Please "rate" my application, I am feeling distressed.

[Tweetie_bird]

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Hi guys,
I've spoken to a few of you already, but somehow never seem to get an answer that suffices. I am truly afraid of spending all this money applying, and not coming out with any positive results. Here's my "stats"

Undergrad:
Univ of Washington 3.35 CUM, Sci = 3.2; I have the good grades in upper level classes like Orgo and Biochem. It's the first few years that I did poorly on (lots of C's in Biol and Calculus)

MCAT this April:
7V 10PS 10Bio Q on Essay.

Other pertinent stuff:
5 publications (one conference); 3rd, 4th and 7th author. First author on a publication in an Ethics Journal.

5 years clinical stuff:
--helped with pap smears, physicals, interveiwing patients, on infertile couples to investigate causes and treatments for infertility.
--currently working with Alzheimer's Disease couples to look at chronic stress and how it's related to cardiovascular dysfunction.
--also working on another project looking at health status in physicians, and how their health and metabolic insufficiences lead into cardiovascular dysfunction
--EMT certification (after graduation, 3.8 in postbac class)

Other ECs--
Tons of leadership; Medical Ethics Director for an honor society (one year); 4 years participation in a city-wide youth program (President for two years); Made National Dean's List for a year (great for me considering my poor grades earlier in life); ......

there's more but this is the main punch of my application. My first choice is Univ of WA since my fiancee is here (he can't move b/c he has a good job that I want him to keep, plus it's not transferrable to most other states esp considering the economy). I have GREAT LORs--one from the guy that I'm researching with on AD, one from a physician at the "infertility job" and one from a Philosophy prof in whose class I wrote the ethics paper that got published, and one from my Biochem prof that seems to like me.

I don't usually like exposing my personal life to most people, but I am in serious need of advice, and encouraging support. I have wanted to be a physician longer than I can imagine...my hopes and dreams are attached to it. But even more than wanting medicine, I want to say close to WA b/c my family is here (since I'm an immigrant I don't have a family anywhere in the US) I don't want to sit this cycle out, since I've taken 2 years off from school and I am ITCHING to get back into school. How does this app sound? Do I have a chance at U of W? Do I have a chance at other schools?? I am def applying to Finch, GW, MCPH and a few others. Total # of schools should be 20, but I want to try HARD and stay on the west coast. What do you think??

any good words would be appreciated.
Tweetie
PS: thought I'd mention that MCAT prac tests I usually had a 7-8 score. I don't think I could do much better, so I am afraid if i take it again I might go down in sciences.

 

[Bikini Princess]

A+

 

[biophysicbadass]

Don't feel discouraged. Have you tried to talk to the adcom at UW? Explain your situation, tell them you really are dying to go there and what improvements need to be made to your app. A year in the long run won't make a difference, but if you are itching to get back to school I would apply. Unfortunately, even if you were a wet dream candidate that would not ensure your admission to UW, its such a crapshoot. By closing yourself off to that one school you could be waiting a long time to realize your dream.

 

[DesiDentist]

Hey tweetie-bird,

I never knew that you go to UW. I'm a senior at U.Washington. Other than grades and MCAT you have a superb application. I am extremly impressed as would be the Adcom. However grades and MCAT scores do get you the interview and from then on your personality takes you through. However, you desperately need an interview. I know that UW medical school guarantees an interview to those people who have at least a 3.5 and a 28 MCAT score. Your numbers are lower than that, but they do interview people who are "unique" and exceptional in some other way and you definately show that. I would advise you to put a "face" to your application and go and illustrate your interest. Also, if I were you I would not be really picky about staying around Washington, it will just hurt if you have to leave for another state. You main goal is to fulfill your dream of becoming a physician no matter where you go. You can also look into foreign medical schools I know St. George's is excellent and India has some good schools. Or consider Osteopathic schools. Your gpa and MCAT scores make you very competitive. There are many other options. The goal now is to get in somewhere and I believe that you will. Good luck.

DesiDentist

 

[missbonnie]

Tweetie-

I PM'ed you.

 

[rxfudd]

Tough call - the GPA is a bit on the low side, and this would not be a huge problem if the verbal was a bit higher. I applied with a 7 9 10 Q and got five interviews and 1 acceptance, but my GPA was higher. I think you should meet with some adcoms and find out what THEY think you should do. I did this and was told to apply and I would get in SOMEWHERE - this is, in fact, what ended up happening. Since it's so close of a call (the rest of your application is quite good), I don't think anyone here will be able to help you with a decision like this. Usually, it's obvious what adcoms will think of certain aspects of a person's application. Your application is not so clear cut - it will vary from school to school and committee member to committee member. Seriously, make some phone calls this week. Most admissions deans are very nice and willing to meet.

 

[conure]

I think this is a great application. You know how competitive UW is but having a spouse or significant other there may be helpful. Really if you don't get in I think its cause of the MCAT and maybe retake again in April for the next go around.

Sounds like you are just nervous like we all are at times. Don't be discouraged, put in your all in this go around, I think you'll make it.

 

[DesiDentist]

I agree with conure UW for some reason loves to accept people who are married or out of school for a while. So if you are married then that may illustrate "maturity" even though I don't agree with that. That is one thing that makes UW very hard, most of the class is married. <img border="0" alt="[Pity]" title="" src="graemlins/pity.gif" />

DesiDentist

 

[Dr. Will]

Tweet! I PMed ya!

 

[Femtochemistry]

Hi,

You'r EC's are GREAT!! And so is you'r grad GPA. Your MCAT score is good too. The only thing pulling you down is your undergrad GPA; however, i don't think it could keep you out of med school: the admission process, as we all know it--is as random as the Chaos Theory! 😡

Good Luck Tweetie

 

[Tweetie_bird]

Hi guys,
Thank you so much for the uplifting words.

I think I am going to make an appt with the Dean this week and see if I can improve my application. There are lots of Deans at a med school--Dean of Students, Dean of Admissions etc. Which one do I need to talk to? Would it help to just talk with an Admissions Officer? I know of one, and she has always been helpful to me.

Please keep the replies come in. I would like to see as many opinions as possible. For those that PMed me, I have PMed you back. Thank you all again. It really means a lot to me that you'd take the time and make a fellow SDN'er feel good.

Tweetie

 

[Darth Vader]

You should apply to some DO schools along side with your MD schools.

 

[Bikini Princess]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Darth Vader:
•You should apply to some DO schools along side with your MD schools.•••••Darth, I think it's high time you changed your name.. Vader was here first, it's not fair to usurp him.

Maybe you could be darth sith.

 

[SMW]

Tweetie_bird, there is nothing anybody can really tell you that you don't already know. You might have a chance at UW, and you have a better chance at other less highly ranked schools. All you can do is give it your best shot. By all means let UW know that they are your first choice school, but be prepared for the cold shoulder. Make sure you stress to them that you want to go into primary care -- they are definitely a primary care school. Staying on the west coast might be hard. Make sure to apply to USC -- I think you'd have a great chance there -- and OHSU. What about SLU? It's not as far away as those east coat schools. Good luck with your applications!! 🙂

 

[Sweet Tea]

tweetie, I PMd you.

 

[relatively prime]

I PMed you too 🙂

 

[altaskier]

Tweetie Bird.....I think that your EC's are great! The only thing that might come into question is that Verbal Score. But, I'm sure you will defintely get in. Make sure to apply to a wide variety of schools.

Good Luck to you!
🙂

 

[rxfudd]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Tweetie_bird:
•
I think I am going to make an appt with the Dean this week and see if I can improve my application. There are lots of Deans at a med school--Dean of Students, Dean of Admissions etc. Which one do I need to talk to? Would it help to just talk with an Admissions Officer? I know of one, and she has always been helpful to me.
•••••Dean of admissions, but an admissions officer would work just as well. Don't deal with dean of students - s/he has no say in the process and wouldn't know what to tell you.

 

[Tweetie_bird]

ok, thanks guys. I have been told by a few to retake the MCAT and boost that 7, although english is my second language and my usual pract. test verbal scores were 7-8.

I simply can't seem to do well in verbal, although somehow my essay was a Q (higher than I've ever had at Kaplan). What does concensus say?