Need some help on Applying

[Ausmil]

I needed some people with experience on this one. This coming summer I will be talking my second gen. Chem. class over again. It is the only class that I will need to retake. I know it will show, but I need to improve and show I can accomplish the Chem. Anyway, I am also taking the August MCAT. I was still planning on applying late this year. I wanted to send in my applications in june, but I will not have the chem. class(which I got a C- in) done until August. Which situation would be best for me? To still apply in June and tell them I am re-taking the class, or to wait till the class it done because it is required to have at least a C in the class. Tell me what you think!!

 

[medhacker]

I needed some people with experience on this one. This coming summer I will be talking my second gen. Chem. class over again. It is the only class that I will need to retake. I know it will show, but I need to improve and show I can accomplish the Chem. Anyway, I am also taking the August MCAT. I was still planning on applying late this year. I wanted to send in my applications in june, but I will not have the chem. class(which I got a C- in) done until August. Which situation would be best for me? To still apply in June and tell them I am re-taking the class, or to wait till the class it done because it is required to have at least a C in the class. Tell me what you think!!

I would apply with what you have, indicate in your application you are retaking and feel confident to do well in it. It will not be the first or last time a school gives an acceptance contingent to a student fulfilling some req. Apply to more than one school of course...

 

[DNAdude]

i agree...your application is more than c- in chem....Just make sure you have some good reasoning behind why the C- and why you retakin chem if they ask...apply to many schools

I would apply with what you have, indicate in your application you are retaking and feel confident to do well in it. It will not be the first or last time a school gives an acceptance contingent to a student fulfilling some req. Apply to more than one school of course...

 

[Daddydoc]

Send your app in june -- you can update your application when you finish your class. It probably wont be a big deal since you will be waiting for your MCAT scores. Good luck!

 

[FS-Pro]

I needed some people with experience on this one. This coming summer I will be talking my second gen. Chem. class over again. It is the only class that I will need to retake. I know it will show, but I need to improve and show I can accomplish the Chem. Anyway, I am also taking the August MCAT. I was still planning on applying late this year. I wanted to send in my applications in june, but I will not have the chem. class(which I got a C- in) done until August. Which situation would be best for me? To still apply in June and tell them I am re-taking the class, or to wait till the class it done because it is required to have at least a C in the class. Tell me what you think!!

Apply as early as possible. Don not wait until you retake the class. The #1 advice I can give to anyone from any situation is to apply early. it really, really helps!

 

[nvshelat]

It depends on your stats. Whats going to be the difference in your GPA? If it's a significant difference, ie being passed over vs. getting looked at, then I would wait. If your MCAT scores aren't in, then the most they'll look at before putting you "in a pile" is your GPA - you therefore want that first impression to be as good as possible so you dont get dumped in the "doubtful" pile. But again, it depends on what the difference would be.

For what it's worth, I waited until the end of the summer to include an Orgo retake. It boosted by sci GPA from below borderline to above, which is why I decided to wait until mid August. However, I did make sure that everything was in order, less that 1 transcript. You dont get to revise your GPA after you submit (unless theres an error) so the most you can do is send in a transcript with an update. While this is nice, IMO it doesn't make the same impact as having the number there in front of the ADCOM.

I contacted ADCOMs (since there are no DO ADCOM members on SDN to seek advice from) to get their opinion, but they gave me BS answers. I would try that route tho.

 

[noshie]

I thought that even after you submit your application to lets say AACOMAS you still have to give a new transcript for every semester compleated. So even if you submit, you still have to give a new transcript at the end of summer. I am pretty sure this is correct. You are going to be at a GREAT disadvantage with that Aug MCAT! Which application services are you using? I know that for the TMDSAS this year they changed alot of the procedures. Now you can get an interview as soon as June and accepted at the schools leisure. It is going to be in the best interest of the school to accept people early because they can get the cream of the crop. But that will be very bad for people taking the Aug MCAT because by the time your scores are in, they will have little spots left for you.

 

[Ausmil]

It depends on your stats. Whats going to be the difference in your GPA? If it's a significant difference, ie being passed over vs. getting looked at, then I would wait. If your MCAT scores aren't in, then the most they'll look at before putting you "in a pile" is your GPA - you therefore want that first impression to be as good as possible so you dont get dumped in the "doubtful" pile. But again, it depends on what the difference would be.

For what it's worth, I waited until the end of the summer to include an Orgo retake. It boosted by sci GPA from below borderline to above, which is why I decided to wait until mid August. However, I did make sure that everything was in order, less that 1 transcript. You dont get to revise your GPA after you submit (unless theres an error) so the most you can do is send in a transcript with an update. While this is nice, IMO it doesn't make the same impact as having the number there in front of the ADCOM.




My stats should be Ok. Did you happen to get accepted when applying in August? Where have you been accepted and what were your stats. Everyones advice seems really strong. I hope to get a couple more. Thanks

 

[nvshelat]

It depends on your stats. Whats going to be the difference in your GPA? If it's a significant difference, ie being passed over vs. getting looked at, then I would wait. If your MCAT scores aren't in, then the most they'll look at before putting you "in a pile" is your GPA - you therefore want that first impression to be as good as possible so you dont get dumped in the "doubtful" pile. But again, it depends on what the difference would be.

For what it's worth, I waited until the end of the summer to include an Orgo retake. It boosted by sci GPA from below borderline to above, which is why I decided to wait until mid August. However, I did make sure that everything was in order, less that 1 transcript. You dont get to revise your GPA after you submit (unless theres an error) so the most you can do is send in a transcript with an update. While this is nice, IMO it doesn't make the same impact as having the number there in front of the ADCOM.




My stats should be Ok. Did you happen to get accepted when applying in August? Where have you been accepted and what were your stats. Everyones advice seems really strong. I hope to get a couple more. Thanks

Applied to NYCOM, PCOM, and UMDNJ-SOM. Accepted into NYCOM and waitlisted at UMDNJ-SOM. No word from PCOM.
27R, 3.3 overall, 3.1 sci. Ivy league undergrad, good EC, LOR, etc.

 

[Amy B]

did you find out if the C- is counted as a C in the applictauion process? Dont they drop teh minus and the plusses? Have you checked on this before you go through the torture of taking a class over again for nothing. A C is not gonna kill you. 😉

 

[Ausmil]

did you find out if the C- is counted as a C in the applictauion process? Dont they drop teh minus and the plusses? Have you checked on this before you go through the torture of taking a class over again for nothing. A C is not gonna kill you. 😉

I am mostly interested in D.O. medicine, but I have checked out all the AAMC website. They have a grade conversion chart that you can calculate your GPA off of. I can not find anything like that on AACOM. I am not sure if AACOM makes everything into solid grades, ie C- to a C. If anyone could tell me or tell me where to find that info that would be great.