do i have a shot?

[arobin10]

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i know you probably hate these types of threads but i just want to see where i stand.

i am currently a junior at the university of Rochester getting a double BS in both physics and chemistry. my current GPA is 3.4 and i think i could get it up to a 3.5 by the time i graduate.

i have been doing research in the physics department since beginning of sophomore year, the research consists of analysis of experimental data taken by me and also a lot of computer programing/simulations. I have published two papers when I did a summer internship in high school and I also did an REU last summer and will do one this coming summer as well.
Also I have been a TA since freshman year and I also work in a development of a new advance lab class for the physics department (kinda part of my research).
I am planning on taking the mcat this coming may.

** i forgot to add that i will be presenting my research in 2 symposiums this coming April



I don't really have a school preference other then it being close to NYC.



Thank you for your help.

 

[tiamat360]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=539268

 

[arobin10]

thanks for the quick replay tiamat360, i did read that before i posted, i just thought some of you might have a more "personal" answer, but if not thanks again.

 

[Synplast]

I think you have a definite chance for an MD/PhD program. I would aim for a pretty high mcat score (35+) just so you can stand out a little more.

Do you have any clinical experience? I think that was one of my weaknesses, but it isn't as important for MD/PhD as it is for just MD. If I were you, I would apply to a broad spectrum of schools near NYC.

Also, if you know what you want to do for PhD, applying to schools that match your research interests and discussing how the schools are a good match for you on secondaries will likely help your chances for acceptance.

GOOD LUCK on your journey!

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

i know you probably hate these types of threads but i just want to see where i stand.

i am currently a junior at the university of Rochester getting a double BS in both physics and chemistry. my current GPA is 3.4 and i think i could get it up to a 3.5 by the time i graduate.

i have been doing research in the physics department since beginning of sophomore year, the research consists of analysis of experimental data taken by me and also a lot of computer programing/simulations. I have published two papers when I did a summer internship in high school and I also did an REU last summer and will do one this coming summer as well.
Also I have been a TA since freshman year and I also work in a development of a new advance lab class for the physics department (kinda part of my research).
I am planning on taking the mcat this coming may.

** i forgot to add that i will be presenting my research in 2 symposiums this coming April



I don't really have a school preference other then it being close to NYC.



Thank you for your help.

Your school is solid.

Your degrees are excellent. It won't help you as much as you might think (and as it should!), at least not for the MD aspect, but might look better for MD/PhDs than if you were an English major. It shows that you've immersed yourself in science.

Try to bring the GPA up over 3.5 to match the (alleged) cutoffs at some programs.

Research sounds good. I think it's good to stick to physics because it's more arcane for most bio-oriented interviewers and it's harder for them to detect weaknesses in your understanding of the project, future directions, and the field in general. And, many people in he biosciences are awed by the physical sciences, especially physics, and mathematics.

Recommendations seem to be good for most applicants, so it probably won't do too much to make you stand out.

It's hard to prognosticate since we don't know the MCAT score. That can make or break. If you get in the very high 30s or low 40s, given your GPA, you have a good shot at most schools ranked US News 10-20 and maybe a top 10. If it's in the low 30s it might mean your chances are better at 20-40 ranked schools.

Why close to NYC? Family/relationships or just a cool city? You should know that NYC will attract stronger applicants to nominally weaker programs just because of location. I think there are many applicants who would turn down 10-20s schools in less desirable locations in exchange for a 30-40 program like NYU, Einstein, and Mount Sinai. Cornell's Tri-I, despite the "relatively lower" rank of Cornell in comparison to places like Harvard and JHU, seems to be fiercely competitive because with the combined resources of especially Rockefeller it becomes a truly top top program.

 

[arobin10]

well the only reason i want to go to a school near NYC cause my girlfriend has her practice there and i want to be close to her, but i have not excluded schools in Philly Connecticut long island or NJ. as for clinical experience, i didn't shadow any doctors but i am volunteering in the hospitals cancer center and i am around the doctors all the time. i also took two classes with residents in the med school about medical physics and biophysics.

thank you for your help and advice!

 

[GliaGirl]

I am a senior at the UofR and have been accepted to a couple of schools. If you want to talk about anything, especially the ridiculous Health Professionals Questionnaire that you need to fill out ASAP (do it NOW if you haven't done it yet), contact me.

 

[StIGMA]

3 things that you should really not underestimate:

Research mentor's letter of rec

How you present yourself through your essays; have your research essays written and revised and rewritten by science folks/senior grad students/post-docs

MCAT & performance in high level science courses

----------

Once you have interviews:

Make your passion for science shine through

Be able to present your research very well

Have an understanding and wide knowledge base of other disciplines, especially the disciplines of your interviewers (this was cited as a main reason for getting me into one school - evidence of me going out on my own to learn science that is outside my field)

 

[imbored]

3 things that you should really not underestimate:

Research mentor's letter of rec

How you present yourself through your essays; have your research essays written and revised and rewritten by science folks/senior grad students/post-docs

MCAT & performance in high level science courses

----------

Once you have interviews:

Make your passion for science shine through

Be able to present your research very well

Have an understanding and wide knowledge base of other disciplines, especially the disciplines of your interviewers (this was cited as a main reason for getting me into one school - evidence of me going out on my own to learn science that is outside my field)

Also, lets not forget about the MEDICAL side of the application- be sure you present yourself as a good medical school candidate as well.

 

[StIGMA]

Good advice, and how much medical experience you need is program dependent. It is mostly necessary to explain why MD/PhD and not just PhD, so think about that while you apply.

 

[URHere]

Hey, I'm another (former) Rochester student - it's good to see so many of us on this board!

In my opinion, your research is solid, but the biggest determining factor at this point is going to be your MCAT score. DO NOT underestimate how much weight the MCAT can hold with some admissions committees. My score was on the low side when I applied, and I was specifically told by two of my schools (including the UofR) that my MCAT score was the reason I was wait-listed rather than accepted.

As for Rochester's crazy committee letter questionnaire, I actually went through the process without it and didn't have any trouble. None of my schools cared that I bypassed the pre-med committee, and even those that "required" a committee letter relented when I explained that the committee's deadline passed before I had even decided to apply. I'm not saying that there aren't schools out there that will care, I'm just saying that it's not an absolute requirement to jump through the committee's crazy hoops.