Need your opinion.

[FattySlug]

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I just got the secondary from UC Davis and it asks me to discuss any elements of my app that might be concerning to the adcom. While I am not an outstanding applicant my app is a solid one with no major weakness.

What do they mean by concerning elements? We all have many things that we wish we could do better and for me it was the lack of publication in research but I feel like that is not what the question is asking. It seems to give people with maybe a low mcat or low gpa a chance to explain themselves.

The two options I am considering are saying nothing at all (the question is not marked as optional) or addressing that lack of research publication. I am leaning heavy toward the former because I feel like app is for us to highlight our strengths not to call attention to minor weaknesses.

I am not even sure that lack of publication should be a concerning elements because not many people get published and calling attention to the only two Cs I have in my academic career seems petty. Please let me know your thoughts.

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

I just got the secondary from UC Davis and it asks me to discuss any elements of my app that might be concerning to the adcom. While I am not an outstanding applicant my app is a solid one with no major weakness.

What do they mean by concerning elements? We all have many things that we wish we could do better and for me it was the lack of publication in research but I feel like that is not what the question is asking. It seems to give people with maybe a low mcat or low gpa a chance to explain themselves.

The two options I am considering are saying nothing at all (the question is not marked as optional) or addressing that lack of research publication. I am leaning heavy toward the former because I feel like app is for us to highlight our strengths not to call attention to minor weaknesses.

I am not even sure that lack of publication should be a concerning elements because not many people get published and calling attention to the only two Cs I have in my academic career seems petty. Please let me know your thoughts.

It seems strange to ask about that instead of the standard "Is there anything else you would like the committee to know?". I would answer it explaining the bad year I had which is anchoring my GPA, but since you have no major faults on your app I don't think you can say much. Not having a publication is not a fault. Perhaps you could discuss the two Cs that you had? Were they in important pre-reqs?

 

[FattySlug]

It seems strange to ask about that instead of the standard "Is there anything else you would like the committee to know?". I would answer it explaining the bad year I had which is anchoring my GPA, but since you have no major faults on your app I don't think you can say much. Not having a publication is not a fault. Perhaps you could discuss the two Cs that you had? Were they in important pre-reqs?

One C is an English writing class in community college that I took in the second year I am in the US. I am not a native and came here 8 years ago. The other C is a microbiology in UCI but even then I think dwelling on that seems pretty petty since I am not sure one C would qualify as a concerning element.

 

[boobelle]

I just got the secondary from UC Davis and it asks me to discuss any elements of my app that might be concerning to the adcom. While I am not an outstanding applicant my app is a solid one with no major weakness.

I'm interpreting the question as a way for people with major weaknesses to make their case...e.g. people with a history of bad grades, interrupted school, disciplinary actions or legal problems. But you should just call UC Davis and ask for clarification.

 

[Tapepsi]

Hmm...well if your MCAT isn't > 32 you could always say that you thought you could've done better. Even though it sounds like your MCAT is good, they'll see that maybe you are a high achiever? 😕

I honestly don't know but it doesn't look good to put "nothing". Everyone has at least one flaw in their app and not admitting to one is a bad idea.

 

[FattySlug]

Hmm...well if your MCAT isn't > 32 you could always say that you thought you could've done better. Even though it sounds like your MCAT is good, they'll see that maybe you are a high achiever? 😕

I honestly don't know but it doesn't look good to put "nothing". Everyone has at least one flaw in their app and not admitting to one is a bad idea.

My MCAT is 33M. Should I address the writing score? I understand it is not good to put nothing since the question is not marked as optional but at the same saying something just for the sake of saying doesn't sound good to me either.

I know everyone has flaws but are they enough to be considered concerning elements? I would think concerning elements are things that make people question if you are fit to be a doctor. My volunteer experiences seem to cover all bases clinical, non clinical, research and shadowing so I am not gonna pick on that.

A cheap way to do this is to pick an area that I feel fairly strong about to label concerning elements and people will think I have high expectation for myself. What do you guys think?

 

[CodeBlu]

Your app is awesome numbers wise. 33M is VERY respectable.

Talk about some of those Cs, but it's not necessary if you don't feel the need to.

 

[FattySlug]

Oh I just thought of what I could talk about and that is the fact that I took the MCAT 3 times (32, 30 and 33). I think it qualifies as a concerning element even though I already called and Davis only cares about the most recent one. I could talk about how I learn to improve my verbal from 8 to 10 as a non native speaker who has been here for 8 years. Input please.