Is this Odd or Representative...??

[jmeyers52]

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So last year I applied to only one school (probably a mistake, I know), MSTP at U of MN. I was already in grad school and wanted to stay here. I got an interview, but didn't end up getting in. This wasnt toooo surprising, but then they forward your app to the med school for consideration. I didnt even get an interview from the med school. I had volunteered in the ER, shadowed for a semester, started a student group blah blah. I had a 3.41(3.53 BCPM) from Hopkins BME and a 33R. When I talked to the director of admissions, her only suggestion was to get more clinical experience (I hadnt done anything clinical since junior year).

So I'm just wondering what people's thoughts are. Does this seem odd or is it representative of what I should expect this year (I applied to a lot more schools)? I was just a little surprised, is it really this competitive? Any thoughts??

 

[W222]

You cant just apply to one school and expect to get in. They may have seen this as a possible problem with your application. Also, if you dont have any hardcore clinical experience and thats what they want, then go for it. Do something for a year and show persistence. BUT DO NOT APPLY TO JUST ONE SCHOOL, big mistake.

 

[jmeyers52]

I should probably clarify. I was in a graduate program and decided to do both an MD and a PhD. I only applied to one school because I was applying as a first year graduate student to MSTP (similar to an MS1 applying to MSTP after their first year). Anyway, since then I've decided to just finish my Master's this year since I decided I want patient care to be my primary focus. I applied to 15 schools this year. I dont know if MN looked at it as a negative thing that I only applied to one school, but I hoped they would view it as a positive. 🙁

 

[safrat]

I should probably clarify. I was in a graduate program and decided to do both an MD and a PhD. I only applied to one school because I was applying as a first year graduate student to MSTP (similar to an MS1 applying to MSTP after their first year). Anyway, since then I've decided to just finish my Master's this year since I decided I want patient care to be my primary focus. I applied to 15 schools this year. I dont know if MN looked at it as a negative thing that I only applied to one school, but I hoped they would view it as a positive. 🙁

I'm pretty sure that schools can't see who all you applied to. So, they wouldn't know you only applied to one. It is odd; maybe they don't just want you to be some genius whose choosing to do medicine for the sake of showing off your intelligence, which explains the clinical remark. I think your chances are high with those stats, but you have to remember that there is always someone with your scores that has just a little more fluff (EC's). Get the clinical experience and it should all clear up for you.