How adcoms review non-trads

[VM3125]

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Hi All,

Does anyone know the process of how an adcom might look at a non-trad differently than a regular student who just got out of undergrad? For example, are they still "filtering" out applicants first off academics (GPA, MCAT scores, etc) and THEN giving consideration to non-trads who might not have as much (or any) research experience, and/or a bit less clinical experience? I plan on having at least 100-200 hours of volunteer/clinical experience at a hospital and/or local free medical clinic, but still am trying to understand how the process of reviewing a non-trad applicant differs from all the other "regular" applicants?

 

[bassvp]

Hi All,

Does anyone know the process of how an adcom might look at a non-trad differently than a regular student who just got out of undergrad? For example, are they still "filtering" out applicants first off academics (GPA, MCAT scores, etc) and THEN giving consideration to non-trads who might not have as much (or any) research experience, and/or a bit less clinical experience? I plan on having at least 100-200 hours of volunteer/clinical experience at a hospital and/or local free medical clinic, but still am trying to understand how the process of reviewing a non-trad applicant differs from all the other "regular" applicants?

There's no clear-cut answer to this question. My personal opinion is that I may expect a non-trad who had not originally thought of going into medicine to have less/no research experience, but you should also have the advantage of having had more time for interesting life experiences, so I might expect those to shine a little more.

 

[DrMidlife]

Nontrads aren't evaluated differently. Don't kid yourself.

First barrier to entry: Do your undergrad GPA & MCAT show you can handle the academics of med school?

Second barrier to entry: Any red flags? Bad letter? Bad essay? Transcript anomalies unexplained and/or unaddressed?

Third barrier to entry: Do you have your act together? Are you interesting? (This is where it should help to have extra years on the average applicant.)

People on SDN seem to think that their app is reviewed all by itself, by a well-rested reviewer who is in a good mood, sitting in his or her favorite living room chair in front of the fire with a nice hot cocoa. Classics on the radio. Beloved basset hound at the feet.

Which is not the case, because there are usually 5000 apps, or more, per school. It's more like reviewers are looking for reasons not to move your app forward, because the piles and piles of apps have to be cut down to fit a limited number of interview spots. They're not looking for the ways in which you are a unique and special flower. Those piles contain nothing but unique and special flowers.

Best of luck to you.

 

[econ2med]

Adcoms just want to see 'what you're made of' and they want gpa proof. Just like any other applicant

 

[Helen Wheels]

Yep, the adcoms will cut you no slack. With an abundance of applications from well qualified applicants, you'd better have everything the traditional applicants have - GPA, MCAT, great LORs, clinical experience (though this might come from paid employment and not necessarily volunteering). If anything, I think they might hold us to higher standards in that they expect us to be more interesting (what has this person been doing all these years?) and you'd better have a mature, thoughtful, compelling personal statement (they are older and have more life experience, this better be good!)