Ask me (almost) anything

[LizzyM]

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Hey LizzyM!

You have a lot of questions and I don't want to make you answer a question I'm sure you've heard 1000 times so I'll make it quick. If a student at a top 30 university has a legitimate reason for having a lower GPA freshman year (3.3-3.4 and the reason involves some personal circumstances), but then sophomore year did much better (3.9 including an A in o-chem both semesters), does this make the admissions committee view sophomore year and later GPAs as more important, or is there still a heavy emphasis on freshman year.

Also, freshman year included gen chem and bio - soph year included o-chem and physics.

An upward trend is always nice. Not as nice as a flat 3.95 but nice enough. No need to explain. Many people have a rocky freshman year. What's particularly nice is not seeing a drop in the year you take o-chem. That is all to common. 🙁

 

[pharmolu]

How would you see some one with a speech impediment/accent a that is hard to understand clearly?

 

[Cptn Loko]

Hey LizzyM, thanks a ton for all your help here at SDN, your advice is invaluable 🙂.

My question is: how would dual enrollment grades (college classes in high school) affect an otherwise strong application? For example, in my case i took about 65 college credits in H.S. with a 3.4 gpa (including one semester of organic) but have maintained a 4.0 for 3 years in my 4 year college.

Does it make any difference if you retake the pre-reqs at the 4 year university since that seems to be recommended?

 

[LizzyM]

Hey LizzyM, thanks a ton for all your help here at SDN, your advice is invaluable 🙂.

My question is: how would dual enrollment grades (college classes in high school) affect an otherwise strong application? For example, in my case i took about 65 college credits in H.S. with a 3.4 gpa (including one semester of organic) but have maintained a 4.0 for 3 years in my 4 year college.

Does it make any difference if you retake the pre-reqs at the 4 year university since that seems to be recommended?

Overall, you have a decent gpa with a strong upward trend. Anyone who digs deeper will see the HS/college splits. Anyone who drills even deeper will see the grades in specific classes. It is what it is.

If schools (not random people on the internet) have specifically recommended retaking the pre-reqs, then do so. I myself haven't heard that recommendation.

 

[no beans]

thank-you very much for answering my questions!😀

 

[LizzyM]

How would you see some one with a speech impediment/accent a that is hard to understand clearly?

That is a problem. There is help available to correct that sort of problem (see "The King's Speech" and "My Fair Lady") and you should seek it out.

 

[Starlightembers]

That is a problem. There is help available to correct that sort of problem (see "The King's Speech" and "My Fair Lady") and you should seek it out.

What about a mild lisp [that hasn't been responsive to speech therapy] that, though it causes one to pronounce certain sounds a bit odd, isn't so severe that it makes one hard to understand [at all]?

 

[Knocked Up]

Lizzy, few quick questions:

1) How do you feel about students who have tons of research (with normal productivity expectations), have been awarded the Goldwater scholarship, and have a LOR for an MD/phd program....yet they are applying MD. Does the Goldwater do anything in MD only?

2) Got the "screen of doom" from a school a little while ago. Just got an II from them a few days ago though ...anyways I thought I was done here. I never sent them an update about what I am doing this year, but on my application I said I was going to be doing one thing this year. Turns out I'm not doing that, I'm doing something else. Should I bring this up at the interview. Are they going to call me a liar?

3) I have one lower section on my MCAT (everything else has been at school's average of the schools that I have interviewed at). The "reach" schools where I will be interviewing at are coming up in January and February though. I am pretty far below their average in this section (the other two are just about on track with the mean though), should I go ahead and bring it up even if they don't ask. What is the threshold where an explanation needs to be given for a poor MCAT subsection (6,7,8, 9, 10, etc?).

4) Can you change your avatar back to that nice old lady for the new year. This one scares the s*** out of me...

 

[Neurosis]

4) Can you change your avatar back to that nice old lady for the new year. This one scares the s*** out of me...

lmao

 

[pharmolu]

What about a mild lisp [that hasn't been responsive to speech therapy] that, though it causes one to pronounce certain sounds a bit odd, isn't so severe that it makes one hard to understand [at all]?

This is basically what i have, a lisp and can't pronounce r at the end of words/syllables. used to go to therapy, was arrogant at the time, turned out to get worse and is what it is today. go figure :/

 

[LizzyM]

What about a mild lisp [that hasn't been responsive to speech therapy] that, though it causes one to pronounce certain sounds a bit odd, isn't so severe that it makes one hard to understand [at all]?

This is basically what i have, a lisp and can't pronounce r at the end of words/syllables. used to go to therapy, was arrogant at the time, turned out to get worse and is what it is today. go figure :/

If it isn't hard to understand you, it should be ok. You can always claim to be from Boston.

 

[LizzyM]

Lizzy, few quick questions:

1) How do you feel about students who have tons of research (with normal productivity expectations), have been awarded the Goldwater scholarship, and have a LOR for an MD/phd program....yet they are applying MD. Does the Goldwater do anything in MD only?

😍 -- application-wise.

2) Got the "screen of doom" from a school a little while ago. Just got an II from them a few days ago though ...anyways I thought I was done here. I never sent them an update about what I am doing this year, but on my application I said I was going to be doing one thing this year. Turns out I'm not doing that, I'm doing something else. Should I bring this up at the interview. Are they going to call me a liar?

Just say, "I have an up-date. I ended up .... rather than ...."

3) I have one lower section on my MCAT (everything else has been at school's average of the schools that I have interviewed at). The "reach" schools where I will be interviewing at are coming up in January and February though. I am pretty far below their average in this section (the other two are just about on track with the mean though), should I go ahead and bring it up even if they don't ask. What is the threshold where an explanation needs to be given for a poor MCAT subsection (6,7,8, 9, 10, etc?).

Don't bring it up. If you've been invited to interview it is a zit they can live with.

4) Can you change your avatar back to that nice old lady for the new year. This one scares the s*** out of me...

We'll see.

 

[no beans]

LizzyM, I have been in-state all my life, but would really like to go OOS for medical school. How do I convince schools that I really am serious about attending an OOS school? I am worried I will get passed over for an interview when they see everything I've done is in-state. Where is the right time and how do I slip my intentions in in a nice, appropriate way?

 

[no beans]

Also, although my research experience has been eye-opening and very educational, I am not particularly interested in an academic research career. However, I am still interested in academics since I love to teach, and I am passionate about community service to the underserved. Is there such a spot available for a student like me in a research-heavy school? How do I say I might be interested in academics when research is not my first love?

 

[LizzyM]

LizzyM, I have been in-state all my life, but would really like to go OOS for medical school. How do I convince schools that I really am serious about attending an OOS school? I am worried I will get passed over for an interview when they see everything I've done is in-state. Where is the right time and how do I slip my intentions in in a nice, appropriate way?

Visit the states you are considering... do a summer research project there or an alternate spring break or something. It helps if you have relatives or very close friends there. Mention it during your interviews.

Also, although my research experience has been eye-opening and very educational, I am not particularly interested in an academic research career. However, I am still interested in academics since I love to teach, and I am passionate about community service to the underserved. Is there such a spot available for a student like me in a research-heavy school? How do I say I might be interested in academics when research is not my first love?

Consider a primary care specialty and a focus on education of house staff and and advocacy for patients.

 

[COTA2Phys]

Can I just say that seeing LizzyM so frequently on SDN has tricked my mind into thinking Jane Lynch is LizzyM? Everytime I see that commercial for the Nook tablet i'm like, "IT'S LIZZYM OMG"... but then reality hits.. and I get sad. 🙁

Ha you beat me to it...I think the same thing

 

[a532]

Lizzy,


Say a current applicant to your school with a 4.0 cumulative GPA sends in an update with his new Fall term grades: 2 A's and 2 B+'s for a semester GPA of 3.66, and an overall cumulative drop to 3.96 (Perhaps suffered from missing too many classes due to interviews?).

Would you say this drop in grades (especially the appearance of B's for the first time...) negatively impacts decisions (in comparison to candidates who maintain a high GPA for the Fall), assuming the school is non-rolling?

Edit: And I guess two corollaries:

Do you often see a Fall semester GPA drop in your accepted students?

Is it expected that I send in a grade update?



Thank you!

 

[rickyv]

Lizzy, if you were a pre-med with multiple MD acceptances both IS and OOS what criteria would you use to choose between them?

 

[pharmbl]

LizzyM,

Immediately out of high school, I went to a community college and got two terms of straight F's. I was 18 at the time, not under any parental guidance, and did not know I needed to drop classes with the registrar if I wanted to stop going. After that time, I took a three year break, did lots of traveling, and worked full time. I continue to work full time and have a ~3.8 GPA at my university after approximately three years of enrollment. As an individual working in admissions, what kind of impact would this stint at the community college have on my likelihood of getting an interview in your opinion?

 

[BirdIsTheWord]

In all of the PS' that you have read (if any) what sort of things about them stand out to you the most?

Creativity?
Grammar?
Qualities that show them to be a good M.D.?

 

[dr zaius]

This has probably been asked, but I don't feel like reading through the "I only saved 43 premature babies in Africa! Will Harvard still accept me?!" crap that fills up these message boards.

I have always pictured you as this incredibly hot Asian lady. Is this true?

 

[LizzyM]

Lizzy,


Say a current applicant to your school with a 4.0 cumulative GPA sends in an update with his new Fall term grades: 2 A's and 2 B+'s for a semester GPA of 3.66, and an overall cumulative drop to 3.96 (Perhaps suffered from missing too many classes due to interviews?).

Would you say this drop in grades (especially the appearance of B's for the first time...) negatively impacts decisions (in comparison to candidates who maintain a high GPA for the Fall), assuming the school is non-rolling?

Edit: And I guess two corollaries:

Do you often see a Fall semester GPA drop in your accepted students?

Is it expected that I send in a grade update?



Thank you!

I am not in a position where I see updates. I doubt that a couple of Bs in an otherwise 4.0 record would negatively impact an applicant.

I never see fall gpa; I've never heard anyone express an expectation of a update with grades.

 

[LizzyM]

LizzyM,

Immediately out of high school, I went to a community college and got two terms of straight F's. I was 18 at the time, not under any parental guidance, and did not know I needed to drop classes with the registrar if I wanted to stop going. After that time, I took a three year break, did lots of traveling, and worked full time. I continue to work full time and have a ~3.8 GPA at my university after approximately three years of enrollment. As an individual working in admissions, what kind of impact would this stint at the community college have on my likelihood of getting an interview in your opinion?

Very little negative impact at some schools that take the time to read the applications. Your overall gpa might be so low that your application is a non-starter at some schools that pre-screen for gpa. 🙁

 

[Hemorrage]

Hi Lizzy I was wondering how many ECs you would think are optimal? I've been doing 2 ec s that I really love doing my entire undergrad career and I was wondering if a few ecs over long periods of time are better than sporadic bursts of different stuff for short periods of time?

 

[LizzyM]

Hi Lizzy I was wondering how many ECs you would think are optimal? I've been doing 2 ec s that I really love doing my entire undergrad career and I was wondering if a few ecs over long periods of time are better than sporadic bursts of different stuff for short periods of time?

Having just 2 items on the application would be considered very light. Keep in mind that athletics, hobbies, artistic endeavors, honors, publications, research, tutoring, employment, volunteerism, leadership, posters/presentations, even attending conferences can be listed as an "experience". Many people list shadowing too as "other". I think that six items is really the bare minimum. Are you doing the same things in the summer as during the school year? Doing research? volunteering? shadowing?

 

[lindzec]

I just finished my first semester of college. It didn't go as smoothly as planned. I ended with a 3.2. Not as high as I had hoped. Is there still time to get my gpa to where I need it to be? I know as I continue to progress down this path classes get harder and harder, I just want to know if there's still a chance I can do it and get into medical school...

 

[LizzyM]

I just finished my first semester of college. It didn't go as smoothly as planned. I ended with a 3.2. Not as high as I had hoped. Is there still time to get my gpa to where I need it to be? I know as I continue to progress down this path classes get harder and harder, I just want to know if there's still a chance I can do it and get into medical school...

If you do the typical college course schedule, your first semester will only contribute 12.5% to your total gpa at the time you graduate.

Use your time now to review concepts you which you found difficult so that you can build a firm foundation on which to build your subsequent terms.

 

[blackarrowmoose]

Having just 2 items on the application would be considered very light. Keep in mind that athletics, hobbies, artistic endeavors, honors, publications, research, tutoring, employment, volunteerism, leadership, posters/presentations, even attending conferences can be listed as an "experience". Many people list shadowing too as "other". I think that six items is really the bare minimum. Are you doing the same things in the summer as during the school year? Doing research? volunteering? shadowing?

Ohh. I see. I didn't know that research and employment counted towards this. So in terms of volunteer ecs would you say it's good to have one long term non medical ec and one long term medical one? I currently volunteer in a hospital setting where I don't have any direct clinical exposure but we work with patients to secure them access to free housing and other resources. But I was also considering volunteering in the er to actually gain some direct clinical exposure. What do you think?

Ps I also tutor

 

[sliceofbread136]

I'm doing a study abroad maymester in cambridge and traveling around Europe this summer. Does this count as an activity? Should I even include it on my application?

 

[BirdIsTheWord]

LizzyM do you not like me or something? Not to be pushy but you have skipped both of my questions 🙁

 

[Maroon5777]

Hey Lizzy, I had one teacher write a letter with wrong gender throughout, 1 teacher write a letter that was positive and negative, and 4 really good letters. I luckily received 2 interviews; both interviews went very very well. I expect to hear back soon. I am wondering if I received an interview, do letters still play a role in post interview decision. What factors decide if an applicant makes it from the interview to acceptance stage?🙂

 

[Whatyousay]

I hope you and your family have a merry Christmas, Lizzy.

 

[LizzyM]

In all of the PS' that you have read (if any) what sort of things about them stand out to you the most?

Creativity?
Grammar?
Qualities that show them to be a good M.D.?

Sad to say, the ones that are often most memorable are those that are unintentionally funny.

 

[LizzyM]

Hey Lizzy, I had one teacher write a letter with wrong gender throughout, 1 teacher write a letter that was positive and negative, and 4 really good letters. I luckily received 2 interviews; both interviews went very very well. I expect to hear back soon. I am wondering if I received an interview, do letters still play a role in post interview decision. What factors decide if an applicant makes it from the interview to acceptance stage?🙂

At some schools the letters are reviewed before interview invites go out although they are available after the interview if anyone wants to take the time to look at them.

At other schools, the letters are not reviewed until after the interview invite goes out. Obviously, in those circumstances, the bad letter can hurt despite an interview invite.

The factors that decide whether you make it from interview to admission include grades and scores, how the interview went, and anything in your application that might mitigate a negative opinion formed by an interviewer. (If an interviewer says you were X, the application might be examined for evidence that you are not X where X might be nervous, arrogant, lacking in clinical experience, and so forth

 

[LizzyM]

Ms. LizzyM,

1) What is the percentage of URM (Namely African-Americans) that are accepted and/or interviewed at your school?

I have no idea.

2) What are said interviewees stats?

I don't recall.

3) What is your choice of undergarmet wear?

clean.

 

[LizzyM]

Ohh. I see. I didn't know that research and employment counted towards this. So in terms of volunteer ecs would you say it's good to have one long term non medical ec and one long term medical one? I currently volunteer in a hospital setting where I don't have any direct clinical exposure but we work with patients to secure them access to free housing and other resources. But I was also considering volunteering in the er to actually gain some direct clinical exposure. What do you think?

Ps I also tutor

Sounds like a reasonable plan.

 

[vayntraubinator]

HAPPY HOLIDAYS 😀

1) Do you own a batman costume?

2) How is a double major looked upon? What if the 2 majors are not so related (aka biology & chemistry vs. neuroscience & history). How do you know the majors' relative difficulty at a specific undergrad school? Are majors mentioned in PS or Interviews.

3) Your underground SDN reputation keeps you anonymous. Does this secret identity signify some kind of parallel batman-like aspiration?

4) I'm doubling neurobio+his, and for the history major I've only taken 300 level courses by the time I apply. However, my senior year I will have to take scary 500 level HIS Courses. How will my grades my senior year be accounted for? How much will they matter?

5) How are you related to Bruce Wayne?

6) In your interview experiences, what are some of the Halo effects you see?

7) Did you know that Bruce Wayne strictly follows teetotalism? Do you follow this practice?

8) What characteristics do you find in applicants that make them most memorable? How do these characteristics weigh into creating the next med class you like to see? [modesty vs. team mentality vs spirit vs creativity vs leadership vs. energy]. I realize this is very subjective.

9) If you could be any part of the Batmobile, what part would you be and why?

🙂

10) Next semester I'm studying abroad in Israel. I know Russian fluently, but how much does that impact a med school decision? Let alone, does Hebrew even garner any diversity points? What are your top diversity points?

11) Can you crank dat Batman??!! 😕

For reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_IVvwcAx8s

12) How chill-ax (sp?) are interviews? Is it pure business or does it ever become casual. For example, do you ever discuss TV shows? A former applicant once told me that if you can go into casual conversation mode by the end of your interview, you've basically won. Is this true? How often does that happen?

You are dear. Thank you for this. 😍

 

[GoZags]

1) Does your school account for the Undergraduate institution attended? At my Health Sciences Club meeting, the prof in charge stated that on average applicants from my UG have 0.2 GPA less than the national average due to course rigor etc.

This average difference holds true for me, and I suppose I was concerned about being considered for admission and having this hurt me when most medical schools likely don't know this fact about my school.

Thank you very much for taking the time to field questions.

 

[samsunimomo]

Q: How would a "withdraw" in a prereq course (say Orgo) look like if the applicant later goes back to it and gets a solid grade? (say an A?)

 

[winonarider]

LizzyM,

retracted.

 

[45408]

LizzyM,

I recall earlier in the thread you said that publications were rare even for interviewees at your institution, just wondering how I stand up research wise against some of your top tier applicants that you've seen historically (please don't mis-interpret this as being arrogant I just am curious where I stand among even the elite)...

I have 3 first author publications with a top 10 medical university in two high impact surgical journals, 3 full plenary session oral presentations at national meetings and 2 mini oral presentations at regional meetings. Additionally, I am on the advisory committee of a sponsored multi-institutional (20+) prospective randomized trial that I wrote the protocol for. I am also working on a few retrospective studies.

not at all subtle brag post

 

[deleted329605]

Hey LizzyM thanks for taking the time to do this.

I was a junior transfer (from a private school) to one of my state colleges and so most of my extracurriculars are 1-2 years long. Will medical schools note that although these activities aren't 3-4 years, I got involved in them essentially immediately after being at my new school?

 

[dartmed]

Edit

 

[American Shero]

First of all... MERRY XMAS!!! 😀

Second...

1. If I take summer classes at a CC, can adcoms see which courses I took where? Or are all of the classes for that school year listed together?

2. Say I struggled throughout college and barely maintained a 3.0 my first 3 years, and then I ended up being diagnosed with ADD my senior year. If I maintained a high gpa (3.8) during the rest of my senior year, how would this be viewed? What if I decided to do a fifth year and then an SMP to show that I can handle the material now? How do you think most adcoms would view this?


😍HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!😍

 

[LizzyM]

not at all subtle brag post

And he didn't even have a question for me.

 

[LizzyM]

Q: How would a "withdraw" in a prereq course (say Orgo) look like if the applicant later goes back to it and gets a solid grade? (say an A?)

It would look like this on the AMCAS: W

 

[LizzyM]

First of all... MERRY XMAS!!! 😀

Second...

1. If I take summer classes at a CC, can adcoms see which courses I took where? Or are all of the classes for that school year listed together?

Yes, yes. And they are marked "SS" for summer session or S1 and S2 for Fall and Spring semesters.

2. Say I struggled throughout college and barely maintained a 3.0 my first 3 years, and then I ended up being diagnosed with ADD my senior year. If I maintained a high gpa (3.8) during the rest of my senior year, how would this be viewed? What if I decided to do a fifth year and then an SMP to show that I can handle the material now? How do you think most adcoms would view this?


😍HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!😍

It will look like a slight upward trend at the very end. (if you improve during the second semester the 3.0 and 3.8 average to 3.4 for senior year with 3.0 the other 3 yrs. Overall it averages to about 3.1 which is almost a non-starter at many schools

Ergo, a 5th year would be a good idea. A SMP or just a MS in biological scineces might be a good plan.

 

[BirdIsTheWord]

Sad to say, the ones that are often most memorable are those that are unintentionally funny.

Is that for better or worse?

And Merry Christmas everyone! Happy Holidays!

 

[LizzyM]

1) Does your school account for the Undergraduate institution attended? At my Health Sciences Club meeting, the prof in charge stated that on average applicants from my UG have 0.2 GPA less than the national average due to course rigor etc.

This average difference holds true for me, and I suppose I was concerned about being considered for admission and having this hurt me when most medical schools likely don't know this fact about my school.

Thank you very much for taking the time to field questions.

The professor in charge should write you a letter of recommendation and state that fact in the letter. Some schools do that. At least one school also includes the applicant's class rank in the committee letter. Another states the average gpa of all pre-meds and yet another cuts the applicant pool into 10 equal pieces and identifies into which group the applicant falls. (80-89th percentile).

We also know that about Reed College. There might be some other small liberal arts colleges for which that is true.

 

[LizzyM]

HAPPY HOLIDAYS 😀

1) Do you own a batman costume?

Only the mask.

2) How is a double major looked upon? What if the 2 majors are not so related (aka biology & chemistry vs. neuroscience & history). How do you know the majors' relative difficulty at a specific undergrad school? Are majors mentioned in PS or Interviews.

"that's interesting", "how interesting", sometimes, sometimes

3) Your underground SDN reputation keeps you anonymous. Does this secret identity signify some kind of parallel batman-like aspiration?

Yes.

4) I'm doubling neurobio+his, and for the history major I've only taken 300 level courses by the time I apply. However, my senior year I will have to take scary 500 level HIS Courses. How will my grades my senior year be accounted for? How much will they matter?

You will need to provide an official transcript to the school where you intend to matriculate. An exceptionally poor performance in the senior year could jeopardize your offer of admission. The school will tell you what its definition of "exceptionally poor" is.
If you don't get admitted in your senior year, those senior year grades will show up on the AMCAS if you apply again later.

5) How are you related to Bruce Wayne?

No.

6) In your interview experiences, what are some of the Halo effects you see?

The usual ones.

7) Did you know that Bruce Wayne strictly follows teetotalism? Do you follow this practice?

No.

8) What characteristics do you find in applicants that make them most memorable? How do these characteristics weigh into creating the next med class you like to see? [modesty vs. team mentality vs spirit vs creativity vs leadership vs. energy]. I realize this is very subjective.

Sadly, the "most memorable" are often the really horrific applicants. We work hard to exclude them from tthe next class.

9) If you could be any part of the Batmobile, what part would you be and why?

😕

10) Next semester I'm studying abroad in Israel. I know Russian fluently, but how much does that impact a med school decision? Let alone, does Hebrew even garner any diversity points? What are your top diversity points?

We don't have "diversity points", it is a more qualitiative assessment. Language skills are good, particularly if it is a language used by non-English speaking patients served by the hospitals affiliated with the med school.

11) Can you crank dat Batman??!! 😕

For reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_IVvwcAx8s

No 🙁

12) How chill-ax (sp?) are interviews? Is it pure business or does it ever become casual. For example, do you ever discuss TV shows? A former applicant once told me that if you can go into casual conversation mode by the end of your interview, you've basically won. Is this true? How often does that happen?

Yes, sometimes we discuss TV or books or sports or ballet. I usually try to open with a topic related to something non-clinical that is in the application or get into it before addressing the tougher subjects.