Applicant Questions

[CLB_MD]

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Current applicant in 2016-2017 cycle without II and had some questions:

1. How do schools view multiple MCAT attempts? One attempt was low because fire alarm went off during middle of exam and I got AAMC documentation of this (in retrospect, I should have probably voided the exam)

2. I took ~ 1 year of post-bacc science courses at local university and grades I got in those classes counted towards my AMCAS GPA. I have a 4.0 GPA in these classes. Would my post-bacc coursework be considered an "upwards trend"?

3. I might be a reapplicant next year, so can I apply with the committee letter I used this cycle (from my undergrad), or would I need to get a new committee letter?

 

[kamakazi5]

1. It depends on the school. The majority either average or look mainly at the last. All will be looking for a significant improvement for it to help.

2. That would be considered an upward trend. Depending on your GPA you may want another couple of semesters to help your case.

3. This one I'm really not sure but I would imagine it to be fine.

What's your GPA/MCAT scores? Did you apply early or late? I'm assuming you had sufficient shadowing, volunteering, other ECs?

 

[stickgirl390]

My university reuses the same committee letter. Just ask your advisor.

 

[CLB_MD]

Thanks for the responses. MCAT was 506/502 (fire alarm)/508. My GPA is what's bringing me down, at cGPA of ~3.3 and sGPA of ~3.2 at time of AMCAS application. Explained my situation multiple times: dad had two heart attacks, financial troubles, and majored in neuroscience @ Columbia.

Since time of application, I have added 70 hours of shadowing, have increased my cGPA/sGPA to 3.4/3.3 and gotten two LOR. I've added updates to all schools, but no II yet. I'm planning on taking an SMP and reapplying next cycle. It was foolish of me to have applied with stats that are below average.

 

[Go4Doc]

Thanks for the responses. MCAT was 506/502 (fire alarm)/508. My GPA is what's bringing me down, at cGPA of ~3.3 and sGPA of ~3.2 at time of AMCAS application. Explained my situation multiple times: dad had two heart attacks, financial troubles, and majored in neuroscience @ Columbia.

Since time of application, I have added 70 hours of shadowing, have increased my cGPA/sGPA to 3.4/3.3 and gotten two LOR. I've added updates to all schools, but no II yet. I'm planning on taking an SMP and reapplying next cycle. It was foolish of me to have applied with stats that are below average.

Honestly your MCAT isn't helping you either. I believe both of your non-fire alarm scores are still less than the national matriculant average and there isn't a significant difference between them. Combined with your low GPA, they don't paint the most flattering picture. I sincerely sympathize with your situation but you may want to consider applying DO if you didn't try that this cycle. Unless you're vying for an ultra-competitive residency, a DO won't hurt you in the long run. Ex: Assuming you're considering neurology, a high COMLEX and GPA/ rank is what will help get you into the more prestigious residencies.

 

[CLB_MD]

I thought 508 was the national matriculant MCAT. Next cycle, I will add some DO schools, but DO is not something I am sure about pursuing. I am interested in cardiology, and I know DO is mostly focused on primary care. Hence, I am applying for SMPs to get my GPA up to a better level. But I live in FL, and I know non-URM students with lower GPAs and MCATs getting into our state MD programs, so I thought that I would get at least 1 ii from any FL MD program during this cycle...

 

[Nomtastic]

I thought 508 was the national matriculant MCAT. Next cycle, I will add some DO schools, but DO is not something I am sure about pursuing. I am interested in cardiology, and I know DO is mostly focused on primary care. Hence, I am applying for SMPs to get my GPA up to a better level. But I live in FL, and I know non-URM students with lower GPAs and MCATs getting into our state MD programs, so I thought that I would get at least 1 ii from any FL MD program during this cycle...

508 is the national average MCAT for matriculants. However, multiple retakes in a similar score range are not always the most helpful because schools perceive that as an accurate projection of what your actual score range will be. One score can be an anomaly, while 3 starts becoming a trend. Still, it depends on the school you apply to. Because some schools take the most recent MCAT rather than averaging the scores, you may be in luck. It will be worth your time figuring out which schools do this.

Also, I think you have a slight misconception about DOs. While there may be more DOs who go into primary care than MDs, that does not mean DO schools cannot prepare you for cardiology or whichever specialty you choose. It all depends on the school as well. I know many MD schools that have a greater focus on primary care than DO schools may (i.e. FSU).

I think it is entirely possible for you to get an II with your stats, especially from your in state schools like FIU, but the key would be to make sure you convey a compelling story through your ECs and PS.

 

[CLB_MD]

508 is the national average MCAT for matriculants. However, multiple retakes in a similar score range are not always the most helpful because schools perceive that as an accurate projection of what your actual score range will be. One score can be an anomaly, while 3 starts becoming a trend. Still, it depends on the school you apply to. Because some schools take the most recent MCAT rather than averaging the scores, you may be in luck. It will be worth your time figuring out which schools do this.

Also, I think you have a slight misconception about DOs. While there may be more DOs who go into primary care than MDs, that does not mean DO schools cannot prepare you for cardiology or whichever specialty you choose. It all depends on the school as well. I know many MD schools that have a greater focus on primary care than DO schools may (i.e. FSU).

I think it is entirely possible for you to get an II with your stats, especially from your in state schools like FIU, but the key would be to make sure you convey a compelling story through your ECs and PS.

Thanks for the advice. I guess I'll just have to pick up the pieces for now. And congratulations on your MD admission.

 

[FCMike11]

I thought 508 was the national matriculant MCAT. Next cycle, I will add some DO schools, but DO is not something I am sure about pursuing. I am interested in cardiology, and I know DO is mostly focused on primary care. Hence, I am applying for SMPs to get my GPA up to a better level. But I live in FL, and I know non-URM students with lower GPAs and MCATs getting into our state MD programs, so I thought that I would get at least 1 ii from any FL MD program during this cycle...

So, DOs absolutely can and do become cardiologists. But, the way you are talking, make sure you are really ok with it and will matriculate. It's seen on here often "Well I got into DO but now I dont want any doors shut etc."

If you aren't interested in pursuing, don't apply. Vice versa, do some reading. One of the main interventional cardio guys at my hospital is a DO (I've met a DO in just about every specialty).

Also, what does that mean you've "explained your situation multiple times"? There is a place to talk about academic hurdles, but it isn't your PS or most secondaries. You have to sell yourself and if your PS has a bunch of excuses (that's how they will view) versus a strong story about who you really are and why you want to be a physician so bad, I dont think it'd reflect well.

I had a low GPA and didn't try to explain it (one secondary had a question about hurdles - did there).


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