Sub-3.0 BCPM GPA & Accepted to top 25!

Please don't take this the wrong way. But are you caucasian?

 

read more carefully..lol... the three letters are burried deep in the list of Pros.

 

Congrats on your acceptance and welcome to SDN~!

 

You know the answer already...

 

I was going to say the same thing. Sucks being an underprivilaged caucasian these days... we get the short end of both sticks. I honestly don't know how I feel about the URM thing, on the one hand I think it's great our country does stuff like this, on the other I think its unfortunate for URM's who always have to hear crap like this, and I think it lets us neglect the real problem: our nation's crappy public education system before college. In my experience, there is absolutely no correlation between privilage and being a URM by the time you are a pre-med in college. I guess I've just seen too many slacker URM sorority girls with louis vuittan purses getting in to top-notch med schools to think the system really works. Sorry for the tangent.

All jealousy aside, congrats!

 

Partially agreeing with letmeinplease!! I applaud you for your achievement. I think that people often forget what a crapshoot this whole process really is. And no matter what anyone says or does, you will be a doctor and be trained by the best. This process has the capacity to make people both bitter and jealous. Like everyone else in this process you took your mcats, took science courses, and finished your secondaries while obviously performing well in your interviews. And as our President proves, you can get many second chances in this country. That's what it's all about. Make the most of it. Kudos! May the force be with you young jedi as you begin your training as an apprentice in medicine!

 

Eh, I think our president proves that second chances aren't always a good idea...

I do feel that in order for underdogs to really take heart, they need a success story that mirrors their background...and being a URM makes the process a little different, that's the whole point of creating the label--so that medical schools know who you are and treat you accordingly.

I was at one of those canned "pre-med success" conferences where the purpose was really for the company to sell its services. As an example, they talked about a guy who they helped get into medical school with an MCAT in the low 20's and a GPA around 3.0...I was impressed until they added that he was a hispanic Jew and therefore sought after for his "diverse background." Good for him, but how does that help the majority of the people who seek their help?

Anyways, congrats hope211...doesn't it feel like finishing a race and coming in first?

 

Agreed. There are more qualified applicants than available spots, that's for sure. Despite my URM "tantrum", I am truly happy for anyone who makes it through this thing. Just finishing the application process is a success of its own (prereq's, MCAT, yada yada) - I havn't even applied yet, so you could say im pre-emptively bitter, haha. Hope211, I just want to restate my sincerest congrats, please do not interpret my above post as a discount of your success if thats how is sounded.

 

MCAT around 30? What do you mean around 30? To my knowledge, we all get MCAT scores with a definite number. Would you mind posting your definite MCAT score?

 

Thanks hope

that was a lovely post, I definitely needed to hear that from someone.

never mind all the haters

 

I am in no way hating on anyone. But I worked my arse off in college...(except for freshmen year but I was working my arse off in other places) and yet I get the short end of the stick now.

Don't get me wrong, I am happy with the schools I have been accepted to but I would like AT LEAST an interview at a top choice school.

Congrats though...

 

I kinda feel the same way. Congrats! (of course) but I got all excited looking at the thread title, and then when I read a little further got all down in the dumps again. My GPA is pretty awful (around 3.2 cum) but my MCATs were good (37) and yet I have 7 rejections, one interview at a state school, and that's it (after applying to 23). And I'm in the same situation as benfolds.... had a ****ty first year in college because of personal problems, then WAAAAY brought my GPA up, but I still get no love. Sigh. I just wish there were some success stories out there that are like my stats... all of them seem to be high GPA/low MCAT instead of the opposite.

Good luck to everyone! (and let me know if you have any real hope to give me )

 

I think it's important to realize that some people have gotten the short end of the stick their whole friggin' lives. We all get shafted in one way of the other, some worse than others. There's no point in dwelling on it, right?

 

just wanted to point out that caucasians are not the only overrepresented group in medicine, you can definitely lump asians and indians in there. now quitcher bitchin!

 

Indians are Asians too

 

I'm beginning to think the original post was a big joke. It has to be.

 

hehe, depends on who you ask, i guess

 

I love it how whenever a URM gets accepted, people automatically assume it's because he/she is a URM. Forget the great leadership positions that person held, or the substantial research and clinical background, trip to South America, and obvious high interviewing ability. Nooo...there's no way a caucasian with those same experiences would have been given a chance. Damn affirmative action! There are schools who are number whores and then there are schools that will look at the strength of the whole application and not worry so much about pure numbers. An example I can give is Pittsburgh...I've noticed tons of people this year with decent scores (3.4-3.5 and a 32/33) get accepted while those with MCAT scores of 37+ get waitlisted. And that decision has nothing to do with the applicants' ethnicities as many of those accepted are caucasian.

Yes, URMs may be looked at more closely by an adcom, but they're not going to be accepted simply because of their race. And honestly, I'm not trying to be mean or call anybody out (really), but a post essentially saying "If you were white you wouldn't have gotten in...but congrats! I'm really happy for you!" isn't the most sincere thing in the world.

P.S. I am of the belief that affirmative action should be based on socioeconomic status as opposed to race, but that's for another thread

 

why can't you tell us what med. schools you got into...

 

Indians are South Asians.

 

uhhh which is a subset of Asia

 

I apologize. I just thought since it was your 1st post and you hadn't responded since that you might've been a hit-n-run poster wanting to stir up another URM debate. Congrats again on the acceptance and good luck.

 

Very well said.
CONGRATS to the OP.

Fellows don't forget that once accepted to med school, URM still have to pass the damn boards with everyone. I don't think Affirmative action works on the ***king USMLE.

Once again CONGRATS to the OP.

 

This will probably be my last post because I will probably get hated on by peopled. But I am HIGHLY involved...I started TWO thriving organizations on my campus and have held over 5 leadership positions. I am an actor who has acted in a play or film every semester while get 4.0's. I have excellent LOR's and have performed research industrially and academically with very novel approaches to medicine. My volunteer experience goes from health support groups to hospitals to refugee camps in Kenya. I studied abroad. I am also a Bioengineering....

I could ramble on and on and on. That is why I am saying dont throw the "whole application" thing in my face when I can easily support the counter-argument.

Again, SDN is all in fun...and it is just a way to throw ideas back and forth and that is why I am playing devil's advocate. Not to offend anyone but rather learn from all of this...

 

It is important to acknowlede that URM's are treated differently in the admissions process. It's misleading for the OP to claim that his/her sub-3.0 BCPM and 29 MCAT offers hope for others who don't have URM-status. Most applicants with these stats and activities would not have a chance at a "Top 25 school." But, getting in to a Top 25 for anyone is an achievement. Congrats.

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2005/mcatgparaceeth.htm

Matriculants 2005
Hispanic 9.2V/9.4P/10.0B 3.39 BCPM 3.62 AO
Black 8.2V/8.2P/8.8B 3.23 BCPM 3.53 AO
Asian 9.7V/10.8P/10.8B 3.58 BCPM 3.71 AO
N Am 8.5V/8.4P/9.1B 3.33 BCPM 3.64 AO
White 10.1V/10.2P/10.6B 3.61 BCPM 3.72 AO
Other 10.7V/11.2P/10.9B 3.47 BCPM 3.70 AO
Foreign 9.3V/10.4P/10.8B 3.68 BCPM 3.76 AO

 

Thank you Angus

 

I think we have to keep in mind, and the OP has to accept, that the URM status did play a role in his admission. However, it is one of many factors that played such a role. A sub 3.0 Science GPA is pretty low for any applicant, URM or not, and therefore there must have been other factors that pulled in the applicants favor, whether it be EC, perhaps LOR, or even the essay.

 

Well first of all, this process is a total crapshoot; I've gotten into places I consider more my reaches and haven't even gotten an interview at my state school. Applying to med school is a very odd process. Second, I don't really know what you're complaining about...you have three acceptances already and you didn't even apply to any top 25 schools. Who's to say you wouldn't have gotten interviewed and accepted if you had? Without knowing that, it's not really fair for you to get so angry for me bringing up the "whole application" thing.

And yes, MightyAngus, URMs can usually get away with having somewhat lower numbers. But that doesnt mean that a school will accept someone they don't see doing well (failing step 1 and failing out of med school does not look good for the school, regardless of the student's race) and that also doesn't mean a URM was accepted BECAUSE they're a URM. It's simply one facet of their application.

 

By total MCAT in sequential order


Black 25.2
N Am 26
Hispanic 28.6
Foreign 30.5
White 30.9
Asian 31.3
Other 32.8

I wonder who the "others" are. non URM's that dont state an ethnicity thinking it will help them?

 

Someone goes to the trouble of celebrating the fact that they got in to med school despite lacking stellar stats, hoping that this will inspire others who are worried about their chances (we nail-biters know who we are).

Half the reaction is supportive and wishes congratulations. The other half complain about how the person only got in via their URM status (spec-u-la-tion).

I've yet to hear a person of color on this board make an unsolicited post of "I've had such a hard live because of the color of my skin", but boy there's lots of white folks whining about how they get the short end of the stick being born into white suburbia.

Not interested in debating about Affirmative Action. Don't care what side you're on. But ask yourself this (rhetorically please): if this same person made the same post, but substituted "all-american wide receiver" for "URM", would you still begrudge them their med school acceptance, or give one of those sad "yeah, congratulations, BUT..." tirades?

Gotta love SDN, boy...

 

TO better understand this thread, someone please tell me what URM is

 

URM = Under Represented Minority

 

Other probably stands for Canadians

But seriously, it probably stands for overrepresented minorities such as Indians, Pakistanis, Persians etc.

 

I believe Hawaiians check "other" on some forms that do not specifically have an option for Pacific Islanders.

 

regardless, congrats.

 

I wish I wasn't white.

 

Go cry. Being a minority comes with a host of other problems.

 

My big problem with URM is this:

Why does a Hispanic applicant who grew up in affluence, went to a top 20 undergrad school, best private schools in high school etc. get preference over a white applicant who grew up in extreme poverty, worked two jobs to pay for his state college eductation but has the same scores as the other applicant?

 

Easy there killer.

Umm, all I am saying is that I understand the whole A.A. concept for high school to college. Although I do not respect all the choices made by my undergrad. institution (like flying URM minorities out here, housing, feeding, buying things, giving free football tickets, five star meals, etc etc when they are only applicants and most of them are unqualified to attend my school (I saw there applications))

With that said, I don't really get the concept of such EXTREME differences for URMs as opposed to foreigners? They got all the perks going into college...what is wrong at that point?

Please someone tell me...just so I know (this is not sarcastic at all...I am really trying to understand WHY they do this)

 

I'm going to go ahead and answer this anyway: No, because you aren't born a wide-receiver. It shows dedication, hard work, and a level of physical coordination and competence, even if it does help being 6'5" Any all-american athlete also has to put substantial time into their sport, it is like a full-time job. As a result, I think it is a fair compensation for a low GPA if the other stats are there. The URM thing is an entirely different story. Im not saying URM's don't deserve any compensation, but certainly not all of them do.

This is a logical fallacy...the fact that minorities don't go around complaining about "the color of their skin" does not negate the complaints of others, even if we are whiney-bitches. There are a lot of URMs at my school who were born into more of a "white suburbia" than I was. All I'm saying is, as a white-boy who works 40 hours a week to support myself fully, and can't take time off to do significant research or volunteering, it sure could help to get some sort of compensation, especially if others get compensation just for the color of their skin. Now, maybe they will cut me some slack because I've worked full-time through college, but could I get in to a top-25 with a sub 3.0 and sub-30 MCAT? hell no!

Anyway, I just think it's weird to base admissions decisions on racial factors. And it's not that big of a deal, it is not like URM's are "taking away" spots from a significant number of significantly-better qualified applicants. So please don't interpret my posts as a "If you were white you wouldn't have gotten in...but congrats! I'm really happy for you!"...its more like, "I'm happy for you, but what about me!?"

 

I found this online by googling "white skin privilege." If you are not familiar with the concept this should help:

"Why do most white people not see themselves as having a race?" he asks. "In part, race obliviousness is the natural consequence of being in the driver's seat. . . . The most troublesome consequence of race obliviousness is the failure of many to recognize the privilege our society confers on them because they have white skin. White skin privilege is a birthright, a set of advantages one receives simply by being born with features that society values especially highly."

We are white and only because we are white, we enjoy privilege in our society that non-whites do not. The affirmative action process is an attempt to equalize the playing field for whites and non-whites.

I think it is great that medical schools are looking to recruit URM members. They face more challenges daily probably than we do in a week. So next time you hear about an URM getting an acceptance, you should be very happy for them with no matter how your MCAT/GPA scores compare to theirs.

 

This process, applying to medical school, is not rational. Now, I'm not saying that it is irrational, merely that if you try to make sense of it, you are bound to not understand. It doesn't matter how well qualified you are, or how much of a personality you have, it all depends on who reviews your application and what their preference is. It is the RIGHT of the committee to pick and choose as they please. Remember, everyone, no matter how well qualified, is expected to complete the same anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and clinical pharmacology, just to name a few courses, that everyone in a particular class completes in the first two years. If you are not lucky enough to get an interview or an acceptance, too bad. That's just how life is. This person, who posted is providing a service by informing others. This person is not required to do any of this, or to reveal what school. Frankly, I don't give a hoot! It is a nice achievement to get into medical school no matter who you are. Most of you reveal your age when doing this. Wow, I wonder if we will ever evolve beyond human nature?

 

Sorry, just found it amusing...

 

Funny....but true.

I still want someone to explain to me the pain and torture that they go through in undergraduate while I am paying for my entire undergrad. education and trying to find loose ends meet...

 

You've just described me, although I'm not considered a URM for med school (although I did not get in to undergrad or med school with "lower" scores). And I agree with you completely...as I said in a previous post, I really believe affirmative action should be based on socioeconomic status rather than race; in doing so you're going to still help minorities more (since in this country, unfortunately a far greater percentage of those in poverty are minorities), and you take into consideration being disadvantaged no matter your race.

That having been said, I reiterate that being a minority is never going to be the sole reason an applicant gets into medical school; it may grant them a closer look because diversity IS important no matter how much you and others on this board don't want it to be (and diversity comes in much greater forms than just race...it could be as a non-trad, a diverse set of travel experiences, really unique EC, etc.), but it's NOT going to get them into a med school whose adcom doesn't foresee them being successful. No med school wants a student to fail the boards or one to fail out, considering scores and success is what a school brags about the most.

By the way, URMs compose such a small percentage of most med schools that this really should not be a topic of the utmost concern.

 

I think he was referring to your misuse of the word "their"

 

Our society has been screwing over URMs for hundreds of years; enslaved them and forced them to live in abject poverty for generations. Even today racial disparities are a huge problem, just look at new orleans and the racial divide there. the poor african americans lived in the low lying areas and then couldn't escape and were forced into the superdome. thousands of them died because they didn't have the resources that the whites in new orleans had to leave.

Maybe some URMs have taken advantage of the system, but good for them! Whites established the system and are running the system for the most part, so most privilege is still going to them.

As another poster pointed out URM are still UNDERREPRESENTED. If they are 10% of a class that is considered progress.

 

No joke. I'm not a URM (I'm Indian and dark and I look like a terrorist) and I get followed around in department stores and treated like a criminal in a lot of places. At one Macy's I even had a woman come out into the parking lot after I tried on a shirt to ask me where I left the shirt (it was in the dressing room). I always just seem to get pulled aside in airport screens, have to take off my belt, my socks, extra layers and essentially get felt up by some really heinous looking women, and get my luggage rifled through at just about every airport. (Ok, I know know that showing up unkempt and keeping my piercings in is the right way to do things because a real terrorist makes sure he is really clean for his 72 virgins, go figure....) I know my black and hispanic friends (I grew up in NM, we've got plenty of hispanics. Or as we like to call them: MFs. Mexican Friends, that's right.) have it even worse.
I'm not bitching about this, I deal with it. Despite all this, I'm still an over-represented minority. It's the best of all worlds. Am I upset that I'm not getting into med school? Of course, but I've got to get over that and see what I'm doing wrong rather than grasp blindly at external causes.
It should be said that fewer URMs are college educated, they have a higher infant mortality rate, a lower life-expectancy, they have more out-of-wedlock children, perform worse on the SATs, they earn less, and they are just plain not doing well. Why shouldn't we as a nation do something to address this?