Need Advice

[gusruck]

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I graduated from a very good college last June with a 3.39 GPA with an 3.47 science GPA. I was an economics major but completed all of the pre-recs. I took the MCATs in last April and did not do as well as I wanted but still felt I did well enough to give the applications a shot (I recieved a 28Q, 2 10s and an 8 in the physical sciences section).

I ended up applying to about 10 schools and so far things are not going all that well. I have recieved two holds for interviews at penn state and drexel, and an interview with a waitlist at University of Rochester. I do not expect to be getting in at this time.

Because of this I have been looking to continue my education and try to bump up my GPA a bit. I have been looking at the programs in Philadelphia, Particularly the UPenn Special Science program and the Drexel Masters in Physiology. I was wondering if anyone could reccomend either of these programs or some others?

I do think that my GPA should be good enough and its my MCATs I should be focusing on, but I worry that because I was not a science major the schools do not think I have the skills to suceed. I did however recieve A's in not only both Orgos but also Analytical Chemistry. The other problem might be that I needt o have more volunteer/extra curricular activities.

Currently I am working as a Research Associate in the Graduate Program of Public Health at Stony Brook University.

What do you guys think?

 

[PossiblePreMed]

Hi Gusruck,
Why not try a post-bac premed program? They have them at Drexel, Temple, Penn, West Chester, and Bryn Mawr in the Phila area (I may be leaving one or two out). They are specifically to help the non-science majors. Or find a program that is designed to enrich your science knowledge before med school.

BTW, it seems to me that your MCATS are fine, but the med schools around here (Philly) usually want at least a 3.5 overall GPA. Just a hunch. Best of luck 🙂

 

[gusruck]

Hi Gusruck,
Why not try a post-bac premed program? They have them at Drexel, Temple, Penn, West Chester, and Bryn Mawr in the Phila area (I may be leaving one or two out). They are specifically to help the non-science majors. Or find a program that is designed to enrich your science knowledge before med school.

BTW, it seems to me that your MCATS are fine, but the med schools around here (Philly) usually want at least a 3.5 overall GPA. Just a hunch. Best of luck 🙂

I have completed all the premed requirements so I am not eligible for most of the traditional post-bac schools. That is why I was considering either a special sciences or a masters program. My science gpa is a 3.47 (which is held down by some intro classes during my freshman yr). Since my 1st yr I never received anything lower than a B+ in any science class and most grades were A's

I am also starting to think that maybe i should reapply this yr to some less competitive schools as well as some DO schools.

Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions.

 

[jebus]

I am also starting to think that maybe i should reapply this yr to some less competitive schools

Yes. This is a good idea!
I'm in a similar situation. My grades are marginally lower, I went to top tier schools, my MCAT scores are higher than yours; we're similar.
I will - and I suggest you do the same - apply to a broader spectrum of schools next year. I also suggest you talk to/email/call Deans of Admissions at some schools at which you were rejected. They will tell you exactly where you are deficient and will, hopefully, recommend some recourse. Though others will tell you otherwise, once you get rejections I would get crack-a-lackin on those inquiries. If you are deficient in clinical experience it would be good to know so you can fill in and solidify that hole before the next application cycle rolls around (read: before June/July). If your MCAT score is too low (and it may be given that you said you applied to competitive schools) you will need to start to study now for the April administration.
I apologize, I know nothing about the UPenn or Drexel programs you cited so I can't speak about them. However, I am looking into special masters programs in case I don't get in during this cycle. So far the Georgetown SMP seems very attractive but it is solely academic so I'm also looking at other programs which will help in other areas of my application. Mt. Sinai seems to have a more comprehensive program which will help make you a more solid applicant in all fronts - academically, clinically, with LORs, and other application help such as with the personal statement and other essays. However, it is a 2 year program (GT is only 1) and because it is relatively new it is not as well regarded as GT. Boston University has another well regarded program, but it is more research oriented.
I hope this helps, & good luck with your app for this year.

 

[AT12]

UPenn is a good program. You can do either full-time or part-time. However, you need to complete 6 courses at Penn if you want a committee letter from Penn.

There is a linkage program with U.Penn and NJ med school. I would contact U.Penn post-bac program advisors and talk with them about ways to improve your application to med school. They are most likely going to tell you to re-take the MCAT to get it above a 30.

Good luck!

 

[gusruck]

Thank you for all of your advice so far. I do agree that one of the major lacking areas is that my mcats is not above a 30. I do believe that I could get it above that mark with some hard work. My first time around I took the Kaplan course but that was pretty much it as I was still in school.

What have your experiences been with finding out what your application lacked via contacting the admissions office?

I was turned off by the process when I contacted Albany Medical College and all they sent back was some generic letter saying that i should take the time to strengthen my application. They didn't even mention specifics. It was a complete waste of a piece of paper.

I have been in contact with a number of deans and they most have suggested that taking a science heavy masters and/or boosting my MCATs will improve my chances in the next cycle.

Does anyone have any opinions on DO schools? Does attending a DO school severly limit your residency opportunities?

 

[gusruck]

Thank you for all of your advice so far. I do agree that one of the major lacking areas is that my mcats is not above a 30. I do believe that I could get it above that mark with some hard work. My first time around I took the Kaplan course but that was pretty much it as I was still in school.

What have your experiences been with finding out what your application lacked via contacting the admissions office?

I was turned off by the process when I contacted Albany Medical College and all they sent back was some generic letter saying that i should take the time to strengthen my application. They didn't even mention specifics. It was a complete waste of a piece of paper.

I have been in contact with a number of deans and they most have suggested that taking a science heavy masters and/or boosting my MCATs will improve my chances in the next cycle.

Does anyone have any opinions on DO schools? Does attending a DO school severly limit your residency opportunities?

 

[Beth_W737]

Hi,

I know many post-bac premed programs are for those who did not complete the science pre-requisites and did not take the MCAT, or took very few science courses, but this website lists those that are for people with no or few science courses, and those for people who want to retake science courses or improve their grades, you may want to check it out. Also UMDNJ has a masters of biomedical sciences program, for people who took the pre-reqs (I don't qualify because I don't have all the pre-reqs, which is why I'm applying to the traditonal post-bac premed programs, but you'd probably qualify for the Masters at UMDNJ). Anyway, here is the website I mentioned:

http://hpap.syr.edu/LISTPB.HTM

Good luck! And please keep your fingers crossed for me, I have an interview with Bryn Mawr early next week and Rutgers the following week, I'm so nervous, if anyone has any advice please email me at [email protected]

Beth

I have completed all the premed requirements so I am not eligible for most of the traditional post-bac schools. That is why I was considering either a special sciences or a masters program. My science gpa is a 3.47 (which is held down by some intro classes during my freshman yr). Since my 1st yr I never received anything lower than a B+ in any science class and most grades were A's

I am also starting to think that maybe i should reapply this yr to some less competitive schools as well as some DO schools.

Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions.

 

[USArmyDoc]

Thank you for all of your advice so far. I do agree that one of the major lacking areas is that my mcats is not above a 30. I do believe that I could get it above that mark with some hard work. My first time around I took the Kaplan course but that was pretty much it as I was still in school.

What have your experiences been with finding out what your application lacked via contacting the admissions office?

I was turned off by the process when I contacted Albany Medical College and all they sent back was some generic letter saying that i should take the time to strengthen my application. They didn't even mention specifics. It was a complete waste of a piece of paper.

I have been in contact with a number of deans and they most have suggested that taking a science heavy masters and/or boosting my MCATs will improve my chances in the next cycle.

Does anyone have any opinions on DO schools? Does attending a DO school severly limit your residency opportunities?[/QUOTE]

You will hearing varying opinions, but in my opinion I do not think it does. You will have a harder time getting some of the more competitive specialites but other than that I think you are fine.

 

[rgerwin]

You can still get into competitive specialties with DO, just do well in med school. You will not be limited in research. just go for it in June. You have great stats for it, and you'll get in.