Extraordinary (Negative and Positive) Circumstances and Stats

[fauxkidneys]

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Hello Everyone,

I am applying to medical school in the summer of 2018 and would like your brutally honest feedback on whether I have salvaged an opportunity to make a MD school.

I live in Virginia and am currently attending my state school. Will be graduating at 25, due to circumstances I will get to in a minute. My story is I attend a top 20 university when I was fresh out of high school, and then failed out. I took 29 credits and received a cumulative gpa of 0.251. Once I got home I was subsequently charged and convicted of disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice. I thought I was going crazy. Within the following months I was diagnosed with Wilson's disease (which explained all of my neuropsychiatric symptoms), and subsequently received a liver transplant. Following the transplant, I took two years off and resumed my studies at a community college before transferring to my state school. I will have taken an additional (on top of the prior 29 credits) 106 credit hours before I apply, receiving straight A's.

Classes from Junior Fall Semester
Human Anatomy and Physiology, Biochemistry, Advanced (graduate) Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Immunology

Stats:
Biochemistry Major
3.21 cGPA with last 106 Credit hours being a 4.0
3.38 sGPA
522 MCAT 132/130/132/128
White Male
Tutor for local elementary school past 3 years
EMT-I with over 1500 hours
Volunteered 1000+ hours at humane society
Volunteered 1000+ hours at rehabilitation center
Over 100+ hours shadowing various medical specialties

As you can see, I have tried my best to repair the seemingly unrepairable. Any feedback on my chances, with my lackluster GPA would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Faha]

Where is your state of residence?

 

[DBC03]

I think you have a great story! I have a similar-ish app (not the same, but there are some similarities). I got just over a 2.0 GPA my freshman year (issues from a medication I took) and never really overcame it. Went back to school for a postbac and got a 4.0 and 522 MCAT (cGPA and sGPA are just over 3.4 at application). My state schools have all accepted me and been very supportive of my application, so I say go for UVA, VCU, EVMS, and VA Tech as a starting point. Apply early as it takes forever to hear back from VCU if you get your application in late. They’ll like your service. I had luck with Wake Forest and Hofstra (so far), so I highly recommend those two, and I feel like you may have some luck at schools that really like service - maybe Georgetown, George Washington (these are both low yield, but your service may make you a good fit), Tulane, Rush, and others like that. You might get some interest from schools that like applicants who have overcome their past and recreated themselves - I would definitely add Duke to the list, maybe Mayo, Columbia, UCSF (those are the ones rumored to like stuff like that - I haven’t’ gotten interviews there, yet, but have heard of some who have). Maybe Brown? Also throw in USF if you’re ok with living in Florida for part of the year as they seem to like high MCATs over many other application aspects. I found that UF and UCF had the most holistic review, but UF accepts mostly in state. But UCF was a very cool school and they seem to care a LOT less about GPA (They straight up told us they care less about GPA and look at it within context). THey also try to give scholarships to those out of state to make the tuition similar to instate. I think Miami also tends to go for non-traditional students, but I’ve heard squat from them this application cycle. I think @Goro may have some better advice as he’s been around a bit longer and knows of more schools that seem to reward reinvention.

Don’t bother with Vanderbilt or Baylor.

Good luck!


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[Goro]

Hello Everyone,

I am applying to medical school in the summer of 2018 and would like your brutally honest feedback on whether I have salvaged an opportunity to make a MD school.

I live in Virginia and am currently attending my state school. Will be graduating at 25, due to circumstances I will get to in a minute. My story is I attend a top 20 university when I was fresh out of high school, and then failed out. I took 29 credits and received a cumulative gpa of 0.251. Once I got home I was subsequently charged and convicted of disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice. I thought I was going crazy. Within the following months I was diagnosed with Wilson's disease (which explained all of my neuropsychiatric symptoms), and subsequently received a liver transplant. Following the transplant, I took two years off and resumed my studies at a community college before transferring to my state school. I will have taken an additional (on top of the prior 29 credits) 106 credit hours before I apply, receiving straight A's.

Classes from Junior Fall Semester
Human Anatomy and Physiology, Biochemistry, Advanced (graduate) Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Immunology

Stats:
Biochemistry Major
3.21 cGPA with last 106 Credit hours being a 4.0
3.38 sGPA
522 MCAT 132/130/132/128
White Male
Tutor for local elementary school past 3 years
EMT-I with over 1500 hours
Volunteered 1000+ hours at humane society
Volunteered 1000+ hours at rehabilitation center
Over 100+ hours shadowing various medical specialties

As you can see, I have tried my best to repair the seemingly unrepairable. Any feedback on my chances, with my lackluster GPA would be greatly appreciated.

This is a classic example of what I call "a compelling story" that get people into med school with well < median stats.

Here is my suggested school list:
ALL VA schools
Duke
Columbia
UCSF (yes, UCSF)
Dartmouth
Pitt
Mayo
Case
Hofstra
Keck
BU
Tufts
U Miami
Loyola
The Philly Triplets
Rush
Wake
SLU
Tulane
NYMC
Albany
U WV, especially if you're from rural and/or western VA
Any DO school

 

[fauxkidneys]

Where is your state of residence?

I Live in Virginia.

I think you have a great story! I have a similar-ish app (not the same, but there are some similarities).

Thank you for the response, and congratulations on your admissions!

This is a classic example of what I call "a compelling story" that get people into med school with well < median stats.

I will make sure I get most of those schools my application. If worse comes to worse, I will attend a SMP so that I may prove my academic excellence.

 

[Faha]

Goro gave you a good list above. You could add Georgetown and GW.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

The MCAT is superb and he's got three full years of 4.0 behind him. And there's an excellent explanation for the criminal charges, which would otherwise be a huge black mark against him. Excellent chance at any MD school that rewards reinvention. Harvard might be hard for him, but even that's worth a shot with a story like his! Good luck; with Goro's list you'll probably get some love somewhere.

 

[shopsteward]

By my calculations you have 3 years of straight As finishing at your State school, plus a 522 MCAT. I would be most surprised if adcoms required you to do anything more, even an SMP, to prove your academic excellence.

 

[catmullclark]

After reading your short paragraph, I’m already rooting for you. You will find success, and I can hardly imagine a school that won’t empathize with your circumstances.

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

Please don't do an SMP, you might have a shot at Columbia or Yale

 

[fauxkidneys]

The MCAT is superb and he's got three full years of 4.0 behind him. And there's an excellent explanation for the criminal charges, which would otherwise be a huge black mark against him. Excellent chance at any MD school that rewards reinvention. Harvard might be hard for him, but even that's worth a shot with a story like his! Good luck; with Goro's list you'll probably get some love somewhere.

Thank you for the kind words and encouragement! The criminal record is what I believe will hurt my chances. I think I have proved my academic capabilities, so I am hoping for the best.

By my calculations you have 3 years of straight As finishing at your State school, plus a 522 MCAT. I would be most surprised if adcoms required you to do anything more, even an SMP, to prove your academic excellence.

I do not think they will require anything more, but numerically, I have a rather low GPA. If they can just get a chance to read my story, then I think I should have some acceptances at mid-tiers.

After reading your short paragraph, I’m already rooting for you. You will find success, and I can hardly imagine a school that won’t empathize with your circumstances.

You'd be surprised with the amount of negativity I have received for both my GPA and criminal record, even with my story. I have been denied jobs/volunteer positions due to my criminal record. I have been told by my advisor that I have no chance. The one thing that I have garnered from my experience, is that the criminal justice system is awful. Not only did I have to spend some time at a regional jail while I awaited trial, but I cannot appeal my plea even with my MEDICAL reason for the crimes.

Please don't do an SMP, you might have a shot at Columbia or Yale

I am going to apply to SMPs as a precaution. If I get accepted to a decent MD school, then I will obviously accept!

 

[Walter Raleigh]

Is there a chance you could work with a lawyer to get your record expunged? You're six or seven years out from the offense, with otherwise exemplary behavior. There's posters here that have gotten felony marijuana convictions expunged. Good luck, and there are a few MD schools that'd take a chance on you, as long as you're not a felon.

 

[fauxkidneys]

Is there a chance you could work with a lawyer to get your record expunged? You're six or seven years out from the offense, with otherwise exemplary behavior. There's posters here that have gotten felony marijuana convictions expunged. Good luck, and there are a few MD schools that'd take a chance on you, as long as you're not a felon.

Let me emphatically state that I am not a felon! In Virginia you cannot expunge a misdemeanor/felony you plead guilty to. The only circumstances in which you can have your record expunged are if you are acquitted, the charges were nolle prosquei, or you receive an absolute pardon. Unfortunately because I plead guilty, I cannot have them expunged. I wish I knew about my Wilsons Disease earlier, but hindsight is 20/20

 

[Walter Raleigh]

Perhaps you might look into a governor's pardon? Sometimes they're granted for people who rehabilitate themselves and have good reason for one; it might be worth a shot.

 

[fauxkidneys]

Perhaps you might look into a governor's pardon? Sometimes they're granted for people who rehabilitate themselves and have good reason for one; it might be worth a shot.

Thank you, and that is worth a try. I do not know if I will be able to complete the 'pardon process' before applications though. Hopefully it is free. I am still paying back the medical bills from my liver transplant and last years' open AAA repair.

 

[Premed2295]

I wish you luck. I bet if you wrote an essay about developing Wilson's your recovery, lessons learned, and how you reinvented yourselves some schools would give you love.
I would **hope** (though I admit that Im cynical) that schools educating the next generation of doctors would be inspired by a story where medical intervention helped someone get their life back on track and saved a life, giving them a chance to be a physician. (No? Too idealistic maybe?)

Im already rooting for you!

 

[Walter Raleigh]

He has:

• A misdemeanor conviction
• A biological reason for having acted the way he did, which has since been medically resolved.
• A superb record of exemplary grades, test scores, and volunteering.

The only thing I might recommend is to get 300 hours in a hospice and go for a governor's pardon, but even as you are there are probably MD schools that will show you some love! You've got an excellent redemption story.

 

[fauxkidneys]

I wish you luck. I bet if you wrote an essay about developing Wilson's your recovery, lessons learned, and how you reinvented yourselves some schools would give you love.
I would **hope** (though I admit that Im cynical) that schools educating the next generation of doctors would be inspired by a story where medical intervention helped someone get their life back on track and saved a life, giving them a chance to be a physician. (No? Too idealistic maybe?)

Im already rooting for you!

Thank you. One of my essays is going to be about my internal strife with insanity. The greatest piece of advice I can give others now is to not underestimate mental health issues! Granted that mine were organic in nature, I still sympathize with those inflicted with mental illness. Hopefully as time goes on, we will be able to find the organic cause(s) of psychiatric diseases like depression/bipolar disorder and finally give those suffering their lives back.

He has:

• A misdemeanor conviction
• A biological reason for having acted the way he did, which has since been medically resolved.
• A superb record of exemplary grades, test scores, and volunteering.

The only thing I might recommend is to get 300 hours in a hospice and go for a governor's pardon, but even as you are there are probably MD schools that will show you some love! You've got an excellent redemption story.

I looked into the governor's pardon, and you cannot apply for a review until 5 years after the completion of your conviction (plea deal). I will get the hospice hours, per your recommendation, in the upcoming months. Thank you for all of your advice and help.