Re-applying for Matriculation Fall 2015...applied once 3 years ago

[dedicated1989]

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I first applied to medical school starting the summer of 2010. I went through the application process and spent a lot of time and money with no luck of even an interview. Given my poor MCAT score this wasn't too much of a surprise. The first time I took it I did not take it seriously (biggest mistake of my life) and that was, surely enough, reflected in my sore (19M). After getting slapped in the face by that score I spent the next 3 months really buckling down and studying hard. I ended up getting a 26N (PS:11 VR: 8 BS: 7) even though I consistently scored above 30's on my practice tests. Alongside, I also applied to masters programs (not SMP just regular MSBS programs). I got into a school that is very well known for their medical school (Mount sinai). I started the program in Fall 2011 and just finished this May. During my masters program I decided to retake the MCATs hoping that I would do better and be able to apply for the upcoming cycle. Unfortunately I did not do well again scoring a 22M (PS:7 VR:7 BS:8). After that I pretty much convinced myself that this was not what I wanted to put myself through and kind of let the whole medical school thing go. Welp, that lasted for a couple months. I am happy to see that the writing section has been abandoned, I feel like it always set me off my groove but then again that may just be an excuse Im making.

Apart from my MCAT score I think I have a pretty competitive application.
Undergraduate GPA: 3.58
Graduate GPA: 3.56 (while also successfully passing medical school microbiology)

From my masters thesis I obtained a first author publication (which is currently in manuscript prep) and presented at the Orthopedic Research Society conference in January. I also have another publication in the works that will be hopefully published by the time I apply. My experience is very lab research heavy and ideally I want to apply to MD/PhD programs. I am not naive to the fact that I have to increase my MCAT score (by a lot) and have been working towards that. I was planning to take the test this September but since I'm only applying next cycle I decided to not rush and push it back until late January next year. I was finding it difficult to re-learn physics and gen chem (its been 3-5 years since I've taken these courses) but I have found some great resources such as *********** (lessons taught by Chad) and WikiPreMed. For those who have been in a similar situation to me - are there any methods you believe to have worked for you? I would say I am a visual and auditory learner so just reading text is not really working for me. I do have examkrakers and kaplan books that I have been using as well.

Given that I have taken the MCAT 3 times (going on 4th) I am a little worried about how that will be perceived when applying. I wanted to know if there is someone that has been on a medical school admissions committee that could shed some light on my specific situation.

Other than all the academic criteria I definitely need to get a more regular shadowing experience. I shadowed a pediatrician for about a week last year and I also was able to scrub into some pretty cool surgeries but I do not have any doctor that can write me a letter. Ive had some trouble finding a doctor that will allow me to shadow them for an extended amount of time. How long do you think is an appropriate time to shadow someone before asking for an LOR (given that the interaction is pretty personal and productive). I applied for a scribe position hoping that would give me the opportunity to be with the same physicians on a regular basis but given that I am studying for my MCAT test of Jan and have a fulltime job I don't see that happening until after January.

My LORs right now consist of my masters thesis advisor and my current Boss who I have interned for since 2008 (basic science research). Besides a physician, are there any other interactions that would be beneficial to have as a LOR? I want to stray away from my undegraduate professors since it has been so long and I did not have any strong interaction with graduate school professors. I have tons of great relationships with people outside of the medical and science field but I feel that it will neither help nor harm my application.

Thanks a lot for reading my entire post, i know its long! I appreciate all the advice that I can get and thank you in advance!

 

[gyngyn]

Generally speaking, MD PhD programs are more competitive than regular MD. Right now you have a very weak application for even regular MD programs.

I would not recommend an MCAT re-take until your practice results are well above your target score.

I think you have a shot at DO but I am not an expert in that process. Good luck

 

[SN12357]

I know someone who got into MD/PhD after taking their MCAT 4 times, but their initial scores were 29/30s and their final score was 35+. Also, their area of research was unusual and distinctive.

You are in no way competitive for MD/PhD right now, and I doubt you can make yourself so because your repeated difficulties with the MCAT indicate that even getting above a 30 may not be possible.

 

[Buzz Me]

Honestly? You're going to have a difficult uphill climb.

Your GPA is decent, around the mean for matriculants. However, adcoms expect your grad school GPA to be stellar since the coursework is easier - your GPA actually went down compared to your undergrad GPA?! Additionally, even if you had done well it might not have counted for much since it wasn't an SMP.

Your third MCAT score really hurt you. It shows that the second score might have been a fluke, and that you're actually more in the 19-22 range. Also know that the latter practice tests are always going to be scored easier than the real thing - that's how companies show "progress." I wouldn't expect to score in the 30s if you're barely getting 30-33 in the practice tests.

In an older post you said that you applied to 10 programs and were shooting for NYU or Mt. Sinai. Please, please, PLEASE apply more widely and to a greater range of programs. Apply to DO programs. Do all this next year after you've completely changed your strategy for MCAT studying and killed it the next time 'round. Beef up your CV.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Goro]

Your situation, is, frankly, dire. Despite performing well in school both UG and grad, you fail to demonstrate that on standardized tests, and especially in the critical Bio subsection. I have collagues who would ask in amazement "didn't this guy/gal learn anything???"

Your MCAT scores have killed your MD chances, especially as a 3x test-taker with an avg of 22.3.

MD/PhD candiates are up in the 90th percentiles for GPA and MCATs, so don't even think about those.

Because we are addicted to standardized exams in medical school, you'd simply get killed. On top of that, how could you reasonably expect to pass Boards?

There are some DO programs that would avg your scores, and and there are some that would take your composite highest scores, so that they'd score you as 11PS/VR8/B7 = 26.

I do not think they'd be doing you a favor by accepting you.

You should seek out your school's learning center and fix the test taking deficits before continuing on this pathway. Also strongly suggest thinking about an alternative career.



Apart from my MCAT score I think I have a pretty competitive application.
Undergraduate GPA: 3.58
Graduate GPA: 3.56 (while also successfully passing medical school microbiology)
Given that I have taken the MCAT 3 times (going on 4th) I am a little worried about how that will be perceived when applying. I wanted to know if there is someone that has been on a medical school admissions committee that could shed some light on my specific situation.