Re-applicant but started a phD

[ben34]

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Hi so I am a reapplicant for the following cycle(2012-2013). All of my stats are pretty good except for my MCAT verbal (still at a 7)(composite 12, 7, 11). When I applied to schools this past cycle(2010-2011), I was waitlisted at Duke and rejected from all others(22). My only back up was a phD program at my old research institute. My PI said she will try to get me out by 2013 by using my old work to build the thesis. But we never know what will really happen.

My questions are: 1) Will schools view it negatively if I am enrolled in a phD program and have not received my degree yet or if I leave before completion of my phD. My ultimate goals do not require a phD.

2) If I am unable to pull my 7 in verbal up, will the same result ensue even if I have a phD?

Many thanks for your help!

 

[leggo]

To answer your first question, yes it does look bad if drop out of your PhD program. Medical Schools do not like poaching other students from other programs. If you think you can finish it in time, then you should prob go for it.

For your second question, yes it will hurt your chances. I suggest you retake it, since many schools will screen based on the 7. The PhD won't negate the low verbal score at all. So the best plan would be to study for the MCAT and take it again when you are most prepared.

 

[fneverforget]

How did you manage to get waitlisted at Duke but rejected at crappier schools? WTF?

What are you other stats and ECs? No one can help you figure out where to apply if you don't provide your gpa and your ECs.

 

[ben34]

How did you manage to get waitlisted at Duke but rejected at crappier schools? WTF?

What are you other stats and ECs? No one can help you figure out where to apply if you don't provide your gpa and your ECs.

Yeah it was tough. Sorry forgot to post other stats:

I have a 3.89 cGPA , 3.97 s gpa
Graduated 3 years from a mid tier university
2 years of neurosurgery shadowing (clinic and OR)
1.5 years volunteering at a clinic
1 year as a Fulbright fellow
6 years of bench research

2 years tutoring organic chemistry

Very good LOR.

Thanks again for your help

 

[ToldYouSo]

Yeah it was tough. Sorry forgot to post other stats:

I have a 3.89 cGPA , 3.97 s gpa
Graduated 3 years from a mid tier university
2 years of neurosurgery shadowing (clinic and OR)
1.5 years volunteering at a clinic
1 year as a Fulbright fellow
6 years of bench research

2 years tutoring organic chemistry

Very good LOR.

Thanks again for your help

Those are some very impressive EC's and your MCAT isn't bad even with a 7 in verbal. Kinda scary you got waitlisted at so many places...

 

[ben34]

Those are some very impressive EC's and your MCAT isn't bad even with a 7 in verbal. Kinda scary you got waitlisted at so many places...

I only got waitlisted at Duke. I was rejected by every other school and didn't even get secondaries to some UCs. Btw I am an asian, california resident =\. I have taken the MCAT 3 times. Each time scoring a 6, 7,7 in verbal. Right now my first score is about to expire so it may be ok to retake 🙁 sigh. I think the only reason duke looked at me was because my fulbright had to do with a similar clinical trial they had. I am also currently enrolled in a biology phd for my first year now :\. It is at a top 10 bio phd program.

 

[fneverforget]

With your stats and ECs you should have gotten in somewhere. What were your previous MCAT scores? That may have something to do with it. Did you apply to, too many top schools? UC schools are tough so being a CA resident sucks because all your state schools are tough to get into. Being Asian didn't help lol. Did you apply early? Early applications help tremendously. If you were a texas resident you def. would have been accepted somewhere because Texas medical schools are not that hard to get into (as long as you have a 3.5 and a 30 mcat score you should get in somewhere in Texas as a Texas resident.). Good Luck man............

 

[ben34]

With your stats and ECs you should have gotten in somewhere. What were your previous MCAT scores? That may have something to do with it. Did you apply to, too many top schools? UC schools are tough so being a CA resident sucks because all your state schools are tough to get into. Being Asian didn't help lol. Did you apply early? Early applications help tremendously. If you were a texas resident you def. would have been accepted somewhere because Texas medical schools are not that hard to get into (as long as you have a 3.5 and a 30 mcat score you should get in somewhere in Texas as a Texas resident.). Good Luck man............

Hi. So I did apply to a lot of top schools (maybe a bit too many) with a few safer schools. I expected to at least be interviewed by a few other schools. I sent my primary in on June 30th i think. I remember it was before July 4th. My previous scores were 1) on June 2009 10, 7 , 10, 2) january 2010 11,6,11 3) June 2010 12, 7 , 11.

I figured turning around and resubmitting my apps wont really help me because the only addition to my application would be the completion of my research year and entering into the phD. I will be picking up a weekend volunteering position for an EC and try to go back to the Clinic if I can make the time during the week. Other than that I am really not sure what else I can do other than killing the MCAT. The trend may not be in my favor though.

 

[waterpolo480586]

Did you have other people read over your personal statement and secondaries? A weak personal statement or secondaries would be my guess for the large number of rejections. With your strong GPA and ECs I think many schools would overlook a 7 in the verbal if your personal statement/secondaries/interviews showed that you could write and communicate well.

I would say retake the MCAT only if you are scoring above a 7 on the practice tests. You do not want to have taken the MCAT 4 times and not really improved the VR section. Also if you apply with your current MCAT make sure that you put a lot of time into secondaries and your PS.

 

[shinbeats]

I only got waitlisted at Duke. I was rejected by every other school and didn't even get secondaries to some UCs. Btw I am an asian, california resident =\. I have taken the MCAT 3 times. Each time scoring a 6, 7,7 in verbal. Right now my first score is about to expire so it may be ok to retake 🙁 sigh. I think the only reason duke looked at me was because my fulbright had to do with a similar clinical trial they had. I am also currently enrolled in a biology phd for my first year now :\. It is at a top 10 bio phd program.

How many interviews in total did you get last year if you don't mind me asking? were all of these rejections pre-interview or post-interview?

 

[rubisco88]

Yes, I think it would look really bad that you dropped out of a Phd program and that you started one to begin with. ADCOMS may see that as a lack of commitment for medicine or that you are more interested in research.

 

[ben34]

How many interviews in total did you get last year if you don't mind me asking? were all of these rejections pre-interview or post-interview?

I only had 1 interview at Duke. Majority were rejection post secondary (pre interview) and a couple after the primary application.

Yes, I think it would look really bad that you dropped out of a Phd program and that you started one to begin with. ADCOMS may see that as a lack of commitment for medicine or that you are more interested in research.

So basically I have to finish the degree? I was hoping they would see me as a re-applicant. I figured that starting a phD program would've been better than being a tech but cheaper than starting a post bac =\.

Did you have other people read over your personal statement and secondaries? A weak personal statement or secondaries would be my guess for the large number of rejections. With your strong GPA and ECs I think many schools would overlook a 7 in the verbal if your personal statement/secondaries/interviews showed that you could write and communicate well.

I would say retake the MCAT only if you are scoring above a 7 on the practice tests. You do not want to have taken the MCAT 4 times and not really improved the VR section. Also if you apply with your current MCAT make sure that you put a lot of time into secondaries and your PS.

I had a bunch of people read my personal statement so that was pretty solid (so I hope). Secondaries, I had one of the kaplan verbal teachers read over them as well as a friend who was an english major. Another problem is that I preped so much for my last 3 that I have taken all the kaplan and aamc exams. Any recommendations on any new material???

Basically I am in a tough spot right now. I knew from the get go I didn't want to do a phD (or md PHD for that matter). I only applied to straight MD although many people recommended I apply MD PHD. Since I was rejected by all schools, I only had a back up phD and was hoping that it would help boost my application. I just started my first day of classes today so I am not that far into it but if a school were to accept me I would go even if I don't finish my degree completely after 2 years, but there is a chance that I can. That being said, since I have no other options right now, I don't mind doing it for the mean time.

 

[rubisco88]

I only had 1 interview at Duke. Majority were rejection post secondary (pre interview) and a couple after the primary application.


So basically I have to finish the degree? I was hoping they would see me as a re-applicant. I figured that starting a phD program would've been better than being a tech but cheaper than starting a post bac =\.


I had a bunch of people read my personal statement so that was pretty solid (so I hope). Secondaries, I had one of the kaplan verbal teachers read over them as well as a friend who was an english major. Another problem is that I preped so much for my last 3 that I have taken all the kaplan and aamc exams. Any recommendations on any new material???

Basically I am in a tough spot right now. I knew from the get go I didn't want to do a phD (or md PHD for that matter). I only applied to straight MD although many people recommended I apply MD PHD. Since I was rejected by all schools, I only had a back up phD and was hoping that it would help boost my application. I just started my first day of classes today so I am not that far into it but if a school were to accept me I would go even if I don't finish my degree completely after 2 years, but there is a chance that I can. That being said, since I have no other options right now, I don't mind doing it for the mean time.

Is it possible to drop out of the Phd program with a masters? I think that would look better to ADCOMs. I know at some econ Phd programs you can drop out with a masters after 2 yrs. I don't know how it works for the sciences though. At least you could make it seem like an SMP type of situation and you would have completed a degree (rather than dropped out).

 

[ben34]

Is it possible to drop out of the Phd program with a masters? I think that would look better to ADCOMs. I know at some econ Phd programs you can drop out with a masters after 2 yrs. I don't know how it works for the sciences though. At least you could make it seem like an SMP type of situation and you would have completed a degree (rather than dropped out).

I don't think they offer a masters in biology. People have done it from physics. My boss knows my plan and she said I can take a "leave of absence" or a sabbatical and come back anytime if I want to defend. But I take it schools also wouldn't like to be a "student" at another school.

 

[ben34]

I was informed today by my PI that the institute will give me a master's in biology after 2 years if I am unable to complete my phd by then or I can choose to take a sabbatical and finish it later. Does this change the adcom's perspective on my application as for being enrolled in another program?

 

[Morsetlis]

You should finish your PhD, retake MCAT, and reapply. Don't rely solely on your research experience... many med schools don't care that much about research.

You have excellent scientific EC's with 1.5 years of volunteering and an impressive GPA. With the PhD, only the MCAT should hold you back. Honestly, since California schools have an average of 33 matriculant MCAT, I think you will have much better luck applying out-of-state if you can't bring your MCAT up to that level.

It doesn't make sense that you wouldn't even be granted interviews. Apply more broadly.