For those who don't have any interviews yet

BU Medical Sciences
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Date verified: 6/16
sGPA/cGPA: 3.4/3.7
MCAT: 27Q

I wasn't complete at most of my schools until late September/early October due to waiting for my second set of MCAT scores.

My MCAT is what's killing me. 🙁
 
verified mid july
gpa- 3.9
mcat- 33
 
just got my first invite today from ohio state. 3.45/3.3 34. complete 3rd week september... Also, i live in ohio but i know a lady on admissions at University of Toledo and talked to her yesterday. She said their office is just swamped right now getting through the first round acceptances, and that they have received a ton of applications in the past two months. So my guess is that for many schools they will be sorting it out maybe by christmas. I hope. This process sucks...
 
calimed214 said:
😕 And you have 0 interviews? I find this surprising, considering your GPA makes mine cry.
Click to expand...

Yea its a shame but I guess I didn't tell the whole story. My ECs completely suck.
 
jiggahova said:
Yea its a shame but I guess I didn't tell the whole story. My ECs completely suck.
Click to expand...

it might also be because your writing score was somewhere between H to the izzO

sorry, couldn't help it. you'll def get in somewhere though the application cycle is slow. i wanted to make more jayz jokes but what more can i say
 
To those who find this thread relevant, what do you guys plan on doing about the situation? Would it be reasonable to email schools about your concerns?
 
jiggahova said:
Yea its a shame but I guess I didn't tell the whole story. My ECs completely suck.
Click to expand...

Still doesn't make sense. The interviews are pretty much based off your gpa/mcat....what they'll do is take your gpa and multiply it by your mcat score to calculate a composite score. It's that number that gets compared with other applicants and will get you your interview invites (varies with schools). They'll let you explain in your interview why your EC's suck, but that's not what prevents you from getting an interview invite.

Are you a reapplicant? Have you taken other mcats and scored lower? Did you score an 11 in each section but a 3 in the verbal?
 
icalz said:
Still doesn't make sense. The interviews are pretty much based off your gpa/mcat....what they'll do is take your gpa and multiply it by your mcat score to calculate a composite score. It's that number that gets compared with other applicants and will get you your interview invites (varies with schools). They'll let you explain in your interview why your EC's suck, but that's not what prevents you from getting an interview invite.

Are you a reapplicant? Have you taken other mcats and scored lower? Did you score an 11 in each section but a 3 in the verbal?
Click to expand...

This does not sound right to me. I know Initial screening (if the school has one) is mostly based on numbers. But once you submit the secondary, I think everything (i.e. ECs, LORs, etc) get looked at before an interview invitation. Again, this may vary slightly between schools, but my understanding is that great numbers does not guarantee and interview, a balanced application does.
 
brooklynblunder said:
it might also be because your writing score was somewhere between H to the izzO

sorry, couldn't help it. you'll def get in somewhere though the application cycle is slow. i wanted to make more jayz jokes but what more can i say
Click to expand...

Hahaha I love the Jay-Z jokes. Since everyone has been asking allow me to reintroduce myself. I am not a reapplicant, this was my first and only mcat, i didnt score 11 in each section but all sections were greater than 10. I did get an M on the writing section. I applied to about 20 schools. As far as my ECs go I did about 3 months of research (just did lab work for an MD, I didnt have my own project or anything), volunteered at the hospital for about 50 hours, and shadowed 2 physicians for about 50 hours. All in all I feel that I did all the required ECs but none of them were long term. Also I lack any significant leadership experiences. My personal statement could have been better also. I really want to go to medical school next year so I am in the middle of filling out AACOMAS right now, maybe ill have better luck with DO schools. To all the future applicants out there please work hard on ECs and don't take them for granted. Don't be like me I was only able to fill out 5 of the 14 spaces for ECs on AMCAS. Everyone during my whole college career told me that a good GPA and MCAT guarantees an acceptance. I think my application proves that there is a lot more to it.
 
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amine2086 said:
This does not sound right to me. I know Initial screening (if the school has one) is mostly based on numbers. But once you submit the secondary, I think everything (i.e. ECs, LORs, etc) get looked at before an interview invitation. Again, this may vary slightly between schools, but my understanding is that great numbers does not guarantee and interview, a balanced application does.
Click to expand...


amine is right.
interviews are based off much much more than just GPA/MCAT.
 
High GPA and MCAT are a big plus in the process but not everything. From what I understand, most schools have an initial screen where they look at GPA and MCAT. Most schools (probably all of them) have some minimum GPA and MCAT cutoff and if you fall below this they basically automatically reject you. If you make it past this screen the adcom will start looking over your app to see if you are going to get an interview or not. This is where ECs come into play. So, a high GPA and MCAT only guarantee your app will actually be read by a human.

If you hang out on these boards long enough you'll see many who claim to have phenomenal GPA and MCAT and get pre-interview rejections.

By the way, if you have a crummy MCAT don't bother applying to Michigan or Case. They rejected me within mere days of my app becoming complete. I am certain they have an MCAT cutoff which got me the quick axe. 🙁

PS It's in my MDapps profile but I applied to 31 schools. There should be some kind of award for finishing all those secondaries!
 
Just got my first but I'll post since I was in this boat for 3+ months (rejected from 5-7 schools already)

Verified 8/11 applied to 20+ schools.
3.64
35
 
jiggahova said:
Hahaha I love the Jay-Z jokes. Since everyone has been asking allow me to reintroduce myself. I am not a reapplicant, this was my first and only mcat, i didnt score 11 in each section but all sections were greater than 10. I did get an M on the writing section. I applied to about 20 schools. As far as my ECs go I did about 3 months of research (just did lab work for an MD, I didnt have my own project or anything), volunteered at the hospital for about 50 hours, and shadowed 2 physicians for about 50 hours. All in all I feel that I did all the required ECs but none of them were long term. Also I lack any significant leadership experiences. My personal statement could have been better also. I really want to go to medical school next year so I am in the middle of filling out AACOMAS right now, maybe ill have better luck with DO schools. To all the future applicants out there please work hard on ECs and don't take them for granted. Don't be like me I was only able to fill out 5 of the 14 spaces for ECs on AMCAS. Everyone during my whole college career told me that a good GPA and MCAT guarantees an acceptance. I think my application proves that there is a lot more to it.
Click to expand...

😕😕😕

I know people with much lower stats and the exact same EC's who got in. I don't get it..you should be getting invites. This doesn't make sense 🙁 I'm sorry dude.

While your EC"s are low...avg shadowing is like 75 hrs, and volunteering is like 125-150 hrs at least I think.

With your stats I REALLY doubt they would be like "OMG only 50 hours!" Let's be honest, those numbers more than prove you have what it takes to be a doc. I'll be rooting for you man
 
amine2086 said:
This does not sound right to me. I know Initial screening (if the school has one) is mostly based on numbers. But once you submit the secondary, I think everything (i.e. ECs, LORs, etc) get looked at before an interview invitation. Again, this may vary slightly between schools, but my understanding is that great numbers does not guarantee and interview, a balanced application does.
Click to expand...

The decision to invite someone for an interview is based off of a composite score (mentioned before). Once the interview takes place another score (an interview grade) is assigned to the student, and then the entire application gets scrutinized alongside the others who interviewed as well. Yes, there are other factors such as URM or disadvantaged....

Edit: Whenever a school is dealing with +3,000 applications there is simply no time to go through each one and look at every transcript and read every personal essay. They create a cutoff point using the composite score to determine who to invite for an interview, and then their applications are pored over.
 
icalz said:
The decision to invite someone for an interview is based off of a composite score (mentioned before). Once the interview takes place another score (an interview grade) is assigned to the student, and then the entire application gets scrutinized alongside the others who interviewed as well. Yes, there are other factors such as URM or disadvantaged....

Edit: Whenever a school is dealing with +3,000 applications there is simply no time to go through each one and look at every transcript and read every personal essay. They create a cutoff point using the composite score to determine who to invite for an interview, and then their applications are pored over.
Click to expand...

How does this explain the fact that there are always cases of applicants with low stats getting acceptances?
 
icalz said:
Still doesn't make sense. The interviews are pretty much based off your gpa/mcat....what they'll do is take your gpa and multiply it by your mcat score to calculate a composite score. It's that number that gets compared with other applicants and will get you your interview invites (varies with schools). They'll let you explain in your interview why your EC's suck, but that's not what prevents you from getting an interview invite.

Are you a reapplicant? Have you taken other mcats and scored lower? Did you score an 11 in each section but a 3 in the verbal?
Click to expand...

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.
 
epinephrinerush said:
To those who find this thread relevant, what do you guys plan on doing about the situation? Would it be reasonable to email schools about your concerns?
Click to expand...

What, exactly, are you going to say to them? It's appropriate at the end of the admissions cycle to contact one or two schools (usually your state school and/or your undergrad's affiliated med school, if they have one) and ask if they can tell you how to improve your application for admission for the next cycle. But right now contacting schools isn't going to do you much good. They'll probably just tell you you're still under review, and you have to wait.
 
icalz said:
The decision to invite someone for an interview is based off of a composite score (mentioned before). Once the interview takes place another score (an interview grade) is assigned to the student, and then the entire application gets scrutinized alongside the others who interviewed as well. Yes, there are other factors such as URM or disadvantaged....

Edit: Whenever a school is dealing with +3,000 applications there is simply no time to go through each one and look at every transcript and read every personal essay. They create a cutoff point using the composite score to determine who to invite for an interview, and then their applications are pored over.
Click to expand...

composite score is not just your mcat and gpa dude.
 
I'm bringing this thread back to life.

cGPA: 3.47
sGPA: 3.87
MCAT: 41Q
verified late October

No interviews, but I have gotten a few rejections. How worried should I be right about now?
 
Mr Meowmeow said:
I'm bringing this thread back to life.

cGPA: 3.47
sGPA: 3.87
MCAT: 41Q
verified late October

No interviews, but I have gotten a few rejections. How worried should I be right about now?
Click to expand...

Since you got verified late October, I guess you didn't send your secondaries until sometime in November?
Especially during this time, schools are probably backed up.
 
slowbutsteady said:
You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.
Click to expand...

This is the exact process that was explained to my by the dean of admissions at san antonio. If I'm wrong then I guess he's wrong.
 
Mr Meowmeow said:
I'm bringing this thread back to life.

cGPA: 3.47
sGPA: 3.87
MCAT: 41Q
verified late October

No interviews, but I have gotten a few rejections. How worried should I be right about now?
Click to expand...

You have a superb MCAT score. You should be getting some invites. Hang in there!!
 
icalz said:
I would love to hear your theories and suppositions.
Click to expand...

It does not seem like you really understand how the application process work. Have you applied to medical school before? Are you applying this year? Yes, GPA and MCAT scores are important. But having a great GPA and high MCAT score does not guarantee you an interview. Other things (i.e. ECs, LORs) are part of the equation that determines whether or not you get an interview.
 
Mr Meowmeow said:
I'm bringing this thread back to life.

cGPA: 3.47
sGPA: 3.87
MCAT: 41Q
verified late October

No interviews, but I have gotten a few rejections. How worried should I be right about now?
Click to expand...

Nice MCAT. You should be getting a few invites in the near future, I would assume.
 
icalz said:
This is the exact process that was explained to my by the dean of admissions at san antonio. If I'm wrong then I guess he's wrong.
Click to expand...

That TX process is completely different than what the other US med schools do. Just had to throw that in there
 
There's a lot of people here with really good numbers. Keep the faith alive. I know this process can make you feel down, but there's always light at the end of the tunnel. 😀
 
Good luck everybody. We're rooting for you.

icalz said:
Still doesn't make sense. The interviews are pretty much based off your gpa/mcat....what they'll do is take your gpa and multiply it by your mcat score to calculate a composite score. It's that number that gets compared with other applicants and will get you your interview invites (varies with schools). They'll let you explain in your interview why your EC's suck, but that's not what prevents you from getting an interview invite.

Are you a reapplicant? Have you taken other mcats and scored lower? Did you score an 11 in each section but a 3 in the verbal?
Click to expand...

icalz said:
The decision to invite someone for an interview is based off of a composite score (mentioned before). Once the interview takes place another score (an interview grade) is assigned to the student, and then the entire application gets scrutinized alongside the others who interviewed as well. Yes, there are other factors such as URM or disadvantaged....

Edit: Whenever a school is dealing with +3,000 applications there is simply no time to go through each one and look at every transcript and read every personal essay. They create a cutoff point using the composite score to determine who to invite for an interview, and then their applications are pored over.
Click to expand...

This may be true of a few schools, but it is not true of every school (or even many schools). The process is highly variable from school to school; lots of schools do it a lot of different ways. 👍
 
icalz said:
This is the exact process that was explained to my by the dean of admissions at san antonio. If I'm wrong then I guess he's wrong.
Click to expand...

You're right, if they do that in san antonio, that must be the way ALL med schools process applications. Thank you for your knowledgeable post. I m sure it helped a lot of applicants.
 
slowbutsteady said:
You're right, if they do that in san antonio, that must be the way ALL med schools process applications. Thank you for your knowledgeable post. I m sure it helped a lot of applicants.
Click to expand...

If you could kindly point out where I indicated that this was true of all med schools I would appreciate it so that I can edit that. I can see now how the 'slow' in your name aptly applies. I wouldn't expect Harvard to have the same process of elimination as san antonio.

From my understanding you have to select underrepresented or disadvantaged for them to look more closely at your application and consider you for an invite. Do you really think that they look at every single one of the thousands of applications that they receive? Most schools will bluntly tell you no (although they do look at every gpa and mcat score).
 
slowbutsteady said:
You're right, if they do that in san antonio, that must be the way ALL med schools process applications. Thank you for your knowledgeable post. I m sure it helped a lot of applicants.
Click to expand...

And you still haven't offered any of your ideas as to how they select for interviews......(waiting)
 
JimmerJammerMrK said:
Good luck everybody. We're rooting for you.





This may be true of a few schools, but it is not true of every school (or even many schools). The process is highly variable from school to school; lots of schools do it a lot of different ways. 👍
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I agree completely....the dean had specified to me "that's how we do it here." A school that is categorized as 'competitive' vs a school categorized as 'non-competitive' will have very different processes.
 
icalz said:
And you still haven't offered any of your ideas as to how they select for interviews......(waiting)
Click to expand...

Because MY "ideas" or YOUR "ideas" are meaningless. Actual schools have actual procedures and those vary from school to school.

In your "me-driven virtual world" everyone on SDN should be eager to see what your ideas are on how interviewees are selected.

I live in reality and I don't have access to 126 med school processes.

I will say that spending about 10 minutes on SDN will reveal that your MCAT/GPA formula is absurd. Very few schools base interviews solely on stats cutoffs. Hence, high stat people getting rejected and modest stat people getting interviews at many, many schools.

Geez.
 
Don't loose hope with your low mcat and/or gpa!! Patience! 👍
 
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slowbutsteady said:
Because MY "ideas" or YOUR "ideas" are meaningless. Actual schools have actual procedures and those vary from school to school.

In your "me-driven virtual world" everyone on SDN should be eager to see what your ideas are on how interviewees are selected.

I live in reality and I don't have access to 126 med school processes.

I will say that spending about 10 minutes on SDN will reveal that your MCAT/GPA formula is absurd. Very few schools base interviews solely on stats cutoffs. Hence, high stat people getting rejected and modest stat people getting interviews at many, many schools.

Geez.
Click to expand...

After they interview...and what I stated wasn't an idea. Like I said, it is what one dean at one school explained to me. What, did you think I just made it up out of the blue? You say I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, but I would argue that you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about. I'm not even sure that you're correctly reading what I'm writing....I'm talking about interview offers, not acceptance offers.
 
icalz said:
Oh yeah, I agree completely....the dean had specified to me "that's how we do it here." A school that is categorized as 'competitive' vs a school categorized as 'non-competitive' will have very different processes.
Click to expand...

Every school (or at least most) will have a different process from every other school.
 
cGPA: 3.5
sGPA: 3.7
28 mcat
complete in mid August
applied to 12 schools (no state school to apply to)
 
bannie22 said:
🙁
Click to expand...

Sorry. Some of the people in this thread have received ZERO interview invites and are nervously trying to prepare what to do with their lives if the worst case scenario does indeed occur.

You have an acceptance at one of the finest medical schools in the nation. I highly doubt they care about you wanting more invites. :laugh:
 
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