Raise your hand if you got 3.5+gpa and 32 MCAT but none, one or 2 interviews!

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I think this thread should be renamed, "Let's give pre-meds a coronary." Haha...looking at this, you'd think no one got into med school...ever.
 
Parfee said:
3.5 GPA, 33 MCAT (second time).
Tons of hospital volunteering (1000+hours).
Cancer research for 4 years (current job).
Submitted AMCAS in June.
Applied to 35 schools.
Completed at schools from August to December (couldn't do all 35 in one week~ha).

1 MD interview scheduled for May.
Many rejections and holds.
No MD acceptance.
CA resident.

🙁 Need some encouragement~~~
Click to expand...


When you say "second time", do you mean second time applying, second time taking the MCAT, or both? If it's your second time applying, did you contact schools the first time to find out what the problem was? Many, if not most, will gladly take the time to tell you how you can improve your app.
If you mean second time taking the MCAT, was the first time DRASTICALLY lower? I'm just thinking that, based on numbers alone, there is no reason you shouldn't have a lot more interviews. But then again, it only takes one.
Go into that interview and blow them away. Be yourself, be confident, and it will work out for the best. If you don't get in this time, try again. Show determination. Good luck.
 
AllAboutUCSF said:
Just trying to answer the OP's original question. Medical schools want to know if you are a "good" person and making light of underprivileged groups is not the best way to convince them you are. A grade point average and MCAT score are not all that matter, I hope!
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I would say you're taking a very narrow minded approach to the quality of a person. No one is without flaws and if one thing keeps you from being a good person then we might as well all stop trying right now.

By the way, keep your agenda in the appropriate place. This thread had nothing to do with the past one. Move on.
 
mdgator said:
When you say "second time", do you mean second time applying, second time taking the MCAT, or both? If it's your second time applying, did you contact schools the first time to find out what the problem was? Many, if not most, will gladly take the time to tell you how you can improve your app.
If you mean second time taking the MCAT, was the first time DRASTICALLY lower? I'm just thinking that, based on numbers alone, there is no reason you shouldn't have a lot more interviews. But then again, it only takes one.
Go into that interview and blow them away. Be yourself, be confident, and it will work out for the best. If you don't get in this time, try again. Show determination. Good luck.
Click to expand...

It was my second MCAT. First was 28Q, 6V, 10PS, 12 BS. second time: 11V, 10PS, 12BS. Big change in verbal...Do they not like that even I proved I can do well? >.<
 
Parfee said:
It was my second MCAT. First was 28Q, 6V, 10PS, 12 BS. second time: 11V, 10PS, 12BS. Big change in verbal...Do they not like that even I proved I can do well? >.<
Click to expand...

Why do we even have to take a freeken verbal section to become a doctor?
 
Parfee said:
It was my second MCAT. First was 28Q, 6V, 10PS, 12 BS. second time: 11V, 10PS, 12BS. Big change in verbal...Do they not like that even I proved I can do well? >.<
Click to expand...

While that original verbal score could be very scary to a lot of ADCOMs, I would definitely think that the 11 would more than make up for it. It's a lot more likely that you just had a bad day and made a 6 than it is that you got incredibly lucky and made an 11. There has to be something else. I don't know what it is, but considering the fact that you are having trouble getting interviews, I would look closely at your AMCAS app and your secondaries. It may not be bad writing or errors; maybe something you say is off-putting. I don't know. Have your school's pre-health advisor, or your family doctor, or a friend/medical student look over you apps for more feedback.
Call some of the schools that you've been rejected from and set up a telephone consultation to find out how you can improve you application. Hopefully you will get in to the school your interviewing at in May, but if not, at least you can have some idea as to how to improve your chances starting in a few months.
 
almost 32 with 3.65 gpa applied broadly and early.... 12 interviews (1 in april) 2 rejections, 1 wait list, 6 acceptances and 2 I haven't heard back yet.
 
dr midnight said:
almost 32 with 3.65 gpa applied broadly and early.... 12 interviews (1 in april) 2 rejections, 1 wait list, 6 acceptances and 2 I haven't heard back yet.
Click to expand...

Please read title of thread before posting. Raise your hand if you got 3.5+gpa and 32 MCAT but none, one or 2 interviews! Don't think anyone here needs ppl to rub it in that they have.....12 interviews when the title of thread specified (0-2).
 
Parfee said:
It was my second MCAT. First was 28Q, 6V, 10PS, 12 BS. second time: 11V, 10PS, 12BS. Big change in verbal...Do they not like that even I proved I can do well? >.<
Click to expand...

I think they view getting a 30+ as a minimum requirement, how much better higher a score you get after that discerns how much more likely you are to get in.
 
ChiDoc27 said:
I think this thread should be renamed, "Let's give pre-meds a coronary." Haha...looking at this, you'd think no one got into med school...ever.
Click to expand...

Re-read the title.

This thread doesn't market to the focused, only the bored and frustrated, or the self-reassured-by-reassuring.

And it's posts have reflected such, so far.

Your title, "Let's give pre-meds a coronary." markets to everyone, good job 🙂 👍







(Unfortunately, some of us will be betting our lives on a 30% chance. Lets hope that bachelor's come in handy 😉 )
 
ScutMonkey08 said:
3.5 GPA
27 MCAT
Applied 12 schools
10 Interviews
5 Acceptances (all at top 40 schools)

If you are not getting in you are applying to too few places, the wrong places, or you lived in the library and have no extra-curriculars...🙂
Click to expand...

The OP has impressive extra curriculars aswell
 
Alright I think I've got this won...

34Q MCAT
3.99 GPA at a decent institution
EC's are pretty good


Applied to 30 schools
Secondaries from 25
Turned in 17 of those secondaries...

2 Interviews
1 Acceptance

... Demoralizing experience. 🙁 (As in I would have expected better. Not trying to be an ***)
 
ScutMonkey08 said:
3.5 GPA
27 MCAT
Applied 12 schools
10 Interviews
5 Acceptances (all at top 40 schools)

If you are not getting in you are applying to too few places, the wrong places, or you lived in the library and have no extra-curriculars...🙂
Click to expand...

whoaaa scutmonkey08 i have those exact same stats, have pretty good extracurriculars, and have 0 interviews. did you de-worm orphans in somalia or something amazing like that ??
 
Parfee said:
3.5 GPA, 33 MCAT (second time).
Tons of hospital volunteering (1000+hours).
Cancer research for 4 years (current job).
Submitted AMCAS in June.
Applied to 35 schools.
Completed at schools from August to December (couldn't do all 35 in one week~ha).

1 MD interview scheduled for May.
Many rejections and holds.
No MD acceptance.
CA resident.

🙁 Need some encouragement~~~
Click to expand...

ditto.. Here is my mdapps profile: http://www.mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?id=9669

no interviews. 2 pre-interview waiting lists. losing hope..
 
I got a 3.94 GPA and a 34R MCAT. Only three interviews, around 6 post secondary rejections, and I still have not heard back from half of my schools that I applied to.

I have not heard back from the schools I interviewed at yet. I submitted my application kind of late though.
 
Phallacy said:
Alright I think I've got this won...

34Q MCAT
3.99 GPA at a decent institution
EC's are pretty good


Applied to 30 schools
Secondaries from 25
Turned in 17 of those secondaries...

2 Interviews
1 Acceptance

... Demoralizing experience. 🙁 (As in I would have expected better. Not trying to be an ***)
Click to expand...

One quote from your mdapps profile about your clinical volunteering: "Best way to describe this is being the nursing staff's bitch."

I'm sure you didn't say that exactly in your application, but how you describe what you got out of your experiences and how you describe your motivation for medicine are HUGE factors, especially at the fairly competitive list of schools you applied to. I'm guessing that your emphasis on research as an undergrad is what helped you get the interview at Duke.

Having proofread all sort of things for people in the past, from technical papers to personal statements to various essays, I assure you that most people really don't know what they are actually writing. It is very easy to have something unintended slip out or to fail to effectively communicate a valuable point. That's why you have to let others critique your work, especially when it comes to med school applications.
 
Phallacy your "1 acceptance" is to UCLA...
I will trade all of my acceptances for yours.
 
plizzayer said:
The only way possible with those stats is if you are a URM. There is no way possible to receive 5 interviews with a 27 MCAT to MD schools unless you are URM even if you have 10,000 volunteer hours with underserved communities and built a cure for cancer.
Click to expand...

Disagree. Some people actually have the character to back up their ambitions. I'm glad that numbers aren't everything, because med schools would be full of insecure, grade-grubbing gunners otherwise.

Anyway, to follow the current train of thought, temporal proximity to a high stress academic environment is a factor in evaluating academic fitness. In other words, keep taking classes if you plan on reapplying.
 
nevercold said:
One quote from your mdapps profile about your clinical volunteering: "Best way to describe this is being the nursing staff's bitch."

I'm sure you didn't say that exactly in your application, but how you describe what you got out of your experiences and how you describe your motivation for medicine are HUGE factors, especially at the fairly competitive list of schools you applied to. I'm guessing that your emphasis on research as an undergrad is what helped you get the interview at Duke.

Having proofread all sort of things for people in the past, from technical papers to personal statements to various essays, I assure you that most people really don't know what they are actually writing. It is very easy to have something unintended slip out or to fail to effectively communicate a valuable point. That's why you have to let others critique your work, especially when it comes to med school applications.
Click to expand...

Well the volunteering program was a little strange. It was described as an internship, so when I applied I thought yes internship would be a lot of work, but you would get a great experience out of it. However, the organization ended up being run by a bunch of pre-meds from my university who just loved reprimanding the students for anything they could (almost felt like sabotage cause those particular students were for the most part the bottom feeders in my classes). Also this particular branch of this internship was at a McDonald's equivalent for hospital chains. So the nurses would not be very happy, the admin was anal, and the rules very extremely anal. Very little freedom to do what the program promises you for the training they made you go through. I wish I could go back in time and get an EMT instead. As for what I wrote about... I have a successful sister who has just finished residency. I wrote about her, how much she loved what she did, and how seeing her work was inspirational (I've shadowed her at work). If I mentioned the program, it was only to say I got additional experience with the nitty gritty of medicine.
 
Hey hey hey now. That's why I put in that lil (...). I would have expected better from the stats I had. It was rough cause I had friends with way less EC's and lower stats getting way more interviews (at similar schools). Also, those medical school how-to-suceed books (ie the TPR one), MDpotential, and advisors at my school all had me convinced I was going to do much better than I had anticipated.
 
Phallacy said:
Alright I think I've got this won...

34Q MCAT
3.99 GPA at a decent institution
EC's are pretty good


Applied to 30 schools
Secondaries from 25
Turned in 17 of those secondaries...

2 Interviews
1 Acceptance

... Demoralizing experience. 🙁 (As in I would have expected better. Not trying to be an ***)
Click to expand...


With >50% of applicants not receiving an acceptance, I would say your situation is far from demoralizing. 👎
 
Hi Parfee,

You only need to get into one school to be a doctor, so go knock 'em down in May! You'll do a terrific job!

:luck:
 
37o
3.63 GPA
Research
Physician Shadowing

7 Applications
1 Rejection
1 Hold for Interview
🙁
 
mbic19 said:
37o
3.63 GPA
Research
Physician Shadowing

7 Applications
1 Rejection
1 Hold for Interview
🙁
Click to expand...

I just thought I'd bold that before the hopeful class of 2013 has a group heart attack. Yikes, CA schools really are picky 🙁 Your numbers are definitely awesome. Hopefully you get in, but if you get no love, I bet you'll get in next year if you apply early 🙂
 
xiaoyi666 said:
Please read title of thread before posting. Raise your hand if you got 3.5+gpa and 32 MCAT but none, one or 2 interviews! Don't think anyone here needs ppl to rub it in that they have.....12 interviews when the title of thread specified (0-2).
Click to expand...

I posted mine to demonstrate I had similar stats, got accepted, and am currently a fine, relatively sane and adjusted MS1.

The hardest part about the application is the things you simply can't control (the mood of the ADCOM member at the moment they read your app, their own personal opinions of your activities, scores, and personal statement). With lower end acceptance stats like that you just have to trust that you'll be given the opportunity. I was wait listed at all 3 of my acceptances before getting in. If you're given the opportunity to interview make the most of it, if you aren't, well it was out of your control. Letting that scare you and stress you out will not help you when it comes to reapply.
 
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