Junior recently interested in Med School...

[stuck_in_boston]

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Hey first of all I'm sorry if any of the answers to my questions are already available on the boards here. I've spent many hours reading other posts but it seems like the more I read, the more questions I have. I am coming from a bit of a non traditional background. I spent a year and a half at MIT as an undergrad before leaving to work at a medical software start-up company. One division in the company was sold and another (the unprofitable one) simply was shut down. As #3 in the company I advised and was involved in both divisions. Now I am 22 and will return to MIT for 2 or 2 1/2 more years. I wasn't interested at all in medicine before I left to work for this company, so I haven't taken any pre med requirements other than the required math core at MIT (Calc I & II). The work I did and the people to whom I was exposed while I worked at the company made me decide that I want to be a doctor and practice medicine for the rest of my life. So there you are, that's my history. Also: My GPA on 1 and 1/2 years is a 3.25 unadjusted and 3.0 adjusted for AMCAS (Comp Sci major). My Science GPA (not incl. Comp Sci classes) is around a 3.5 for both. I'm not in a fraternity, but I have the opportunity to join my friend's frat and could probably serve in a leadership role (maybe president or vice president). Now here are my questions:

#1: When people list their GPA on here, is that commonly their GPA as their school would report it? Or is that the adjusted AMCAS GPA?

#2: When medical school's list their GPA averages, is that as the undergraduate schools report them or is that the AMCAS average?

#3: I will take Chem I and Bio I in the Fall and O Chem I in the Spring. I've already taken Physics I & II but I remember them well. When should I take the MCAT? I've always done very well on standardized tests and I am prepared to study 12 hours a day for 3 months to prep for this. Should I take it in April or August? What are the advantages of each?

#4: I have OK LORs and ECs (other than work). I volunteered quite a bit before and while I worked, at homeless shelters and free clinics. I've played IM Sports, etc, that sort of deal. What else could I do for ECs at this point to make myself stand out more? Do they want to see more volunteer experience?

#5: My father is a specialist and the head of his department at a hospital. My uncle is a pretty well known CT surgeon in South Texas. What can they do to help me.. could I shadow them or what? I also know some doctors from my work at the start-up.

#6: I am a Texas resident and would like to apply to state schools, since they are so cheap. What's the impact of this? Will they like somebody from MIT or do they prefer people who sayed in TX for their undergrad?

Okay, I know that's a lot of questions, but thank you so much in advance for the help you guys!!!

stuck_in_boston

 

[stuck_in_boston]

Also I should add that I am fairly social and unpretentious and can communicate well. So I think I will interview well. Added on to #3, I read posts where people write that it's better to take the MCAT in Aug. if you have the choice. Could somebody explain that to me? Also, how much leeway can I get for my GPA since it's from a hard school? What kind of number should I shoot for on the MCAT to have a shot at UTSW, A&M, etc? Okay I wanted to clarify that, but sorry that sounds like more questions, thanks a lot. :-(

 

[shocker]

I will tackle #3 and #6, only my opinion though.

#3 You should take the April MCAT because this allows you to apply to schools earlier. Applying early is paramount in this "crap shoot."

#6 You went to an awesome ugrad and have some life experiences, so going to Boston shouldn't be frowned upon. BTW, you sound bright enough that you should be able to focus and kick up that GPA (I didn't go to anything nearly as tough as MIT, so don't stress this point.) You are in a good position because of the amount of med schools in Texas. If I were you I would take a hard look at Baylor, and make the appropriate moves.

Hope that helps.

 

[W222]

First off, coming from Boston myself, your name sickens me. If you are in Boston, you are essentailly "stuck" in the greatest city ever (although my wife would disagree just to bother me). You should be ashamed of that name, stuck in Boston.....please (a sickened sort of disgusted "please")

Second, you have an interesting story. You come from a really good undergrad but your GPA could use some work. Try and bump that up just a tad to around a 3.5 total GPA. Also, rock the MCAT. If you get over a 30 you should be fine. Forget the FRAT, they are a little to Hitler-youth. You should get some volunteer work under your belt, something serious not a resume-padder position once a month. Do something profound. Your family history is nice and you could use this to explain your knowledge of the medical field BUT I would avoid the my Daddy is a doctor so let me in crap. This can get you in trouble, especially if you try and have people pull strings. I was advised against this and stayed clear and I was told it helped that I didnt meddle in ADCOM affairs. ADCOM=admissions committee. Some schools like legacy stuff and it can help, the "meddling" I am refering to is the type where your Dad calls his friend Doc X to call Doc Y and then call Dean Z at this school and get you in. That crap has more of a chance of back-firing.

 

[shocker]

I was writing during your second post.

I don't see many advantages to August MCAT except for:
1. You have taken it once and now should be better prepared.
2. You have the summer to study (but so does everyone else) remember that your score is relative.

The early application should out-weigh these things.

The MSAR is a book that can be purchased through AAMC and has all the stats on almost all the schools, this will tell you competitive MCAT scores.
Most people have a good shot with 30+.

 

[stuck_in_boston]

Cool, thanks for the advice. I don't mean to knock Boston, I really like it here, I just miss Texas too... For the MCAT, I was thinking I wouldn't take it in April at all, I would just take it once in August, confident that I would do well. Is the score distribution higher in Aug than in April? Pros for August are that I would be able to study all summer (and maybe take O Chem II over the summer). Cons for April are that I would not have finished O Chem I and I would have to study for finals as well as the MCAT (maybe that's not so bad, if they are the same material). Shocker- I thought that even taking the August MCAT you could apply on the same timeline, you just wouldn't know your score? Or am I wrong on that? Also, Do I need O Chem II for the MCAT? And for MDs in the family, I only meant that they might give me shadowing opportunities, which people seemed to have put down on their apps somewhere. I wouldn't want to get in anywhere just b/c of that kind of connection. My main concerns are just GPA and then how to present my time away from undergrad to work, e.g. how much to play that up, and whether that much break in between my years of undergrad will look bad. Thanks again for your advice.

 

[Kazema]

You can apply without knowing your scores, but you can't get an interview (as far as I know) before your scores get released. So you'll most likely be getting interviews later than the April applicants.

 

[W222]

I WAS JUST MESSING WITH YOU IN MOST OF MY POST, I completely understand missing home- I miss home right now also. You have a really great shot- you just need to tighten up your plan and go for it. I would take the MCAT after taking Orgo II, just my preference. Also, whats you physics background? I recommend a little physics before the MCAT, AP class or high school just doesnt compare to college physics. I would hit the MCAT hard. Yah, definitely shadow a Doc but I wouldnt shadow a relative, maybe a friend of your family. It just looks a little suspicious to ADCOMs if you have a family member on your application, no matter how distant your relation may or may not be- if its found out your application will go down the toilet. You are HIGHLY unlikely to get an interview without an MCAT, next to impossible. I would take the MCAT and then apply early next year. Waiting another year wont kill you, TRUST ME ON THIS. I was all gung-ho to get into med school and applied right out of college and this was a big mistake. I was immature and needed to realize the true sacrifice a career in medicine would be. I also used my time off into my personal statement and it seems to have worked well for me, people always seemed to bring up the fact that taking time off shows that you have thought long and hard about this and there is less chance of burn-out.

AS FAR AS MCAT breakdown, based on the fact that the scores are weighted and scaled according to others/other locations the MCAT people say that there is no difference between the April and August. HERE IS WHAT I WAS TOLD BY MY ADVISOR AND MY PRINCETON REVIEW MCAT INSTRUCTOR: people who usually take the MCAT in April are junior/senior in college and they are also taking classes, THEREFOR they are busy and studying is more difficult for the MCAT, where as a person in August is taking the exam during the summer and has plenty of study time. It sounded a bit assinine to me but I have taken the MCAT twice: the August MCAT seemed easier but I scored just ok (8V, 9BS, 9PS) then on the April test I scored (12V, 10BS, 8PS- brain fart on physics). The April mcat seemed like a ball buster and I almost cancelled my score at the end, but I decided I had nothing to lose and there was always DO school, BUT it worked out OK. I would take it in April, everyone I know did better in April.