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hmmm
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If you've got the brains to attain a "perfect GPA," then you can't be naive enough to believe that EVERY successful applicant has a connection on an admissions committee. There are about 15,000 spots in allopathic schools each year - I imagine that fewer than 1000 of the people who fill these spots have a significant connection to an admissions committee.
Rather than worrying about your non-influential relatives, if I were you I would try to set up a meeting with someone who really knows the admissions process (preferably someone on an admissions committee), and have a frank discussion about why you haven't been successful. There must be SOMETHING on your application that is holding you back (low MCAT, DUI conviction, etc). I bet an adcom member could help you identify what you need to do in order to make your next application a successful one.
My friend took the MCAT four times, and applied three times, and she finally got in. You can do it - but not if you focus on sour grapes about the "fortunate sons" of adcom members.
Rather than worrying about your non-influential relatives, if I were you I would try to set up a meeting with someone who really knows the admissions process (preferably someone on an admissions committee), and have a frank discussion about why you haven't been successful. There must be SOMETHING on your application that is holding you back (low MCAT, DUI conviction, etc). I bet an adcom member could help you identify what you need to do in order to make your next application a successful one.
My friend took the MCAT four times, and applied three times, and she finally got in. You can do it - but not if you focus on sour grapes about the "fortunate sons" of adcom members.
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I wanted to add that you should try to find out if you have any letters of recommendation that are ruining your application. All it takes is one poor letter and a lot of schools will not give you a second glance. You can find out by either talking to a member of an adcom or by talking with your premed advisor or committee. If the letter is being stored on your behalf and automatically sent, you might try and have it removed. If you it is a letter that someone is sending out for you, get them to stop sending out the letter.
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I think a lot of people underestimate the value of the interview. I had always heard (upon applying to med school), that the interview does not get you in, it only keeps you out.
I know of a fellow who interviews poorly, and it took him many times to get in, though his qualifications dwarfed mine.
The key for you, I think, is that you don't emphasize your high marks in the interviews. If I was interviewing someone who kept saying "I scored this high on the MCAT because .....", I think I'd get sick.
Listen, my MCAT score sucked (I didn't study) and my GPA was average for an applicant (3.7), but I went to a top 15 University, and I interview exceptionally well. My letters were fabulous. Those things got me in, I think.
Also, I knew a LOT about the program. I showed interest, which is key when you're on the edge of not getting in.
When it comes to applying for medical school, remember that you're applying, not them. When it comes to some residency programs, often they have to sell themselves to you, but it's not the same with med school.
No offense, but you sound a wee bit cocky about your credentials, and if I interviewed you, I also wouldn't be impressed.
And as for your "regular" guy question. I was the definition of regular when I applied. But I'm friendly. And I made a 45 minute interview last 1.5 hours. And I sent thank you cards afterward.
A friendly person who's a mediocre applicant will get in often before an excellent applicant who's a mediocre person.
I know of a fellow who interviews poorly, and it took him many times to get in, though his qualifications dwarfed mine.
The key for you, I think, is that you don't emphasize your high marks in the interviews. If I was interviewing someone who kept saying "I scored this high on the MCAT because .....", I think I'd get sick.
Listen, my MCAT score sucked (I didn't study) and my GPA was average for an applicant (3.7), but I went to a top 15 University, and I interview exceptionally well. My letters were fabulous. Those things got me in, I think.
Also, I knew a LOT about the program. I showed interest, which is key when you're on the edge of not getting in.
When it comes to applying for medical school, remember that you're applying, not them. When it comes to some residency programs, often they have to sell themselves to you, but it's not the same with med school.
No offense, but you sound a wee bit cocky about your credentials, and if I interviewed you, I also wouldn't be impressed.
And as for your "regular" guy question. I was the definition of regular when I applied. But I'm friendly. And I made a 45 minute interview last 1.5 hours. And I sent thank you cards afterward.
A friendly person who's a mediocre applicant will get in often before an excellent applicant who's a mediocre person.
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Just a quick note - yeah, you have tons of experience and prove that you're a very good academically so you've got brains. But perhaps they want to see someone a bit well-rounded. It does no good to only concentrate on med. school for all your years as an undergrad and fill your life with only med-related activities to try to impress the admissions board. They like someone who has passions other than medicine - sports, arts, whatever to make a more complete doctor and one that can draw on a variety of diverse experiences. (only volunteering in a hospital doesn't count).
B
BlackPuma
ehem...
I don't want to sound insulting or offensive....
your problem might be either of two things....
1) Your extremely arrogant, vain, pigheaded individual who thinks they know all the answers, and med schools see that in the interviews....
OR
2) Ur such a top notch applicant...all the schools are telling themselves...(he won't go into our school, his harvard material) and so they all reject u cuz ur TOO GOOD....
there that was my 2 cents 😀
u know what they say...avoid the extremes 😉
I am sure u will get in during ur second time....
I don't want to sound insulting or offensive....
your problem might be either of two things....
1) Your extremely arrogant, vain, pigheaded individual who thinks they know all the answers, and med schools see that in the interviews....
OR
2) Ur such a top notch applicant...all the schools are telling themselves...(he won't go into our school, his harvard material) and so they all reject u cuz ur TOO GOOD....
there that was my 2 cents 😀
u know what they say...avoid the extremes 😉
I am sure u will get in during ur second time....
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maybe they just don't like you, plain and simple. med school admission is a popularity contest to a certain extent. if they don't like you, you can't join the club!
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future GI guy,
just as a question, what were your MCATs??
i think i am in a similar boat. im fairly chatty etc. but how can i BE SURE i will interview well?? did you do like practice questions? do you have any tips?
ps: would i be able to get away with wearing a red suit?;-) how "trendy" can you dress? should i get my hair cut to look more professional or anything? does appearance count?
thanks!
just as a question, what were your MCATs??
i think i am in a similar boat. im fairly chatty etc. but how can i BE SURE i will interview well?? did you do like practice questions? do you have any tips?
ps: would i be able to get away with wearing a red suit?;-) how "trendy" can you dress? should i get my hair cut to look more professional or anything? does appearance count?
thanks!
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Princess,
I would just encourage you, regardless of your MCAT score, to put a pretty positive spin on everything. I won't share my MCAT here, but it was not very high.
That said, I think it was probably my only flaw when it comes to the application itself. My personal statement was proofread by Writers at my school. My letters were impecable. And I tried my best to be interesting in the interview.
It is so important to show programs that you're not just going through the motions, that you've done the reading on their school. I mean, what's more impressive? You talking about you? Or you talking about which faculty's research project you could see yourself getting involved in.
If you sell youself in that way, to every school that you apply to, it can only work for the best. Ultimately, their goal is to produce reasonably intelligent physicians who can help heal the world, and they do that by finding people who will "mesh" in their program. That's not always about test scores.
I would just encourage you, regardless of your MCAT score, to put a pretty positive spin on everything. I won't share my MCAT here, but it was not very high.
That said, I think it was probably my only flaw when it comes to the application itself. My personal statement was proofread by Writers at my school. My letters were impecable. And I tried my best to be interesting in the interview.
It is so important to show programs that you're not just going through the motions, that you've done the reading on their school. I mean, what's more impressive? You talking about you? Or you talking about which faculty's research project you could see yourself getting involved in.
If you sell youself in that way, to every school that you apply to, it can only work for the best. Ultimately, their goal is to produce reasonably intelligent physicians who can help heal the world, and they do that by finding people who will "mesh" in their program. That's not always about test scores.
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Alrighty, let's review.
4.0 GPA. YEARS of research (implying at least 3 years). Volunteering. 7 YEARS of working in a hospital. Degrees in engineering and biology. Fluent in 3 languages. Played flute in an orchestra for six YEARS. Member of the college swimming team. CLASS PRESIDENT! And, AND (are you ready for this?) THE LIST GOES ON!
Maybe you didn't get in because you like to "exaggerate" your attributes. I'm not saying all of those things aren't possible for a single person, but I don't know anyone like that. Maybe I just haven't met YOU yet.
4.0 GPA. YEARS of research (implying at least 3 years). Volunteering. 7 YEARS of working in a hospital. Degrees in engineering and biology. Fluent in 3 languages. Played flute in an orchestra for six YEARS. Member of the college swimming team. CLASS PRESIDENT! And, AND (are you ready for this?) THE LIST GOES ON!
Maybe you didn't get in because you like to "exaggerate" your attributes. I'm not saying all of those things aren't possible for a single person, but I don't know anyone like that. Maybe I just haven't met YOU yet.
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ahoy_maties: Make a list of two columns. 1st what you listed as your haves in the first and 2nd notes, then, opposite the actuality you finally enumerated in your last note. Compare them. What you first said was literally true, BUT, what I (and I assume others)expected was more than what you actually did. For example, an engineering degree [ie, =BS Engineering accredited program] but unable to get an engineering job at a time when young engineers were in especial demand; work in hospital not as a BA Bio lab tech or nurse, but as an orderly (?); orchestra was kid's orchestra. Languages? Greek or Latin, great!, otherwise, typical European/Indian. All perfectly good things and worth mentioning still, but less 99.9%-ile than expected before unwrapping the package. Tone it down for a BETTER effect. IMHO. 🙄
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He also seems to have changed his user name. 😕 Too bad -- I kind of liked that name. 🙂
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The original poster deleted all of his messages in this thread because he/she has trouble handling criticism.
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Oh jeez, I'm sorry. I guess "kid's orchestra" was a bissel harsh.... But the advice was correct and would have helped had he been strong enough to bend a little. In the Army, people like that are called "bed wetters". Their self-image is just too over polished and fragile to stand-up to contact with lots of other people who aren't their mommys.
😳
😳