Need some advice for plan b

[actoutfit]

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I currently am on 3 waitlists and quickly realizing that I need to figure out a back-up plan for next year if I don't get in anywhere.

I graduated last May and spent the last year working in a stem cell research lab at Hopkins. I will be finishing end of May with a likely first author publication (waiting to hear, sent in revisions not long ago), a poster and abstract presentation, and a letter of rec from my PI and another from the MD fellow in the lab. Spent the past two summers volunteering in the ER and shock trauma at University of Maryland, and have been volunteering at a homeless medical clinic for about a month.

My cGPA is 3.54 and sci is 3.41. I have a very strong upward trend after my freshman year, 3.7,3.85,3.85. I took the MCAT only once and got a 31S, 9PS, 10VR, 12BS.

I am considering, SMPs, regular one year master programs, post-bacc programs, working in a more clinical type job (Hopkins school of public health has a bunch of jobs with clinically related field work), and I am open to any other suggestions.

What do you guys suggest I do?

Thanks.

 

[VOP]

Re-apply???

 

[loveoforganic]

Did you apply broadly? You've got a good looking application.

How about shadowing?

 

[jdh71]

I currently am on 3 waitlists and quickly realizing that I need to figure out a back-up plan for next year if I don't get in anywhere.

I graduated last May and spent the last year working in a stem cell research lab at Hopkins. I will be finishing end of May with a likely first author publication (waiting to hear, sent in revisions not long ago), a poster and abstract presentation, and a letter of rec from my PI and another from the MD fellow in the lab. Spent the past two summers volunteering in the ER and shock trauma at University of Maryland, and have been volunteering at a homeless medical clinic for about a month.

My cGPA is 3.54 and sci is 3.41. I have a very strong upward trend after my freshman year, 3.7,3.85,3.85. I took the MCAT only once and got a 31S, 9PS, 10VR, 12BS.

I am considering, SMPs, regular one year master programs, post-bacc programs, working in a more clinical type job (Hopkins school of public health has a bunch of jobs with clinically related field work), and I am open to any other suggestions.

What do you guys suggest I do?

Thanks.

I kind of like your app. I think do the masters, get a 4.0 on those courses.

And apply a little more broadly, I'm a little surprised no one's taken a chance on you.

 

[actoutfit]

Re-apply???

Forgot to add I will be reapplying too.

I shadowed several doctors over the past few years.

Yea got waitlisted at Drexel back in February, interviewed and waitlisted at VTC in March, and got put on High Priority waitlist at Jefferson at the beginning of this month.

I definitely will be applying more broadly for the next cycle if I dont get in. I only ended up submitting 12 secondaries.

 

[captain classy]

you might consider trying to boost your mcat. your gpa is a tad low (definately in range though) but i think a rock star status mcat would make up for it. i know the mcat is a tough test (believe me, i know, it was just as miserable a time for me as it is for everyone else ), but since it is only one test, i feel like it's one of the easiest things for an applicant to control. obviously you would need time to really really study and make sure you knock it out of the park, so you would need to sit this next cycle out and re-apply in the 2011 cycle...but you might be reluctant to wait that long, which i completely understand.

other than that, keep volunteering and try to get some more pubs. i've seen mixed feedback on pubs, but from my personal experience, pubs are huge, especially 1st author pubs, so that pub you're about to finish should help a lot. just make sure you know your pubs inside and out because you will probably be asked about them during interviews...your interviewers may even read your articles before interviewing you. also, it might help if you can get a few new LORs. finally, do some shadowing. i had 9 interviews, and every single one asked me about my shadowing experience. schools want to know that you know exactly what you're signing up for.

so, in summary, keep volunteering, shadow, keep getting pubs, get new LORs if possible, and boost your mcat if possible. also, keep on rockin in the free world

EDIT: i forgot to mention that i agree with everyone above that a master's program would be a great idea. of course you would probably have to quit your job which would limit your ability to get more pubs...not a big deal though since you have a new 1st author one coming up. plus, you might be able to work in a lab on a part time basis and get some subsequent author pubs, which would still be helpful. also, a 4.0 in a master's program would help your gpa situation. obviously it wouldn't factor into your ug gpa, but it would continue to show an upward trend.

 

[actoutfit]

Since you're on a few of waitlists, have you looked into Tulane's ACP program? (click on courses and program, then on 'anatomy certification program'). It's a program for people who were waitlisted at a medical school, and 95% of their matriculants continue on to the Tulane school of medicine the following year.

A 1 year MPH is also a good option. It's one of the very few degrees besides an MD which can help you with a medical career.

I hadn't looked in to Tulane's program yet. Looks great. 95% is virtually a guarantee. I will definitely be filling that application out. And its 1/4 as expensive as the G'town SMP. Do you know of any other programs like this?

 

[actoutfit]

you might consider trying to boost your mcat. your gpa is a tad low (definately in range though) but i think a rock star status mcat would make up for it. i know the mcat is a tough test (believe me, i know, it was just as miserable a time for me as it is for everyone else ), but since it is only one test, i feel like it's one of the easiest things for an applicant to control. obviously you would need time to really really study and make sure you knock it out of the park, so you would need to sit this next cycle out and re-apply in the 2011 cycle...but you might be reluctant to wait that long, which i completely understand.

other than that, keep volunteering and try to get some more pubs. i've seen mixed feedback on pubs, but from my personal experience, pubs are huge, especially 1st author pubs, so that pub you're about to finish should help a lot. just make sure you know your pubs inside and out because you will probably be asked about them during interviews...your interviewers may even read your articles before interviewing you. also, it might help if you can get a few new LORs. finally, do some shadowing. i had 9 interviews, and every single one asked me about my shadowing experience. schools want to know that you know exactly what you're signing up for.

so, in summary, keep volunteering, shadow, keep getting pubs, get new LORs if possible, and boost your mcat if possible. also, keep on rockin in the free world

Thanks for the insight. I got 2 new LOR this year (just sent one out to the waitlisted schools last week). How do you feel about the one year master's programs?

 

[actoutfit]

The only one I know that has a similar linkage to a medical school is the SMP at EVMS. IMHO any other SMPs other than those two are a waste with numbers as good as yours: you're more likely to hurt your app than help it. Actually with numbers as good as yours even Tulane might be a waste, but with basically one semester's worth of classwork and less than 20K in tuition it might be worth it to avoid another admissions cycle.

Just in case you're intersted, SDN's post-bac forum is here. It includes a list of 87 SMP and post back programs, a thread rating the various programs available, and threads on specific programs like Tulane ACP.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[orthomyxo]

I'm slightly disappointed that this isn't a troll post about emergency contraception. Is that weird?

 

[JJMrK]

I think you'll be find if you reapply to ~25 schools. 12 is on the low side for your numbers.

 

[Hoody]

I'm slightly disappointed that this isn't a troll post about emergency contraception. Is that weird?

Ha. Not gonna lie, my first thoughts were 50 bucks and an ID card!

 

[actoutfit]

The only one I know that has a similar linkage to a medical school is the SMP at EVMS. IMHO any other SMPs other than those two are a waste with numbers as good as yours: you're more likely to hurt your app than help it. Actually with numbers as good as yours even Tulane might be a waste, but with basically one semester's worth of classwork and less than 20K in tuition it might be worth it to avoid another admissions cycle.

Just in case you're intersted, SDN's post-bac forum is here. It includes a list of 87 SMP and post back programs, a thread rating the various programs available, and threads on specific programs like Tulane ACP.

What would you suggest I do with another year off instead of an SMP type program? i.e. work in a clinical setting, continue doing research, take some upper lever/grad classes?

 

[captain classy]

Thanks for the insight. I got 2 new LOR this year (just sent one out to the waitlisted schools last week). How do you feel about the one year master's programs?

haha looks like you may have been replying while i was editing my post. my edit to my earlier post mentions master's programs. in short, i think a master's program would be great. unfortunately i know absolutely nothing about any individual programs

 

[actoutfit]

I told you, my vote would be for a 1 year MPH program. It wouldn't help you get into medical school, but it would help with residency applications and certain medical subspecialties down the line.

On the other hand a program like Tulane ACP would be much more of a guarentee of getting into medical school next year. Another application cycle would just be another roll of the dice, while if you don't screw up the ACP program is basically a sure thing. Also if you got in through the ACP program and still wanted an MPH you could always do the classes while during the spring, summer, and the year when you're a TA.

Thanks for your help. I'll look into the MPH.

 

[NightSwim]

If I were you, I'd work and re-take the MCAT, as opposed to doing a master's program. This is obviously dependent on whether you think you can get a higher MCAT score. Can you improve your PS score? I suggest this option b/c you will be making money, as opposed to spending it on the master's. Plus, a higher MCAT score would be the best boost to your app, if you can pull it off. I'm not saying you didn't get in because of your MCAT score. You're looking to improve your app somehow, and I think this is a good option.

Potential improved app: +2 mcat score, applying to way more schools, more work/research experience

Studying for the mcat sucks, but at least the rest of the year will be free from school-work.

 

[actoutfit]

If I were you, I'd work and re-take the MCAT, as opposed to doing a master's program. This is obviously dependent on whether you think you can get a higher MCAT score. Can you improve your PS score? I suggest this option b/c you will be making money, as opposed to spending it on the master's. Plus, a higher MCAT score would be the best boost to your app, if you can pull it off. I'm not saying you didn't get in because of your MCAT score. You're looking to improve your app somehow, and I think this is a good option.

Potential improved app: +2 mcat score, applying to way more schools, more work/research experience

Studying for the mcat sucks, but at least the rest of the year will be free from school-work.

Thanks. I was averaging between 10-11 in PS on practices and ran into a crazy magnetism passage on my real test. You think only 2 points is what I need for worthwhile improvement? I was thinking somewhere between 4-5 (35-36) if I was going to concentrate on the MCAT as a way to improve my app. Also, I would probably take the test in late July, getting my score in late August. If I submit AMCAS in early June and secondaries within a week of receiving, will the new MCAT score have significant impact on interviews? And if I end up getting a similar score (31 or 32) does that look bad?

 

[NightSwim]

I don't know the answer to all your questions. The only way to truly know is to ask someone who has been part of an admissions committee.

Yeah, 2 points isn't that much, but it is an improvement. And you're looking to better your application somehow. You're right, the timing on the mcat will be a little late. But most schools won't decide whether or not to interview you by August. So you could potentially submit the amcas with your current mcat score in june or july, and the schools will get your new (and improved!) mcat score in august or september. If you get a similar mcat score, I don't see why that would be looked down upon (just my opinion though).

This may not be best option for you. It is what I would do, though. Hopefully others can chime in with their opinions.

 

[actoutfit]

I don't know the answer to all your questions. The only way to truly know is to ask someone who has been part of an admissions committee.

Yeah, 2 points isn't that much, but it is an improvement. And you're looking to better your application somehow. You're right, the timing on the mcat will be a little late. But most schools won't decide whether or not to interview you by August. So you could potentially submit the amcas with your current mcat score in june or july, and the schools will get your new (and improved!) mcat score in august or september. If you get a similar mcat score, I don't see why that would be looked down upon (just my opinion though).

This may not be best option for you. It is what I would do, though. Hopefully others can chime in with their opinions.

Thanks for your help. I'm definitely considering studying to take it in the late summer.

 

[RevDM]

I totally came in here thinking you got your girl (or you) pregnant lol

 

[Insulinshock]

I totally came in here thinking you got your girl (or you) pregnant lol

I was just about to say the same exact thing lol

 

[actoutfit]

Heading to the pharmacy and spending 50 bucks would be an easier decision than applying to and deciding on all these post-bacc programs. But unfortunately (and fortunately) that's not the case...

I need a little more advice...

So the majority of MPH programs deadlines have already past...so it looks like I'm going to stick with only post-baccs, SMPs, and a few other master's programs. Of all of the ones available what does everyone recommend?

I've looked at Tulane's ACP (I will definitely apply here), Georgetown, UPenn and a few others. Are there any in particular that you guys recommend?

I live in Baltimore and went to University of Maryland. They have a "sciences in the evening" post-bacc program. Is it worthwhile at all or should I shoot for one of the programs that is associated with a med school...Tulane, Drexel, Georgetown.

Thanks!

 

[iheartmcats]

I think your GPA is still competitive.. you need to boost that MCAT. Might also depend on the rest of your app.

 

[alibai3ah]

I was accepted to a few schools with nearly identical stats as you (lower gpa). Your EC's are decent, and I would continue those. I wouldn't retake anything as I don't think you really have to.

Apply broadly (20-25+ schools). I think you will be successful this upcoming cycle. Good luck

EDIT: I really would discourage a SMP at this point as it is unnecessary and expensive. Your gpa is not that bad and with the huge upward trend, at least 3 schools were willing to cut you some slack. I would work on making your EC's stronger, shadowing, getting some more volunteer work in and reapply.

 

[actoutfit]

I was accepted to a few schools with nearly identical stats as you (lower gpa). Your EC's are decent, and I would continue those. I wouldn't retake anything as I don't think you really have to.

Apply broadly (20-25+ schools). I think you will be successful this upcoming cycle. Good luck

EDIT: I really would discourage a SMP at this point as it is unnecessary and expensive. Your gpa is not that bad and with the huge upward trend, at least 3 schools were willing to cut you some slack. I would work on making your EC's stronger, shadowing, getting some more volunteer work in and reapply.

I kind of feel this way too. I'm still going to apply to the Tulane program as a back up since its not nearly as expensive as the other SMPs.

Where'd you get accepted? Would you mind sending me the list of schools you applied to? I'm trying to figure out the 25-30 I'm going to apply to.

Congrats on getting in! I'm praying for a phone call sometime before August.