Medical Re-applicant, downward trend concerns

[Catalystik]

Hi,

I applied broadly across MD's and to a couple DO schools after graduating from UC Davis in 2016. I got almost all of my secondaries back but didn't receive a single interview invite. One waitlist interview for what it counts from UCSD. I know this story isn't uncommmon or anything, but I did decide to take a couple years to really make sure I wanted this and was ready to apply with a stronger application.

Now that I've taken a couple gap years to work in a lab and as an ER scribe, I think I'm ready to apply again. I've shadowed some more, learned a lot from working in the ER, and I'm retaking the MCAT. I initially got a 512, have to retake it since 2016 MCAT's expire for 2019-2020 cycle, but am positive I can get within that confidence interval of scores again or higher. I'm going to apply MD and DO broadly this time, and I'm going to rewrite my personal statement to reflect my changed (and hopefully more mature) understanding of the medical field.

However, I do have one thing that has always been on my mind. In sophomore year I got a C+ in my last lower division biology class which completely ruined my initially very good GPA. It did not get much better after that since I lost confidence in my academic ability, and managed mostly B's/B+'s with some A-'s in my upper division sciences from then on. To make things worse I got a C in one of my favorite upper division major classes in senior year. That left me with a 3.52 cGPA, 3.43ish sGPA, and a mediocre DOWNWARD trend from my straight A's in freshman year. I didn't talk about any GPA concerns or problems at all during my first application.

While I understand that many parts of a student's application may be the deciding factor for admissions, I have always wondered if schools looked at this downward trend when I applied in 2016 and immediately decided I wasn't worth the risk. Do I need to address this?

I have talked to an advisor who did not initially think so, but I can't shake the feeling that I stand out like a sore thumb compared to the many people on this page and in medical school who had upward trends in undergraduate college.

Thanks for reading all of this!! I appreciate any advice you might have, I really want to show medical schools I'm ready this time around.

The best way to address a decreasing GPA trend in the sciences would be to take additional coursework in upper-level Bio and ace it to demonstrate that you have the academic chops to succeed in med school.

A discussion of the reasons for mediocre science grades on your application is not going to excuse them. It's better to "show" than to "tell."

 

[Catalystik]

That makes sense, but I am confused what this will mean for my application to medical schools in the upcoming 2019-2020 cycle. Taking additional classes would definitely show more than anything that I can do well, but it is currently March and the new cycle begins in June for applications.
1) Doesn't that mean I do not have time to take additional classes before submitting my applications?

2) Technically I could sign up for Spring quarter of UC Davis or perhaps Sac state but at most I could probably only take a couple classes since it's just one quarter/semester. I'm not sure that would really be enough to demonstrate academic ability since that would only be a couple classes.

1) For MD applications, you would not have time for enough serious postbac work (involving multiple terms) in time to make much difference for the upcoming application season.

2) For AACOMAS DO med schools, you have the opportunity at various set times during the application cycle to update your application transcript online, after new grades come in. As a side comment, DO schools don't discriminate against (more affordable) community college classes as some MD schools do.

If you end up reapplying again due to inadequate GPA repair, or if you decide to forgo applying in the 2019-2020 season, you'd look much better on paper a year from now with a string of recent A grades in upper-level Bio.

 

[Catalystik]

2) For AACOMAS DO med schools, you have the opportunity at various set times during the application cycle to update your application transcript online, after new grades come in.

More information:

Updating Your AACOMAS Application/Academic Update

Updating Your Coursework
After your application is verified, you can make updates to courses you listed as in progress or planned, as well as add courses that are planned for the next term. You cannot update terms that are already verified or add terms from previous years (e.g., you forgot to add a term from 2014). If you are updating coursework as a re-applicant, review Use an Existing AACOMAS Account to Re-apply.

To update your coursework:

1. Ensure your application's status is Verified.
2. Navigate to the Academic History section.
3. Click Transcript Entry.
4. Click Edit under the school you are updating.
5. Click the blue pencil next to the term you are updating (if you need to add a new term, click Add Term).
6. Change the In Progress/Planned box to Completed.
7. Update your courses, credits, and grades.
8. Click Save All.
9. Click Update my application to send the updated information to your programs.

Additional Information
Timeframe for Updating Coursework
Your application must be Verified before you can update your coursework. Updates are available within the following timeframes:

• September 1, 2018 and October 15, 2018
• December 15, 2018 and February 15, 2019
• March 15, 2019 and April 13, 2019

When you submit an update, you must move the entire term from in-progress to complete.

Transcript Requirements
Updated coursework will be verified. Arrange for your updated official transcripts to be sent directly to AACOMAS as soon as they are available.

From: Updating Your AACOMAS Application/Academic Update