) does a good LOR from a member of the faculty hold?

LORs always carry a bit more weight when they come from a known quantity, unless the writer has a tendency to say great things about EVERYONE. The vast majority of letters we receive obviously come from people we do not know, so there is a small investment of faith in taking that writer's opinion to heart. A letter from someone I know and respect, however, is a different story, and is much easier to take at face value.

 

[hushcom]

Thank you for your time and response!

You are welcome.

 

[hushcom]

Thank you for continuing to help us all out. To answer your question, it was just random exposure through online reading (after taking a career test), a cool pet-sitting client of mine being a pathologist, and hearing a discussion between doctor and patient about the pathologist's findings that made an impression on me about how important that role is in how to proceed with treatment (although I doubt that was meant for my ears).

If I understand it correctly, pathology seems like small research projects at a fast pace, knowing with each finding you just helped a patient get urgently needed answers for the best treatment plan depending on where the disease started, etc... (or in sad situations, just some much needed answers). It seems to be more of what I was looking for in research... investigative type work, but faster paced with immediate need involved. I'll get some exposure to direct patient care though first as an ER scribe.

I think that's a fair assessment, but some scribing is a great idea. You never know what delights you will encounter.

 

[hushcom]

Hey doc, I have a rather detailed question if you don't mind!

I have awesome stats 3.9 GPA, 39 MCAT (12/12/15). I have some areas of my ECs that are absolutely fabulous. I have roughly 500-600 hours of tutoring and teaching while in college (a mix of volunteer, paid, and credit), started a club that is based on my long time hobby (and ran it for 2 years) where I compete nationally, and have 100 + hours and counting in shadowing. I've got letters from shadowing, profs I tutor for, and some profs that just had me for class. My community service however, is a bit narrow. I realize this and want to change that, so I am taking a gap year where I have some medically based community service lined up, and I'll also be doing research (trying to get into clinical, but if not I have a non-clinical position waiting). My shadowing will also continue during this time.

So my real question is, applying this cycle, if I was applying to your school, would I still be considered despite my lack of medical volunteerism? (i.e. would the future medical volunteerism + current/future shadowing be enough to make a compelling case)

I think you will be fine with what you have described. 500+ hours of tutoring is a fairly deep experience, and 100+ hours of shadowing is already more than adequate for my purposes. I like to see some clinical exposure because I think it helps the applicant make an informed decision about the career path. One would hate to attend architecture school unaware of the need to draw. I like to see some volunteerism because it can help broaden young people's views of society and service, which is important when joining certain professions (such as medicine). I personally do not see an inherent need to combine the two and do medical volunteering, although if you find a good opportunity then you should take it.

 

[hushcom]

Dear dr. @hushcom

i just posted this thread, would you mind giving me your advice?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...er-scribe-enough-clinical-experience.1061433/

Long story short, i just got fired for the first time from my first clinical job as the chief er medical scribe. do you think i have enough clinical experience after 6 months? how would you want an applicant to address this on amcas or in an interview? mention that they worked for 6 months, got good experience, and moved on to mcat studying and volunteering, or address the fact they were terminated and they learned from the experience?

thank you.

I actually saw your other thread and preferred not to say anything, but since you are asking...

It sounds like you made a very young person's mistake. Or rather two mistakes. The first was to apply to become chief scribe. The early worm gets the bird, but the second mouse gets the cheese. You were the first mouse.

Your second mistake was to let the environment go to your head, thinking that being chief scribe in a "raunchy" emergency department gave you license to say whatever you wanted. Including via electronic forms of communication that now exist in perpetuity. Here is a tip: your words can always come back to haunt you, so don't say anything you might end up regretting unless it's to someone you know very, very, very well.

The good news is that you are under no obligation to disclose that you were terminated to AMCAS. If I were to look at your application it would just seem like a job you had for awhile. If I were you I would not address the termination as a learning experience, because there is no way it really presents you in a good light. It is important, however, to genuinely learn from what happened, which will involve a lot more introspection and time looking in the mirror. It will not be pleasant, but your future work experiences will benefit from it if you do.

I would be careful about asking for LORs from that hospital, unless you truly bonded with a physician while there. When people get fired everyone is usually content to let them disappear.

 

[thruthewire]

Hey, hushcom. Thanks so much for doing this, I'm finding this thread pretty interesting.

I have an interview coming up this week, and I've been preparing by mostly talking to myself about questions I think I'll be asked. How would you prepare for an interview?

 

[AndyQC]

Hi Hushcom,

Hope you are having a nice weekend.

I have been rejected by every medical school I applied to this cycle, save for one waitlist. I have yet to receive feedback from admissions, though I will be attending an exit interview soon.

In the interim, I was wondering if you might be willing to share your thoughts on what went wrong. Here is the original thread I posted:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/38-mcat-3-6-gpa-what-went-wrong.1060019/

In sum: older, non-traditional applicant. 38 MCAT. 3.6 GPA. Hundreds of hours of clinical experience as a volunteer. Thousands of hours of work experience (self-supported throughout college). Strong LORs and PS. Very weak research. Only applied in Western states for personal reasons. Recently rejected from state school despite excellent interview.

Anything major red flag immediately pop out to you? The other adcom members have been a big help but I'm trying to get as many viewpoints as possible!

Thank you!!

 

[hushcom]

Hey, hushcom. Thanks so much for doing this, I'm finding this thread pretty interesting.

I have an interview coming up this week, and I've been preparing by mostly talking to myself about questions I think I'll be asked. How would you prepare for an interview?

The best practice is to have someone else ask you questions and give you feedback. Various prep books have lists of questions that commonly arise during med school interviews. Often there is no right answer, but it helps to have considered some of the issues beforehand. Most of the interviewers I am familiar with prefer a conversational style, although many people have a series of questions they ask every applicant. When you find out the interviewer's style just try and roll with it.

I sometimes have interviewees who cannot deviate from a predetermined script of answers, which is highly annoying. Try to relax and be thoughtful.

 

[hushcom]

Only applied in Western states for personal reasons.

Unless you have a serious red flag (or two) then your limited geographic scope was your biggest problem. I would try and get feedback from your state school, but the rest of them were uphill battles from the outset. Hopefully USC will come through, but if it doesn't then you will have to decide whether you want to cast a broader net to private schools outside the west and/or DO schools, or have a high probability of another unsuccessful cycle.

 

[thruthewire]

The best practice is to have someone else ask you questions and give you feedback. Various prep books have lists of questions that commonly arise during med school interviews. Often there is no right answer, but it helps to have considered some of the issues beforehand. Most of the interviewers I am familiar with prefer a conversational style, although many people have a series of questions they ask every applicant. When you find out the interviewer's style just try and roll with it.

I sometimes have interviewees who cannot deviate from a predetermined script of answers, which is highly annoying. Try to relax and be thoughtful.

Great. Thanks again.

 

[3838]

Hushcom, thanks so much for doing this! I was just wondering if you had any advice on the financial aspect of medical school. For many of us, med school will burden us with six figure debt. Links and tips would be so appreciated. I don't have debt from undergrad, so I have little experience in this area, but I'd really like to go into school with a plan (even if it changes).

 

[woltej1]

I am a practicing physician who serves on the admissions committee of an allopathic medical school in the United States. I am also not new to SDN, having seen the cast of characters evolve here over a number of years. Some recent threads in the pre-allo forum have compelled me to start this one. While I am not a longstanding and venerated member of the committee, perhaps someone will find my two cents useful and/or interesting.

So please, have at it.

I'm a reapplicant this year after 1 round of denials. In my year off I improved my MCAT from a 27 to a 33, working full time as a clinical scribe in an ED and ICU, will be getting published by revising a scribing book the company makes and also have continued some long standing volunteer work. Does this come across as a large enough improvement in a gap year?

 

[lnvictus]

Hi Hushcom, thanks for doing this AMAA. I have a pair of questions:

1) After slacking off for the first three semesters (I have a 3.4 cGPA/2.8 sGPA now) I am doing all I can to get rid of my habits and score highly in all my exams. I have all As (and one B+ that I can work up to an A with a little luck and work) but in my fifth class I failed an exam that is worth a significant part of my grade (20%). The exam is for a non-science class that, after I dropped a minor, has no purpose for any other graduation requirements. Based on my circumstances would it look bad if I take a W for that course if it's possible I can get a C?

2) Since I plan to work for 1 or 2 years before applying to med school I've been looking for internships for this comin summer. I've only been able to snag a part time unpaid internship - if I don't find a second paid internship, I will likely take 2 courses, volunteer/shadow, and do this part time internship. What else can I do to spend my summers in order to stand out as an applicant? I would like to do something that has a long term benefit, not go on an overseas mission trip like I see premed students do here.

 

[sunflower18]

Thank you so much for doing this!! It is very much appreciated, and has merited some fantastic insights into the application process. I have two questions, if that's okay:

1) I have a high GPA (3.9+) and a decent but not great MCAT score (33). I feel as though these scores are mismatched, and am concerned that I'm not competitive enough for high-tier schools but may not get attention from low to mid-tier schools. I'm planning to apply to a healthy mix of both, but do you think that I should retake the MCAT so that I can be solidly competitive at top schools? I took the test without having several pre-reqs, and feel that I could do better now... But I really really don't want to retake it if I don't have to. Do you see students with similar mismatches in scores and GPAs? Does it raise eyebrows and cause you to think their GPA is not as impressive as it looks?

2) I am taking very challenging courses this semester, and as a result had to quit several ECs in order for me to focus on my schoolwork. I am worried that it will look bad, as all my activities suddenly diminished right before app time. Can I cite very tough classes as a reason for this, or will it look poor for me to be unable to mulitask through it?

 

[Boolean]

A bit of a personal question but I'm curious nonetheless. When someone says the phrase "The Good Doctor", what does it mean to you?

 

[apc]

Hi Hushcom,

Thank you for doing this. I'm not sure if this has been asked yet, but here it goes...I have a lower MCAT score (taken in May 2012) and want to apply this cycle. I will be retaking the test either this November or January (can't take it any earlier). I will show on my application that I'm retaking the test again, but will schools be waiting on my second score to come in and then view my app, or will they start considering my app right away? I realize updating my app in December (if I take the MCAT in November) is really late, but I'm not sure how my initial app submitted in June will be viewed.

Thanks again.

 

[Meridius]

Hi Hushcom,

I'm trying to decide which major I'd like to pursue for my undergraduate degree, and I was hoping to get your opinion.

You've mentioned in previous replies that you look at an applicants major because it tells you something about them, but you've also mentioned that you (and others) can see when an individual is "padding" their GPA with non-science/fluff courses. How would you look at nutrition courses? It appears that there are extremely varied opinions on the rigor of nutrition majors, and having only a limited experience with nutrition courses, I can't attest to their difficulty at my university just yet, so I'm trying to get as much insight as I can.

Would choosing nutrition over a BA in biology would work against me when it comes time to apply for medical schools?

Your answers and insight have been incredibly helpful! This thread has basically been a "one stop shop" for many of my questions, and I appreciate it. Thank you for your time!

 

[alcmed2]

Hello! Thanks for helping. Should I not bother applying to schools in which I am below the 10th percentile for the VR section on the MCAT but median for the overall score? My score is 14PS/9VR/13BS.