Comparison

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
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Arjuna said:
Quick Question;

Two profiles:

1) G.P.A: 3.9. (Science and cumulative, lowest science grade A-)
MCAT: ~34P
~2 years of research, honors program.
10 hours of clinical experience
Treasurer of Club
Work experience (10 hrs a week- 2 years)
Maybe a minority/disadvantaged

vs

2) G.P.A: 3.85 (Science and cumulative, but with C in Orgo II, so retaken with A+)
MCAT: 42T
3+ years of research
2 Pubs
1000 hours of clinical experience
VP of club/cofounder
Crazy ECs


Which is better? Which is more likely to get into a top 10 School?
Click to expand...


Number 2 is better. 2 pubs plus 42MCAT, sweet!
As for the second part of your question, depends on whether 1 is actually a URM or not...
 
No 2. The GPA's are nearly the same but the MCAT score is way better. Both have impressive ECs
 
I would want to be #2. That MCAT, and wayyy more clinical experience.

#1 would be more competitive if you stated more definitively they were minority/disadvantaged instead of just "maybe".
 
#2 obviously

These threads remind of when they're trying to pick NCAA Tournament teams on ESPN and they just show stats and the analysts try to figure out which team is which.
 
Can't choose either.

They'd both be invited to interview. They're both above the paper threshold.
 
Arjuna said:
Quick Question;

Two profiles:

1) G.P.A: 3.9. (Science and cumulative, lowest science grade A-)
MCAT: ~34P
~2 years of research, honors program.
~50 hours of clinical experience
Treasurer of Club
Work experience (10 hrs a week- 2 years)
Multiple Honors Societies
Maybe a minority/disadvantaged

vs

2) G.P.A: 3.85 (Science and cumulative, but with C in Orgo II, so retaken with A+)
MCAT: 42T
3+ years of research
Maybe a Pub.
1000 hours of clinical experience
VP of club/cofounder
Some honors societies


Which is better? Which is more likely to get into a top 10 School?
Click to expand...

2) Is better, regardless of URM status or not. If 1) is URM, they also have a shot at a top 10, but could really use some clinical experience. Honors societies are pretty useless btw.
 
lol wtf is with this too-detailed-to-be-just-made up comparison
 
mmmcdowe said:
2) Is better, regardless of URM status or not. If 1) is URM, they also have a shot at a top 10, but could really use some clinical experience. Honors societies are pretty useless btw.
Click to expand...

But are you saying that the fact the #2 had a C+ in Orgo II at one point, and several B's in BCPM classes, doesnt matter? #1 has possibly one B, if any, in BCPM classes. And #1 is NOT URM, just from a country close to India. #2 also had an amazing upward trend; the bad grades ended freshman year, and were retaken in summer.I just thought that grades mattered more than ECs, when one has a C+ in a prereq like that. Maybe I am wrong.
 
#2 for sure.
 
Arjuna said:
But are you saying that the fact the #2 had a C+ in Orgo II at one point, and several B's in BCPM classes, doesnt matter? #1 has possible 1 or two Bs, if any in BCPM classes. And #1 is NOT URM, just from a country close to India.
Click to expand...

Well, you are starting to sound biased. Are you number 1? If 1 is not URM, then 2 def has the upper hand. Although, I think 2 had the upper hand anyway.
 
bleargh said:
lol wtf is with this too-detailed-to-be-just-made up comparison
Click to expand...

LAWL. Why do you feel the need to come up with purely stinging remarks for my threads? 🙁
 
RookTookIt said:
Well, you are starting to sound biased. Are you number 1? If 1 is not URM, then 2 def has the upper hand. Although, I think 2 had the upper hand anyway.
Click to expand...

Thanks. But really, I am neither one. I could be/could have been either one, at some point, but no.
 
bleargh said:
lol wtf is with this too-detailed-to-be-just-made up comparison
Click to expand...

lol, yeah, especially with the "but with C in Orgo II, so retaken with A+"

Hm, wasn't the OP the same person who posted the "Have you, or someone you know received a C+ in a prereq and still gotten into a top 15 school" thread?
 
bobsmith said:
lol, yeah, especially with the "but with C in Orgo II, so retaken with A+"

Hm, wasn't the OP the same person who posted the I am cool? thread
Click to expand...

Bob, I would like to request you to edit your post so that the last part isnt in there, hehe. I would like to keep some anonymity on this forum, for crissakes.
 
Arjuna said:
Bob, I would like to request you to edit your post so that the last part isnt in there, hehe. I would like to keep some anonymity on this forum, for crissakes.
Click to expand...

Anyone who cares to could look at your old posts and see that you posted in that thread. There is no loss of anonymity in the sense of your identity outside of SDN. Also, I wouldn't count on a 42T. I also wonder if this person you are comparing yourself to is real and you are simply speculating on their MCAT score based on what you perceive as the intelligence difference between you two.
 
Arjuna said:
I just thought that grades mattered more than ECs, when one has a C+ in a prereq like that. Maybe I am wrong.
Click to expand...

Grades don't matter; GPA matters.

And just to make sure you're aware: even if you retake the C+ and it becomes an A+, the C+ still appears on the transcript and gets factored in equally with the A. Furthermore, there is no A+ on AMCAS.

#2, easily. The differences between the GPAs are insignificant, and there's a gigantic difference in MCAT and ECs. If you're wanting us to tell you that no. 1 is OK with only 50 hours of clinical experience... it's not going to happen. He'll probably get in somewhere, but I'd be surprised if it was top 10. They're not kidding when they say that ECs are necessary.
 
mmmcdowe said:
Anyone who cares to could look at your old posts and see that you posted in that thread. There is no loss of anonymity in the sense of your identity outside of SDN. Also, I wouldn't count on a 42T.
Click to expand...


Heheh. No comment, other than the fact that I did give the MCAT already.
 
mmmcdowe said:
Anyone who cares to could look at your old posts and see that you posted in that thread. There is no loss of anonymity in the sense of your identity outside of SDN. Also, I wouldn't count on a 42T.
Click to expand...

This. Both of the points actually.

In the end for a top school, MCAT, GPA, ECs, LORs, everything are important. Number 2 is more well-rounded, that's why everyone is picking them.
 
to me, both candidates seem fairly equally well rounded. perhaps #2 simply has being doing certain activities for a longer period of time.

i think the 42 just stands out so ppl are drawn to pick that one (maybe some wishful thinking from us...). also, 1000 hours of clinical experience - that just sounds ridiculous but i guess its totally possible. over 4 years for undergrad, say, thats 250/year. if you're in school 10 months/year, thats 25 hours a month. so maybe 6-8 hours per week.

both are strong applicants - you don't have to get a 35+ to get into a top 10 school. its all about the package deal.
 
RunningDiva said:
to me, both candidates seem fairly equally well rounded. perhaps #2 simply has being doing certain activities for a longer period of time.

i think the 42 just stands out so ppl are drawn to pick that one (maybe some wishful thinking from us...). also, 1000 hours of clinical experience - that just sounds ridiculous but i guess its totally possible. over 4 years for undergrad, say, thats 250/year. if you're in school 10 months/year, thats 25 hours a month. so maybe 6-8 hours per week.

both are strong applicants - you don't have to get a 35+ to get into a top 10 school. its all about the package deal.
Click to expand...

This matters. #1 has weak ECs, good research, good GPA, and weakish MCAT for a top 10, especially since OP has decided that his friend in not URM. I agree with you that the whole package matters most, but #1 has a package that is lacking (that's what she said, there beat you to it).
 
mmmcdowe said:
This matters. #1 has weak ECs, good research, good GPA, and weakish MCAT for a top 10, especially since OP has decided that his friend in not URM. I agree with you that the whole package matters most, but #1 has a package that is lacking (that's what she said, there beat you to it).
Click to expand...

I agree. Plus, I tend to find that people with more long-term ECs have the better accompanying LORs.
 
arjuna said:
quick question;

two profiles:

1) g.p.a: 3.9. (science and cumulative, lowest science grade a-)
mcat: ~34p
~2 years of research, honors program.
~50 hours of clinical experience
treasurer of club
work experience (10 hrs a week- 2 years)
multiple honors societies
maybe disadvantaged

vs

2) g.p.a: 3.85 (science and cumulative, but with c+ in orgo ii, so retaken with a+) bcpm: 3.81
mcat: 42t
3+ years of research
maybe a pub.
1000 hours of clinical experience
vp of club/cofounder
some honors societies


which is better? Which is more likely to get into a top 10 school?
Click to expand...


......... You have a bloody 42 on the mcat and your doubting yourself? Really? The 42 MCAt will get a full ride easy to a top tier.
 
both of those candidates will get interviews at top-10 schools just based on numbers..number 2 has an advantage because a 42 MCAT is so unique and GPA is high..C+ might be questioned by an adcom here or there but dont see it being an issue considering everything else is outstanding..both of these candidates will have a CHANCE at top-10 schools
 
mmmcdowe said:
This matters. #1 has weak ECs, good research, good GPA, and weakish MCAT for a top 10, especially since OP has decided that his friend in not URM. I agree with you that the whole package matters most, but #1 has a package that is lacking (that's what she said, there beat you to it).
Click to expand...

it seems hard to judge quality vs. quantity. what about those of us who didn't know they wanted pursue medicine until a bit later? these individuals aren't going to have 4 years worth of clinical experience, for example. #2 does stand out more on paper for sheer length of experiences and of course, that silly mcat score. i always root for the underdog, though!!

edit: its sad that i actually thought of #1 as underdog when there are candidates with more hurdles to admission...jeez sdn goggles i guess.
 
RunningDiva said:
it seems hard to judge quality vs. quantity. what about those of us who didn't know they wanted pursue medicine until a bit later? these individuals aren't going to have 4 years worth of clinical experience, for example. #2 does stand out more on paper for sheer length of experiences and of course, that silly mcat score. i always root for the underdog, though!!

edit: its sad that i actually thought of #1 as underdog when there are candidates with more hurdles to admission...jeez sdn goggles i guess.
Click to expand...

That has always been a disadvantage, and a common reason for taking time off. Just like if the #1 candidate had started those 50 hours of clinical experience right before applying.
 
mmmcdowe said:
That has always been a disadvantage, and a common reason for taking time off. Just like if the #1 candidate had started those 50 hours of clinical experience right before applying.
Click to expand...

Agreed with the need to take the time off for some applicants. Its a calculated risk if you're applying with less time in the experience category.

My initial idea was that the "well roundedness" each applicant is really not that different. Both have research, either clinical/work experience, club/ec experience. Neither would have one-dimensional applications. But well-roundedness is a difficult concept to pin down and probably means different things to different people. The difference in length or intensity of participation, to me at least, doesn't mean an applicant is more/less well rounded than another. The length seems to correspond more to the strength of the ec, and as you said, obviously #2 wins that battle.
 
RunningDiva said:
to me, both candidates seem fairly equally well rounded. perhaps #2 simply has being doing certain activities for a longer period of time.

i think the 42 just stands out so ppl are drawn to pick that one (maybe some wishful thinking from us...). also, 1000 hours of clinical experience - that just sounds ridiculous but i guess its totally possible. over 4 years for undergrad, say, thats 250/year. if you're in school 10 months/year, thats 25 hours a month. so maybe 6-8 hours per week.

both are strong applicants - you don't have to get a 35+ to get into a top 10 school. its all about the package deal.
Click to expand...

Yeah there is a huge difference between the MCATs and 50 hours isn't so great but what about the work experience? Perhaps some of you are underestimating the time this applicant had to spend working which takes away from other activities. Using your 10 months/year for 2 years working (assuming no summers) 10 hours/week is about ~800 hours of work that applicant no. 2 didn't have to do and could devote to clinical experience or volunteering.
 
Still waiting for the OP to explain his comment about already having taken the MCAT and implying with a conspiratorial wink that he got a 42. Also pretty confused how he also managed to smoosh three semesters of biochem in plus take the MCAT (maybe even before finishing the pre-reqs?).



@Bubbles: Very valid point. It would in part come down to just how much research each did. Since #2 has an extra year, that might make up for some of the 800 hours of work that #1 has. It would also partially matter on what kind of work it was. Ultimately, medical work is more valued than a lot of starbucks/mcdonalds jobs out there, for better or worse.
 
mmmcdowe said:
Still waiting for the OP to explain his comment about already having taken the MCAT and implying with a conspiratorial wink that he got a 42. Also pretty confused how he also managed to smoosh three semesters of biochem in plus take the MCAT (maybe even before finishing the pre-reqs?).



@Bubbles: Very valid point. It would in part come down to just how much research each did. Since #2 has an extra year, that might make up for some of the 800 hours of work that #1 has. It would also partially matter on what kind of work it was. Ultimately, medical work is more valued than a lot of starbucks/mcdonalds jobs out there, for better or worse.
Click to expand...

Lol. Some people on this forum are nuts. I never explicitly stated that any one of those was my profile. Also I find your attempt to overanalyze everything funny- why are you lurking in preallo anyway lol. And I would rather not go into detail about why I took the Mcat when I did. For all you know, I could be a junior and claim to be a sophomore. This is SDN, not some court proceeding. Take a chill pill, it was just a question. If you have insecurities/ regrets about your own scores/ecs, take a chill pill again. It's just a forum and you're already in medical school.
 
Arjuna said:
Lol. Some people on this forum are nuts. I never explicitly stated that any one of those was my profile. Also I find your attempt to overanalyze everything funny- why are you lurking in preallo anyway lol. And I would rather not go into detail about why I took the Mcat when I did. For all you know, I could be a junior and claim to be a sophomore. This is SDN, not some court proceeding. Take a chill pill, it was just a question. If you have insecurities/ regrets about your own scores/ecs, take a chill pill again. It's just a forum and you're already in medical school.
Click to expand...

But asked about the C+ in Pre-Allo few days ago when you were "worried" and now created this new thread with similar scenarios in "Applicant B having a C+ in OChem II - dont you think people will think you are throwing in your stats?

Great job on the 42 MCAT, BTW. You shouldn't be too worried.
 
Arjuna said:
Lol. Some people on this forum are nuts. I never explicitly stated that any one of those was my profile. Also I find your attempt to overanalyze everything funny- why are you lurking in preallo anyway lol. And I would rather not go into detail about why I took the Mcat when I did. For all you know, I could be a junior and claim to be a sophomore. This is SDN, not some court proceeding. Take a chill pill, it was just a question. If you have insecurities/ regrets about your own scores/ecs, take a chill pill again. It's just a forum and you're already in medical school.
Click to expand...

I lurk on pre-allo because that's kind of the point of these SDN, for people with experience to answer questions and share their knowledge. I wasn't aware that you only wanted the opinion of people not currently in medical school or beyond, feel free to write that in any threads you create in the future 🙄. You're right, you could be a junior claiming to be a sophomore, or some other odd situation. Lying about your status, knowledge, and experience is typically discouraged on SDN, which is why I took the liberty to ask you to explain some things that are dubious and unclear. You never said that this was your application, but there was some implication that it might be that you haven't denied and have even somewhat supported with your comments. Its not because it isn't possible that you are a sophomore with a 42T MCAT score (or heck, just a MCAT score in general), and if you are that is definitely something worth sharing here on SDN. However, if you are not, that is also something worth knowing when people are weighing the value of your advice and comments. Implying things might not be outright lying, but that can get you in trouble here too if it is leading people to wrong conclusions. What if I were to say I go to the top medical school? Most people are going to think Harvard, but what if I was basing that on the fact that my school was ranked 1 by some other less common ranking? Nothing wrong with that, unless I propagate the assumption that I am a Harvard medical student directly or indirectly.

(BTW, careful who you call nuts when you yourself started a Class of 2016 thread years in advance. I remember how that blew my mind back when all those class of 20xx threads were popping up)
 
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