One Interview 0 Acceptances, Getting Nervous

[kdmfranchise]

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I have a 3.47 overall gpa, A little bit lower science gpa, and around a 3.65 for non-science. 13PS, 11VR, 12BS, R writing. 36R overall.

-Kaplan MCAT teacher
-non-medical volunteer experience including sexual assault prevention, ski club, and club mountain biking team.
-1 Sem Substance Abuse 1day/wk
-1 Sem OR 1day/wk
-1 Summer Full Time ER Clinical Research
-1 Summer 1 Day/Wk D.O. Private Practice Shadowing

After Graduation (Aug 2009) (Not on Primary App)
-Maxillofacial Surgeon 2 wk full time internship
-Wilderness EMT
-Henry Ford Hospital ER Technician Full time
-County Health Dept. h1n1 immunization administration

No pure science research at the university though. I am most worried about my gpa. Really good personal statement in my opinion. Michigan resident.

Schools I applied to and Current Status

Waitlist after Interview:
-Wayne State University

Rejected No Interview:
-University of Michigan
-Pittsburgh
-Boston University

Secondary Under Review (No Interview yet)
-Michigan State University
-Rush Medical University
-Rosalind Franklin
-University of Illinois Chicago
-Loyola Chicago
-University of Southern California
-Oregon Health and Science
-Tufts
-Drexel

Rejected No Secondary:
-UCLA
-UCSD
-UC Davis

Secondary Waived:
-UC Irvine (Received late October)
-UofC Denver (Too Expensive)

I am getting super nervous because I just received waitlist from Wayne State and that was my only interview invitation so far. I also thought it went quite well and I had prepared thoroughly.

I thought my MCAT score and clinical experience would make up for my weak GPA, but this isn't as easy as I thought.

Also wondering if I should start to study for MCAT again and improve score 2-3 pts to apply for 2011.

Your thoughts are appreciated!
Thank you very much!

P.S. I will be out of the country from end of Nov. to end of Jan. Should I cut trip short, or delay interview if I get an invite while im gone?

 

[kdmfranchise]

Should I still think about applying D.O. or Caribbean for 2010 or have I missed that boat?

 

[calimed214]

When were you complete at these schools? How strong are your LOR?

And just by first glance, your 2 main concerns are probably your GPA and your clinical experience. Your GPA wouldn't be too much of a hindrance, especially at your state schools, if your clinical experience was solid. Schools like to see a long-term commitment and it seems like you only have a semester here or a summer there of clinical volunteering. I would say a typical applicant volunteers at a hospital for at least 4 hours a week for a year prior to applying. And this doesn't include physician shadowing hours.

Do NOT retake the MCAT. Your 36 is a great score. You'd run the risk of actually scoring lower the second time, which would look terrible.

If you are going to be gone for all of December & January, that could be a problem. Most schools have rolling admissions. The later in the year you interview, the less likely your chances of gaining an acceptance. If the trip isn't critical, I would try to stay in the country as much as possible.

You are definitely on the later side for applying to D.O. schools now, but I think it's worth a shot. Do you have a letter from the D.O. that you shadowed? If not, you need to get one.

 

[TaylorMDhopeful]

I have a 3.47 overall gpa, A little bit lower science gpa, and around a 3.65 for non-science. 13PS, 11VR, 12BS, R writing. 36R overall.

-Kaplan MCAT teacher
-non-medical volunteer experience including sexual assault prevention, ski club, and club mountain biking team.
-1 Sem Substance Abuse 1day/wk
-1 Sem OR 1day/wk
-1 Summer Full Time ER Clinical Research
-1 Summer 1 Day/Wk D.O. Private Practice Shadowing

After Graduation (Aug 2009) (Not on Primary App)
-Maxillofacial Surgeon 2 wk full time internship
-Wilderness EMT
-Henry Ford Hospital ER Technician Full time
-County Health Dept. h1n1 immunization administration

No pure science research at the university though. I am most worried about my gpa. Really good personal statement in my opinion. Michigan resident.

Schools I applied to and Current Status

Waitlist after Interview:
-Wayne State University

Rejected No Interview:
-University of Michigan
-Pittsburgh
-Boston University

Secondary Under Review (No Interview yet)
-Michigan State University
-Rush Medical University
-Rosalind Franklin
-University of Illinois Chicago
-Loyola Chicago
-University of Southern California
-Oregon Health and Science
-Tufts
-Drexel

Rejected No Secondary:
-UCLA
-UCSD
-UC Davis

Secondary Waived:
-UC Irvine (Received late October)
-UofC Denver (Too Expensive)

I am getting super nervous because I just received waitlist from Wayne State and that was my only interview invitation so far. I also thought it went quite well and I had prepared thoroughly.

I thought my MCAT score and clinical experience would make up for my weak GPA, but this isn't as easy as I thought.

Also wondering if I should start to study for MCAT again and improve score 2-3 pts to apply for 2011.

Your thoughts are appreciated!
Thank you very much!

P.S. I will be out of the country from end of Nov. to end of Jan. Should I cut trip short, or delay interview if I get an invite while im gone?

Your MCAT score is great, like top 5%! I don't think you need a re-take bc going from a 36 to a 38-39 won't change your app as much as going from say a 30 to a 33. Your GPA shouldn't be keeping you from getting interviews at some of those places. When did you send in your application? Maybe its still being processed at some schools bc of the floods of people that apply to every school. Maybe its the extra curriculars in college. I see a summer or semester here and there. Maybe they are looking for long term commitment to things that interest you and maybe more leadership experience. Also, being out of the country for that long may be a bad idea especially if schools start to get back to you during that time. You may miss out on an acceptance by pushing it back if you are getting it between now and january as many classes will start to fill up by feb-march

 

[Untraditional]

Interesting, and believe me I am feeling for you. I have slightly weaker MCAT and much lower GPA but much more intense and meaningful clinical work plus research. Your thread makes me worry because we've got some of the same schools and I got in later than you did, probably. All you can do is pray! Good luck!

SDN is bad for my mental health.

 

[ezsanche]

why is your GPA so low?

 

[Untraditional]

why is your GPA so low?

Finished Undergrad in 2003, was not very focused on academic performance for personal reasons and was working full time. Biggest regret in my life, honestly.

Interestingly I have A's where it counts. For example, I got a D in Ochem then retook it and earned an A+. Anyway, this isn't about me.

 

[alibai3ah]

Finished Undergrad in 2003, was not very focused on academic performance for personal reasons and was working full time. Biggest regret in my life, honestly.

Interestingly I have A's where it counts. For example, I got a D in Ochem then retook it and earned an A+. Anyway, this isn't about me.

Don't retake the MCATs. Your score is perfectly good. Your GPA is not too bad either. I really doubt your numbers are why you are not getting more interviews.

I believe your extracurriculars could be stronger. I would recommend some more volunteer work, community-service type of work (say Americorp or something). Also try to soup up your research a bit too. Your EC's are also for a short time each. Remember longevity >>>> quantity.

Also try applying to more schools. While you have safeties on there, I would apply to at least 20-25 schools if you have to reapply. But don't give up hope yet, b/c theres still a long way to go. Good luck!

 

[Untraditional]

why is your GPA so low?

Don't retake the MCATs. Your score is perfectly good. Your GPA is not too bad either. I really doubt your numbers are why you are not getting more interviews.

I believe your extracurriculars could be stronger. I would recommend some more volunteer work, community-service type of work (say Americorp or something). Also try to soup up your research a bit too.

Its amazing how many people say this to me reading my capsule, unless you're confusing me for the OP. In my 5 years of research I designed, constructed and conducted the first in-vivo for a pediatric artificial heart. The strike against me is that I left my PhD program when I ran out of funding and decided I didn't want a research career.

I had one pre-health advisor suggest I do some more shadowing. I spend my nights in an ICU and scrub with surgeons. I hope that's enough! I have been shadowing an anesthesiologist recently as well.

Apologies to OP for inadvertently threadjacking. Good luck to everyone.

 

[calimed214]

Its amazing how many people say this to me reading my capsule, unless you're confusing me for the OP. In my 5 years of research I designed, constructed and conducted the first in-vivo for a pediatric artificial heart. The strike against me is that I left my PhD program when I ran out of funding and decided I didn't want a research career.

I had one pre-health advisor suggest I do some more shadowing. I spend my nights in an ICU and scrub with surgeons. I hope that's enough! I have been shadowing an anesthesiologist recently as well.

Apologies to OP for inadvertently threadjacking. Good luck to everyone.

I don't think the posters were referring to you, but the OP. I think alibai may have misquoted you. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/member.php?u=220490

 

[ezsanche]

Finished Undergrad in 2003, was not very focused on academic performance for personal reasons and was working full time. Biggest regret in my life, honestly.

Interestingly I have A's where it counts. For example, I got a D in Ochem then retook it and earned an A+. Anyway, this isn't about me.

I was referring to the OP. My bad.

 

[alibai3ah]

I don't think the posters were referring to you, but the OP. I think alibai may have misquoted you.

Yes calimed is right. I apologize. I was referring to the OP

 

[brooklynblunder]

when did you apply?

do not delay an interview

 

[schrizto]

Also wondering if I should start to study for MCAT again and improve score 2-3 pts to apply for 2011.

Do not retake a 36!

 

[brooklynblunder]

also, continue to improve your app. you are gonna have to work your ass off, but it will cover your bases whether or not you get in this year or next

 

[muhali3]

Tbh, I think the main problem is your clinical experience. You only have one summer of shadowing, and one semester in the OR. You need to beef up on the clinical xp, which you seem to be doing now, but it isn't on your app, so it doesn't help this cycle.