I was just wondering in general schools that take a more holistic process when reviewing applications. Most of the previous threads I found were old or specified to one person's situation. I have heard that some schools really care about MCAT (Hofstra, EVMS, etc), but don't really know too much about ones that advertise holistic review. For those of you that have gone through the process and interviewed/accepted at those schools, I'd love to hear about your experience.
Schools that review holistically?
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Every school cares about MCAT & GPA. Some more than others, but none care so little that a low number in those two categories will be offset with their "holistic" review of your files.
All school's advertise "holistic admissions", but with the number of applicants applying and the limited number of seats, MCAT & GPA are becoming pre-reqs (unless you have some insane story/experience), which THEN they'll begin their holistic review of your application...
All school's advertise "holistic admissions", but with the number of applicants applying and the limited number of seats, MCAT & GPA are becoming pre-reqs (unless you have some insane story/experience), which THEN they'll begin their holistic review of your application...
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"Holistic review" is a relatively meaningless term designed to get low MCAT or low GPA applicants to apply, in my opinion. Individuals that clearly need improvement in one aspect of their application are told that it doesn't matter because they are strong elsewhere. Well, the reality is, there is a very strong maybe that you could get in, but it's absolutely not worth the money and risk. Take this from someone who applied this year and is now working on gearing up for a reapplication, which I can not safely submit until 2018.
It doesn't matter how "holistic" a review process is, they are still going to accept the better applicant - and there are plenty of better applicants in any given pool, especially if you have a low MCAT. Things like having a great MCAT, extensive leadership, lots of clinical work, military background, D1 athletics, etc. are all going to help you everywhere. "Holistic" schools and "non-holistic" schools don't care; if the applicant is strong, they are strong. No "holistic" process is going to help someone with limited ECs get in because they are "looking at the whole person." I interviewed at a school that highly promotes "holistic" review this cycle, you can PM me if you want more details. My 2 cents: it doesn't mean anything, it's a coined term like what DOs have done with "holistic" care. "Holistic" fads need to die.
It doesn't matter how "holistic" a review process is, they are still going to accept the better applicant - and there are plenty of better applicants in any given pool, especially if you have a low MCAT. Things like having a great MCAT, extensive leadership, lots of clinical work, military background, D1 athletics, etc. are all going to help you everywhere. "Holistic" schools and "non-holistic" schools don't care; if the applicant is strong, they are strong. No "holistic" process is going to help someone with limited ECs get in because they are "looking at the whole person." I interviewed at a school that highly promotes "holistic" review this cycle, you can PM me if you want more details. My 2 cents: it doesn't mean anything, it's a coined term like what DOs have done with "holistic" care. "Holistic" fads need to die.
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Every. Single. School. Reviews. Holistically. Meaning they want your application money and will still reject you for your mcat score. Welcome to medicine!
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Mission-based schools (including most state publics) care more about the mission than the numbers, but they still care about the numbers.
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mission-driven programs are the most likely to overlook low stats. What state are you from? For most people their best chance is with a heavily instate-favoring public option
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Many med schools have a reject re-review in order to mine some diamonds in the rough. But SDNers are still advised to remember that it's a seller's market, and with so many qualified applicants, schools can certainly afford to turn away low stat people, and even high stats people.
It seems like a lot of people seize upon the term "holistic review" as some magic that their low quality app will be seriously reviewed.
Human eyeballs will definitely look at apps. The wise @gyngyn, who is at a school in the stratosphere, has mentioned that he had to read an app from an applicant with a single digit MCAT score. No, not a single digit in one subsection....for the entire exam!
It seems like a lot of people seize upon the term "holistic review" as some magic that their low quality app will be seriously reviewed.
Human eyeballs will definitely look at apps. The wise @gyngyn, who is at a school in the stratosphere, has mentioned that he had to read an app from an applicant with a single digit MCAT score. No, not a single digit in one subsection....for the entire exam!
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A lot of saltiness on here. Every school reviews holistically, just apply to schools which have GPA / MCAT range within yours. Good luck.
