non-trad cgpa 3.22 sgpa 3.2 grad gpa 3.94 34 MCAT

[p.p.]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I have ok EC and maybe OK recommendation letters ( in a packet form) from professors from graduate courses. 11 PS 11 VR 12 BS was my subscores.
My last undergrad courses were taken in fall of 2006 and I worked little less than 2 ys prior going back to graduate school (in different major) in fall of 2009. I did tons of research but 0 publication (working on them, but I did give oral presentation at the national conference as a first author)
I submitted most of my secondary application and haven't heard back for any of the interviews so I was bit worried.
Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Catalystik]

I have ok EC and maybe OK recommendation letters ( in a packet form) from professors from graduate courses. 11 PS 11 VR 12 BS was my subscores.
My last undergrad courses were taken in fall of 2006 and I worked little less than 2 ys prior going back to graduate school (in different major) in fall of 2009. I did tons of research but 0 publication (working on them, but I did give oral presentation at the national conference as a first author)
I submitted most of my secondary application and haven't heard back for any of the interviews so I was bit worried.
Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks

When was your application Complete (all supplemental materials sent in) at each med school?
Besides Research, what ECs did you list?
Did you apply to both MD and DO schools?
In what disciplines were your undergrad and grad majors? What are your BCPM GPAs for undergrad and grad school? How many hard science classes are included among your grad classes (as opposed to, say, Research Seminar)?
Are you set to graduate from your current program by end of next spring? Was a grad advisor letter included that attests you are on track to complete on time?

 

[p.p.]

When was your application Complete (all supplemental materials sent in) at each med school?
Besides Research, what ECs did you list?
Did you apply to both MD and DO schools?
In what disciplines were your undergrad and grad majors? What are your BCPM GPAs for undergrad and grad school? How many hard science classes are included among your grad classes (as opposed to, say, Research Seminar)?
Are you set to graduate from your current program by end of next spring? Was a grad advisor letter included that attests you are on track to complete on time?

I submitted most of my secondaries by end of July and early August for few schools. I did not apply to DO schools. I already graduate from my program and have been volunteering at hospital (over 250 hours) and doing research at a lab. I also shadowed a physician for two months for about 80 hours and also followed several CT surgeons into operation rooms. I also served at my local church and a graduate student society for my department. My undergrad was material science engineering and grad major was biomedical engineering. My BCPM GPA for undergrad is about 3.2 and for grad it's 4.0. I have 27 credits that counts towards coursework and seminar where 24 credits are actual BCPM and engineering courses. Thank you so much for taking time to reply to my post.

 

[Catalystik]

I submitted most of my secondaries by end of July and early August for few schools. I did not apply to DO schools. I already graduate from my program and have been volunteering at hospital (over 250 hours) and doing research at a lab. I also shadowed a physician for two months for about 80 hours and also followed several CT surgeons into operation rooms. I also served at my local church and a graduate student society for my department. My undergrad was material science engineering and grad major was biomedical engineering. My BCPM GPA for undergrad is about 3.2 and for grad it's 4.0. I have 27 credits that counts towards coursework and seminar where 24 credits are actual BCPM and engineering courses. Thank you so much for taking time to reply to my post.

I'm sure you've become aware that most engineering classes are not included in the BCPM GPA by AMCAS. Could you look at the printout of your verified AMCAS application to see your number of graduate BCPM credit hours? I doubt it's 24, but I'd be happy to be surprised.

What degree are you working toward?

 

[Goro]

What schools did you apply to? There are some that value reinvention.

I submitted most of my secondaries by end of July and early August for few schools. I did not apply to DO schools. I already graduate from my program and have been volunteering at hospital (over 250 hours) and doing research at a lab. I also shadowed a physician for two months for about 80 hours and also followed several CT surgeons into operation rooms. I also served at my local church and a graduate student society for my department. My undergrad was material science engineering and grad major was biomedical engineering. My BCPM GPA for undergrad is about 3.2 and for grad it's 4.0. I have 27 credits that counts towards coursework and seminar where 24 credits are actual BCPM and engineering courses. Thank you so much for taking time to reply to my post.

 

[p.p.]

What schools did you apply to? There are some that value reinvention.

I applied schools such as Tulane, Drexel, Temple, Jefferson, St Louis, Loma Linda, NYMC, Einstein, Hofstra, Quinnipac, Brown, Albany, Meharry, Howard, Rochester to name few. I appreciate all your comments. Thank you!

 

[p.p.]

I'm sure you've become aware that most engineering classes are not included in the BCPM GPA by AMCAS. Could you look at the printout of your verified AMCAS application to see your number of graduate BCPM credit hours? I doubt it's 24, but I'd be happy to be surprised.

What degree are you working toward?

You were right. My graduate BCPM credit hours are 18 and all others are 9 credits. I earned MS degree (took 3 yrs to complete because of my research took so long(and still editing manuscripts and have done minor experiments after graduation for publication purpose, which is why I do not have publication but was able to present orally). No to mention that I didn't start my research til first summer at the graduate school.
I wished I had taken more courses while I was doing research to improve grades
Thank you for your comments

 

[p.p.]

What schools did you apply to? There are some that value reinvention.

I applied to schools such as Rowan, Jefferson, Temple, Drexel, NYMC, U of Rochester, Howard, Meharry, Quinnipiac, Hofstra, Saint Louis, Loma Linda, Einstein, Albany to name few.
I really appreciate all your comments.
Thank you.

 

[Goro]

You should have some decent luck with that list. If you're not URM, don't expect much from Howard or Meherrey.

I applied to schools such as Rowan, Jefferson, Temple, Drexel, NYMC, U of Rochester, Howard, Meharry, Quinnipiac, Hofstra, Saint Louis, Loma Linda, Einstein, Albany to name few.
I really appreciate all your comments.
Thank you.

 

[p.p.]

You should have some decent luck with that list. If you're not URM, don't expect much from Howard or Meherrey.

I am not URM. Thank you so much for your comment. I will just have to wait patiently then. Thank you so much once again.

 

[Catalystik]

You were right. My graduate BCPM credit hours are 18 and all others are 9 credits. I earned MS degree (took 3 yrs to complete because of my research took so long(and still editing manuscripts and have done minor experiments after graduation for publication purpose, which is why I do not have publication but was able to present orally). No to mention that I didn't start my research til first summer at the graduate school.
I wished I had taken more courses while I was doing research to improve grades
Thank you for your comments

To answer your original question about why you haven't heard back from any schools:

Because of your low (by MD school standards) undergrad GPA, by which most med schools screen applications, I suspect your paperwork is awaiting a more thorough inspection to determine if you've given enough evidence that you can succeed in a med school curriculum. In your favor is a very good MCAT score and consistent excellence in grad school with a difficult discipline, but on the negative side, grad school grades are generally considered to be inflated so they aren't considered as representative of one's potential, and with 18 semester hours you have only a bit more than one full-time semester of grad coursework where you excelled in hard science.

Your active clinical experience and shadowing are above average, as is your research, but you aren't specific enough about your faith-related involvement to judge if it will be viewed as nonmedical community service. Also, you didn't mention leadership or teaching, both of which strengthen an application.

It's good you got your application submitted in a timely manner. I see 9 schools on your list where you might have a shot, assuming you are a US citizen or green card holder. A few dream schools are fine to include.

While you are patiently waiting, you might act to fill any perceived holes in your application. If getting an acceptance in the first cycle is essential to your happiness, you might reconsider adding some DO med schools to your list. It's not too late to do so, as the AACOMAS application cycle runs much later than AMCAS'.

 

[p.p.]

To answer your original question about why you haven't heard back from any schools:

Because of your low (by MD school standards) undergrad GPA, by which most med schools screen applications, I suspect your paperwork is awaiting a more thorough inspection to determine if you've given enough evidence that you can succeed in a med school curriculum. In your favor is a very good MCAT score and consistent excellence in grad school with a difficult discipline, but on the negative side, grad school grades are generally considered to be inflated so they aren't considered as representative of one's potential, and with 18 semester hours you have only a bit more than one full-time semester of grad coursework where you excelled in hard science.

Your active clinical experience and shadowing are above average, as is your research, but you aren't specific enough about your faith-related involvement to judge if it will be viewed as nonmedical community service. Also, you didn't mention leadership or teaching, both of which strengthen an application.

It's good you got your application submitted in a timely manner. I see 9 schools on your list where you might have a shot, assuming you are a US citizen or green card holder. A few dream schools are fine to include.

While you are patiently waiting, you might act to fill any perceived holes in your application. If getting an acceptance in the first cycle is essential to your happiness, you might reconsider adding some DO med schools to your list. It's not too late to do so, as the AACOMAS application cycle runs much later than AMCAS'.

Thank you so much for your comment. I feel much better now. I did serve leadership position for briefly (1yr) during graduate school.
As for filling perceived holes in my application, what do you suggest? Should I take some more science courses? Thank you once again for your kind responses.

 

[Catalystik]

As for filling perceived holes in my application, what do you suggest? Should I take some more science courses?

Consider taking additional undergrad upper-level science classes (which will raise your undergrad BCPM), taking on a teaching role ( TA, tutor, coach, mentor, perhaps as a volunteer), and strengthening your nonmedical community service to those in need, whether through your house of worship or a community-based organization.

If you end up reapplying, presumably you'll have publications to list by that time, which are also thought of well. For this cycle, they can be mentioned in update letters where allowed, along with any other application enhancements you are involved in since you submitted.

 

[p.p.]

Consider taking additional undergrad upper-level science classes (which will raise your undergrad BCPM), taking on a teaching role ( TA, tutor, coach, mentor, perhaps as a volunteer), and strengthening your nonmedical community service to those in need, whether through your house of worship or a community-based organization.

If you end up reapplying, presumably you'll have publications to list by that time, which are also thought of well. For this cycle, they can be mentioned in update letters where allowed, along with any other application enhancements you are involved in since you submitted.

Thank you so much for your advice. I will certainly keep in mind and strongly consider taking upper level undergraduate courses. I am just slightly disappointed that my BCPM grad courses are not favorably looked as they were 400/500 levels where I took with other undergraduate students and did really well in classroom even by undergraduate grading scale. I will also look for opportunities on taking a teaching role. Thank you once again.