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Fellow Members, after receiving my MCAT score for the latest retake, I am in need for some honest advice. I will try to make this short as possible.
Biochemistry Major with Honors
Race: Indian; Lived here for 11 years. Currently 21 y/o.
Missouri Resident for 11 years
GPA has very strong upward trend with first two semesters 3.1 and the remaining 3.8-3.9. Received A's in all the higher level biochemistry courses.
Previous cycle: 27S MCAT; VERY LATE applied 18 schools, received 15 secondaries, completed 4 and received 1 interview from my University's medical school (University of Missouri - Columbia). Did not get accepted.
AACOMAS:
Non-Science: 3.84
Science: 3.58
Cumulative 3.76
AMCAS:
Cumulative: 3.63
Science: 3.54
MCAT:
July 2011
1st Try: 10 PS 8 VR 9 BS S Writing
August 2012
2nd Try: 11 PS 6 VR 8 BS Q Writing
I was never good with quickly reading humanities and non-science material. My ACT suffered the same problems with reading score dragging down my composite score. I manage fine with PS passage reading and somewhat with BS passages. MCAT retake in August, I just focused on Physical Sciences and neglected VR and BS - mistake. I was heavily involved with research at the same time so I paid the price. I am aware this is a major red flag for admissions committee since I should be able to comprehend large quantities of dense material while in medical school and after.
Extracurriculars:
Volunteer Patient Ambassador: 3 years and going; average of 4-5hrs/week.
Research: 2 years and going; couple presentations and my University's medical school and hit a huge roadblock because my experiments disproved all the preliminary data that students before me had gathered - the data I had built my work upon. Accepting failure, I am working my way towards salvaging the project and aiming towawrds publication again. Also completed an honors thesis on my research.
Shadowing: 40 Hours with a Memory Disorder Specialist since that is what my research focuses on. (Was lacking previous application cycle)
Hospice Volunteer: Currently 4 hours per week with regular patients and emergency visits for patients in their last few hours of their lives. (Was lacking previous application cycle)
Peer Learning Assistant: 3rd time working as a mentor/tutor/adviser for incoming freshmen in Biochemistry enrolled in an introductory Biochemistry Course.
Emergency Room Volunteer: 1 summer; average of 3-4hrs/week.
Fully licensed EMT-B in my state of Missouri.
Currently doing Post-Bac courses in neuroscience to get a graduate certificate (baby masters). Again this is related to my research in neuroscience so I figured it would be best to build a focused application around my interests in neuroscience rather than being all over the place.
Additional information: I know most of you will recommend a retake but I feel that I have reached my ceiling at 27 or probably 29-30 at best. My chances are MD are almost non existent but what about DO? I have made some phone calls to DO physicians since many DO schools require or strongly recommend a LoR from a DO.
Please let me know if you need any other information to provide some advice. Thank you very much guys. I know lots of you guys are actively going through some of this or have been through it before so this is probably the best place to get advice.
Thank you very very much for taking the time to read my thread and posting some advice.
Biochemistry Major with Honors
Race: Indian; Lived here for 11 years. Currently 21 y/o.
Missouri Resident for 11 years
GPA has very strong upward trend with first two semesters 3.1 and the remaining 3.8-3.9. Received A's in all the higher level biochemistry courses.
Previous cycle: 27S MCAT; VERY LATE applied 18 schools, received 15 secondaries, completed 4 and received 1 interview from my University's medical school (University of Missouri - Columbia). Did not get accepted.
AACOMAS:
Non-Science: 3.84
Science: 3.58
Cumulative 3.76
AMCAS:
Cumulative: 3.63
Science: 3.54
MCAT:
July 2011
1st Try: 10 PS 8 VR 9 BS S Writing
August 2012
2nd Try: 11 PS 6 VR 8 BS Q Writing
I was never good with quickly reading humanities and non-science material. My ACT suffered the same problems with reading score dragging down my composite score. I manage fine with PS passage reading and somewhat with BS passages. MCAT retake in August, I just focused on Physical Sciences and neglected VR and BS - mistake. I was heavily involved with research at the same time so I paid the price. I am aware this is a major red flag for admissions committee since I should be able to comprehend large quantities of dense material while in medical school and after.
Extracurriculars:
Volunteer Patient Ambassador: 3 years and going; average of 4-5hrs/week.
Research: 2 years and going; couple presentations and my University's medical school and hit a huge roadblock because my experiments disproved all the preliminary data that students before me had gathered - the data I had built my work upon. Accepting failure, I am working my way towards salvaging the project and aiming towawrds publication again. Also completed an honors thesis on my research.
Shadowing: 40 Hours with a Memory Disorder Specialist since that is what my research focuses on. (Was lacking previous application cycle)
Hospice Volunteer: Currently 4 hours per week with regular patients and emergency visits for patients in their last few hours of their lives. (Was lacking previous application cycle)
Peer Learning Assistant: 3rd time working as a mentor/tutor/adviser for incoming freshmen in Biochemistry enrolled in an introductory Biochemistry Course.
Emergency Room Volunteer: 1 summer; average of 3-4hrs/week.
Fully licensed EMT-B in my state of Missouri.
Currently doing Post-Bac courses in neuroscience to get a graduate certificate (baby masters). Again this is related to my research in neuroscience so I figured it would be best to build a focused application around my interests in neuroscience rather than being all over the place.
Additional information: I know most of you will recommend a retake but I feel that I have reached my ceiling at 27 or probably 29-30 at best. My chances are MD are almost non existent but what about DO? I have made some phone calls to DO physicians since many DO schools require or strongly recommend a LoR from a DO.
Please let me know if you need any other information to provide some advice. Thank you very much guys. I know lots of you guys are actively going through some of this or have been through it before so this is probably the best place to get advice.
Thank you very very much for taking the time to read my thread and posting some advice.
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