Committee Letter

[striveth]

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I'm basically one of those 8 year college kids. Transferred from university to CC back to University with way too many credits and mediocre grades (at the time I was stupid, immature, and had no idea where I was going).

I have a premed committee at my new school, the one I'm doing well in. I went and saw the counselor and I told him about how I was doing, and about the upward trend/ difference between my grades. For whatever reason he seemed hesitant and with doubts, started rambling about careers as becoming a Nurse and Physician Assistant. Not that those aren't great fields, as they play such important roles in health care, but it's just not the role I want to spend my life practicing.

I am in a situation where I need to convince the committee to write me a letter basically.

The problem is that he mentioned that my GPA was a tad on the low side, he said that he loves the school and all, but the premed students here should be getting higher GPA's in comparison to schools like Harvard or MIT. I kinda get where hes getting at, except for the fact that there are lower tier medical schools as options for people in my situation, as well as a plethora of backup options such as SMP and grade replacement (for DO). If I manage to finish school with a 3.8, that would be a great achievement.

I also think I was a tad too nervous, he asked me some silly questions like where was your dad from and I blanked out and couldn't remember my gen chem professors name. Obviously when I walked out of the room, of course they immediately pop in my head. Hate when that happens.

This situation blows..

Anyone have any thoughts on how I should approach this... I don't want to encroach my chances?

I plan to do some volunteering during the summer and then discussing my experiences with the counselor, hopefully it might convey my seriousness, as well next time I'll try to be more easygoing and relaxed, I have no idea why I was so tense that day.

Obviously now that he mentioned my GPA was a tad low, I'm going to double my work efforts.

Here's my GPA Trend thus far from school to school 2.3>3.0>3.5. I'm still learning a lot by the way and am working extremely hard...If I work hard enough I might be able to even get a 3.8 bring my cGPA to a 3.2 and have an outstanding sGPA of 3.6.

I will stay in school for another 10 years, I will do whatever it takes to get there. Like I heard some other say, one foot over the other 🙂

 

[Deadlifts]

You didn't really ask a question.

Are you asking if a committee letter is worth it? Yes, absolutely.

Are you asking how to get one? Most schools that have a pre-med committee have a formal process to obtain one.

 

[Woland]

I purposefully did not get a committee letter. Not because my advisors suck -- they are awesome.

I wanted to be that special flower that gets a chance to write a separate email to medical schools explaining my special non-traditionalness and how I could not get it because I had to work to survive.

Basically, schools that are friendly to non-trad will not require it from non-traditional students. Schools that are not so friendly to older applicants will require a letter and a special permission.

Which you may not get. Because it seems you just dragged your feet through undergrad until you became an older non-trad.

 

[kami333]

I applied without a committee letter and it was not brought up on any interviews or secondaries (doesn't mean that it wasn't an issue, maybe I wouldn't have gotten silent rejections with one?)

I had 2 science, a non-science, and 2 PI letters (and a letter from the registrar for PCOM).

 

[striveth]

turns out I have got the committee letter and a letter of recommendation all set up! All I need is some more LOR's.

Also, I am very lucky as I will have the opportunity to work at an private ambulance company based in Boston that offers backup 911 to the Boston area. Turns out I had some connections that I didn't even realize, such a small world!

I also found out that I might have some connections for medical school as well in the south. Fingers are crossed until the time comes, I'm just going to be working my butt of the next couple of years! My goal is to avoid an SMP program! I'm doing 2 BS degrees after all!

 

[futuredoc331]

Anyone have insight into schools that have a "pre med" program, but it's not really a pre med program? Lol. What I mean is the school I am going to be attending is a community college that offers an Associate of Science degree with a pre-med emphasis. I don't actually think there is anything different between any of the Associate of Science degrees and I'm pretty sure the advisors don't have any particular insight or experience with pre-meds. That doesn't concern me though because I'm willing to do all the leg work. I just need the LOR from a pre-med counselor. Is there going to be any problem with a normal counselor who I work with through a degree with "pre-med" emphasis giving me a LOR as a pre-med advisor/committee?