Can great recs push me over the edge?

[imtiaz]

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Hi all,

I'm currently a 4th year undergrad. My statistics aren't impressive in the least, when compared to the vast US Med School applicant pool. (Pre-med question) With a 3.0 GPA, how high does my MCAT need to be in order to draw attention from the adcoms. (more specifically, a "this kid isn't so dumb after all" response. Ultimately, I want to go into surgery. Quite possibly general surgery. But definitely some area in surgery. I've been volunteering in a large Veteran's hospital OR and I absolutely LOVE the field. I love interacting with patients pre-op and post-op. Frequently I wheel them into the recovery room and get to hold them up during spinals and locals. It's a great experience. Also, I'm getting a very good exposure to anesthesia, general, local, spinal, etc. I've seen so many intubations I could probably do one (although I'm not going to try anytime soon!) Now, I'm applying this application period to roughly 25+ US schools. But I'm not very confident that I'll be accepted (I'm still going to give it 110%). I fear my numbers are on the low side, albeit borderline, but low. I have a 3.0GPA in Chemistry at The University of Illinois, and a 21MCAT(7V,8P,6B). I'm taking it again in August. There is no real excuse why I did so poorly, but I can say that it was completely unexpected. I just have to be more careful this time (you know something's wrong when you finish 45 mins early in biology). I plan on giving it a lot more thought this time around, needless to say. Anyway, let's say I pull over 30 on the August MCAT. I think that this will somewhat ameliorate (to some degree) my status at least in the eyes of the adcoms. How true is this? Or is it exclusively relative depending on the college in question?
Also, another question that I had was about my volunteer experience. I currently shadow an anesthesiologist that is a clinical professor of anesthesia at the University of Illinois Med school. He is going to write me a strong postive letter of recommendation, as well as the cheif of anesthesiology at this same hospital. It's pretty obvious that this isn't going to hurt me, but has anyone heard of things like this being that "extra edge" that pushes a candidate from being not considered to being admitted? Thanks for any help!

-imtiaz

 

[emidesu]

I've been trying to get the same question answered... has anyone had this happen?

 

[UHS2002]

It depends on the school. At many schools, the rec letters are not looked at until you have made the number cut, then a strong letter, from a known entity to the school, can give you an edge over people with similar numbers. Other schools are more political. Personally, rec letters did strenghten my application at schools where I had made past the numerical cut, but were totally useless at a couple of school where my application had been put in the "reject pile" to begin with.

I would say that if you managed to pull over 30 on your next MCAT, that will balance off the GPA (a strong MCAT will make some schools take a closer look at your application and you may just make the numbers cut at others that attribute numerical values to each element of your application).

On another note, it is rather unusual to bring up your MCAT by 10 or more points, unless there were some incredible disfavorable circumstances when you took it the first time. 2-5 points is usually the average improvement. So, have a perfectly clear and honest assesment of what your problems where on the first take, so that you can concentrate on an effective improvement.

Good luck on your pursuits of surgery and let us know how you are doing!

 

[imtiaz]

Thanks for the reply UHS. I wouldn't retake the MCAT if I felt that I wasn't going to score significantly better. It's risking too much to just give it a fluke shot again. The first time I underestimated the test completely. I took AP Biology in high school, and I felt that I knew what I was doing when it came to MCAT Bio, but I really didn't. I was off by a long shot. Now, though, I've gotten a good solid review book and read it cover to cover. It's the Princeton Review Science Review book, really fat book. It covers all the general topics on the MCAT, and I've been scoring a LOT better on diagnostic tests as a result. It was just that I hadn't really sat down and done the "dirty work." I learned a lesson, until you really bear down and do things the old fashioned way they won't get done. I've been scoring in the vicinity of 30, sometimes above, sometimes below. But my range right now, my true range, is like 27-33. I still don't know if even a 30 will be good enough. Since three 9's is the mean MCAT of just about every medical school. And half of those people get higher than that. But I'm still going to give it my all, and more. But I don't feel I'll score lower, or even just 1 or 2 points higher, I'll at least get three 8s, and that's if I absolutely have the WORST experience. I'm a lot more confident now. I'm going to try really hard, but we'll see what happens. About my academic record, there were some underlying circumstances that affected that. I mean, I wasn't working full time or anything like that, or raising a family. That's why I'm reluctant to mention it. But what happened was, I had always been living with my mother since I was very young. My parents divorced when I was about 6. My senior year of high school, my mom died of an acute MI. Which meant I had to move in with my father, who was remarried, and had kids, etc. It was a pretty big change in environment, and I had to adjust to it. Along with that, there was the change in environment from going from high school to college, so it only added on to it. I don't know if this is valid though, maybe you can suggest whether or not I should mention it in my statement. I guess the reason why I'm hesitant is because I blame myself for my academic inefficiency, because no matter who I try to point the finger at, it's me who's the root of the problem. But then again, the environment did have an affect on me. I don't know what I should do about the whole thing. Anyway, thanks for your feedback. It was helpful!

-imtiaz

 

[imtiaz]

OK. I know I'm not an optimal candidate. But I have heard of people getting in with lower numbers. I recently recieved this e-mail. Any comments? I'm thinking, possible AUC recruiter? Who knows.

Imtiaz:
I am sorry to be blunt, but it is about time you wake up and
smell the coffee...
I say you have absolutely ZERO chance at a USA school unless
you have GPA 3.3 and MCAT 30++

Caribbean is possible,

SGU is the best, requires GPA 3.2 and MCAT 26.

AUC is the only other one that I recommend, and you will possibly
get in.

My wife just finished 5th semester @ AUC, now starting clinicals in USA.

Getting surgery from Caribbean is possible if you get both USMLE over 220.

I am an engineer, and I stand by my numbers..
Good luck
Andre Gurses, PE 🙂
Brown & Root Energy Services
Pemex Hookup & Commissioning
Greens Bayou Fabrication Yard P-100-2C
> * 713-******
> * andre.gurses@******.com

-imtiaz

 

[tristate]

That sounds like a AUC recruiter.

But a good recommendation can do a lot, especially if it comes from the right people.

------------------
And the blessings just keep coming!

 

[emidesu]

In general, how do you evaluate a comment from someone who says you have ZERO chances? I imagine most of us have encountered someone like this and these people almost NEVER have our interests at heart.

 

[Zero Cool]

And what about ZERO chance if you do not have a MCAT of 30++. Is he saying that NOBODY gets into a US school with a MCAT below 30? This guy doesn't know his head from his a$$.

[This message has been edited by Zero Cool (edited 08-19-2000).]

 

[bobo]

PUWAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Most people who have been on these boards awhile know that Andre has ZERO credibility. He throws around unsubstantiated statements with ease. Don't believe a word he says. He is a recruiter and a schill for a couple of the Caribbean schools. Don't believe anything else. His wife has been finishing her 5th semester and getting ready to start US clinicals for over a year now at least.

Have a nice day.

bobo

[This message has been edited by bobo (edited 08-19-2000).]

 

[UHS2002]

Just ignore Andre.

It sounds like you have a good assesment of what went wrong with your MCAT the first time.

I would live out the "extenuating circumstances" unless you were asked about your numbers at an interview or you didn't get an interview at a school where you were off the average numbers for the entering class by a close margin.