No interviews yet. Should I be worried?

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VooDooo327

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Hey there everyone! Been reading these forums for some time now and needed some advice. I completed most of my secondaries by early August but haven't heard back from any about interviews. It's been a long, long wait for me now and I am just wondering what anyone thinks about my chances. Here's a list of the schools I completed the Secondaries for and some more bio on me under it. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine (rejected)
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Harvard Medical School
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
.Keck Sch. of Med.University of Southern California (rejected – most recent. About two weeks ago).
Harvard Medical School
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
.Keck Sch. of Med.University of Southern California (rejected – most recent. About two weeks ago).
Michigan State University (rejected)
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
New York University
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine

Tufts University School of Medicine
University of California San Diego (no secondary but no rejection yet)
University of California San Francisco (rejected)
University of California, Davis School of Medicine
University of California, Irvine- College/Medicine
University of Chicago - Pritzker
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
University of Washington School of Medicine (rejected) Weill Medical College of Cornell University


UCLA Biochemistry
GPA: 3.59
Science GPA: 3.56
Non-Science GPA: 3.68

MCAT: 30


Extra Curricular:



1) Chinese Lion Dancing - I teach kids there weekly as a community service. 1998 - present
2) Private tutor - Tutor high school and college students.
3) Active member/leader of a campus ministry - fundraising for missions etc.
4) UCLA Hospital Patient Escort - Most basic volunteer job
5) Campus Work - Supervisor at my job (~15-20 hr/week)
6) ICU Internship - I shadow and assists the attending physician in the ICU and ER. I normally am there for his entire shift from 6PM till 6AM. Lots of clinical experience from this.
7) Published twice in an on campus health magazine.
I also had some great letters of eval.from my professors and the physician I work with.



Just kind of freaking out over here and wanted to hear what other people had to say.

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Honestly, yes...all of the schools you applied to are above your averages... Most way above your stats actually...Get ready to reapply next year, and this time apply more wisely.
 
Honestly, yes...all of the schools you applied to are above your averages... Most way above your stats actually...Get ready to reapply next year, and this time apply more wisely.

Agreed. You have a lot of top notch names up there and it was no sure thing. I'm surprised none of them took a flyer to interview you but it's such a crap shoot and those schools are extremely competitive. At this point, interview invites are few and far between and I would start getting ready for the next cycle. Good Luck!
 
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A 30 and a 3.6 really isn't going to cut it for any of the schools you applied to...
 
Sorry, have to agree with the other posters...how did you choose your schools, BTW? Unfortunately, school choice matters A LOT in whether or not your cycle is successful. I would really recommend sitting down with a MSAR and a pre-med adviser before you start applying next cycle.
 
Hey there everyone! Been reading these forums for some time now and needed some advice. I completed most of my secondaries by early August but haven't heard back from any about interviews. It's been a long, long wait for me now and I am just wondering what anyone thinks about my chances. Here's a list of the schools I completed the Secondaries for and some more bio on me under it. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine (rejected)
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Harvard Medical School
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
.Keck Sch. of Med.University of Southern California (rejected – most recent. About two weeks ago).
Harvard Medical School
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
.Keck Sch. of Med.University of Southern California (rejected – most recent. About two weeks ago).
Michigan State University (rejected)
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
New York University
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine

Tufts University School of Medicine
University of California San Diego (no secondary but no rejection yet)
University of California San Francisco (rejected)
University of California, Davis School of Medicine
University of California, Irvine- College/Medicine
University of Chicago - Pritzker
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
University of Washington School of Medicine (rejected) Weill Medical College of Cornell University


UCLA Biochemistry
GPA: 3.59
Science GPA: 3.56
Non-Science GPA: 3.68

MCAT: 30


Extra Curricular:



1) Chinese Lion Dancing - I teach kids there weekly as a community service. 1998 - present
2) Private tutor - Tutor high school and college students.
3) Active member/leader of a campus ministry - fundraising for missions etc.
4) UCLA Hospital Patient Escort - Most basic volunteer job
5) Campus Work - Supervisor at my job (~15-20 hr/week)
6) ICU Internship - I shadow and assists the attending physician in the ICU and ER. I normally am there for his entire shift from 6PM till 6AM. Lots of clinical experience from this.
7) Published twice in an on campus health magazine.
I also had some great letters of eval.from my professors and the physician I work with.



Just kind of freaking out over here and wanted to hear what other people had to say.
It's been said, but recognize that both your GPA and MCAT are average for accepted students. You must apply to (private!) schools that match at least one of those nunbers in their averages to have a real chance. Publishing in an on-campus magazine does not count as a "publication," fyi.
 
It is kind of a show that only a few school have replied to you, but I am kind of surprised that Michigan state did not even give you an interview.


Next year apply to some schools that are not so highly ranked.
 
I'm always *not* shocked when i hear people saying about how they hadn't received any interviews yet ... why? because i'm typically right when I see the schools they applied to are all 'the best' and they didn't think to apply to safety and DIVERSIFY THEIR CHOICES.
I bet you thought with your gpa and your mcat and your ucla biochem education that harvard would be all too happy to accept you. well, truth is, they're pretty strict and by looking at your stats and your extracurriculars, I have to ask you, do you really have a life and have you really lived in the sense that you did things that a normal early 20s young adult would do?
Because, not so surprisingly, med schools are catching on.
Apply to DO, don't be too snobby about carribean schools, and apply to lower ranked med schools. Try to remember, you will still be a doctor and the rest, even if you get an ok residency, is UP TO YOU and YOUR EFFORTS in that residency that will determine how great of a doctor you are.
 
I'm always *not* shocked when i hear people saying about how they hadn't received any interviews yet ... why? because i'm typically right when I see the schools they applied to are all 'the best' and they didn't think to apply to safety and DIVERSIFY THEIR CHOICES.
I bet you thought with your gpa and your mcat and your ucla biochem education that harvard would be all too happy to accept you. well, truth is, they're pretty strict and by looking at your stats and your extracurriculars, I have to ask you, do you really have a life and have you really lived in the sense that you did things that a normal early 20s young adult would do?
Because, not so surprisingly, med schools are catching on.
Apply to DO, don't be too snobby about carribean schools, and apply to lower ranked med schools. Try to remember, you will still be a doctor and the rest, even if you get an ok residency, is UP TO YOU and YOUR EFFORTS in that residency that will determine how great of a doctor you are.

Excessive, excessive, excessive. +10 for Dresden Dolls reference. -20 for needless negativity. -90 for just plain bad advice.

OP, you're right--it's time to be worried. So if you're going to be spending the next year off, consider widening your choices considerably and focus on schools that are within your MCAT and GPA ranges. If you really want into _those_ schools, strongly consider retaking that MCAT. Your ECs are fine, for the most part (lion dancing seems like a lot of fun!).

Also, there are no safety schools. And if you don't live in NY, getting into any of those might be a hurdle.
 
I'm having trouble getting interviews with 38 / 3.3...and the issue seems to be school choice...so I'd say you have the same problem. =/ Are you a Cali resident?
 
Publishing in an on-campus magazine does not count as a "publication," fyi.
Actually, it does. It certainly doesn't carry the same weight as getting a paper published in a scientific magazine, but she can certainly put that under publications. In fact, I heard from one residency program director that if your undergrad honors thesis was "published" in the Biology department book, you can list it. Leave it up to the programs to decide the relative importance compared to other applicants.
 
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Actually, it does. It certainly doesn't carry the same weight as getting a paper published in a scientific magazine, but she can certainly put that under publications. In fact, I heard from one residency program director that if your undergrad honors thesis was "published" in the Biology department book, you can list it. Leave it up to the programs to decide the relative importance compared to other applicants.
For some reason, when reading his post it sounded like he was talking about a lay article, not a research article...that still counts as a publication?
 
Yes it does. Although, like MrBurns10 said, it won't carry as much weight as a scientific or research publication.
So what's the limit of relevance here? If I publish a science related article in a newspaper? A non-science related article in a magazine?
 
So what's the limit of relevance here? If I publish a science related article in a newspaper? A non-science related article in a magazine?

Well it varies from adcom-to-adcom, but I would think it would be a sliding scale. I would assume any peer-reviewed, research publication would be at the top of the list.
 
Well it varies from adcom-to-adcom, but I would think it would be a sliding scale. I would assume any peer-reviewed, research publication would be at the top of the list.
If this is indeed true, this is information that would have been useful to have back in June. :p
 
Hey, you can always send an update letter! ;) I think anything you've written that has been published (in a newspaper, magazine, journal, book, etc.) is notable.
I agree with this. As long as it's not so far-fetched to appear that you're resume padding. An article you wrote for the school magazine? Mention it! Letter to the campus newspaper editor complaining about the prohibition of kegs at school-sponsored events? Might want to leave that out.
 
Not necessary whether or not I agree with the above posts, you are in the situation you are. So, if you want to take a stab at it, think about sending some *amazingly written* letters of interest and intent. And I don't mean sending one letter right to Harvard and calling it an experiment.

I'm guessing you picked your schools based upon academics, location, reputation, etc. Now, think about those that haven't replied to you and think which one (or two) would be a GREAT match for you, and why. Explain that in a letter. It's worth a shot at this point.

Next cycle, you MUST include safety schools, they are named this for such circumstances.

GOOD LUCK!
D712
 
unless your letter of interest or intent includes an updated MCAT score that is 36+ i think this cycle is over for you.

why does everyone keep saying to include "safety" schools? are we looking at the same stats here? OP has barely a 3.6 and a 30 on the MCAT. With those kind of stats the vast majority of schools are reaches. If OP is a CA resident too then that's even worse. Also if one of those MCAT sections is 8 or less then you basically have little chance at almost all MD schools.

bottom line, looks like someone is more interested in prestige than in becoming a doctor. The word delusional also came to mind when i read the original post.
 
unless your letter of interest or intent includes an updated MCAT score that is 36+ i think this cycle is over for you.

why does everyone keep saying to include "safety" schools? are we looking at the same stats here? OP has barely a 3.6 and a 30 on the MCAT. With those kind of stats the vast majority of schools are reaches. If OP is a CA resident too then that's even worse. Also if one of those MCAT sections is 8 or less then you basically have little chance at almost all MD schools.

bottom line, looks like someone is more interested in prestige than in becoming a doctor. The word delusional also came to mind when i read the original post.

I would disagree with this statement. These stats are the average acceptance rates for a reason, and there is no problem applying with them. To say that many schools are reaches with those stats is just ludicrous. All of the schools on the list at the top, yes, but not all of the schools in the country. There are many schools where these stats are considered in the upper half of their class, or at the least very competitive scores. If you look at the spreadsheet earlier in the thread, you will see that 30 and 3.6 actually puts you in a position with many choices to some very good schools. You are correct that if there is a section under 8, then all of this changes.
 
Apply to DO, don't be too snobby about carribean schools, and apply to lower ranked med schools.

It's not a matter of being too "snobby" about carrib, it's that the education they offer is next to worthless (yes, SOME people make it coming out of there... I would never call having a 60-70% chance of failing the boards and then an even greater chance of not matching to residency a "good buy"). There is no reason for someone with a 3.6 and 30 to even consider going there when most DO schools would probably take them.

Obviously, the OP needs to do a better job of looking at an MSAR, and if he/she doesn't want to retake the MCAT, a DO school might be a good route. But let's not get carried away; a 3.6/30 are good stats, and it actually sounds like the clinical experience is pretty good. The thing is there's nothing AMAZING there outside of the usual laundry list of pre-med ECs; in order to get a top-flight school to take a flier on sub-par stats, you need something amazing that an adcom will be impressed about.

So the options are either, 1) re-take the MCAT, score a 35+ and have a shot at most of those schools on your list (but picking up a really cool EC would make you stand out, still), 2) Pick up a really cool EC/job for a couple of years and re-apply, when your "real-world experience" will give you a leg-up on the 21 yo applicants whose stats may be superior but lack your experience, 3) re-apply but to lower-ranked schools and some DO- and as everyone says, there's no such thing as a "safety" for someone with average stats, but those privates should give you a reasonable shot.
 
i agree with almost what everyone has to say

for most of the schools on your list it is too late, for some other skools like the UCs u should send an update/LOInterest and that may help. it doesnt look like u applied to a broad range of schools or neither did u research about these skools most of these seem really top heavy n research oriented, i know that coming from a good UC you probably want to go to also a good name medical school (who doesnt), but a doctor is a doctor n it doesnt seem like you left room to make mistakes in the skools u've chosen. if u've done something recently in ur lab u can update it, etc. i am a reapplicant myself, my numbers r pretty subpar for a lot of the schools i applied to as well. i think ur number r good but can be better, numbers is only part of the game n like what GoSpursGo says, you should boost up your ECs and try to set ur self apart, there are SO many biochem majors who apply out of UCLA; UCLA alone has almost 800 applicants from last year i think plenty of which r biochemistry majors.

this time of the year last yr i already started to think what i would do if i didnt get in, i got interviews at UCLA n UCI n some other skools last yr so was holding on to that glimpse of hope of gettin in a UC, but a part of me knew i had to re-apply, so i would re-evaluate n apply more broadly n try to get more involved in other activities etc, try to think what u can do to improve ur chances n e-mail skools to ask what went wrong with ur app. good luck.
 
For some reason, when reading his post it sounded like he was talking about a lay article, not a research article...that still counts as a publication?

Speaking only for myself, when I reviewed applications I did not consider publications that weren't in some sort of peer-reviewed academic journal. For instance, articles in a campus publication, student-run "research journal" or student newspaper. I think having a true publication speaks more to the quality of your research than the fact that your words were in print somewhere.

Of course, contributing regularly to a student newspaper is a significant EC.

If I had seen an applicant who had written something substantive for a significant lay publication (eg. Newsweek), or a book published by a real publisher (not a vanity press), or something else that is obviously impressive, I would have taken that into account also.

When in doubt, list it, and let the adcoms sort it out.
 
Here is another classic example of the California resident syndrome...
 
Johns Hopkins? Really? It's like you got a 1200 on your SAT, B's in all your classes, and then only applied to Harvard and Yale. You have a good shot at med school, but next year don't waste your money applying to any big name schools. They aren't going to accept an applicant with average stats and average EC's.
 
I would think with those stats you should have gotten at least some interviews.

I think the #1 problem is that you applied to a lot of schools that are very competitive. Based on personal experience, schools like Harvard/Hopkins/WashU/UCSF have VERY narrow ranges of GPA and MCAT that they accept. Your MCAT and GPA are good, surely good enough that I'm not worried at all about you being able to do medical school level work. That isn't the issue though...the issue is those type schools have a bunch of applicants with 3.8-3.9 and 35+ MCATs. It honestly doesn't matter that much which med school you go to, as long as it's decent. Would pick out maybe 3-4 reaches next year and throw out some of the others (i.e. don't apply to Harvard AND Hopkins AND UCSF AND Northwestern). Apply to some of the private out of state schools that don't have so many applicants with really, really high GPA and MCAT scores.

Even given that the OP applied to too many highly competitive schools, I think he/she should be getting at least some interviews. I just worry that

-the MCAT score is unbalanced? Do you have <9 on one of the sections?
-maybe your LOR's aren't all as good as you think
-or maybe your personal statement or the rest of your application needs work, as far as how you presented it.

If you don't get in this year, I'd consider retaking the MCAT (study hard) and continue with your volunteer work. It wouldn't hurt to take maybe 1 class/semester (after done retaking the MCAT). You can take something easy like psychology, or an upper level biology class, get an A and it helps your GPA. Don't forget to have fun and enjoy life too. I'm pretty sure you can get into med school if you keep trying.
 
Even given that the OP applied to too many highly competitive schools, I think he/she should be getting at least some interviews.

With 3.59/30, average ECs, no research, no hook, non-URM, I think that the chance for interview at most of those schools is <5%. There a couple of schools where a candidate with these stats can get an interview, but is at least as likely not to, balanced MCAT or not. I am not surprised by this outcome, but I wouldn't have been surprised if he got 1 or 2 interviews also.

I agree that LORs could have played a role, but is hard to say when the OP essentially did the equivalent of applying to 2-3 schools (as the rest are so unrealistic given what we know about the applicant).
 
unless your letter of interest or intent includes an updated MCAT score that is 36+ i think this cycle is over for you.

why does everyone keep saying to include "safety" schools? are we looking at the same stats here? OP has barely a 3.6 and a 30 on the MCAT. With those kind of stats the vast majority of schools are reaches. If OP is a CA resident too then that's even worse. Also if one of those MCAT sections is 8 or less then you basically have little chance at almost all MD schools.

bottom line, looks like someone is more interested in prestige than in becoming a doctor. The word delusional also came to mind when i read the original post.

And your posts are usually filled with about 40% subjective statements that infer what the intent of the OP was, e.g., being more interested in prestige than becoming a doctor. He/she could just be incredibly misinformed. You are right, but incredibly obnoxious in the process.

You know - a bunch of the other posters before you have said the same thing, but without making the reader wonder what person would possibly want you as their doctor.
 
And your posts are usually filled with about 40% subjective statements that infer what the intent of the OP was, e.g., being more interested in prestige than becoming a doctor. He/she could just be incredibly misinformed. You are right, but incredibly obnoxious in the process.
:thumbup:
 
I think by now the OP should REALLY have gotten the point. It sucks being told by like 40 people that you're not getting in this year (however truthful it may be).
 
I think by now the OP should REALLY have gotten the point. It sucks being told by like 40 people that you're not getting in this year (however truthful it may be).

Make it 41 lol. :laugh:
 
Not to burst bubbles, but you applied to a lot of top name schools. A 30 is a good score, but the schools you applied to all have averages significantly higher than 30. Maybe not MSU and Einstein, but even these are quite competitive.

Re: the rest of your CV, your averages & extracurriculars---they're good, but not extraordinary. I thought I was unique until interviewed with a retired Navy fighter pilot, a pro ball player, and a trilingual immigrant. Then I realized I was pretty ordinary.

If you're going to shoot for only the best med schools, then you better start planning your selling strategy for next year now. Take a class or two to show your continued interest, retake the MCAT and prove 30 isn't the best you can do, and apply to ALL the top name schools you can afford to apply to next year.

Best advice? Ask yourself why you want to go to med school. There are many good schools not on your list, but they are not all top research universities. You can be a good doctor and get great residencies from ANY U.S. med school, but you have to get there first.

If you're going for research, get a research job, get published, and find out where other people who went you your undergrad are going--that might be a school that likes grads from your school.

All that said, you might still get 1+ interviews. I had 4/7 interviews I had scheduled after this date. The school I wound up attending didn't invite me to interview until late March. Hope springs eternal, but being a motivated and sensible person, you should plan as though you will not receive any interviews and start preparing on how you will attack the interview process more wisely next year.

Book recommendation to help you reevaluate for next year:
Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) 2009-2010: The Most Authoritative Guide to U.S. and Canadian Medical Schools (Medical School Admission Requirements, United States and Canada) (Paperback)

ISBN-10: 1577540727
ISBN-13: 978-1577540724
 
And your posts are usually filled with about 40% subjective statements that infer what the intent of the OP was, e.g., being more interested in prestige than becoming a doctor. He/she could just be incredibly misinformed. You are right, but incredibly obnoxious in the process.

You know - a bunch of the other posters before you have said the same thing, but without making the reader wonder what person would possibly want you as their doctor.

your argument about the OP being "misinformed" is categorically incorrect because, if you actually read the post, the second sentence says: "Been reading these forums for some time now and needed some advice." So unless the poster has only been reading the threads about hooking up with other SDNers then i think it should've been obvious what his/her chances are with stats like those.

i'm here to be honest and am a real straight shooter...i'll call it as i see it every time..if you don't like it then feel free to skip over my posts. this is also an online forum, i don't know u and u don't know me so there's no reason for me to coddle you or anyone else. you said it urself that i'm right, so if the truth hurts your feelings deal with it.

the reason i posted, as i stated right away, was that people were using the term "safety school" as if OP would've been guaranteed a spot had he applied more broadly and i was just pointing out that with a 3.6/30 there aren't any guarantees or safety schools.

oh, and don't use the "you're posts on an annonymous website indicate that you'll make a bad doctor". it is absolutely silly and childish, especially considering i got into med schools.
 
OP has barely a 3.6 and a 30 on the MCAT. With those kind of stats the vast majority of schools are reaches

:thumbdown:
30 MCAT and 3.6 GPA are near the AVERAGE of a US allopathic matriculant. What is wrong with you man? Do you just love to be mean to people on the internet? Only some schools are reaches, not "the vast majority."

poor form mate.

With regards to the OP:
You're from California, and I'm gonna say it: it sucks for you guys. All your state schools are really hard to get into, so if you find yourself applying again next year, you should add some middle tier private schools or OOS friendly state schools elsewhere. Although a 30 MCAT and 3.6 GPA are average, they are not great as in harvard/jhu/UCSF great. Apply DO if you want DO training, but if you don't, then don't. A lot of people on SDN view it as a "backup" this is not the case. They are just as competitive but their criteria is different, they value life experience over numbers. Also they have a somewhat different focus.
-Roy
 
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I wish I have that dragon dance as my EC. What top name research school doesn't need dragon dancer?
 
:thumbdown:
30 MCAT and 3.6 GPA are near the AVERAGE of a US allopathic matriculant. What is wrong with you man? Do you just love to be mean to people on the internet? Only some schools are reaches, not "the vast majority."

looking at the MSAR excel file, among private schools (minus the PR schools and historically black colleges) i see 5 or 6 that have an MCAT median of 30 or less. Those are what i'd consider "safeties" ....at all OOS public schools you are already at a big disadvantage but if u want to ignore that and look strictly at numbers i guess you could say that you have another ~60 schools that you could be competitive at (median MCAT <= 30), but again, OOS you already come in with a HUGE disadvantage. So again, not sure what all this talk about "safties" is.....i thought a safety was a school where your numbers easily beat their averages or you are competitive and have an IS advantage. I would consider any school where your numbers are less than the median to be a reach...this is how I built my school list and it served me well.
 
Sorry to say, the skools you applied to usually take someone with higher stats than yours.. that said, just go over all the skools and apply to a broader range next cycle.. not just all the top skools. My stats were similar to yours when I applied, I didn't get any interviews the first cycle either.. 2nd cycle I applied to a few more schools with average stats below mine, and I got lots of interview invites and an acceptance. That being said, I felt like sometimes medskools like to kick 1st timers in the nads sometimes just for ****s and giggles, so you're not alone =P
 
looking at the MSAR excel file, among private schools (minus the PR schools and historically black colleges) i see 5 or 6 that have an MCAT median of 30 or less. Those are what i'd consider "safeties" ....at all OOS public schools you are already at a big disadvantage but if u want to ignore that and look strictly at numbers i guess you could say that you have another ~60 schools that you could be competitive at (median MCAT <= 30), but again, OOS you already come in with a HUGE disadvantage. So again, not sure what all this talk about "safties" is.....i thought a safety was a school where your numbers easily beat their averages or you are competitive and have an IS advantage. I would consider any school where your numbers are less than the median to be a reach...this is how I built my school list and it served me well.

There are no safety's among American medical schools, there is only competitive and ultra competitive. It is true the OP applied to a disproportionate number of ultra competitive schools. Stats will only get you a chance. There still is fairly competitive criteria in other ways. But with a 3.6 and a 30 you have the requisite stats to get your foot in the door.

By definition not everyone's stats are above average, actually, half are below. It is possible the OP has a weak application in other ways (essays, ECs, etc.) but a 3.6 and a 30 is good enough stats-wise. Perhaps there are other things the OP can improve.

Stats aren't everything either Skin, I was rejected from my state school with a 3.71 and a 35S while out of state students with 3.5 GPAs and MCAT in the 27-30 range were accepted. I do not think my state school was "wrong" in their decision to reject me, I think they have a criteria that is more expansive than just grades and MCAT that I did not match.
-Roy
 
Sorry I haven't checked in. I only posted a day ago and I didn't expect to get so many replies so fast! For those wondering I am a California resident and I also agree that I was a little too ambitious with my school choice. As of right now I am planning for my next year since I will be graduating soon. I was wondering if any of you can help me out with my plans.

I am thinking about double majoring with MCDB and stay an extra year so that I can stay in school. I have also been looking into a research position here on campus and plan to become an EMT-1 by the middle of June. I was wondering if double majoring would make any difference. Also, since the next application will be before I actually work as an EMT, how would I include this in my application? Any help or advice would help.

On another note, I was thinking about slightly tweaking my personal statement but basically keeping it the same and updating my EC and perhaps letter of recs. I thought my PS was pretty solid and I am definitely going to apply to a more diverse set of schools. Do think this will be okay?
 
I do not think double majoring or EMT certification will make any difference. I would suggest focusing your efforts elsewhere. One good option would be to graduate and pursue a paid research position, if you have any interest in that.

edit: duh you said that
 
i dont think you should stay in school, that's just my personal opinion; a double major in biochem n MCDB is i suppose impressive but not necessary. If you wanted to do it as a GPA boost then i guess, but there r other ways to do this.

i would personally get a research position n wrk 20 - 40 hrs n try to get a pub out. i do know ppl who got in those skools with ur mcat but a higher gpa. however, they have amazing life stories n experiences which the majority of us do not. to be competetive at those skools number is the 1st step n then the rest which includes EC, experiences, LORs etc. To get ur foot in the door i think u need a higher mcat, unless u have gone thru crazy stuff. i have slightly better numbers than u, but my numbers r still subpar for most of the skools u applied to in my opinion.

good luck.
 
Sorry I haven't checked in. I only posted a day ago and I didn't expect to get so many replies so fast! For those wondering I am a California resident and I also agree that I was a little too ambitious with my school choice. As of right now I am planning for my next year since I will be graduating soon. I was wondering if any of you can help me out with my plans.

I am thinking about double majoring with MCDB and stay an extra year so that I can stay in school. I have also been looking into a research position here on campus and plan to become an EMT-1 by the middle of June. I was wondering if double majoring would make any difference. Also, since the next application will be before I actually work as an EMT, how would I include this in my application? Any help or advice would help.



On another note, I was thinking about slightly tweaking my personal statement but basically keeping it the same and updating my EC and perhaps letter of recs. I thought my PS was pretty solid and I am definitely going to apply to a more diverse set of schools. Do think this will be okay?

Why do you need to stay in school? Get a job, preferably med related, and start saving some money for school. Continue shadowing, volunteering. I would hesitate to go with the same PS. Obviously it wasn't successful this time, though that may be mostly due to your school choices. At least get someone to read it over and make recommendations. Most importantly, apply to schools which are at least in your score range. It may be a dream to go to Harvard or JHU, but with your stats it's a waste of time and money to apply.

With the EMT thing, be aware that it is not impressive to schools that you are a licensed EMT. It is only impressive if you actually work as an EMT and log hours caring for patients. So, don't get the EMT if you are just doing it for your application. If you want to do the work, then go for it.
 
Yeah I was planning on becoming an EMT and actually working on my year off to make some money. I wouldn't do it just for the certificate. I was also thinking about phlebotomy and working in a hospital lab if possible. The only thing is that the time I will be working will be after the initial application is already due. So, I was wondering how I would incorporate any of this into my application. Thanks!
 
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