Florida Schools Application Thread (Part 3)

[gujuDoc]

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hi

At Duke I double majored in biomedical and electrical engineering, and got a math and chemistry minor BUT i wound up with a 3.45 GPA BUT i got a 38Q on MCAT.

Will the high MCAT offset the low GPA given these circumstances? I applied to all the florida schools but im not sure what my chances are as an in-state resident.

thanks.

Numbers wise you are fine but what are your ECs like and how are your essays and things of that nature such as LORs, personal statement, secondary essays, and ECs will make a difference.

Numerically speaking, however, your 38 should offset your GPA if everything else is good and you don't come off as arrogant or too cocky at your interview.

 

[DrZeke]

Numbers wise you are fine but what are your ECs like and how are your essays and things of that nature such as LORs, personal statement, secondary essays, and ECs will make a difference.

Numerically speaking, however, your 38 should offset your GPA if everything else is good and you don't come off as arrogant or too cocky at your interview.

yeah...that's awesome dude!!! Good Luck!!!

 

[ArminTamzarian]

hi

At Duke I double majored in biomedical and electrical engineering, and got a math and chemistry minor BUT i wound up with a 3.45 GPA BUT i got a 38Q on MCAT.

Will the high MCAT offset the low GPA given these circumstances? I applied to all the florida schools but im not sure what my chances are as an in-state resident.

thanks.

As long as you are a resident, you should be fine. I finished my degree in chemical engineering with similar numbers and got accepted in FL. But, you will need to establish a medical interest, especially if UF is your goal.

 

[Fp02c]

the state of florida seems to be good for florida residents to apply. Quick question: when looking at the pool of applicants from all different state schools ( UF, FSU, FAU,USF,UNF,UCF, UM.. etc...) Do med schools consider where the applicant recieved his or her undergrad? I mean is there an advantage to goin to UF vs FAU since UF is a better school?

 

[chudog15]

As long as you are a resident, you should be fine. I finished my degree in chemical engineering with similar numbers and got accepted in FL. But, you will need to establish a medical interest, especially if UF is your goal.

hopefully my two years as a clinical specialist for medtronic will help with that. but who knows. schools have unique ways of verifying one's interest in medicine

 

[gujuDoc]

the state of florida seems to be good for florida residents to apply. Quick question: when looking at the pool of applicants from all different state schools ( UF, FSU, FAU,USF,UNF,UCF, UM.. etc...) Do med schools consider where the applicant recieved his or her undergrad? I mean is there an advantage to goin to UF vs FAU since UF is a better school?

Combining your post with Chudog15's post about his chances, I'm going to answer both of your questions.

Though REL can answer this question better then me, I do believe that while anything is possible from any school, the school you went to does play a role to a certain extent especially because you are also competing with Fl. residents that may have gone out of state to top tier schools such as Duke, Cornell, etc.

So now to answer Chudog15's question......

Coming from Duke with those stats and plenty of clinical work as you imply you have, you will most likely have a shot at the various Fl. schools so long as you don't come off as arrogant in the tone of your essays or in your interviews and so long as the LOR writers don't write anything negative about you.

USF and Umiami especially value clinical experience more then research but UF also puts a big role on community involvement, research, clinical work, etc. so make sure your profile is strong all around and you will be fine.

 

[chudog15]

Combining your post with Chudog15's post about his chances, I'm going to answer both of your questions.

Though REL can answer this question better then me, I do believe that while anything is possible from any school, the school you went to does play a role to a certain extent especially because you are also competing with Fl. residents that may have gone out of state to top tier schools such as Duke, Cornell, etc.

So now to answer Chudog15's question......

Coming from Duke with those stats and plenty of clinical work as you imply you have, you will most likely have a shot at the various Fl. schools so long as you don't come off as arrogant in the tone of your essays or in your interviews and so long as the LOR writers don't write anything negative about you.

USF and Umiami especially value clinical experience more then research but UF also puts a big role on community involvement, research, clinical work, etc. so make sure your profile is strong all around and you will be fine.

thanks for the advice. gujuDoc!

 

[CubanDoc]

the state of florida seems to be good for florida residents to apply. Quick question: when looking at the pool of applicants from all different state schools ( UF, FSU, FAU,USF,UNF,UCF, UM.. etc...) Do med schools consider where the applicant recieved his or her undergrad? I mean is there an advantage to goin to UF vs FAU since UF is a better school?

I don't think it matters much. I'm from FAU, and got accepted with no problem;
but I think i'm a little biased. 😀

Now seriously, I think that as soon as you do everything the way it should be done: EC, clinical, GPA, MCAT, good interview; you are going to be fine.
I think that every school has its good things. The way I look at it the preprofessional committee at FAU is awesome, they helped me a lot. At the end we get a more personalized attention because there aren’t many of us applying.
I hope this helps

 

[SAspursfan]

I've been on this board for a while, posting my stats and saying "Hey, you think I can get in?!" But I have yet to do that on this particular thread, and since I am a FL resident who wants to go to a FL school, well... it only seems fitting.

-35 MCAT (12,11,12) with a 3.1 GPA
-Straight A's for past 2 and a half years, practically all med school pre-reqs
-approximately 100 hrs of very clinical, hands-on volunteering
-decent shadowing
-TA for a semester
-didn't start pursuing medicine until about 2.5 years ago; have been a 4.0 GPA, 35 MCAT student since

You think any of the FL schools would be interested?

 

[LifetimeDoc]

I've been on this board for a while, posting my stats and saying "Hey, you think I can get in?!" But I have yet to do that on this particular thread, and since I am a FL resident who wants to go to a FL school, well... it only seems fitting.

-35 MCAT (12,11,12) with a 3.1 GPA
-Straight A's for past 2 and a half years, practically all med school pre-reqs
-approximately 100 hrs of very clinical, hands-on volunteering
-decent shadowing
-TA for a semester
-didn't start pursuing medicine until about 2.5 years ago; have been a 4.0 GPA, 35 MCAT student since

You think any of the FL schools would be interested?

Overall GPA is gonna hurt you, but you have a recent upward trend in sciences. If your overall science (BCMP) GPA is good, then you shouldn't have a problem. Your MCAT is awesome! I know that USF focuses on giving back to the community, so you'll need more volunteering involvement for there. I don't think UF will look at you because they are more numbers oriented. FSU and UM are possibilities. I think you have a chance at one of them in Florida from what you've stated, so be sure to apply to all of them when you do.

 

[chudog15]

UF's secondary asks you to list all the med schools you are applying to but its optional. does anyone actually divulge this information?

and if a florida school thinks u are applying there as backup, do you think it hurts your chances? i guess what im saying is that if one's stats are a bit higher than the school's average, does the school take notice in a negative manner?

 

[gujuDoc]

UF's secondary asks you to list all the med schools you are applying to but its optional. does anyone actually divulge this information?

and if a florida school thinks u are applying there as backup, do you think it hurts your chances? i guess what im saying is that if one's stats are a bit higher than the school's average, does the school take notice in a negative manner?

REL advised a friend of mine (very recently) not to divulge that info to other schools if you can help it.

 

[QofQuimica]

UF's secondary asks you to list all the med schools you are applying to but its optional. does anyone actually divulge this information?

and if a florida school thinks u are applying there as backup, do you think it hurts your chances? i guess what im saying is that if one's stats are a bit higher than the school's average, does the school take notice in a negative manner?

I left it blank when I applied. The secondary says it's an optional question, and I optionaled not to answer it. 😉 Neither of my interviewers brought it up, and I was accepted to UF.

In answer to your second question, never EVER let any school think that you are applying there as a backup. If you can't go to an interview and feel excited to visit the school and learn more about it, then you shouldn't waste your time or theirs by interviewing there. It is NOT true that schools reject people for having stats that are "too high." Medical schools are not charities; they want to matriculate the best students they can possibly get. That being said, if you go in there with an arrogant attitude and acting like you're owed a seat just because you have great stats, you can kiss that acceptance goodbye. Be cool. Act like you care. to you. 🙂

 

[gujuDoc]

I left it blank when I applied. The secondary says it's an optional question, and I optionaled not to answer it. 😉 Neither of my interviewers brought it up, and I was accepted to UF.

In answer to your second question, never EVER let any school think that you are applying there as a backup. If you can't go to an interview and feel excited to visit the school and learn more about it, then you shouldn't waste your time or theirs by interviewing there. It is NOT true that schools reject people for having stats that are "too high." Medical schools are not charities; they want to matriculate the best students they can possibly get. That being said, if you go in there with an arrogant attitude and acting like you're owed a seat just because you have great stats, you can kiss that acceptance goodbye. Be cool. Act like you care. to you. 🙂

Good advice.

 

[gujuDoc]

I've been on this board for a while, posting my stats and saying "Hey, you think I can get in?!" But I have yet to do that on this particular thread, and since I am a FL resident who wants to go to a FL school, well... it only seems fitting.

-35 MCAT (12,11,12) with a 3.1 GPA
-Straight A's for past 2 and a half years, practically all med school pre-reqs
-approximately 100 hrs of very clinical, hands-on volunteering
-decent shadowing
-TA for a semester
-didn't start pursuing medicine until about 2.5 years ago; have been a 4.0 GPA, 35 MCAT student since

You think any of the FL schools would be interested?

If you are a Fl. resident then yes I think you will have a shot at one of the schools at least. Whether that school is FSU, USF, UF, or UMiami or more then one of the above that accepts you is hard to tell but I think you'll get at least one Fl. acceptance probably.

Why? You show an upward trend and you have a strong MCAT score to make up for your other deficiencies. You show a decent amount of extracurriculars and you got A's in the prereqs. That should all work in your favor.

You can meet with Dean Specter or whoever is REL's replacement at USF and they will surely help you in terms of USF people.

Dean Hinkley at Miami is helpful as is Robyn at UF and Jamie at FSU. I'd talk to each one of them and see what they say if you'd like an official opinion but my opinion is that you have a shot as long as the rest of your profile is solid.

 

[gujuDoc]

Overall GPA is gonna hurt you, but you have a recent upward trend in sciences. If your overall science (BCMP) GPA is good, then you shouldn't have a problem. Your MCAT is awesome! I know that USF focuses on giving back to the community, so you'll need more volunteering involvement for there. I don't think UF will look at you because they are more numbers oriented. FSU and UM are possibilities. I think you have a chance at one of them in Florida from what you've stated, so be sure to apply to all of them when you do.

But even UF has had people with a similar GPA to his which showed an upward trend in a postbac. So maybe the MCAT will help but the ECs will hurt at UF cuz he doen't have much research or very super strong volunteerism and things of that nature.

Also to the OP of this question,

You can always add new volunteering experiences etc. to your file at any point during the app. season especially if it is pre-interview. So if you do more stuff and its not found its way to AMCAS, update the schools.

 

[mikedc813]

I've been on this board for a while, posting my stats and saying "Hey, you think I can get in?!" But I have yet to do that on this particular thread, and since I am a FL resident who wants to go to a FL school, well... it only seems fitting.

-35 MCAT (12,11,12) with a 3.1 GPA
-Straight A's for past 2 and a half years, practically all med school pre-reqs
-approximately 100 hrs of very clinical, hands-on volunteering
-decent shadowing
-TA for a semester
-didn't start pursuing medicine until about 2.5 years ago; have been a 4.0 GPA, 35 MCAT student since

You think any of the FL schools would be interested?

I think you have a shot.

 

[SillyMeMD]

Has anybody received the secondary from USF already?

 

[gujuDoc]

Has anybody received the secondary from USF already?

Someone just PMed me that same question. So far I've not heard of anyone getting it. It could be because the transition that recently took place, or maybe it is just that they haven't gotten it out yet as I know in years past they didn't get the secondary out until shortly after 4th of July. So maybe this week or next week they'll start getting it out.

 

[SillyMeMD]

Someone just PMed me that same question. So far I've not heard of anyone getting it. It could be because the transition that recently took place, or maybe it is just that they haven't gotten it out yet as I know in years past they didn't get the secondary out until shortly after 4th of July. So maybe this week or next week they'll start getting it out.

Thanks! I wasn't sure if they were delaying it because of the recent change but I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't the only one not receiving anything from them yet.

 

[QofQuimica]

Wow, here we go with the new app cycle. Best of luck to all of you 2008 applicants.

 

[SAspursfan]

I finally found this thread again... thanks for all the responses! I appreciate the encouragement, and I'm hoping at least a few adcoms will cut me some slack!

 

[gujuDoc]

Just to let you all know, who are waiting for USF secondary, the email went out today to my friend so you guys should be getting it soon. 😀

 

[neuroneurd]

Hi every one. This thread seems to be moving more towards the 2008 cycle, but I wanted to let those Floridians out there know that UF's waitlist is still moving as I got in. And those of you concerned that your numbers aren't good enough for UF, apply anyways. I had a 30S with a 7 on verbal.

 

[gujuDoc]

Hi every one. This thread seems to be moving more towards the 2008 cycle, but I wanted to let those Floridians out there know that UF's waitlist is still moving as I got in. And those of you concerned that your numbers aren't good enough for UF, apply anyways. I had a 30S with a 7 on verbal.

Thanks for posting. congratulations!!!! My friend had gotten off the waitlist earlier this summer. Like about a little less then a month ago now. She's signed her lease for where she's staying at in the fall and what not already.

Congratulations again!!!

 

[greg1184]

I just got USF's acknowledgment e-mail today. I replied to request a secondary application package.

 

[gujuDoc]

I just got USF's acknowledgment e-mail today. I replied to request a secondary application package.

I thought you applied last cycle? Are you reapplying or am I confusing you with someone else?

 

[greg1184]

I thought you applied last cycle? Are you reapplying or am I confusing you with someone else?

Nope. You are not crazy. 😛

I am still on UMiami's waitlist. I am not waiting for UMiami however. From what I hear, there isn't much turnover on the waitlist. So I am retaking the MCAT on July 24 (I have tons of posts on the MCAT forum) and reapplying much more broadly. However, if I do get into UMiami this year, I won't be crying. 😉

 

[gujuDoc]

Nope. You are not crazy. 😛

I am still on UMiami's waitlist. I am not waiting for UMiami however. From what I hear, there isn't much turnover on the waitlist. So I am retaking the MCAT on July 24 (I have tons of posts on the MCAT forum) and reapplying much more broadly. However, if I do get into UMiami this year, I won't be crying. 😉

awww!!! Good luck. When are you retaking the beast?

 

[greg1184]

awww!!! Good luck. When are you retaking the beast?

July 24. My practice tests are very optimistic. Hopefully I will have to take it only once and thats it. However I still have September for insurance. I already got UMiami's secondary in. And after I take the MCAT I should have UF and USF's in. I got some OOS schools too.

 

[gujuDoc]

July 24. My practice tests are very optimistic. Hopefully I will have to take it only once and thats it. However I still have September for insurance. I already got UMiami's secondary in. And after I take the MCAT I should have UF and USF's in. I got some OOS schools too.

Good luck!!!

I think sometime at the end of july is when a family friend is taking it.

 

[SillyMeMD]

July 24. My practice tests are very optimistic. Hopefully I will have to take it only once and thats it. However I still have September for insurance. I already got UMiami's secondary in. And after I take the MCAT I should have UF and USF's in. I got some OOS schools too.

Good luck I'm in the same boat. I was on USF's waitlist and am re-taking the MCAT on Aug. 6. Here's to another LONG (but hopefully successful) year!!! 🙂

 

[FON86]

bump
and the USF secondary is finally working for everyone waiting for that.

 

[REL]

bump
and the USF secondary is finally working for everyone waiting for that.

Good to see that they finally "got it together" and that the 2nd is rolling

 

[gujuDoc]

Good to see that they finally "got it together" and that the 2nd is rolling

Update us on any news regarding UCF if you can throughout the year. We'd love to hear more about our newest med school in Florida and how the progress is coming along. 🙂

 

[greg1184]

The USF secondary has a section for activities. It specifically says not to repeat anything on AMCAS, so I guess since I have listed everything on AMCAS I can leave these blank.

Now on the big essay, can I assume that they have read my PS? Because I already stated some of my life experiences on that essay. I wouldn't think its necessary to repeat them again. I talked about my personal qualities, my family, my background, and why i think I can be a doctor.

 

[gujuDoc]

The USF secondary has a section for activities. It specifically says not to repeat anything on AMCAS, so I guess since I have listed everything on AMCAS I can leave these blank.

Now on the big essay, can I assume that they have read my PS? Because I already stated some of my life experiences on that essay. I wouldn't think its necessary to repeat them again. I talked about my personal qualities, my family, my background, and why i think I can be a doctor.

REL once put it this way:

The AMCAS is to answer "Why medicine"

while the secondary at USF is to answer "who are you as a person?"

If the prompt is the same one from last year about what are your fun and diversions, travel experiences, general family traits, and asking for a brief profile of you then you are to give them a more well rounded in depth picture of who you are as a person and what you like to do in your free time and outside of the culture of medicine.

You can also expand on what you want from your future career if you did not do that in your essay on the AMCAS app.

 

[greg1184]

The prompt is: "Please describe how your family background and life's experiences have come together to shape the person you are today and how this will allow you to contribute to the life and diversity of the USF College of Medicine."

This is great because it is almost identical to UF's essay question.

 

[gujuDoc]

The prompt is: "Please describe how your family background and life's experiences have come together to shape the person you are today and how this will allow you to contribute to the life and diversity of the USF College of Medicine."

This is great because it is almost identical to UF's essay question.

So it is very similar to last year's prompt. Last year's prompt was stated in the following:

Please provide the committee with an essay profiling yourself, including, for example, work experience, travel experience, fun and diversions, family traits, education, occupations, hobbies and interests. If married, please include your spouse (and children). This essay should be different from your AMCAS essay.

So you could probably use the things they mention from last year's essay as a basis to describe yourself and what makes you a diverse person and how such different aspects came together to contribute to your goals.

It is basically like expanding on the AMCAS essay.

 

[greg1184]

So it is very similar to last year's prompt. Last year's prompt was stated in the following:

Please provide the committee with an essay profiling yourself, including, for example, work experience, travel experience, fun and diversions, family traits, education, occupations, hobbies and interests. If married, please include your spouse (and children). This essay should be different from your AMCAS essay.

So you could probably use the things they mention from last year's essay as a basis to describe yourself and what makes you a diverse person and how such different aspects came together to contribute to your goals.

It is basically like expanding on the AMCAS essay.

Awesome. That is what I did with my UF essay, give stuff about me that I didn't put on my PS like my family's background, my personal qualities, etc. I already have a huge paragraph on my PS about my volunteer experience and how it has helped me as a person so I don't have to reiterate it. I figure that there will be repeat questions in some of my applications. Makes life nice and easy.

 

[gujuDoc]

Awesome. That is what I did with my UF essay, give stuff about me that I didn't put on my PS like my family's background, my personal qualities, etc. I already have a huge paragraph on my PS about my volunteer experience and how it has helped me as a person so I don't have to reiterate it. I figure that there will be repeat questions in some of my applications. Makes life nice and easy.

Yeah I think they want to know more about who you are as a person. By diverse, they don't want to know your volunteer activities so much as they want to know more about life experiences as in the following examples:

If you lived in a foreign country, show how that made you culturall sensitive towards a particular group.
If you lived in a place as diverse as NYC show how that thought you about different groups other then your own.

If you are foreign and speak another language talk about how being bilingual will help you.

Or if you are religious, talk about how your religion has positively impacted your life and values of who you have become today.

If you were in an outside activity for several years like music, dance, or sports, what did you learn out of those experiences

 

[gujuDoc]

Awesome. That is what I did with my UF essay, give stuff about me that I didn't put on my PS like my family's background, my personal qualities, etc. I already have a huge paragraph on my PS about my volunteer experience and how it has helped me as a person so I don't have to reiterate it. I figure that there will be repeat questions in some of my applications. Makes life nice and easy.

So if there is one section for activities, then why do they have another for comunity service and medical volunteer when that's stuff on AMCAS activities too???

I was helping a friend just now that's how I know all this.

 

[Gutierrez001]

I am a FL resident who wants to go to a FL school, Can i maybe get some input on how to improve my chances.

-BA in sociology from UF
-EMT-B certificate
-2 years(every summer,winter and spring break) working in the ER as a ED tech.
-2 years during school as a Nurse Tech in CAT SCAN.
-3 years (every summer, winter and spring break) volunteering at a medical clinic for immigrants. Doing the same things as a ED tech but not getting paid.
-Just started volunteering at a homeless shelter(once a week)

Now the ugly,
-My overall GPA is 3.0;Sci& math 3.03
-Just sign up for kaplan starting on 9/10 and planning on taking the MCAT in JAN. 2008.

Now what Im planning, In Jan.(08) I plan on doing a post-bac at FAU and then apply into FAU MS Biomedical science program for the summer(08). I was wondering if maybe I should apply next cycle or if I wait to finish the MS program(if i get into the MS)? Is this the best route for me with my poor GPA.😕

Thanks in advance and Sorry for the looong post. And Congrats to all those that got accepted and GOODLUCK to all applying now.😀

 

[gujuDoc]

I am a FL resident who wants to go to a FL school, Can i maybe get some input on how to improve my chances.

-BA in sociology from UF
-EMT-B certificate
-2 years(every summer,winter and spring break) working in the ER as a ED tech.
-2 years during school as a Nurse Tech in CAT SCAN.
-3 years (every summer, winter and spring break) volunteering at a medical clinic for immigrants. Doing the same things as a ED tech but not getting paid.
-Just started volunteering at a homeless shelter(once a week)

Now the ugly,
-My overall GPA is 3.0;Sci& math 3.03
-Just sign up for kaplan starting on 9/10 and planning on taking the MCAT in JAN. 2008.

Now what Im planning, In Jan.(08) I plan on doing a post-bac at FAU and then apply into FAU MS Biomedical science program for the summer(08). I was wondering if maybe I should apply next cycle or if I wait to finish the MS program(if i get into the MS)? Is this the best route for me with my poor GPA.😕

Thanks in advance and Sorry for the looong post. And Congrats to all those that got accepted and GOODLUCK to all applying now.😀

Make sure to take the MCAT only when you are absolutely ready for it. I think if you can get a good MCAT score next year, and do well in your postbac and do the MS in the meanwhile you can apply next cycle.

 

[QofQuimica]

The prompt is: "Please describe how your family background and life's experiences have come together to shape the person you are today and how this will allow you to contribute to the life and diversity of the USF College of Medicine."

This is great because it is almost identical to UF's essay question.

UF has an essay question now??? That sucks. We didn't have to do one, although there was an optional research essay.

 

[gujuDoc]

UF has an essay question now??? That sucks. We didn't have to do one, although there was an optional research essay.

Yeah they had it last year too when a couple of my friends were applying.

I remember cuz my friend handed me a copy of the secondary when he needed me to write a peer letter for him. Ended up not really needing it as he cancelled his interview once he got into his top choice.

 

[FON86]

Yeah they had it last year too when a couple of my friends were applying.

I remember cuz my friend handed me a copy of the secondary when he needed me to write a peer letter for him. Ended up not really needing it as he cancelled his interview once he got into his top choice.

hey guju, how long should that peer letter be you think and what do you think should be included. I'm thinking its mostly suppose to your personality but what else shoudl be included?

 

[gujuDoc]

hey guju, how long should that peer letter be you think and what do you think should be included. I'm thinking its mostly suppose to your personality but what else shoudl be included?

Well when I wrote it for my friend, I did what professors do and asked for his resume and personal statement.

I wrote about how dedicated he was to his different activities and how he still maintained time for friends/family and positive traits about him as a person. Mine was a bit long, because I wanted it to be a strong letter.

I had written a peer letter for someone else a couple years previous to that as well and back then that was my first time doing it so I consulted a friend for a sample and I think my letter for my friend turned out to be stronger then the one I consulted as a sample. In fact, the sample letter was pretty weak to say in the least.

I recommend one thing to you, get someone who will write a strong letter for you, not only mentioning your strong traits as a friend but who can vouch for your work ethic and ability to be there as a peer even while balancing other responsibilities.

Mine was a page when i was done but that's cuz I wrote a lot.

 

[greg1184]

So if there is one section for activities, then why do they have another for comunity service and medical volunteer when that's stuff on AMCAS activities too???

I was helping a friend just now that's how I know all this.

Their activities section is devided into many mini essays.. community service, volunteer, research, etc. Everything I put about these things are in AMCAS, so I am leaving it blank.

There is another section that asks: " Please list information about your previous college activities." Under "previous college section". I don't get it. Maybe REL can give some insight?

 

[gujuDoc]

Their activities section is devided into many mini essays.. community service, volunteer, research, etc. Everything I put about these things are in AMCAS, so I am leaving it blank.

Is it ok to leave it blank and tell them to refer to AMCAS?? My friend is worried about doing that.