Chances of Getting in

[jackcrab]

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Hi,

I took the April MCAT with a 15P, 13B, and 9V. I have had two years research experience at the Fox Chase Cancer Center and am now working at Temple Medical School (started in May but continuenig thruogh my senior year). I have also spent extensive time in a community hospital. As I hope to work both as a clinician and scientist after medical school and residency, I believed both experiences would be vital to considering these areas of medicine.

I am applying to several MSTP programs including Penn's, and thus, I am asking for opinions as to how I would fare for the mstp. I probably left some information out: I have plenty of community service, a 3.98 GPA with 4.0 in sciences. I attend Temple University and major in Biology (BS). I will be graduating in Spring 2004 (to attend medical school in fall 2004).

Could anyone out there give me your opinion of how I would fare in applying to MSTP programs? I should add that I have no publications, though will have a one or two soon with my experience at Temple Medical School. I worked at Fox Chase under the Bristol-Meyers Squibb Research Fellowship, providing a stipend for summer research.

I'm applying to the following places:
MD/PhD - Harvard, Penn, U of Chicago, Northwestern, Cornell, Columbia, U of Pitt, Johns Hopkins
MD - Temple U., Drexel U, Jefferson Medical College, Albert Einstein.

Jackcrab

P.S. How important are those essays on the application? I'm working on them a lot but was wondering abotu how much they figure in. (I figure that schools will frown upon poorly written essays, but do I need to write something that is an aesthetic masterpiece. If i say what is needed about my experiences and goals, is that sufficient?)

 

[Neuronix]

I changed the topic of this thread simply because I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with my name and school as the title of a thread. Yeah, I post them as my signature, but I'm not sure your thread is that honored by having me as the title.

Ok I am done dinner and I am munching in a Ritter Sport bar. Time to respond.

GPA - Great
MCAT - That magic number, 37 that all the MSTP applicants seem to have lol
Research Experience - Decent. It's only 2 years or maybe a bit over with no publications. I have no doubt you can get into an MSTP with this, but Harvard, JHU, and Penn are all long shots. I guess they are for anyone.

Beyond that... Yes, essays are important! You need to show enthusiasm for research and a good essay can really enhance your application. Interviews are crucial. You will get asked if you are only applying to MD/PhD, and since you're not, you should come up with a good answer for why you aren't. Of course LORs are important as well. You should have a glowing one from each of your research experiences.

For your MD schools, I bet you will be rejected from Drexel and maybe Temple right away. You're way above them in numbers and I hear they tend to screen people who they think will get into much better places.

Well I've said what I think. You will almost definately get into at least one of those MSTPs you listed if you keep it up with good secondaries, LORs, and interviews. Good luck!

 

[Habari]

i've written a bit about the relatice importance of essays etc.. here:

http://www.intransit.us/faq/#12