How do I stand??

[JETER]

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I am so happy that I have found this forum. It has already been a wealth of information for me. I, or course, am very interested in applying to MST programs across the country. My current school has a pre-med advisory committee, but they have never heard of MSTP, so I am a bit out of luck trying to get a feel of how I should proceed. I would be happy with any research program, but I feel that BME would be the best fit. Here are my stats.

Dual major U.G (Physics and Chemical Engineering, GPA = 3.6, finished in 4 yrs)
Masters in Chemical Engineering (GPA = 4.0!!!)
Mediocre MCAT (8V, 8B, 15P, S)
Two co-authored peer-reviewed publications, two co-inventor patents, more publications to come.

I have been doing engineering research for 3 years. I have received national recongition for a novel cancer therapy approach using smart materials. In addition to the above, I have been working at a VA hospital as a surgical tech for two years now, as well as hundreds of hours of volunteering. I have (6) outstanding letters of rec (3 research, 3 clinical).

I have completed the AMCAS, but I have been waiting to hear back on my MCAT scores. Are they too low to have a shot at MSTP schools? I will be applying all across the board, with some of the higher esteemed schools as well as some of the lower tier schools. My options are:
1. Apply now, and cross my fingers and see what happens.
2. Wait till next year, and retake the MCAT in April (and maybe study some more this time. I re-read my bio and organic texts for the exam, and took 3 practice tests, where I was scoring between 35 and 39 on each, so I thought that I needed not to study more). If I wait until next year to apply, I have the following options available to me:
2a. Get a second masters in Physics at my current school
2b. Get a second masters in BME at my current school.
2c. Take a break from school, and continue to work at the hospital full time, and participate in some research there.
2d. Apply to some nuclear engineering PhD programs, and give up on MSTP.

If anyone could add any input to this, it would help greatly. Thank you.

 

[Newquagmire]

on your feet, of course.

i think your research experience is more than enough to overcome the "mediocre" MCAT; but it really depends on if you want to go to med school NOW and if it matters to you if you're at the "top" ones...

 

[Stroganoff]

If it wouldn't be a huge burden, bump the MCAT up for MSTP. Everything else seems really solid. If you're getting 35-39 on practice exams and can duplicate that on the real one (if this app cycle doesn't work out), that looks like your only "weakness" in my eyes. (Plus, a killer MCAT would help offset your "average" GPA for the top MSTPs). Of course, I'm no expert at all. It's just what I would do to improve my package if I had your stats.

I honestly don't know what would be best as far as getting a second Masters or whatever. Good luck!

 

[Stroganoff]

on your feet, of course.

 

[Stroganoff]

P.S. Physics and ChemE degrees in 4 years with a 3.6? You're hardcore man. Wow. 😱

 

[Ursus Martimus]

Hello-

As long as you are considering going back to school to increase your numbers, why not apply. I made a mistake in my application process. I thought because I had low MCAT's I should stick to lower tier programs. But I think in the end the better programs would be willing to overlook poor mcat's to pull in unique applicants. If you apply to the lower schools, they won't be as impressed with your research/ back ground. The bigger schools may view it favorably. If all else fails, and you have to try one of your scenerios, at least the second time around you will be a wiz at the process, which is unfortunately part of the game.

Good luck

 

[microTAS]

By co-author do you mean you contributed equally with someone else as a first author or that you were the second, third, etc. name? Either way though, your research aspect looks strong and you shouldn't sell yourself short. Good luck with the MCAT scores.

 

[JETER]

For the papers, there is usually three or four of us, each with a distinct part, with about equal share of the work. Same for the patents. Most of the work that I do are joint projects with the mechanical engineering dept. They build the device, and we make the materials. So it really does not make sense to say "first or second" author.

If I had gotten an 11,10,10 on the MCAT, I would feel better about the score. But an 8,8,15 seems a bit off. I do not know how to feel about it. I know that if I study more, then I will do better. But I do not want to put all my eggs in that basket, in case something goes wrong next April. However, applying to 20 schools will cost quite a bit, and I do not want to do it all for nothing.

Another question: How much does the 4.0 masters erase the 3.6 UG GPA? I have a pretty damn good excuse for the low GPA. I took about 180 credits in 4 years, with 55 my senior year, and worked at least 30hrs/wk each semester. And I pretty much blew off my first year and a half. As a side note, this is not an easy master's program. I will be only the second student to walk away with a 4.0. I just hope that it will mean something to someone else.

I really appreciate the advice and the words of encouragement. Anything else you can offer would be great. Thanks.

 

[Newquagmire]

For the papers, there is usually three or four of us, each with a distinct part, with about equal share of the work. Same for the patents. Most of the work that I do are joint projects with the mechanical engineering dept. They build the device, and we make the materials. So it really does not make sense to say "first or second" author.

If I had gotten an 11,10,10 on the MCAT, I would feel better about the score. But an 8,8,15 seems a bit off. I do not know how to feel about it. I know that if I study more, then I will do better. But I do not want to put all my eggs in that basket, in case something goes wrong next April. However, applying to 20 schools will cost quite a bit, and I do not want to do it all for nothing.

Another question: How much does the 4.0 masters erase the 3.6 UG GPA? I have a pretty damn good excuse for the low GPA. I took about 180 credits in 4 years, with 55 my senior year, and worked at least 30hrs/wk each semester. And I pretty much blew off my first year and a half. As a side note, this is not an easy master's program. I will be only the second student to walk away with a 4.0. I just hope that it will mean something to someone else.

I really appreciate the advice and the words of encouragement. Anything else you can offer would be great. Thanks.

I'm not familiar with engineering publications, but it's especially significant (to MSTPs) if you've published something as a first author.

I don't think you should worry about the GPA. It's the lop-sided MCAT that is your numbers-game weak point, and even that may not be a huge problem...

 

[Gfunk6]

Wow, you have the most interesting MCAT distribution! Anyway, except for that one blemish you seem to be an oustanding candidate. If you are truly serious about MSTPs, I would pour all your efforts into pumping up your MCAT score. Once you do that, I think you will be a very strong applicant.

Added: I wouldn't worry too much about your undegrad GPA. Your MS GPA more than indicates that you have picked up the slack and are an academic high-flier. I doubt anyone would question your ability to handle med school course load.

 

[microTAS]

To be more precise, who wrote up most of the two manuscripts, and what was the order of the printed names on those manuscripts? I remember each person had a % contribution in patents which might be evenly split in your case.

For the papers, there is usually three or four of us, each with a distinct part, with about equal share of the work. Same for the patents. Most of the work that I do are joint projects with the mechanical engineering dept. They build the device, and we make the materials. So it really does not make sense to say "first or second" author.