Early Submission or BCPM?????

[anitra627]

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Hi everyone, I have a nail biter!! 😕 I am reapplying for 2005 and I know that one of my major problems last cycle was a very low BCPM. I'm taking two classes this summer and am getting A's in them and when my advisor and I plugged in my new hypothetical grades (along with new physics grades from the past year), my BCPM jumped nearly 3 points.

Here's my question. . . .

I am ready to submit AMCAS on Monday. BUT I do not yet have my official transcript for the grades I will receive for my current summer courses. I am getting A's in these courses and I NEED them factored into my BCPM. These classes are done at the end of July and I will be able to get my grades from my professors by then- though the transcript might not be ready for a week or two after that, which puts me at like August 10th.

Should I wait to get these grades before sumbitting AMCAS (I think I should). I do NOT want to get screwed with submitting at the beginning of August. Can I submit the grades when I hear from my professor and have the transcropt send to AMCAS as soon as its ready? Will AMCAS correct my application before they get the transcript? 😱 😱 😱

Any advice? Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Medikit]

What is the difference between the before and after BCPM GPA?

 

[anitra627]

2.6something vs. 3.0something

also, my undergrad doesn't send out Committee packets until mid/end of August.

 

[Medikit]

2.6something vs. 3.0something

also, my undergrad doesn't send out Committee packets until mid/end of August.

That's a pretty big difference. I would probably wait but I'd listen to what more people have to say too. Good job by the way.

 

[anitra627]

thanks. for anyone else with suggestions- is it possible to submit to amcas with my expected grades, like now- and have them wait for the transcript? will they wait for the transcript or correct me because they don't have it yet?

 

[tinkerbelle]

Definitely include your new grades on your AMCAS applications.

"Can I submit the grades when I hear from my professor and have the transcript send to AMCAS as soon as its ready?"

yes, do this. Submit your AMCAS when your professor confirms your A in the class. See... what if you say you got A's and you actually end up with a B? AMCAS will correct your grade eventually, but I think Med Schools will see that there was a grade change.

"Will AMCAS correct my application before they get the transcript??"

No. In fact, AMCAS will not start verifying your application until ALL of your transcripts are received. So submitting now won't help your app get verified any faster.

 

[Karina]

Will AMCAS review/verify your application without the transcripts? I think they wait until they recieve all your materials before they verify it.
I am kind of in the same situation. I ended up with a horrible C in Biochem last semester....my GPA didn't suffer that much since I got A's in everything else. But I expect to get A's now in the summer (I'm taking MicroBio)...so I chose to wait until the grades are posted and try to get those grades in for all that's worth...

This is all very confusing...if you decide to wait until August to submit your application, just make sure that everything is PERFECT so the whole process won't be delayed even longer

Good luck!
Karina

 

[medic170]

2.6something vs. 3.0something

also, my undergrad doesn't send out Committee packets until mid/end of August.

Wow! You should wait for sure. A few summer classes are bumping you GPA up that much?

 

[anitra627]

good point, tink.


Medic, to answer your question:
the jump from 2.6 (last year) to 3.0 this year incroporates my summer grades as well as two physics courses that i retook during the year. so the combination of four additional courses since last year is what bumps it up. if i only include the two new physics grade, i won't crack a 3. the summer grades would have to be included to do that.

i really really wanted to submit early 🙁 do you think submitting at the begnning of august will hurt me? is it really that late? when i can i expect secondaries/interviews if i do that? bottom line is that i take the risk of low bcpm or the risk of a later submission. aaagh. i hate this.

 

[medic170]

good point, tink.


Medic, to answer your question:
the jump from 2.6 (last year) to 3.0 this year incroporates my summer grades as well as two physics courses that i retook during the year. so the combination of four additional courses since last year is what bumps it up. if i only include the two new physics grade, i won't crack a 3. the summer grades would have to be included to do that.

i really really wanted to submit early 🙁 do you think submitting at the begnning of august will hurt me? is it really that late? when i can i expect secondaries/interviews if i do that? bottom line is that i take the risk of low bcpm or the risk of a later submission. aaagh. i hate this.

You won't be that far behind by submitting in August. Most school have not even sent out secondaries yet, and they don't start rolling in until mid-late july and August. You may be a couple weeks behind, but it won't hurt you much. Just have everything ready to submit when your transcripts come in. Also, if any of the schools you are applying to have their secondaries online, you could start filling them out, just don't send them in umtil you are asked to by the school.

 

[HollyJ]

You know that the retake grades don't replace the original grades, right? Both sets will be included in your GPA. Just wanted to mention this in case it made a difference.

 

[anitra627]

yeah, i know. i've factored everything from when i was in diapers in. jk. feel that way though!

 

[LP1CW]

You have no choice but to wait. A 2.6 means rejections. A 3.0 means maybe.

I'm hoping that you nailed the MCAT and have a good state school that takes a bunch of you.

Also, have you considered DO programs? Your GPA will be higher because only the second grade counts in a retake. It's a good option.

Good luck.

 

[HollyJ]

yeah, i know. i've factored everything from when i was in diapers in. jk. feel that way though!

Fair enough -- just wanted to make sure. In that case, I would definitely wait. The difference in your BCPM is way bigger than the difference in submission dates.

 

[anitra627]

You have no choice but to wait. A 2.6 means rejections. A 3.0 means maybe.

I'm hoping that you nailed the MCAT and have a good state school that takes a bunch of you.

Also, have you considered DO programs? Your GPA will be higher because only the second grade counts in a retake. It's a good option.

Good luck.

Ok, thanks everyone. I'm definitely going to wait.

And LP1- I got several interviews with my 2.6 last year- no acceptances, but several interviews at competitive schools that everyone told me I wasn't going to get. I did nail the MCAT and I must say that while most people tend to think that State schools are backups- it actually does not work that way at all in a place like NY. Lots of brain drain and lots of people looking to get a great education at half the price. If anything, its tougher just on shear numbers.

And don't get started on the DO stuff ,man! I appreciate the advice, but I will get my US MD. Why? Because I damn well deserve it and have worked for it. Because I am an AMAZING, yes amazing 😛 ,person who's done a lot of incredible things, has a fantastic record, great LORs, great schools, and the boo-ya of knowing and showing that most of the success I have achieved is the result of looking past failure in the face and kicking its ass no matter what people told me I could or could not do in accordance with those sacred ageold premed traditions. This, my friend, is why my application will proudly be sent to SUNY as well as to Harvard. On principle alone. These schools will have to make the effort to give me a big fat no before I start saying no to myself for trying.

😀

Amen.

 

[Medikit]

And don't get started on the DO stuff ,man! I appreciate the advice, but I will get my US MD. Why? Because I damn well deserve it and have worked for it. Because I am an AMAZING, yes amazing 😛 ,person who's done a lot of incredible things, has a fantastic record, great LORs, great schools, and the boo-ya of knowing and showing that most of the success I have achieved is the result of looking past failure in the face and kicking its ass no matter what people told me I could or could not do in accordance with those sacred ageold premed traditions.
😀

Amen.

I understand the sentiment, but what you just said has implications that would be offensive to me if I planned to become a DO. But given your stance on the subject I would not consider you a good candidate for osteopathy which is all the more reason to apply to their schools.

 

[anitra627]

I understand the sentiment, but what you just said has implications that would be offensive to me if I planned to become a DO. But given your stance on the subject I would not consider you a good candidate for osteopathy which is all the more reason to apply to their schools.

No no no. Please don't try to twist my words into the DO/MD debate. I was responding to LC's statement that I would have a hard time getting into an MD program, and I understand his position given only my numbers. BUT he was also implying that I should back myself up with a DO or state school. That is what is offensive to DO schools, if anything. I did not mean to say "MD or bust!", believe me. I have a public health degree for god's sake, I teach reiki, practice meditation, and I completely believe that a more holistic approach to medicine is necessary. My point is that I have a goal to get my MD, that's it. Nothing against DO- I just don't like being passively told that I should probably consider other options. Wimbeldon, the US Open, the French, and the Australian are all grand slams, but maybe I want to win the French- that's my goal. Nothing against the other tournaments, I just don't want to be told that maybe I should focus on the Australian instead. Fundamentally, there is no damn difference in the outcome. MD just suits me better because its the perspective I want and it balances out the holistic perspective on health and the body that I already have.

😍

 

[medic170]

Ok, thanks everyone. I'm definitely going to wait.

And LP1- I got several interviews with my 2.6 last year- no acceptances, but several interviews at competitive schools that everyone told me I wasn't going to get. I did nail the MCAT and I must say that while most people tend to think that State schools are backups- it actually does not work that way at all in a place like NY. Lots of brain drain and lots of people looking to get a great education at half the price. If anything, its tougher just on shear numbers.

And don't get started on the DO stuff ,man! I appreciate the advice, but I will get my US MD. Why? Because I damn well deserve it and have worked for it. Because I am an AMAZING, yes amazing 😛 ,person who's done a lot of incredible things, has a fantastic record, great LORs, great schools, and the boo-ya of knowing and showing that most of the success I have achieved is the result of looking past failure in the face and kicking its ass no matter what people told me I could or could not do in accordance with those sacred ageold premed traditions. This, my friend, is why my application will proudly be sent to SUNY as well as to Harvard. On principle alone. These schools will have to make the effort to give me a big fat no before I start saying no to myself for trying.

😀

Amen.

Wow, you really got several interviews with a 2.6? If you don't mind me asking, what was your MCAT and what in your application got you all those interviews with a 2.6?(no offense intended) BTW, good luck this time around in getting an acceptance!

 

[Medikit]

😍

Ok, I'm sorry if I misunderstood. Congratulations on your improvement and on your MCAT score. I know how difficult it is to turn around grades and how satisfying it can be you've done it. 🙂

Wow, you really got several interviews with a 2.6?

Medic: Remember this is a 2.6 BCPM, not a 2.6 overall.

 

[anitra627]

Wow, you really got several interviews with a 2.6? If you don't mind me asking, what was your MCAT and what in your application got you all those interviews with a 2.6?(no offense intended) BTW, good luck this time around in getting an acceptance!

Medkit's point exactly. I have a high "other GPA", which makes my overall decent. My transcript is sort of schizophrenic in that regard. My MCAT was average for admitted applicants, nothing crazy. Other than that, the honest truth is probably that not being a typical premed or typical latecomer helped me. I have two good schools under my belt and I really have done a lot more things and had more solid experiences than most people out of undergrad have had the chance to do, you know? And all of those things have pushed me towards medicine. I've also done good public health work outside of school which probably showed adcoms that I was serious about wanting to do medicine to further meet the needs of the underserved, since that's most of what my PH work focused on. Medicine frees you more to get in there and do hands on work. Bottom line, some schools were able to see me for me and not just for my numbers- which is great!

 

[medic170]

Ok, I'm sorry if I misunderstood. Congratulations on your improvement and on your MCAT score. I know how difficult it is to turn around grades and how satisfying it can be you've done it. 🙂




Medic: Remember this is a 2.6 BCPM, not a 2.6 overall.

Yeah, but still. Mine is 3.23 BCPM and 3.35 overall, MCAT 28Q(07P 12V 09Bio) non-trad, research assistant in psychology lab, presentation and paper on racial disparities in health care (publication pending), 6 years as a rural paramedic, 3 years in urgent care also, lots of community service, health policy and legislative intern for state legislature representative for 4 months, great LOR's from docs, state representative, 1 science prof, 1 non-science prof, and my supervisor, shadowed several doctors for the last 5 years and to top it off I have worked full time during school because my parents are poor and do not pay for any of my college.

Everybody has been telling me I have very little chance even at my state schools. I guess maybe I do have a shot after hearing that this person had several interviews? I still think it is just amazing, but I guess that is because people often tell me to apply DO or carribean because my grades and MCAT are probably not good enough for an MD program.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Amen!

 

[Medikit]

Everybody has been telling me I have very little chance even at my state schools. I guess maybe I do have a shot after hearing that this person had several interviews? I still think it is just amazing, but I guess that is because people often tell me to apply DO or carribean because my grades and MCAT are probably not good enough for an MD program.

I wouldn't doubt the OP had a really good personal statement as well.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Medic,

one thing i realized quickly when i was applying to med schools was to never listen to what other people said when they said things like, "you won't make it." just apply, do you best, and see what happens.

btw, there is a lot of randomness that figures into the med school admissions process. one guy i knew didn't get into med school on his first try. his resume didn't change much when he applied second time around...and guess what...he made it into Hopkins med.

 

[Tippy007]

Everybody has been telling me I have very little chance even at my state schools.

Medic, don't listen to those people. If your goal is to get into ANY school, I think your chances are pretty good, provided that you interview as well as you post.

 

[Medikit]

Medic, don't listen to those people. If your goal is to get into ANY school, I think your chances are pretty good, provided that you interview as well as you post.

Agreed 👍

 

[medic170]

Medic, don't listen to those people. If your goal is to get into ANY school, I think your chances are pretty good, provided that you interview as well as you post.

thanks. My goal is to get into any U.S. Medical school, MD or DO. Unfortunatley, AACOMAS figured my science GPA as only 3.15 for some reason, so I am borderline for DO schools too. OP, sorry for highjacking your thread 😛

 

[anitra627]

thanks. My goal is to get into any U.S. Medical school, MD or DO. Unfortunatley, AACOMAS figured my science GPA as only 3.15 for some reason, so I am borderline for DO schools too. OP, sorry for highjacking your thread 😛

Dude, hijack away 😍 we're all in the same boat here and you sound like an absolutely amazing candidate. i think you should go into this process believing that you deserve this completely because you do and that will demonstrate itself in your application. i made the mistake of trying to "explain myself" in interviews because i believed i was a weaker candidate and it hurt me because i think i inadvertently led my interviewers down that path in the process, which was stupid. this is your time to show them why you are spectacular- explain yourself concisely but don't let it overshadow your application. highlight those great points on paper and in person- acknowledge criticism that comes your way by adcoms and use the criticism your getting from people who don't matter as preparation- and then after you address whatever they ask you move on to what's great about your record. don't let them make you beat yourself. make them work to beat you if they want to 🙂 👍 👍