No acceptances and only 2 interviews! 3.74cGPA,3.71sciGPA, 33N

[kev77712]

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Hey guys,

I'm struggling to come up with any solutions on how to improve my medical school application.

So I applied for medical school last August (11 schools, detail below) with a 3.74cGPA, 3.71sciGPA, and a 33N MCAT. I graduated from a Minnesota private college 2 yrs ago with a BA in biochemistry. In addition I have a lot of volunteer experience (medically and non-medically related), research experience (I've worked in two neuroscience labs (at the UMN-Minneapolis, and through NIDA at Thomas Jefferson University in PA), no publications), and I am currently stuck working at a research company. I haven't been able to do ANY shadowing though! I've tried getting in touch with various physicians in the area (Minneapolis) and have been stuck with the cold shoulder.

With all this I only received 2 interviews (at the Mayo and the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis), one of which resulted in a rejection (Mayo) and the other with a spot on the wait list (UMN). I already realized my faults in that I applied to the schools late (ranging from August to October), and that I probably applied to some schools out of my league. I'm a Minnesota resident BTW. I applied to Albert Einstein, Mayo, UMN-Minneapolis and Duluth, Thomas Jefferson, NYU, University of Miami, UCLA, USC, UCSD, and Tulane. It was a long shot applying to NYU, Miami, UCLA, USC, and UCSD, but what can I say I want to get out of Minnesota (I did live in Florida at one point though).

What I don't understand is how I got an interview at the Mayo but not at Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, or Tulane. I didn't get an interview at UMN-Duluth, but I think it was probably because I don't really have a rural background.

This experience has been a total disappoint given that I really want to become a physician, and that I believe I have put in the work, but no schools are really giving me the chance. I'm wait listed at the UMN-Minneapolis (my only chance of getting into a med. school), but that doesn't seem very promising. I will apply again this June if things don't work out (earlier and to more schools). What do you think I can do to make my application more appealing???

 

[rockyrado]

Hey guys,

I'm struggling to come up with any solutions on how to improve my medical school application.

So I applied for medical school last August (11 schools, detail below) with a 3.74cGPA, 3.71sciGPA, and a 33N MCAT. I graduated from a Minnesota private college 2 yrs ago with a BA in biochemistry. In addition I have a lot of volunteer experience (medically and non-medically related), research experience (I've worked in two neuroscience labs (at the UMN-Minneapolis, and through NIDA at Thomas Jefferson University in PA), no publications), and I am currently stuck working at a research company. I haven't been able to do ANY shadowing though! I've tried getting in touch with various physicians in the area (Minneapolis) and have been stuck with the cold shoulder.

With all this I only received 2 interviews (at the Mayo and the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis), one of which resulted in a rejection (Mayo) and the other with a spot on the wait list (UMN). I already realized my faults in that I applied to the schools late (ranging from August to October), and that I probably applied to some schools out of my league. I'm a Minnesota resident BTW. I applied to Albert Einstein, Mayo, UMN-Minneapolis and Duluth, Thomas Jefferson, NYU, University of Miami, UCLA, USC, UCSD, and Tulane. It was a long shot applying to NYU, Miami, UCLA, USC, and UCSD, but what can I say I want to get out of Minnesota (I did live in Florida at one point though).

What I don't understand is how I got an interview at the Mayo but not at Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, or Tulane. I didn't get an interview at UMN-Duluth, but I think it was probably because I don't really have a rural background.

This experience has been a total disappoint given that I really want to become a physician, and that I believe I have put in the work, but no schools are really giving me the chance. I'm wait listed at the UMN-Minneapolis (my only chance of getting into a med. school), but that doesn't seem very promising. I will apply again this June if things don't work out (earlier and to more schools). What do you think I can do to make my application more appealing???

I don't have any helpful advice, but looking at your stats I'm pretty amazed you haven't got an acceptance yet. Must be incredibly frustrating, but glad to see you're still looking ahead. Best of luck with UMN!

 

[Maxwell7301]

Hey guys,

I'm struggling to come up with any solutions on how to improve my medical school application.

So I applied for medical school last August (11 schools, detail below) with a 3.74cGPA, 3.71sciGPA, and a 33N MCAT. I graduated from a Minnesota private college 2 yrs ago with a BA in biochemistry. In addition I have a lot of volunteer experience (medically and non-medically related), research experience (I've worked in two neuroscience labs (at the UMN-Minneapolis, and through NIDA at Thomas Jefferson University in PA), no publications), and I am currently stuck working at a research company. I haven't been able to do ANY shadowing though! I've tried getting in touch with various physicians in the area (Minneapolis) and have been stuck with the cold shoulder.

With all this I only received 2 interviews (at the Mayo and the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis), one of which resulted in a rejection (Mayo) and the other with a spot on the wait list (UMN). I already realized my faults in that I applied to the schools late (ranging from August to October), and that I probably applied to some schools out of my league. I'm a Minnesota resident BTW. I applied to Albert Einstein, Mayo, UMN-Minneapolis and Duluth, Thomas Jefferson, NYU, University of Miami, UCLA, USC, UCSD, and Tulane. It was a long shot applying to NYU, Miami, UCLA, USC, and UCSD, but what can I say I want to get out of Minnesota (I did live in Florida at one point though).

What I don't understand is how I got an interview at the Mayo but not at Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, or Tulane. I didn't get an interview at UMN-Duluth, but I think it was probably because I don't really have a rural background.

This experience has been a total disappoint given that I really want to become a physician, and that I believe I have put in the work, but no schools are really giving me the chance. I'm wait listed at the UMN-Minneapolis (my only chance of getting into a med. school), but that doesn't seem very promising. I will apply again this June if things don't work out (earlier and to more schools). What do you think I can do to make my application more appealing???

Your application seems really solid, except for no shadowing. I'm sure if you're persistent enough, doctors will definitely let you follow them around. 🙂

I know how you feel though. I applied to 15+ schools around the same time with similar stats, and also received only 2 interview invites. After waiting on the waitlist for over 4 months, and getting very bummed out about the process, I finally received an acceptance to my top choice state school.

Good luck with the waitlist! If you wait long enough, good things can happen.

Otherwise, I'm sure you will have success next cycle with some shadowing, an earlier application and a broader school spectrum.

 

[Catalystik]

Can you give more detail about when you were complete at all schools and your ECs (clinical and nonmedical volunteering, leadership, teaching, etc.) with timeframes? Any legal issues or iffy LORs? Did your PS and Secondary essays pass muster with several reviewers? Did you interview well?

 

[Jstone123]

shadowing opportunities can be very tough to come by. theres all kinds of liability things these days with having students in the hospital or OR. What you should do is contact physicians of friends or family. Or you should contact doctors that run their own private practices, that way you won't run into hospital rules and regulations as much

 

[RebeccaBlack]

I think 10 schools is too few to apply to if you aren't sure you will get into one. Most people i know apply to a minimum of 20. I applied to 6 schools only but got 5 interviews, but I had strong connections with two of these schools. I just graduated from a masters of biomedical sciences program with over a 3.8 at one of the schools this past year and have worked for 3 years doing research in that school. Also, my brother attends the other school as a 2nd year.

I would say you need to form ties with a school somehow! Also, taking a few science courses this summer or and nightly at a prestigious school and getting As wont hurt. It will show you can get great grades in a competitive atmosphere (though idk how competitive your undergrad was) and will also show that after two years of being out of class you still have what it takes!

DONT GIVE UP HOPE THOUGH. BEST OF LUCK!