Firing Neuron
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- Oct 22, 2024
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Hello all,
I just got my secondaries and was wanting to get some advice on how to write secondaries in light of having really bad grades, like grades that will make 95% of you either feel better about yourselves or feel horrified. Specifically writing the secondary prompts that ask questions like please explain any academic discrepancies or extenuating circumstances that you feel the Admissions Committee should know. I feel confident writing all other aspects of secondaries, but I am not sure how to approach the academic discrepancies questions.
I have 5 Ws and 2 Fs. W in Calculus 1, followed by F in Calculus 1, followed by B in Calculus 1, followed by W in Calculus II followed by W in Integral Calculus, followed by C in Integral Calculus. I got a D+ in A&P I, but got an A in A&P II. The other F was in one of my easy neuroscience classes. I got an A+ the next semester with little effort.
I'll keep this short. I earned each and every grade I got. Throughout most of my college years I was addicted to gaming and normally wouldn't study for exams until 1-3 days before. I quit during my last semester and haven't gone back to gaming at all for over six months, but it was too late at that point. I know it is very unlikely to get an interview, but I am still applying to some MD and DO schools. Should I mention the reason I did so poorly on a lot of my classes in the secondaries?
cGPA and sGPA as calculated by TMDSAS: cGPA: 3.27/sGPA: 3.01
MCAT: 500
State of residence: TX
Undergraduate institution or category: One of the UT schools.
Clinical Experience (1000+ hours paid, still working):
18 months medical scribe at a level I trauma center, of which 16 of those I was a scribe trainer and 6 I was a chief scribe. All 18 months I worked alongside doctors with patients.
June 2025, I did an internship/clerkship with an internist in Germany: Basically learned a bunch about internal medicine and under supervision of a physician I explained to patients about their lab values, took patient histories, wrote clinical progress notes, sent in medication refills, took manual blood pressures, listened to heart/lung/abd sounds, drew blood, gave injections, and even did a few digital rectal exams (not my most favorite experience lol).
I started last month medical scribing again at a primary care office, also working alongside a doctor with patients.
Research Experience (200+ hours):
In a biochem lab. We focused on metalloproteins to do with ALS.
Shadowing experience and specialties represented:
All my clinical experience: primary care and ER.
Non-clinical volunteering (200+ hours)
Various nonprofits as well as hospice volunteering.
LORs:
Stupendous letters!
Leadership/Teaching:
I have been the director of a company for several years, was a chief scribe for half a year, and had a lot of club leadership at my campus.
I just got my secondaries and was wanting to get some advice on how to write secondaries in light of having really bad grades, like grades that will make 95% of you either feel better about yourselves or feel horrified. Specifically writing the secondary prompts that ask questions like please explain any academic discrepancies or extenuating circumstances that you feel the Admissions Committee should know. I feel confident writing all other aspects of secondaries, but I am not sure how to approach the academic discrepancies questions.
I have 5 Ws and 2 Fs. W in Calculus 1, followed by F in Calculus 1, followed by B in Calculus 1, followed by W in Calculus II followed by W in Integral Calculus, followed by C in Integral Calculus. I got a D+ in A&P I, but got an A in A&P II. The other F was in one of my easy neuroscience classes. I got an A+ the next semester with little effort.
I'll keep this short. I earned each and every grade I got. Throughout most of my college years I was addicted to gaming and normally wouldn't study for exams until 1-3 days before. I quit during my last semester and haven't gone back to gaming at all for over six months, but it was too late at that point. I know it is very unlikely to get an interview, but I am still applying to some MD and DO schools. Should I mention the reason I did so poorly on a lot of my classes in the secondaries?
cGPA and sGPA as calculated by TMDSAS: cGPA: 3.27/sGPA: 3.01
MCAT: 500
State of residence: TX
Undergraduate institution or category: One of the UT schools.
Clinical Experience (1000+ hours paid, still working):
18 months medical scribe at a level I trauma center, of which 16 of those I was a scribe trainer and 6 I was a chief scribe. All 18 months I worked alongside doctors with patients.
June 2025, I did an internship/clerkship with an internist in Germany: Basically learned a bunch about internal medicine and under supervision of a physician I explained to patients about their lab values, took patient histories, wrote clinical progress notes, sent in medication refills, took manual blood pressures, listened to heart/lung/abd sounds, drew blood, gave injections, and even did a few digital rectal exams (not my most favorite experience lol).
I started last month medical scribing again at a primary care office, also working alongside a doctor with patients.
Research Experience (200+ hours):
In a biochem lab. We focused on metalloproteins to do with ALS.
Shadowing experience and specialties represented:
All my clinical experience: primary care and ER.
Non-clinical volunteering (200+ hours)
Various nonprofits as well as hospice volunteering.
LORs:
Stupendous letters!
Leadership/Teaching:
I have been the director of a company for several years, was a chief scribe for half a year, and had a lot of club leadership at my campus.
