I can't believe I will have to do this all over again
Well, don't give up now. I did it 4 times and I'm finally in. If this is what you really want, you shouldn't give up hope. Everyone is different. You have done a lot to improve. Sometimes, it is just not our time yet (IMO). Keep applying. I did a Master's too but in Biology so I could get all the science classes to make up my Science GPA.I worked in both a clinical lab and basic science lab. I don't know if the MPH courses actually factor into your science GPA.
My advice to everyone here is to contact the individual schools and ask them to review your file. TCOM and UTMB are very good with this. I know I followed TCOM's recommendations to the teeth and I got accepted (although I am not going there
I really loved that school).
-If you live close to one of the med schools, I'll advise you to make an appt with the Dean of admissions and go there personally to get acquainted.
-E-mail the dean all the time just to say hi (always reintroduce yourself). I know, I hated to do that but I kept at it. When you submit your app, e-mail or call the dean again to let them know how much you are interested in their school.
- If you get an interview, don't forget to write a thank you note not only to your interviewers but also to the Dean. I can not stress this point well enough. I know this is what made the difference this year. Last year when I didn't get into one of the schools I interviewed at, I actually drove to the school that same day the match results came out. I was told the dean wouldn't see me but I waited and waited and waited until she could not ignore me any longer. Then she said something like "I wish you had shown this much persistence before the match." Although I am not going to that school this year, I know that persistence showed everywhere I interviewed. Show some perseverance and persistence.They will tell you like it is. Each school is different.
Granted, there's not enough time to make any changes on your apps but you there are other things you can do.
1. rewrite your PS (not completely but make some changes here and there)
2. Ask for LORs from other people if you are not confident in those who wrote the previous LORs or even your HPAC. (I only used my HPAC the first and second times and that was it. I had no hope in them. I started getting interviews when I asked other people to write mine).
Remember, it is
not the quantity of letters but the
quality. (I submitted 3 letters this year one from my employer, one from my mentor/boss, and one from one of my profs.
I got interviews and was even accepted to my top choice school with only two of the letters in.
To be continued.....Until next time, KEEP HOPE ALIVE!!!!
