Do I have a Chance?

[markus21]

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Previous MCAT: 5V, 11P, 9B, R

August MCAT: 10V, 13P, 10B, Q (yes.... doubled my verbal score!!!)

GPA: 3.80

Age: 23

Research: 12 research projects (+4000 hrs), 2 publications, 2 United States Patents on new therapy for Chronic Heart Failure

Honors: 4 Honor Societies and scholarship from the ADHF

Extracurricular: Red Cross Instructor, ER, Child-Life, United Way, etc. (+500 hrs)

Origin: Canadian Citizen graduated from U.S. School

It took awhile, but I finally got the verbal score to back up my other credentials.... I didn't even get single interview last year out of 26 schools with that verbal score.... I applied to 22 this year. do I have a chance this time around? I have been discouraged a lot by the process last year. And this year, I am on a disadvantage because I took the August MCAT. Mind you that I'm an international student too... I still have not heard back from any schools yet. I wonder if I will at least get an interview this time around..... or if i'm lucky enough, an acceptance!!! I applied pretty much any place in the top 75 US News Ranking... some in top 10, some unrated. From which schools am I most likely to get interviews from? in terms of ranking (to simplify things) i know every school is different but....... just in terms of rankings for now.... (eg. not top 20, not top 50, etc)

 

[exmike]

why wouldn't you get in. you're fine.

 

[indo]

I see that you haven't cured any diseases. You might want to try to do that soon to offset that sub-par GPA. You may not know this but most of the diseases that we now have cures for were cured by people on SDN.

Originally posted by markus21
Previous MCAT: 5V, 11P, 9B, R

August MCAT: 10V, 13P, 10B, Q (yes.... doubled my verbal score!!!)

GPA: 3.80

Age: 23

Research: 12 research projects (+4000 hrs), 2 publications, 2 United States Patents on new therapy for Chronic Heart Failure

Honors: 4 Honor Societies and scholarship from the ADHF

Extracurricular: Red Cross Instructor, ER, Child-Life, United Way, etc. (+500 hrs)

Origin: Canadian Citizen graduated from U.S. School

It took awhile, but I finally got the verbal score to back up my other credentials.... I didn't even get single interview last year out of 26 schools with that verbal score.... I applied to 22 this year. do I have a chance this time around? I have been discouraged a lot by the process last year. And this year, I am on a disadvantage because I took the August MCAT. Mind you that I'm an international student too... I still have not heard back from any schools yet. I wonder if I will at least get an interview this time around..... or if i'm lucky enough, an acceptance!!! I applied pretty much any place in the top 75 US News Ranking... some in top 10, some unrated. From which schools am I most likely to get interviews from? in terms of ranking (to simplify things) i know every school is different but....... just in terms of rankings for now.... (eg. not top 20, not top 50, etc)

 

[Amy B]

Your stats alone are great but being an international student may make it harder. Did you make sure you applied to schools who accept international students?

Good luck.

 

[toomuch]

Are you applying to Canadian schools too?

 

[bella_dottoressa]

Wow. Congrats on the huge improvement in the verbal! That's awesome. I bet that was exciting, seeing that score! 🙂 A 3.8 and a 33 plus those over the top extracurrics? I'm pretty sure you're gonna be ok! 🙂 My guess is that it'll be a much nicer application cycle for you this time around!! That is a TON of research too, man oh man.

 

[topherius]

I think it bears repeating that no one posting here is on an adcom and thus can't speak with any authority about whether or not someone will get in...

but you know, if I were on an adcom I think I would actually look really favorably on someone who doubled their V on the MCAT. It means you took a hit, went out, worked really hard, and have something to show for it. I think that says a lot...not necessarily more than getting a 10 your first time around, but just something different. I don't know how being an int'l applicant will affect your chances, but otherwise, I'd say you have a great shot.

 

[markus21]

indo: well.. i'm not sure about curing disease... I work for an implantable device company (Medtronic) pacemaker/defibrillator/heart failure company... personally if someone found a cure, our company would go bankrupt, let alone my research.... 😛


And yeah.. I'm applying to Canadian Schools... I'm from Toronto, so schools like Toronto, Queen's, McMaster, and McGill...

And.. it was more of a disbelief than anything when i got the new score.... it was a result that I still have hard time believing.... I am so glad that I did not give up after the 25R!!!

 

[theDr.]

Markus21:

When did you take the mcat the first time and what did you do differently that improved your score to such an extent?

 

[markus21]

I still remember my premed advisor telling me to SERIOUSLY consider DO schools at the end of my last year cycle~ .

 

[theDr.]

HOW did you improve?

 

[markus21]

that score is from August 2002... I was working 40 hours/week at this company both when i was preparing for the august 2002 and august 2003. But back last year, I was getting really stressed because I was finding it hard to study after coming home around 6, eating dinner and sitting down finally at around 7 and studying only to 10 at night to get ready for next day at work. I tried to do too much with too little time and I realized I was doing more complaining than studying.

This time around, I just reviewed and didn't pressure myself at all... I just told myself 'hey, it can't get any worse, right?' after getting a 5, you'll know what I mean...

anyway... reading the New York Times editorial everyday for 8 months in the morning helped too!

Now I just do it for the habit!

 

[theDr.]

when did you start studying again for the august 2003 exam? thanks what materials did you use?

 

[markus21]

I started in January... but I took it real easy... remember that I was working all through out so I was time bound anyway... I didn't do any practice passages in August... I simply skimmed through the passages to try to remind myself what kind of topics I might expect in the real one. It sure saves time to do this....

And I used all kinds of materials... both PR and Kaplan, Barron's, Columbia Review... errr.. there were some other ones that I don't remember the name for...... pretty much anything I could find... you name it, i have it....

 

[theDr.]

Last 2 questions (and thanks for all your info)

1) How many hours a week did you study?

2) did you apply last august at all?

thanks, im in the same spot...mcat..work..etc

 

[markus21]

no prob theDr.

it's actually buried in my original posting that I applied to 26 schools last year and did not get a single interview.

and I worked around 15-20 hours per week. Most of it went to reading newspaper every morning... (yes... i included that... i think it's big part of doing well in verbal)


good luck!

 

[trauma_junky]

There needs to be forum for the "Do you think I have a chance?" post.


anyone agree?

 

[lawestside]

wow, good job on the verbal. the only negative is the citizenship thing. Even PRs find it difficult to get into some state schools. However, i'm sure the rest of your app will carry you through.

 

[Brickhouse]

Originally posted by markus21
Previous MCAT: 5V, 11P, 9B, R

August MCAT: 10V, 13P, 10B, Q (yes.... doubled my verbal score!!!)

GPA: 3.80

Age: 23

Research: 12 research projects (+4000 hrs), 2 publications, 2 United States Patents on new therapy for Chronic Heart Failure

Honors: 4 Honor Societies and scholarship from the ADHF

Extracurricular: Red Cross Instructor, ER, Child-Life, United Way, etc. (+500 hrs)

)

I puked out of a moving car in Beverly Hills once....does that count for anything? 🙄