Few Application Questions

[polyploidy516]

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[ihatescience]

Hey, Im relatively new to SDN, but I have a few questions to ask in regards to the application process. I graduated last may with a 3.6 gpa (3.5 science) and received a 36 mcat (12's on each section). My transcript shows an upward trend. However, im deeply concerned as to how adcoms will view my transcript : my first two yrs gpa was a 3.1 with 3 C+'s in Bio I, Economics I, and Calc II, as well as a C in calc I that I retook for an A-. I received an A- in Calc III to hopefully show adcoms Im not totally inept in mathematics. Since then, my gpa has gone up with A's in Orgo, Physics, and second semester Bio, and B, and B+ in Gen Chem I and II. The reason for those low grades freshman and sophomore year were due to extenuating circumstances in my household which included my father becoming terminally ill a month after he was laid off that resulted in me working to provide for my familys personal and private expenses, as well as my parents eviction from their home. Thus, with all this occurring, I was unable to focus on school. My question is how do adcoms view such situations in regards to my low marks in those classes? Furthermore, I am looking to apply to schools in the Northeast/New England area........what schools do you suggest I apply to given my stats? I have dreams of Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, among others but feel that those low grades would cause the adcoms to toss my app to the side or into the garbage.........any advice would be greatly appreciated and I am very sorry for such a long post. 😳

Adcoms understand that things happen to us, outside of our control, which interfere with our studies. The same happened to me in general chem and physics (low marks). Please, do not worry about it, and PLEASE, do not let anyone convince you not to apply to any schools!

 

[eagle34]

Adcoms understand that things happen to us, outside of our control, which interfere with our studies. The same happened to me in general chem and physics (low marks). Please, do not worry about it, and PLEASE, do not let anyone convince you not to apply to any schools!

Totally agree...apply to any school you want. I would also say that you should mention these circumstances in your personal statement or in some other essays for the school secondaries

 

[Twiigg]

From what I have read on SDN, you are in fine shape! Cheer up, that is an outstanding MCAT score! 🙂 As far as your first two years of UG are concerned, just include the challenges and experiences you had in your personal statement (e.g. what you have learned, how you have grown from them, the new outlook these experiences have given you, etc.) I don't know about your LORs/ECs/research, but with that MCAT score (and still a very decent GPA) your dreams are far from shattered! Be proud of your experiences and never give up! 👍

P.S. Calc III!? I'm sure you're math skills are just fine!

 

[polyploidy516]

hey guys thanks for the very positive response. In my personal statement though, do you think I should specifically address these grades or just the circumstances? Furthermore, even though I had circumstances surrounding those grades, would adcoms at the more selective schools still use those grades against me? Or would they focus on the threads instead? Okay im done being a pest. 😀

 

[Bond8204]

hey guys thanks for the very positive response. In my personal statement though, do you think I should specifically address these grades or just the circumstances? Furthermore, even though I had circumstances surrounding those grades, would adcoms at the more selective schools still use those grades against me? Or would they focus on the threads instead? Okay im done being a pest. 😀

I think you should talk about the challenge in your personal statement and then allude to how your grades were hurt because of it--i.e. I wouldn't mention the story to make an excuse or explain the grades but to show how you've dealt with some personal adversity in your journey towards medicine and how your grades in that time period were part of it. I'd say med schools asking about how you've reacted to a specific personal challenge is one of the most common secondary questions you'll receive as well.

I agree you can apply everywhere, but I've seen people with stats better than yours be completely ignored by the schools you mentioned. Apply broadly. Good luck!

 

[polyploidy516]

thanks for the suggestions Bond8204. I will try to do that on my application this coming cycle.

 

[armybound]

are you currently disadvantaged, or was it just part of your upbringing, which has changed?

if you're still well below the poverty level, I'd claim disadvantage status. if you are no longer disadvantaged, I'd write about it in the personal statement.

 

[LizzyM]

The disadvantaged section on the AMCAS refers to ages 0-18 regardless of what has happened since then. So, even if you are "out of the woods" now you can still complete the section noting your "disadvantaged" childhood. It isn't an "excuse" but adds another dimension to the picture.

 

[polyploidy516]

thanks for the responses guys... I really appreciate it. One final question that I have is do medical schools take into account the student's undergrad institution?

 

[armybound]

thanks for the responses guys... I really appreciate it. One final question that I have is do medical schools take into account the student's undergrad institution? If so, how would they view a school such as NYU for undergrad?

a few schools somewhat take institution into consideration, but for the most part it makes very little difference to adcoms. you won't be helped or hurt by going to NYU

 

[Vihsadas]

You have a chance anywhere you apply. You are competitive at some level at all schools. I'm not saying your a shoe in or something, but you have a shot.

I'd trade my stats for your stats anyday.

 

[custard]

I would agree with others in this thread about writing about your challenges in your personal statement and checking the disadvantaged box.

Also make sure you apply early and BROADLY. Those schools you named have a lot of applicants with really high MCATs/GPAs. I think that you'll almost definitely get in somewhere (if you apply early) but Cornell and Harvard etc aren't shoo-ins by any means. Pick up the MSAR and take a look at statistics for schools in the area you want to live in (and other areas too to have a better chance of getting in).

 

[mimivirus]

also, if your school has a committee that writes your letters--they often are aware (or you can tell them) of these extenuating circumstances and they will usually try to address them in your committee letter to create a holistic picture of who you are and what you are capable of.

gluck!

 

[polyploidy516]

hey guys thank you for all the positive responses....I really appreciate it!

One last question that I have in regards to my applicantion is will the aforementioned med schools (Harvard, Cornell, Columbia, etc) view my application holistically even with those grades....or will they be nitpicky and not give me a chance based on my freshman and sophomore yr grades? I would really like to know this...thanks again!