Fairly Unique Case - Hoping for Evaluation and Advice

[aperturescience]

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I hope to graduate in Spring 2011 and, like many others, attend medical school that fall. Here are the quick bullet points to the story so far:

>Researched at my current academic institution during summers before 10th and 11th grade
>Researched at NIH summer before 12th grade
>Publication of research done at academic institution during 12th grade
>Earned provisional admission to the medical school of my current academic institution
>Researched at Merck summer before freshman year
>Researched at international academic institution summer before sophomore year
>Admitted to the Honors Program, most of my courses and science classes have been the honors version
>Have done a few poster sessions

But then a grisly turn!

>Charged and found innocent of underage drinking freshman year
>C in Orgo 1, D in Orgo 2, A in Orgo 1 lab, B+ in Orgo 2 lab, Retook lectures receiving A's, presumably provisional acceptance is nullified
>Currently 3.2 BCPM after the fall semester of my junior year
>I have not yet taken the MCAT
>Not many extracurricular clubs
>My volunteer experience has been taking ICU patient surveys my freshman year and being a Big Brother this semester.
> Now, if I get three A's in my science courses spring semester, my BCPM will be 3.4
>Naturalized Filipino, I'm not sure if that's good or bad.

Questions

I finish a certificate in Spanish with one more class, but I'd like to concentrate on my science courses this semester. I can take my final Spanish course this spring, over the summer, or during my senior year. 1. Should I finish the certificate by application time?

2. Will taking only three science courses this semester as my only courses be looked upon negatively?

This summer I can research at Texas Southwestern Medical School or possibly at my own undergraduate or medical institution. I could also fully concentrate on the preparing and taking the MCAT and volunteering over the summer and maybe take a science class that could boost my BCPM. I could split time researching and preparing. 3. What do you suggest I do this summer?

I have started reading MCAT books. I plan on taking a preparation class this spring or over the summer. I would prefer to concentrate on my grades. 4. When should I take a preparation course and the MCAT?

I've heard a generally lukewarm response to Kaplan courses. You guys know best. 5. What is the best course or method to prepare for the MCAT?

6. Are my recommendations, publication, and earlier research experience from my private investigators too old?

I think my best letters of recommendation from professors would come from professors I took general chemistry labs or general biology labs with or the professor I retook organic 1 and 2 with. My cell structure lab professor said he would write me a very good letter. 7. Are these lab/retake professors suitable for a letter of recommendation from a professor?

I suppose I'm out of contention at top tier schools, but I really hope to not wait a year and still be able to go allopathic. It would be nice to shoot for at least a middle tier. 8. Give it to me straight. What's my outlook?

I surely, surely appreciate your informed input!
-aperturescience

 

[anxiousteen]

the cake is a lie!!

 

[searun]

Frankly, you seem a little demanding. If you were my girlfriend, I would refer to you as "my high matinence girl friend." If you are a guy, then I would buy you a beer, and tell you to calm down.

 

[searun]

Talking about high school is an emphatic statement that you are a loser. Don't mention high school or what you did in the 10th or 11th grade. It demonstrates a lack of self confidence. Which is not attractive.

 

[CaliGirl14]

Talking about high school is an emphatic statement that you are a loser. Don't mention high school or what you did in the 10th or 11th grade. It demonstrates a lack of self confidence. Which is not attractive.

Agreed. Adcoms don't give a rat's tail what you did in high school.

 

[sonofva]

frankly, you seem a little demanding. If you were my girlfriend, i would refer to you as "my high matinence girl friend." if you are a guy, then i would buy you a beer, and tell you to calm down.

hah!

 

[CaliGirl14]

My two cents:

1. Finish it during the summer
2. No. They don't care.
3. Prepare for the MCAT /volunteer/science class. Most bang for your buck. Research is nice, but not an immediate.
4. Summer
5. Princeton, AAMC, Berkeley Review, and ExamKs. Method of self teaching and review courses if you don't know where you stand study-wise.
6. Yes.
7. Yes.
8. Volunteer, Shadow, Kill the MCAT, boost your GPA and you'll be fine.

 

[aperturescience]

Frankly, you seem a little demanding. If you were my girlfriend, I would refer to you as "my high matinence girl friend." If you are a guy, then I would buy you a beer, and tell you to calm down.

i apologize if i come off demanding! dont i have reason to worry?

Talking about high school is an emphatic statement that you are a loser. Don't mention high school or what you did in the 10th or 11th grade. It demonstrates a lack of self confidence. Which is not attractive.

Agreed. Adcoms don't give a rat's tail what you did in high school.

That makes sense. I was just hoping research could help buoy me.

My two cents:
1. Finish it during the summer
2. No. They don't care.
3. Prepare for the MCAT /volunteer/science class. Most bang for your buck. Research is nice, but not an immediate.
4. Summer
5. Princeton, AAMC, Berkeley Review, and ExamKs. Method of self teaching and review courses if you don't know where you stand study-wise.
6. Yes.
7. Yes.
8. Volunteer, Shadow, Kill the MCAT, boost your GPA and you'll be fine.

Thanks, I think I have the plan laid out!

 

[riverjib]

I hope to graduate in Spring 2011 and, like many others, attend medical school that fall. Here are the quick bullet points to the story so far:

>Researched at my current academic institution during summers before 10th and 11th grade
>Researched at NIH summer before 12th grade
>Publication of research done at academic institution during 12th grade
>Earned provisional admission to the medical school of my current academic institution
>Researched at Merck summer before freshman year
>Researched at international academic institution summer before sophomore year
>Admitted to the Honors Program, most of my courses and science classes have been the honors version
>Have done a few poster sessions

But then a grisly turn!

>Charged and found innocent of underage drinking freshman year
>C in Orgo 1, D in Orgo 2, A in Orgo 1 lab, B+ in Orgo 2 lab, Retook lectures receiving A's, presumably provisional acceptance is nullified
>Currently 3.2 BCPM after the fall semester of my junior year
>I have not yet taken the MCAT
>Not many extracurricular clubs
>My volunteer experience has been taking ICU patient surveys my freshman year and being a Big Brother this semester.
> Now, if I get three A's in my science courses spring semester, my BCPM will be 3.4
>Naturalized Filipino, I'm not sure if that's good or bad.

Questions

I finish a certificate in Spanish with one more class, but I'd like to concentrate on my science courses this semester. I can take my final Spanish course this spring, over the summer, or during my senior year. 1. Should I finish the certificate by application time?

2. Will taking only three science courses this semester as my only courses be looked upon negatively?

This summer I can research at Texas Southwestern Medical School or possibly at my own undergraduate or medical institution. I could also fully concentrate on the preparing and taking the MCAT and volunteering over the summer and maybe take a science class that could boost my BCPM. I could split time researching and preparing. 3. What do you suggest I do this summer?

I have started reading MCAT books. I plan on taking a preparation class this spring or over the summer. I would prefer to concentrate on my grades. 4. When should I take a preparation course and the MCAT?

I've heard a generally lukewarm response to Kaplan courses. You guys know best. 5. What is the best course or method to prepare for the MCAT?

6. Are my recommendations, publication, and earlier research experience from my private investigators too old?

I think my best letters of recommendation from professors would come from professors I took general chemistry labs or general biology labs with or the professor I retook organic 1 and 2 with. My cell structure lab professor said he would write me a very good letter. 7. Are these lab/retake professors suitable for a letter of recommendation from a professor?

I suppose I'm out of contention at top tier schools, but I really hope to not wait a year and still be able to go allopathic. It would be nice to shoot for at least a middle tier. 8. Give it to me straight. What's my outlook?

I surely, surely appreciate your informed input!
-aperturescience

You're the J.D. to everyone's Dr. Cox, and that's on a really good day. My answers are:

1. Who cares?
2. Probably
3. Who cares? Do whatever matters to you.
4. Now.
5. Who cares? (Are you noticing a pattern here? Take whatever helps you study, or study on your own.)
6. No, but they better be pretty incredible. Think publications and presentations at national conferences.
7. I'd generally stick with letters from upper-level science professors, unless your recommendations profess that you will revolutionize the scientific community.
8. You're in decent shape. Keep working on it. Stop looking for help here as a primary source. Go to your pre-med admissions adviser and others who know you.

 

[Dral]

"But then a grisly turn!

>Charged and found innocent of underage drinking freshman year"


So Melodramatic. I love it!

You're good to go. Stay the course, do a bit more volunteering/shadowing. You'll probably be a great physician despite the false underage drinking accusation. 👍

 

[riverjib]

"But then a grisly turn!

>Charged and found innocent of underage drinking freshman year"


So Melodramatic. I love it!

You're good to go. Stay the course, do a bit more volunteering/shadowing. You'll probably be a great physician despite the false underage drinking accusation. 👍

A great physician? Based on what, exactly? Okay, I'll play along...get a good MCAT score and you'll be the next surgeon general!

 

[Dral]

I said PROBABLY. I'll check any positive feedback at the login screen next time.

 

[WatchMeRise]

the cake is a lie!!

Am I the only one that gets this? lol

Portal FTW 🙂

 

[YaBoyAR]

I said PROBABLY. I'll check any positive feedback at the login screen next time.

Lmao! How dare u be kind? On the Internet no less!

 

[schrizto]

Are you in a BS/MD program? You wrote that you earned provisional acceptance to your school's medical school as a high school student. If so, they should have minimum requirements to maintain to gain admission.

Also it looks like you weren't as involved in research in college as in high school. Why?

 

[Daran]

This was a triumph.
I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.
It's hard to overstate my satisfaction.
Aperture Science
We do what we must
because we can.
For the good of all of us.
Except the ones who are dead.
But there's no sense crying over every mistake.
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
And the Science gets done.
And you make a neat gun.
For the people who are still alive.
I'm not even angry.
I'm being so sincere right now.
Even though you broke my heart.
And killed me.
And tore me to pieces.
And threw every piece into a fire.
As they burned it hurt because I was so happy for you!
Now these points of data make a beautiful line.
And we're out of beta.
We're releasing on time.
So I'm GLaD. I got burned.
Think of all the things we learned
for the people who are still alive.
Go ahead and leave me.
I think I prefer to stay inside.
Maybe you'll find someone else to help you.
Maybe Black Mesa
THAT WAS A JOKE.
HAHA. FAT CHANCE.
Anyway, this cake is great.
It's so delicious and moist.
Look at me still talking
when there's Science to do.
When I look out there, it makes me GLaD I'm not you.
I've experiments to run.
There is research to be done.
On the people who are still alive.
And believe me I am still alive.
I'm doing Science and I'm still alive.
I feel FANTASTIC and I'm still alive.
While you're dying I'll be still alive.
And when you're dead I will be still alive.
STILL ALIVE (x2)