Need some big time advice

[jzeidenb]

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Alright, im in a pickle, so here it goes

Well it doenst look like im going to get into medical school after all this year. I am still on the waitlist at Uconn, and they told me to check back with them at the beginning of July to see where I stand on the list (they told me I couldnt get any more information other than that I am on the middle third of the list, i dont know how large the list is)


Anyway, I got into the biomedical sciences program at rosalind franklin, its a one year masters program that looks pretty rigorous and a good challenge. If you are unfamiliar with the program and are able to offer me some advice when you finish reading this here is a link to the program: http://66.99.255.20/srhs/bms/


The problem is that after living expenses and tuition its gonna cost me a cool 55k. I guess its managable when i consider im going to be taking out all loans and one day can pay them off, but its still a lot. Im really struggling whether I should do this program, or try to continue doing the job shadowing/research that im doing this summer.


here are my stats:

Graduated May 07 at University of Rochester
B.A. In Biology and B.A. in Psychology
Cumulative GPA: 3.52 (cum laude)
Science GPA: 3.498 ~ 3.5

MCAT: Physical Sciences 9
Verbal: 10
Biology: 9
total: 28P


what i really need help is deciding whether this grad program that i have been accepted to is right for me. Do my stats call out for some improvement? Yes i know i need to take the MCAT again and I plan on doing so on 8/6, im taking the kaplan course again and my goal is a 33 this time (i got 30s on the practices last year but havent taken a practice full length yet this year as im still relearning stuff), but id be happy with a 30+.

Any advice anyone can give me at this crucial time would be much appriciated.




other things ive done:

ive sent a few letters to uconn expressing how much i desire to go there, and it was all the truth, they were my top choice from the start and still are, as well as my only choice now. I also had my top recommender send them a followup letter as i figured that couldnt hurt. So i dont really think there is much more I can do now but wait and pray. But assuming that doesnt work out i need to get a plan in place fast.

my major concern is that i wont be able to get involved with research that ill really like doing for a year.. so far all the stuff ive looked into requires very little patient interaction and doesnt seem that fun, that scares me.

 

[silas2642]

Your gpa, while a slightly low, is not at all dismal, and it doesn't seem to me that you should consider spending 55k on an smp program. For one thing, as mentioned before, it's incredibly expensive. Another thing to seriously consider, is that these programs tend to be quite rigorous and if for any reason you don't do very well in them, it is going to sink your application and sink it fast.

When did you submit your application last year-- did you turn everything in early? Your mcat is not too bad, was your score unbalanced? Where else did you apply? Did you apply to too many reach schools? Where your letters of recommendation good or were they lukewarm? Did you have a well-written personal statement? Do you have adequate clinical experience and extracurriculars? How did your interview go?

Your numbers, while not excellent, aren't really horrible either. I really don't think that you have to do an smp program-- simply retaking the mcat should be sufficient in improving your numbers. As you know, just make sure that your subscore is well balanced. Also, make sure that you apply early and that you have good lors, clinical experience, ps, etc. Good luck!!

 

[jzeidenb]

Your gpa, while a slightly low, is not at all dismal, and it doesn't seem to me that you should consider spending 55k on an smp program. For one thing, as mentioned before, it's incredibly expensive. Another thiing to seriously consider, is that these programs tend to be quite rigorous and if for any reason you don't do very well in them, it is going to sink your application and sink it fast.

When did you submit your application last year-- did you turn everything in early? Your mcat is not too bad, was your score unbalanced? Where else did you apply? Did you apply to too many reach schools? Where your letters of recommendation good or were they lukewarm? Did you have a well-written personal statement? Do you have adequate clinical experience and extracurriculars? How did your interview go?

Your numbers, while not excellent, aren't really horrible either. I really don't think that you have to do an smp program-- simply retaking the mcat should be sufficient in improving your numbers. As you know, just make sure that your subscore is well balanced. Also, make sure that you apply early and that you have good lors, clinical experience, ps, etc. Good luck!!

1) application primary was submitted July 1 last year.. this year the whole process will be delayed due to taking the mcat 8/6. got a 30 on my first practice, so im expecting a much better score this time

2) i gave my score breakdown in the original post so im not sure what else u need there, but it was pretty even, on my first practice the breakdown was:

physical: 10
verbal: 10
Bio: 10

3) i only got 1 interview last year, and that was at my state school uconn, no one else even gave me a chance.

4) this year im going to apply to DO and MD schools, i dont wanna go through this a third time

 

[King Arthur]

personally there's no way i would pay 55k for this type of program. if you do well on mcat you'll probably get in somewhere. i also think your year would be much better spent working in a lab (where you'll get paid) then taking some crazy 1 year program for 55k.

 

[medguy83]

I agree; that's a heck of a lot to pay for a one year program. If I were you I'd retake the mcat, get a job as a research assistant or something and maybe do some postbacc, (maybe since your gpa is kind of borderline). But to pay something like that for one year is insane. I mean you could get a graduate certificate or something for not even a quarter of that price.

 

[nlax30]

Same here, unless you've got the finances I wouldn't do a program like that for 55k if I was in the same situation. If anything I'd work, get some more clinical experience, and maybe take a few postbacc science courses.

Your GPA is ok, you're already focused on getting 30+ on your next MCAT so just focus on that. Right now you should be fairly competitive for DO schools just looking at your GPA and MCAT.

Are you lacking in some of your ECs, clinical experience, or rec letters?

 

[postbacker]

Even with the SMP, I assume you plan to retake the MCAT...you have more of an MCAT problem than a GPA problem...take a review course, tackle the MCAT, and work on your ECs...save the $55k, punt the SMP...

The biggest problem you face is one of timing - probably will run too late for this cycle, so looking at applying one year from now...

 

[Ggnome]

Another thing to consider is the RFU program itself, besides the cost...there's been considerable talk about the program on the BMS thread in the postbac section. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=391708

Some have said that it is EXTREMELY difficult (perhaps one of the most difficult of all of the SMPs out there). I called and spoke with someone at the program, to find out more specifics about it (I too have been accepted but am hestitating to go). This is what I was told about the program, related to this past year's BMS class:

78 students started
34 have been accepted to any medical school, BUT
of 34, only 4-5 have been accepted to a medical school besides Rosalind Franklin.

However, I don't know how many of the 78 applied this past year, and how many will apply this year. It seems like it's a good option if you would like to go to RFU and/or stay in Chicago. The plus side is, if you're accepted to RFU, you enter as a MSI having already taken some classes. It just seems like it's very, very risky, though.

 

[jzeidenb]

do you really think im going to be late for this cycle?

im doing the primary MD and DO apps now (i wasnt that interested in DO before this year, and i am legitimately interested in it and not just considering it a fallback), the mcat is 8/9 which is late, but if i get the primary out say next week, theyd at least send me their secondaries now wouldnt they? just hold off on granting me an interview until at least sept 9th when the score comes out?

i dont think thats THAT late if i get the secondaries done as soon as i get them.


i also dont know what to do about the personal statement, for the DO schools i can use it again cuz i didnt apply there the first time, but for MD, do i have to write another PS or what? i definately thought my first one was good, i dont think that had anything to do with holding me back

 

[beanbean]

How many schools did you apply to last year? I am surprised you only had an interview from UConn.

How is your clinical experience/ECs? How about LORs? Are they strong? Do some work on your ECs and personal statement to make yourself stand out among all the other 3.5/30 applicants.

My advice is if you are going to take a year; do your own post-bacc and save some money. I took classes at UConn on my own before doing their formal post-bacc program. Classes are cheap and I never had a problem enrolling as a continuing student even though some classes fill with full-time students quickly. Use the year to improve all aspects of your application - unique ECs, stronger MCAT, get a job and make a little money, etc.

If you don't get into UConn, ask for a meeting with Dr. Sanford - he will give you good advice on how to improve your application.

Good luck!

 

[jzeidenb]

Well it looks like uconn is out, just got an updated email saying that the list hasn't moved for a while and there are still 12 people on the first bird before they draw from my list

 

[sunset823]

I would echo everyone else's sentiments and spend the next year making money, not spending it - your GPA is fine, you don't need a post-bac, but you do need to do better on your MCAT - I would also agree that it might be a good idea to take a year off and spend some more time studying for the MCAT, and apply in the 2008 cycle; unless you can really crack the books this summer (what, with secondaries and all, would be difficult) and get at least a 3-5 point jump, it's probably not worth it to spend all the money on apps

 

[jzeidenb]

I would echo everyone else's sentiments and spend the next year making money, not spending it - your GPA is fine, you don't need a post-bac, but you do need to do better on your MCAT - I would also agree that it might be a good idea to take a year off and spend some more time studying for the MCAT, and apply in the 2008 cycle; unless you can really crack the books this summer (what, with secondaries and all, would be difficult) and get at least a 3-5 point jump, it's probably not worth it to spend all the money on apps

im pretty confident ill be prepared by the 8/9 exam.. i got a 30 on my first practice last week, i got 30-32 on my practices last year, and i just messed up the real thing, it was a fluke, i know im better than that.

I really dont wanna wait two years, and i am also applying to DO schools. I recently saw a DO for my bad back and hes done alot more to help me than any MD and it has in a way inspired my interest in that path