How best to strengthen my application

[Surg Path]

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Any advice would be great on strengthening my application for next year.

This year, I applied late (secondaries in around december) and got 1 interview (and lots of rejections). The interview was for MD/PhD, interestingly, and I am waitlisted.

My MCAT (bio 11, V 10, Phys 8) is weak and I'll be hitting the books hard this summer. Overall GPA is 3.6, science 3.2 I've done a lot of research and published first author in Oncogene (well respected cancer journal).

I got the info that the 8 was a nonstarter and essentially a cutoff for many schools.

My plan is to reapply, take the MCAT in August, and try to bring my Phys to 10+.

I'm also a musician, and went to conservatory for two years before doing premed.

I have good LORs, EC's, clinical observation experience related to my research work, and my essays for the apps are strong (so I've been told).

What would you suggest?

 

[Rjuza333]

In all honesty you sound like a great candidate despite the 8 in Phys. Sci. However, MD/PhD programs are generally more demanding and they typically pursue students with better scores. If you wish to take the MCAT again and improve on it then more power to you and good luck. I think your best bet is just to apply earlier. By the time you turned in your secondaries the vast majority of schools were already down to their final rounds of interviews for spots. Best wishes and good luck to you.

 

[Surg Path]

In all honesty you sound like a great candidate despite the 8 in Phys. Sci. However, MD/PhD programs are generally more demanding and they typically pursue students with better scores. If you wish to take the MCAT again and improve on it then more power to you and good luck. I think your best bet is just to apply earlier. By the time you turned in your secondaries the vast majority of schools were already down to their final rounds of interviews for spots. Best wishes and good luck to you.

From advice I have gotten from academic docs I know who have spoken with Deans about my app, the 8 was the issue. However, perhaps I should try to have secondaries done by August (for those schools that automatically send secondaries). Also, I have all my essays together, and while I might do some editing, secondaries shouldn't take as long this time around.

Docs and others in the sciences that know me and my research and whatever were pretty suprised that I had so few responses from schools. I think the time and that 8 killed me.

On the bright side, I now have another year of research! 😀

 

[CatsandCradles]

Any advice would be great on strengthening my application for next year.

This year, I applied late (secondaries in around december) and got 1 interview (and lots of rejections). The interview was for MD/PhD, interestingly, and I am waitlisted.

My MCAT (bio 11, V 10, Phys 8) is weak and I'll be hitting the books hard this summer. Overall GPA is 3.6, science 3.2 I've done a lot of research and published first author in Oncogene (well respected cancer journal).

I got the info that the 8 was a nonstarter and essentially a cutoff for many schools.

My plan is to reapply, take the MCAT in August, and try to bring my Phys to 10+.

I'm also a musician, and went to conservatory for two years before doing premed.

I have good LORs, EC's, clinical observation experience related to my research work, and my essays for the apps are strong (so I've been told).

What would you suggest?

The MD/PhD programs are fairly darn choosy, it might not be fair, but they have to select from so many qualified canidates.

You I think, are one of those canidates - and getting a 10+ will certaintly make you more competitive.

I wish I could offer you some advice, but your stats are far better than mine, so maybe someone already in a MD/PhD program can help you. 🙂

Best of wishes,
C&C