My ears are burning. Someone must be talking about me. You caught me right before I leave for vacation, so I can give you my opinion.
Ok, my take on EDP. DON"T DO IT!!! Although you have a fantastic MCAT score (wow, how did you get that score), your GPA is not good for undergrad. Your science GPA is good but only at the average for MCV. Your post-grad GPA is great so that may be your saving grace. Was that GPA from a program there at MCV, and if so which one?
The post grad work may enable you to apply EDP especially with your MCAT. If you are lucky, the committee will overlook your undergrad GPA and realize that you have really improved and have overcome what problems you had in the past. he year I applied, they didn't overlook my ONE bad semester (3 C's and 1 A, the lowest grades I had gotten in 4 years) when I lost my grandmother and it along with a lower MCAt did me in and left me hanging on the waitlist.
I FULLY understand you wanting to apply EDP due to family. I was in your shoes as well. I had a husband and kids and didn't at the time want to leave Richmond and so at the time I wanted to go to MCV. It would take the pressure off you and your family. But, and here's why it is risky. If you don't get in, you can either be rejected or put back into the regular pool of applicants. Then you can wait along with everybody else. And it means you can't apply anywhere else until October which means you would be very much behind everyone else. Are you planning on applying anywhere else if you don't get into MCV as a EDP?
Did you talk with Dr. H about your desire to apply as an EDP? Did she encourage you to do so? She always told me that people that applied with less than a college degree (you can apply with only 90 credits) and EDP took a huge risk of not getting in.
The EDPs they take are really steller applicants, ususally with no blemishes in their applications. If it were me, I would apply as a regular applicant. If you are strong enough to apply EDP, then you should be strong enough to get an acceptance before Jan 1st. If you aren't strong enough to get accepted before Jan 1st, then you more than likely wouldn't have been able to get an EDP acceptance.
I can't tell you what to do, but if I were you I would appy and see what happens and forget EDP. I know you want to minimize the stress of waiting, but you don't want to shoot yourself in the foot either. I interviewed with them the week August MCAT scores came out, so you may be interviewed early anyway and might not have to wait.
I know I have rambled here. Sorry, we just moved a few weeks ago and I am drained from unpacking and getting ready for vacation. I am so excited to be getting ready to go to VCOM. MCV did me a favor and I thank them for it. I love this part of the state. My house sits in a valley overlooking mountains in all directions. It is breathtaking here and the staff at VCOM are so great. So, I can say I have moved on in my anger towards MCV. We all mature eventually. 😀 😎
Good luck. Let me know what you decided. Maybe someone this year who applied EDP could chime in here with their stats and let you see how you compare. It is subjective though to the committee they have the year you apply. All my best.
Amy B 🙂
