rdrwannabe
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Hello!
Much like many of you on this thread I have a dream to be a physician, to be at the forefront of the medical branch in the field of science.
I have two dilemmas. One Being my GPA and one being my MCAT. I know, these are the essential pillars of any application so allow me to elaborate.
Before I start rambling here, let me put some preliminary demographics! ORM (asian), low income household, first generation immigrant, no relatives in the medical field, INSANE pressure being the first born to be the golden child for the family lineage, and a stubborn will to keep trying.
*reapplying! This will be my second application cycle following a 20 school rejection season last year*
Going into college I was care free, studying was a foreign concept to me as I had been able to get outstanding grades with minimal studying. As you can probably guess, freshman year was a reality check and a half. I finished my first year with a 2.7 GPA and a remark for "plagiarizing" on an essay which I will elaborate on here shortly. After this upset, I turned to making an effort in improving the way I studied and was able to show an upward trend in my GPA till the first semester of Senior year where I tanked again to a 3.0 for the semester following the death of my grandfather and having to video chat with him on his deathbed across the globe. This put me in a horrible mental state and I was lucky I got out of that semester with B's. I ended college with a 3.24 cGPA and a 3.27 sGPA. In my mind and the minds of many others this was not good, and I sorted myself out to complete a post-bacc SMP. Throughout my post-bacc I was commuting 2 hours to school and 2 hours back everyday. This showed in my academics as I squeezed out with a 3.1. This put me even further into the depths of despair. And I was more lost on what I could possibly do to keep my dream alive. To boot, during my second semester of my SMP I was informed that I had a mass growing in my bicep. This put even more unwanted stress on me not only mentally but physically, needing to make it to appointments and class and study as well as keep up with volunteering, shadowing, and other ECs.
Regarding the account of plagiarism, I was reported by my professor who then neglected to explain why she reported me, what she had reported me for, or even show up to the hearing with the board of academic honesty. From what I was told my mistaken quotation/paraphrasing, which in the opinion of members of that board, was permissible as I had done the proper introduction and credit to the author while paraphrasing should not have warranted this meeting in the first place. I was told that since it was reported they had to put it on my academic record, however if any future employers or schools were to reach out to ask about this they would be more than happy to explain the situation and vouch for me. Although this is a great sentiment, I believe that it's a mark on my application amongst others that stands out enough to throw my application out.
My MCAT is another train wreck of my own design, 6 attempts, all under 500. I won't sit here and complain or justify why it turned out this way but from what my standpoint, I am not a good standardized test taker. On my personal practice tests I would be devoted to studying making an effort to really dig my heels in and master material. Averaging around a 515 on my practice tests I saw this as a sort of ray of hope for my application. (A stretch, I know).
This generational run of losses has landed me here, I am this close to putting up the towel and accepting that this life isn't for me. But on the other hand I think I owe it to myself to at least send in a DO application ASAP as I don't think MD's will even be an option.
For reference if anyone would like to know what my EC's look like here you go!
Research
I started research in high school and continued throughout the first 3 years of college coming back during summers to work in the lab itself, this work led me to have one publication as a co-author at an in state medical school - 4000 hours (2015-2021)
During my undergrad years I did a research rotation at a plant science lab as it was the only place open during covid that I didn't lose my wet lab experience. But if I am being honest I HATED and I quit within 8 month - 630 hours
The following fall I was accepted to be a research assistant at one of the most prestigious medical schools, working on a very cool project! - 350 hours
I was just hired this year as a full time cancer research tech at the same university I had started at in 2015 and have accumulated 1200 hours of research and will presumably collect another 1400-1500 hours by next August.
Total - 6200 currently, 7500-7700 prospectively.
Clinical
Shadowing at the before mentioned university where I have done a BULK of my research. I shadowed a family friend who had noticed my interest in medicine and pushed me to shadow her in clinic during summers or school breaks in undergrad! - 360 hours
Shadowing at a clinic in the suburbs around where I lived through grad school! - 250 hours
Shadowing/Volunteer at a community clinic in the city. A free clinic for those without insurance or other forms of healthcare. - 300hours
Medical Mission trip - Panama - working with local doctors to provide healthcare for rural communities with little to no access to medical care, 1 week full time
Total - 1020 hours (give or take)
Volunteering
Soup Kitchen during grad school - 100 hours
Juvenile detention center teaching the kids age 12-18 science, math, reading strategies as well as in some cases GED prep - 200 hours throughout undergrad
Before mentioned Community Clinic and Mission trip may also qualify here (?)
Total Hours - 300+ hours
Other EC's
Started a few health/medicine related clubs, mostly revolving around educating the community my undergrad university was based in on the health risks they may face given age, ethnicity, background, lifestyle with the help of local physicians (mostly handing out flyers and talking to people in waiting rooms if they were interested in knowing a little more) During covid it became a good outlet for people to ask questions to us and the physicians that volunteered to help us out! - 330 hours
board for student cultural club - 200 hours
Neuroscience club board - 200 hours
Total - 730 hours
I have been told by a few adcoms and folks that work in admissions that the biggest thing holding me back and ultimately putting me out of the running for medical school are my grades and MCAT and I am shattered thinking about it. However, I can blame no one but myself for how things turned out but I am not ready to give up the fight just yet. If you all have any suggestions for any DO schools I should be trying to lock in ASAP please let me know and I will add them to the list, if there are MD schools that might look past my stats and see my extensive EC's let me know that as well I wouldn't be opposed to throwing a later application and groveling at an adcoms feet for a JUST A CHANCE.
If you get through all this please feel free to leave your comments or suggestions below. I can take whatever you throw at me, chances are I have heard or in some cases told myself whatever you all may have to say, but an outside perspective would be lovely to have.
Thank you in advance!
Much like many of you on this thread I have a dream to be a physician, to be at the forefront of the medical branch in the field of science.
I have two dilemmas. One Being my GPA and one being my MCAT. I know, these are the essential pillars of any application so allow me to elaborate.
Before I start rambling here, let me put some preliminary demographics! ORM (asian), low income household, first generation immigrant, no relatives in the medical field, INSANE pressure being the first born to be the golden child for the family lineage, and a stubborn will to keep trying.
*reapplying! This will be my second application cycle following a 20 school rejection season last year*
Going into college I was care free, studying was a foreign concept to me as I had been able to get outstanding grades with minimal studying. As you can probably guess, freshman year was a reality check and a half. I finished my first year with a 2.7 GPA and a remark for "plagiarizing" on an essay which I will elaborate on here shortly. After this upset, I turned to making an effort in improving the way I studied and was able to show an upward trend in my GPA till the first semester of Senior year where I tanked again to a 3.0 for the semester following the death of my grandfather and having to video chat with him on his deathbed across the globe. This put me in a horrible mental state and I was lucky I got out of that semester with B's. I ended college with a 3.24 cGPA and a 3.27 sGPA. In my mind and the minds of many others this was not good, and I sorted myself out to complete a post-bacc SMP. Throughout my post-bacc I was commuting 2 hours to school and 2 hours back everyday. This showed in my academics as I squeezed out with a 3.1. This put me even further into the depths of despair. And I was more lost on what I could possibly do to keep my dream alive. To boot, during my second semester of my SMP I was informed that I had a mass growing in my bicep. This put even more unwanted stress on me not only mentally but physically, needing to make it to appointments and class and study as well as keep up with volunteering, shadowing, and other ECs.
Regarding the account of plagiarism, I was reported by my professor who then neglected to explain why she reported me, what she had reported me for, or even show up to the hearing with the board of academic honesty. From what I was told my mistaken quotation/paraphrasing, which in the opinion of members of that board, was permissible as I had done the proper introduction and credit to the author while paraphrasing should not have warranted this meeting in the first place. I was told that since it was reported they had to put it on my academic record, however if any future employers or schools were to reach out to ask about this they would be more than happy to explain the situation and vouch for me. Although this is a great sentiment, I believe that it's a mark on my application amongst others that stands out enough to throw my application out.
My MCAT is another train wreck of my own design, 6 attempts, all under 500. I won't sit here and complain or justify why it turned out this way but from what my standpoint, I am not a good standardized test taker. On my personal practice tests I would be devoted to studying making an effort to really dig my heels in and master material. Averaging around a 515 on my practice tests I saw this as a sort of ray of hope for my application. (A stretch, I know).
This generational run of losses has landed me here, I am this close to putting up the towel and accepting that this life isn't for me. But on the other hand I think I owe it to myself to at least send in a DO application ASAP as I don't think MD's will even be an option.
For reference if anyone would like to know what my EC's look like here you go!
Research
I started research in high school and continued throughout the first 3 years of college coming back during summers to work in the lab itself, this work led me to have one publication as a co-author at an in state medical school - 4000 hours (2015-2021)
During my undergrad years I did a research rotation at a plant science lab as it was the only place open during covid that I didn't lose my wet lab experience. But if I am being honest I HATED and I quit within 8 month - 630 hours
The following fall I was accepted to be a research assistant at one of the most prestigious medical schools, working on a very cool project! - 350 hours
I was just hired this year as a full time cancer research tech at the same university I had started at in 2015 and have accumulated 1200 hours of research and will presumably collect another 1400-1500 hours by next August.
Total - 6200 currently, 7500-7700 prospectively.
Clinical
Shadowing at the before mentioned university where I have done a BULK of my research. I shadowed a family friend who had noticed my interest in medicine and pushed me to shadow her in clinic during summers or school breaks in undergrad! - 360 hours
Shadowing at a clinic in the suburbs around where I lived through grad school! - 250 hours
Shadowing/Volunteer at a community clinic in the city. A free clinic for those without insurance or other forms of healthcare. - 300hours
Medical Mission trip - Panama - working with local doctors to provide healthcare for rural communities with little to no access to medical care, 1 week full time
Total - 1020 hours (give or take)
Volunteering
Soup Kitchen during grad school - 100 hours
Juvenile detention center teaching the kids age 12-18 science, math, reading strategies as well as in some cases GED prep - 200 hours throughout undergrad
Before mentioned Community Clinic and Mission trip may also qualify here (?)
Total Hours - 300+ hours
Other EC's
Started a few health/medicine related clubs, mostly revolving around educating the community my undergrad university was based in on the health risks they may face given age, ethnicity, background, lifestyle with the help of local physicians (mostly handing out flyers and talking to people in waiting rooms if they were interested in knowing a little more) During covid it became a good outlet for people to ask questions to us and the physicians that volunteered to help us out! - 330 hours
board for student cultural club - 200 hours
Neuroscience club board - 200 hours
Total - 730 hours
I have been told by a few adcoms and folks that work in admissions that the biggest thing holding me back and ultimately putting me out of the running for medical school are my grades and MCAT and I am shattered thinking about it. However, I can blame no one but myself for how things turned out but I am not ready to give up the fight just yet. If you all have any suggestions for any DO schools I should be trying to lock in ASAP please let me know and I will add them to the list, if there are MD schools that might look past my stats and see my extensive EC's let me know that as well I wouldn't be opposed to throwing a later application and groveling at an adcoms feet for a JUST A CHANCE.
If you get through all this please feel free to leave your comments or suggestions below. I can take whatever you throw at me, chances are I have heard or in some cases told myself whatever you all may have to say, but an outside perspective would be lovely to have.
Thank you in advance!
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