reality check

[askksa]

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Hi everyone, this is my first time here and quite an informative site =)

Wonder if someone can help me out here about my concern. This year is my 2nd time applying to medical schools and at this moment, I haven't heard any interview at all. As each day goes by, my self-confidence is getting lower and dimmer...

Is there a hope for acceptance with a third shot? Here is a very unimpressive score:
GPA: 3.0/3.1 (undergrad)
GPA: 3.7 (full time job & 6-8 classes)
MCAT: 30 (v7, p12, b11)

And if someone did get accept after 3 attempts, mind to share your stories? Thanks!

Sincerely,
Askksa

 

[dlc]

Hi palindrome, I mean, askksa 😀 ,
I am a third time applicant and I'll share my story with you. First of all, I just want to say that you have a competitive post-bacc(?) gpa and overall competitive MCAT score. I know many will think that the 7 is the problem but I have talked with some schools (one top ten comes to mind) who say that when the science scores are so great they pretty much ignore an "average" verbal score. Have you taken the MCAT more than once? Were you planning on taking it again?
As for me, I took the MCAT three times (I don't know what I was thinking the first two times). My scores went from 23T, to 25R, to 34S I graduated from University of Miami in 1999 and my first two applications were consecutive with the first two MCAT scores. Then I took a year off to work on stuff and retake the MCAT and now this is my third application. With my first and second applications, I only had one interview each time. This year, I have had nine interview invites and three acceptances. Sooo...a third application does not hurt. I'm not sure what to make of the 3.0 gpa (not very competitive) but I would think that the 3.7 gpa (what exactly is this from?) would compensate, especially if it is from science courses. Anyone else have advice about this? Hope I at least helped a bit! :wink:
dlc

 

[vyc]

askksa, what schools are you applying to?

•••quote:•••Originally posted by askksa:
•Hi everyone, this is my first time here and quite an informative site =)

Wonder if someone can help me out here about my concern. This year is my 2nd time applying to medical schools and at this moment, I haven't heard any interview at all. As each day goes by, my self-confidence is getting lower and dimmer...

Is there a hope for acceptance with a third shot? Here is a very unimpressive score:
GPA: 3.0/3.1 (undergrad)
GPA: 3.7 (full time job & 6-8 classes)
MCAT: 30 (v7, p12, b11)

And if someone did get accept after 3 attempts, mind to share your stories? Thanks!

Sincerely,
Askksa•••••

 

[askksa]

Hi to dlc and vyc,

Thanks for both your prompt response and especially for you, dlc, thanks for sharing with me your successful experience. I will keep my head up and go from here. 😛

I have been taking science classes from Harvard University Summer and Extension school. It's has been quite a fun and inspiring learning journey. (I highly recommend to anyone who is thinking to learn various science classes. They have great professors; they are there to teach and inspire you. The class size is relative very small, too.) However, theses past six classes (with two more currently) cannot really help to raise my horrible undergrad science GPA. Therefore, I honestly doubt how much help this will be by continuous taking class at night when I apply again next year. And I also took mcat twice, however besides my verbal score, a honest interpretation of my situation rooted from my unsuccessful undergrad experience. Any suggestion? 😕

As for the schools that I applied, I pretty much applied across the States, 35 schools. (talk about that significant lost from my precious s/c&#8230😉 I applied to all my state schools, most private ones and just a few top med schools.

askksa (dlc, you sure catch me here) :wink:

 

[vyc]

do you have significant life experiences?
research, volunteer work, travel, etc.?

 

[askksa]

I honestly do have lots of interesting and enriched volunteer experience, mostly local medically related activities. (although not peace corp..etc). Research and traveling activities may not be considered competitive, can that be a drawback?

askksa

 

[marleybfour]

Askksa,
Have you considered a DO program? They tend to have a slightly lower acceptance average for GPA and MCAT's then the allopathic program. They also like the person with some life and medical experience. Does that fit you?

 

[PMPMD]

I admire your dedication. I know many people would get discouraged after one round of applications. I think the main thing admissions committees look at with reapplicants is what that person has done to improve themselves since their last time applying. It seems like you definitely have done that, so I think you should be fine. If you're worried about it, apply to a wide range of schools. Your stats with your good ECs would definitely get you in somewhere.

 

[Medic171]

contact the schools and ask them how you can be more competitive next year.

 

[otter]

Hi askksa - Is your 3.0/3.1 gpa including the postbac work? If not, then what is your total undergrad GPA including the postbac grades?

You are doing the right thing by taking courses on postbac basis. I know that markedly raising your undergrad GPA is a slow process. But I don't see why you can't raise it by .15-.2 with about ten class grades of A- or better. If you could get your undergrad science GPA to about 3.2-3.3, then your window of opportunities will widen a lot. Your MCAT scores are very competitive. There're some schools that take the verbal score very seriously (some regard it as the most important), but there're others like NYU that seem to care mainly about the science scores only. Your science scores are excellent. If you don't get in this year, wait till you can get your science GPA to about 3.3 and have more clinical/research EC's under your belt, then reapply. I've no doubt that you'll fare much better then.

 

[askksa]

Thanks for all your helpful advice. Best to all of your applying and future medical journey!!