Chances getting in, applying late

[harano99]

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Hey Guys, I know i'm sorta not really "non-traditional" seeing that i came from a semi-premed background of Biomedical Engineering (which has become a hot premed field even if it wasn't when i was in it a few years ago).

Basically my situation is this. I have a low undergrad gpa (3.1), which is mainly from me farting around the first two years not having any clue what to do and than turning on the afterburners in the last two years when i finally found what to do. I got a masters in BmE and got a gpa of 3.6 which isn't so stellar either (it was only a one year masters).

Anyways, i work in the medical device industry now because thats what i had always wanted to do, but for personal and moral reasons i chose to try medical school, something that i had before put as high up as law school as something i would never do.

I've been in the industry for two years now, making medical devices, writing fda submission reports and, in general, learning.

My extracurricular activities are somewhat sparse, as i never volunteered until recently but i have a long list of research activities and two publications (in material science).

That being said i just got a 37 T on my MCAT (P 14, V 11, B 12).

And i'm applying this year (by the end of this month! i know i'm late) because i'm not getting any younger. If anyone of you was patient enough to read through the last 5 paragraphs of drivel, would you be so kind as make a estimate on my chances. (i'm a pessimist so i don't foresee any interviews).

 

[efex101]

I would be a little hesitant in applying this year due to your lack of EC's and the late application. I would add some EC's and then get everything ready to apply early next year. There is larger number of applicants (so far) this year and they are extremely competitive so applying late is becoming a more of a disadvantage.

 

[harano99]

Thanks for your reply,

Yeah i'm totally in the same boat. If anything i'll apply selectively this year, just to gamble, than go full throttle next year.

 

[willtlee]

Same boat here ... AMCAS is still in the process of verifying my grades ...

 

[drizzt3117]

I guess I don't see the point of wasting time and money and becoming a reapplicant for a small chance of interviewing for waitlists.

If you improve your ECs (and potentially your GPA) and apply early, you'll have some chance at allo acceptances but I think applying this late is going to be a waste of time.

 

[efex101]

I agree with the above...it is best to NOT apply if you are ready versus applying not getting in and then reapplying...it does NOT look good.

 

[postbacker]

Hey Guys, I know i'm sorta not really "non-traditional" seeing that i came from a semi-premed background of Biomedical Engineering (which has become a hot premed field even if it wasn't when i was in it a few years ago).

Basically my situation is this. I have a low undergrad gpa (3.1), which is mainly from me farting around the first two years not having any clue what to do and than turning on the afterburners in the last two years when i finally found what to do. I got a masters in BmE and got a gpa of 3.6 which isn't so stellar either (it was only a one year masters).

Anyways, i work in the medical device industry now because thats what i had always wanted to do, but for personal and moral reasons i chose to try medical school, something that i had before put as high up as law school as something i would never do.

I've been in the industry for two years now, making medical devices, writing fda submission reports and, in general, learning.

My extracurricular activities are somewhat sparse, as i never volunteered until recently but i have a long list of research activities and two publications (in material science).

That being said i just got a 37 T on my MCAT (P 14, V 11, B 12).

And i'm applying this year (by the end of this month! i know i'm late) because i'm not getting any younger. If anyone of you was patient enough to read through the last 5 paragraphs of drivel, would you be so kind as make a estimate on my chances. (i'm a pessimist so i don't foresee any interviews).

It is too late - your chances are very poor...spend the next 8 months volunteering, and apply early next cycle...

 

[soonereng]

And i'm applying this year (by the end of this month! i know i'm late) because i'm not getting any younger. If anyone of you was patient enough to read through the last 5 paragraphs of drivel, would you be so kind as make a estimate on my chances. (i'm a pessimist so i don't foresee any interviews).

What's that saying about a snowball in hell...

Seriously though, I have a similar story (mech eng for 6+ yrs), and I applied last year at about this same time. I got into one of my state schools (which was where I wanted to go anyway) and my first test block is next week. I did have ECs and volunteering, some shadowing experience, lower MCAT than yours (34), but my GPA was quite a bit higher than yours (3.98).

So it is possible, but not necessarily probable.

 

[soonereng]

Yeah i'm totally in the same boat. If anything i'll apply selectively this year, just to gamble, than go full throttle next year.

That is what I did. I applied VERY selectively.

 

[harano99]

I agree with the above...it is best to NOT apply if you are ready versus applying not getting in and then reapplying...it does NOT look good.

Oh i wasn't aware of that. You mean being a reapplicant somehow lowers your value in the eyes of the adcom? Is it a significant lowering?

 

[efex101]

Reapplying to medical school is not something you want to pursue. Admissions committee members go through each application and IF you are a reapplicant then they will expect major changes in your application. Hence, it is best to apply ONCE when you KNOW that you are competitive. There is NO point in submitting your application when you know deep down that you are lacking some elements...if YOU know this do you not think adcoms will figure it out? and trust me when I tell you that applications are UP.

Here is the data, there was an increase from 37,373 in 2005 to 39,108 in 2006, and it seems that there will be another increase this year....also the GPA/MCAT is going UP as well.

All this can be found at aamc.org under the tab DATA

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2006/2006summary.htm