How do you like my chances?

[guyski79]

---

Members don't see this ad.

.

 

[cbrons]

OK, here's the scoop about me:

BACKGROUND:

-Grew up on family farm in rural South Dakota. Came to Stanford as an undergraduate, and recently graduated with major in Anthropology.

STATS:

-35 MCAT (12P, 10V, 13B). This is a practice test though, I'm taking the real thing next month, although I expect to score at least this well on the real thing.

-3.5 overall GPA, 3.3 SGPA

EXTRACURRICULARS:

-Extensive work experience through college (was financially independent, worked 2-3 jobs at a time on top of full course load)

-Personal assistant to chronic MS patient for 1.5 years

-Just started volunteering at two free clinics (no other clinical experience as undergrad, but I'll be volunteering 100+ hours at each in the next year before applying in 2009)

-Worked in Molecular Ecology lab for 2 years, publication pending in Journal of Mammalogy.

-Shakespearean actor in college. Appeared in productions on campus, and was in production of Macbeth at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

OTHER INFO:

-Rec letters will be OK, but not outstanding, since I didn't get a chance to really get to know my profs in college.

-Personal statement should be good, since I think my story is memorable. Grew up on farm in rural South Dakota, lost my mother to MS at 16, lived with my high school principal during last year of HS to escape abusive, alcoholic father. Was financially independent through college at Stanford.



So, I won't be applying until 2009. But here is a list of schools that I'm considering applying to. How do you like my chances at these schools?

-UCLA
-Stanford
-USC
-UCSF
-Harvard
-Tufts
-Columbia
-Cornell
-Oregon Health and Science U
-UPenn
-McGill
-U of Washington
-Brown
-U Minnesota
-U Maryland
-UC Davis
-Northwestern
-U Chicago

You're the definition of well-rounded. And you have faced and overcome significant challenges the likes of which many people in the admissions process will not have. You've grown through these issues, and you look like you were able to do a great deal of good stuff in undergrad. And a rural kid too? I respect that, that's me as well. You got a nice score the practice test.... you seem like the persevering type of kid so I doubt you'll have any trouble with the real thing. Acting? Assisting an MS patient? That's fantastic... this is going to be impressive to schools, especially the personal assistance ship because you lost your mother to the same disease its not going to look like something you did just to put it on your app. Keep up the good work.

 

[nogolfinsnow]

That's an impressive application, but your school list is still a little top heavy considering your science GPA is 3.3. Despite the ten thousand other things you were doing in college, and the fact that you went to Stanford, there is always the chance that in the initial screen that 3.3 jumps out at someone and you go into the bad pile. You also have some state schools on there that might not be very friendly to out of state applicants (OHSU, Maryland, Minnesota). Are you now a CA resident? If so, maybe add UCI on there. Before you apply next year, get out the ol' trusty MSAR and look for some additional schools where the average matriculant GPA is closer to 3.5 (a good MCAT doesn't necessarily offset a lower GPA). If you get interviews you'll have an amazing amount of stuff to talk about that will likely lead to acceptances. But just getting the interview in the first place can be a challenge and based largely on numbers.

 

[guyski79]

.

 

[mrmilad]

Wow amazing story you have kid. I think you will be fine as long as you really do score within your range. On my Mcat I scored 3 points lower than my average. It happens, just make sure you are within your range, and you will be just fine.

 

[guyski79]

bump