Applied this cycle...need advice though!

[nyc1990]

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Hey all - first, sorry for the longish post, but please please read it and offer advice if you can.

Very briefly, before giving my stats: I went to a fairly renowned University (its med school is ranked top 5 I believe), but was not interested in medicine at ALL until my Junior year. After a terrible couple of years (failed calculus my first semester freshman year), I decided to take things more seriously; however, I thought I could figure out med school stuff all on my own. I majored in Neuroscience (difficult at my school) and loaded up on premed courses at the same time.

cGPA: 3.19 BCPM: 2.84

MCAT: 31Q (11 PS, 11 VR, 9 BS), though I know I didn't prepare well enough and know I could do better.

Enrolled in Wayne State University School of Medicine's Master's in Basic Medical Sciences, Fall of 2013; if you look this up, you'll see it's not a TRUE SMP, but classes are taught by the med school profs, and it has ~33% linkage to its med school, and is supposed to be well respected among other med schools since it is one of the beginning smp-like programs. I also did NOT know I needed to 4.0 the program, and during the smp year I worked 25 hours/week as a medical scribe for an otolaryngologist, and taught high school physiology 5 hours/week. These commitments, while I loved them, certainly brought down my grad GPA.

grad BCMP: 3.65 (22 credits).

Here's where I need help. This year, during my application process, I'm working at Columbia Medical Center doing clinical research. Columbia is a solid place, and I love the research I'm doing. I'm also tutoring in science and SAT prep, volunteering at a shelter 2 hours/week, AND finishing my master's degree by taking equivalent course credit at NYU. (There is a bit too much on my plate right now).

The problem is that my grad GPA is just not high enough, coupled with an average MCAT score, is not getting me good results this cycle. I applied to 35 MD schools in late July/early August I've gotten 3 interviews --> received 1 waitlist, and waiting for results from others. Other schools are SILENT with me. I am now totally freaking out. Do you guys think I'll have to reapply again? The killer on my app is my uGPA; I haven't focused on that yet this year because of my other commitments. Will I have to quit my (great) job at Columbia in order to take post-bac classes and possibly more grad classes? I'll definitely retake the MCAT in May if I have to reapply - but is that all I'll need to do to be more competitive? My EC and LOR are all excellent. It's my GPA that I'm worried about. Can anyone with a similar experience chime in?

Thanks so much guys, and please help if you can!

 

[SN12357]

Honestly I think you should just sit tight. 3 interviews already is pretty good (sdn presents a very skewed perspective on that...), waitlists at this point in the cycle is also not bad, and silences are better than rejections, plenty of which have been handed out already. I really think the best thing for you to do right now is concentrate on everything you're already doing, and wait it out.

 

[C.glabrata123]

Sit tight, send updates/interest letters to schools you haven't heard from. Send letters of interest to the school you're waitlisted at - be politely persistent.

work, volunteer, tutor, shadow: keep doing things that will boost/add to your application if you have to apply next year.

If/when schools reject you (we'll all be rejected by someone) call their office and ask what you should work on/improve upon. Start working on that.

 

[DrMidlife]

Sigh. Three major problems, imho.

1. You know your #1 app problem is uGPA, but you're not focusing on that this year.
2. You know your #2 app problem is MCAT, but you have no time to focus on that this year.
3. You believed Wayne State when Wayne State said its program carries weight outside Michigan.

One possibly decent plan B is Tulane ACP, which requires a waitlist for admission, and which (currently) has 97% admission to Tulane med. You'd want to be ready to apply to that program, aggressively, as soon as apps open.

Since Tulane ACP only takes about a dozen students, and since I don't see time between now and May for you to do anything serious about the MCAT, I suggest waiting to reapply until June 2015 so that you can do it right (if you have to reapply). Get more undergrad coursework so that your cuGPA number moves before you apply again. You might not be able to get your usGPA up over 3.0, but make it move. On GPA redemption, you have to show you are concerned about your numbers.

Best of luck to you.

 

[alpinism]

Wait, so you didn't finish the Wayne State M.S.?

To be honest you're in really good shape to have gotten 3 interviews already (remember its still October).

What kind of advice are you looking for? You have a good shot at getting in this cycle so just wait it out and send in LOIs if you get wait listed.

If you have to reapply, stop trying to work/teach/do research and take classes. You need to take UG science classes, focus on getting all As, and raise your UG sGPA. Your MCAT is solid and won't be the reason you don't get accepted.

 

[Goro]

Can you post your list? If you aimed too high, that explain the relative lack of love. Keep in min that patience is a virtue. Did you apply to any DO programs? They'll be much more forgiving of a low uGPA.

Hey all - first, sorry for the longish post, but please please read it and offer advice if you can.

Very briefly, before giving my stats: I went to a fairly renowned University (its med school is ranked top 5 I believe), but was not interested in medicine at ALL until my Junior year. After a terrible couple of years (failed calculus my first semester freshman year), I decided to take things more seriously; however, I thought I could figure out med school stuff all on my own. I majored in Neuroscience (difficult at my school) and loaded up on premed courses at the same time.

cGPA: 3.19 BCPM: 2.84

MCAT: 31Q (11 PS, 11 VR, 9 BS), though I know I didn't prepare well enough and know I could do better.

Enrolled in Wayne State University School of Medicine's Master's in Basic Medical Sciences, Fall of 2013; if you look this up, you'll see it's not a TRUE SMP, but classes are taught by the med school profs, and it has ~33% linkage to its med school, and is supposed to be well respected among other med schools since it is one of the beginning smp-like programs. I also did NOT know I needed to 4.0 the program, and during the smp year I worked 25 hours/week as a medical scribe for an otolaryngologist, and taught high school physiology 5 hours/week. These commitments, while I loved them, certainly brought down my grad GPA.

grad BCMP: 3.65 (22 credits).

Here's where I need help. This year, during my application process, I'm working at Columbia Medical Center doing clinical research. Columbia is a solid place, and I love the research I'm doing. I'm also tutoring in science and SAT prep, volunteering at a shelter 2 hours/week, AND finishing my master's degree by taking equivalent course credit at NYU. (There is a bit too much on my plate right now).

The problem is that my grad GPA is just not high enough, coupled with an average MCAT score, is not getting me good results this cycle. I applied to 35 MD schools in late July/early August I've gotten 3 interviews --> received 1 waitlist, and waiting for results from others. Other schools are SILENT with me. I am now totally freaking out. Do you guys think I'll have to reapply again? The killer on my app is my uGPA; I haven't focused on that yet this year because of my other commitments. Will I have to quit my (great) job at Columbia in order to take post-bac classes and possibly more grad classes? I'll definitely retake the MCAT in May if I have to reapply - but is that all I'll need to do to be more competitive? My EC and LOR are all excellent. It's my GPA that I'm worried about. Can anyone with a similar experience chime in?

Thanks so much guys, and please help if you can!

 

[solitarius]

I also did NOT know I needed to 4.0 the program, and during the smp year I worked 25 hours/week as a medical scribe for an otolaryngologist, and taught high school physiology 5 hours/week. These commitments, while I loved them, certainly brought down my grad GPA.

What kind of excuse is this? With your sub-par undergraduate GPA, how could you have taken your SMP for granted like that?

That said, I think 3 interview invites is outstanding given your profile. I think the SMP, your solid ECs, and your Top 5 undergrad institution helped you quite a bit in landing even those 3 interviews.

 

[nyc1990]

Can you post your list? If you aimed too high, that explain the relative lack of love. Keep in min that patience is a virtue. Did you apply to any DO programs? They'll be much more forgiving of a low uGPA.

@Goro, First off, especially appreciate your input as an Adcom; thanks for helping us out. List has 0 top-heavy schools, and is composed mostly of lower/mid tier. I'm a NY resident, so most NY schools (minus Sinai, Columbia, Weill) as well as many in the midwest and most in Florida (family ties). Also took your advice from other forums, and applied to schools that value redemption, including Albany, NYMC, Tulane and Tufts. Did not apply DO this round, so if I reapply, I will probably go DO.

 

[nyc1990]

Sigh. Three major problems, imho.

1. You know your #1 app problem is uGPA, but you're not focusing on that this year.
2. You know your #2 app problem is MCAT, but you have no time to focus on that this year.
3. You believed Wayne State when Wayne State said its program carries weight outside Michigan.

One possibly decent plan B is Tulane ACP, which requires a waitlist for admission, and which (currently) has 97% admission to Tulane med. You'd want to be ready to apply to that program, aggressively, as soon as apps open.

Since Tulane ACP only takes about a dozen students, and since I don't see time between now and May for you to do anything serious about the MCAT, I suggest waiting to reapply until June 2015 so that you can do it right (if you have to reapply). Get more undergrad coursework so that your cuGPA number moves before you apply again. You might not be able to get your usGPA up over 3.0, but make it move. On GPA redemption, you have to show you are concerned about your numbers.

Best of luck to you.

First, DrMidLife, your posts really are full of valuable information. I knew nearly nothing about the ACP program at Tulane, so that really does sound like a safe plan B. Second, though, and respectfully, your posts always seem to invoke a sense of condescension, albeit subtle. Was there really a need to start the post off with "Sigh"? Sorry, am I boring you? I appreciate your objective, informative advice. But please, do others a favor - if you're going to give them advice, why not just leave it out. It literally does nothing helpful.

That being said, if I do not end with an acceptance to an allopathic school this year, a great backup plan definitely would be the ACP program, and, if not, then going back to work on that GPA. I'll probably retake my MCAT as well.

 

[DrMidlife]

First, DrMidLife, your posts really are full of valuable information. I knew nearly nothing about the ACP program at Tulane, so that really does sound like a safe plan B. Second, though, and respectfully, your posts always seem to invoke a sense of condescension, albeit subtle. Was there really a need to start the post off with "Sigh"? Sorry, am I boring you? I appreciate your objective, informative advice. But please, do others a favor - if you're going to give them advice, why not just leave it out. It literally does nothing helpful.

It literally does do helpful things.

First, "sigh" honestly indicates my frustration. I could have chosen to actually insult you or make fun of you or actually condescend, as many do on SDN. I could just play nice nice and give you supportive "it'll be okay" but there are plenty of others doing that. In 7 years on SDN I've chosen to give honesty. It's been valuable to me when those with experience choose to express honest frustration with me so that I can learn. I am frustrated with you, as part of the demographic of low GPA premeds who make dumb choices and aren't taking the process of getting into med school seriously. Honestly, you picked Wayne State why? Honestly, you're expecting med schools to take you seriously why?

Second, you're annoyed by my tone, which says nothing about me as an mostly anonymous internet poster. You took the time to object to the tone of an anonymous internet poster who gets nothing for helping you. What does that say about you?

Those who need advice and feedback to be packaged in a big hug full of smiley faced encouragement should just block me.

 

[nyc1990]

It literally does do helpful things.

First, "sigh" honestly indicates my frustration. I could have chosen to actually insult you or make fun of you or actually condescend, as many do on SDN. I could just play nice nice and give you supportive "it'll be okay" but there are plenty of others doing that. In 7 years on SDN I've chosen to give honesty. It's been valuable to me when those with experience choose to express honest frustration with me so that I can learn. I am frustrated with you, as part of the demographic of low GPA premeds who make dumb choices and aren't taking the process of getting into med school seriously. Honestly, you picked Wayne State why? Honestly, you're expecting med schools to take you seriously why?

Second, you're annoyed by my tone, which says nothing about me as an mostly anonymous internet poster. You took the time to object to the tone of an anonymous internet poster who gets nothing for helping you. What does that say about you?

Those who need advice and feedback to be packaged in a big hug full of smiley faced encouragement should just block me.

I picked Wayne State for 2 reasons. First, and this was 1.5 years ago, a premed adviser at my school (i.e. not SDN, which I did not know existed) told me that Wayne was a valuable program. I might agree now that a well known 'true' smp like Georgetown's would have been, on paper, a wiser choice. However, this brings me to the second reason I chose Wayne. I have very strong ties to the Michigan area, and have grown to become heavily involved in and enamored of the Detroit community. The MS at Wayne was challenging, filled with excellent professors, and allowed me to become even more actively involved in the Detroit community. I regret only that I did not 4.0 the program - this I recognize is my fault.

You seem to be taking my post a bit too personally. I'm not asking for a hug and empty, non-informative pity remarks; I am asking that you re-evaluate what you call "honesty". It shouldn't involve subtle, snide remarks. (Most) premeds like me asking these types of questions are neither childish nor stupid; we are simply anxious and trying hard to figure out the best way to improve ourselves. Just give the informative, useful advice you always deliver - I, along with many others, appreciate it. I'm not objecting to that at all. What I am saying is that some students, who are earnestly trying to take the right steps, might be extremely discouraged by your comments (take a look at other forums, I'm not the only one that feels this way).

 

[Goro]

It's wait and see time now. If anything might be holing you back, it would be the MCAT, but your performance in the SMP bodes well.

@Goro, First off, especially appreciate your input as an Adcom; thanks for helping us out. List has 0 top-heavy schools, and is composed mostly of lower/mid tier. I'm a NY resident, so most NY schools (minus Sinai, Columbia, Weill) as well as many in the midwest and most in Florida (family ties). Also took your advice from other forums, and applied to schools that value redemption, including Albany, NYMC, Tulane and Tufts. Did not apply DO this round, so if I reapply, I will probably go DO.

 

[deleted367183]

Hello there. I am sorry this cycle is sucking. But I think there's hope.

I have to differ from others who say there's still time this year. Maybe something will happen. But in last year's unsuccessful cycle I got no interviews after October. So I

 

[deleted367183]

Sorry. Got cut off.

So I think you have to plan for the worst.

What would happen (work with me here) if you registered for 4 400-level undergraduate science classes in the spring? How much would your undergrad bcpm move if you got 4 As?

Even if it didn't move that much numerically, I think a semester of (say) biochem, calc 2, genetics, and upper-level Bio would send a good message. If you are SURE you can get As.

The thing about the MCAT is that it might be pretty hard to go from 11 to 13. I say it as a natural test-taker. I don't know if I myself would take that risk.

I do not know exactly what kind of MS you are finishing at NYU. If it were, let's say, in physiology or biochem, AND you are getting flat As...

So yes. I would either quit my job and find the money, somehow, to go FT with max rigor, or I would quit everything BUT my job and find the 2 hardest classes available at night.

I do get the EC/intangible/interesting story angle. But that 2.84 is scary no matter where it comes from.

Then look at your school list and hugely diversify. Speaking from experience, I bet if you take a cold look, you'll admit that you weren't as flexible on geography or prestige as you need to be.

But I think there's hope! Just start going to the wall for next cycle, that's all. If you get in after all this year, it's not like you'll say that those spring courses were a life-altering mistake.

In your shoes I would also register for summer 2014 FT.

 

[nyc1990]

Sorry. Got cut off.

So I think you have to plan for the worst.

What would happen (work with me here) if you registered for 4 400-level undergraduate science classes in the spring? How much would your undergrad bcpm move if you got 4 As?

Even if it didn't move that much numerically, I think a semester of (say) biochem, calc 2, genetics, and upper-level Bio would send a good message. If you are SURE you can get As.

The thing about the MCAT is that it might be pretty hard to go from 11 to 13. I say it as a natural test-taker. I don't know if I myself would take that risk.

I do not know exactly what kind of MS you are finishing at NYU. If it were, let's say, in physiology or biochem, AND you are getting flat As...

So yes. I would either quit my job and find the money, somehow, to go FT with max rigor, or I would quit everything BUT my job and find the 2 hardest classes available at night.

I do get the EC/intangible/interesting story angle. But that 2.84 is scary no matter where it comes from.

Then look at your school list and hugely diversify. Speaking from experience, I bet if you take a cold look, you'll admit that you weren't as flexible on geography or prestige as you need to be.

But I think there's hope! Just start going to the wall for next cycle, that's all. If you get in after all this year, it's not like you'll say that those spring courses were a life-altering mistake.

In your shoes I would also register for summer 2014 FT.

This does make a lot of good sense. What I'm probably going to do is wait it out another 6-7 weeks. Before then, IF I can snag 2-3 more interviews OR have (magically) gotten an acceptance from one of the schools at which I interviewed, then I'll keep my job and stick with what I'm doing. However, if this doesn't happen, I think I'll unfortunately have to leave my job, enroll full time in 18+ post bac BCPM credits foir next semester to raise my uGPA, and try to make some money with tutoring. The only issue is then the MCAT. I do have time to decide, but I feel as though I'd want to take it mid-May; I definitely need to compensate by showing a high MCAT.

 

[deleted367183]

True...I missed the 9 on BS when reading the thread. I would retake if I were you.

Because you are in nyc, i would start solving the spring registration problem now...register and then drop. Our else you will not be able to FIND those classes.

 

[deleted367183]

Depending on your spring institution's schedule, also keep in mind the winter (January) term at the less-known CUNY schools. I had a good experience taking microbiology at Medgar Evers...brand new labs. Adds another A.

 

[Gfliptastic]

This cycle, you don't necessarily have to panic until Jan 2014 w/ NO acceptances. Many schools interview well into December FOR matriculants. However, Jan 2014 and beyond, they are basically interviewing for their wait list.

Give it some time. At least you've been interviewed before Jan 2014. That said, I'm not here to talk about rainbows and sunshine either. Your stats are average at best, which is why you were wait listed for an interview at that one school. The only thing you have, should you not get in, is to retake the MCAT. There's always a sliding scale for your MCAT since pts are awarded based on your MCAT score. You aren't getting points from your GPA. A 3-5 pt improvement to your raw score will make you more solid. Your extra-curriculars are pretty good. If you can get published, that would be great.