The 2011-2012 Underdog Thread

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Salt is good said:
I already applied and I recieved few secondaries too.
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You'll get a lot of secondaries, and a few hundred bucks later...no interviews. School's have a bare minimum, which usually doesn't include MCAT, anyone who meets that get an automatic secondary. Doesn't mean they'll interview you, just that your GPA meets their bare minimum standard.

Once they see your MCAT they'll reject you. 18 is just way too low.
 
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Salt is good said:
3.92,3.90,and 18O anychance ?
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Agreed. Don't ruin your chances at a good school because you don't want to retake the MCAT. Your GPA is high... I think schools will even be like "wtf, clearly he slacked on the MCAT studying and was too lazy to retake it."

Just retake the darn thing.
 
I did not say I don't want to retake my MCAT. I will retake it next May or June because I feel like I'm not ready to take it in Jan. The problem is that English is my 2nd language and It will be really hard for me to boost up my VR and my overall score If I retake this JAN. Thank for your advice guys!
 
Salt is good said:
I did not say I don't want to retake my MCAT. I will retake it next May or June because I feel like I'm not ready to take it in Jan. The problem is that English is my 2nd language and It will be really hard for me to boost up my VR and my overall score If I retake this JAN. Thank for your advice guys!
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So it sounds like you know what to do...retake the MCAT in the Spring once you have ample time to boost your verbal score. Do not even take the testif you are not scoring consistently on practice tests! You have an amazing GPA and if you ace the MCAT you could probably go to your top choice schools...but with your current MCAT, I just do not see it happening. I agree with another poster...seems like you need to at least get a 24 since that is the average.
 
GlimmerGlass said:
So it sounds like you know what to do...retake the MCAT in the Spring once you have ample time to boost your verbal score. Do not even take the testif you are not scoring consistently on practice tests! You have an amazing GPA and if you ace the MCAT you could probably go to your top choice schools...but with your current MCAT, I just do not see it happening. I agree with another poster...seems like you need to at least get a 24 since that is the average.
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👍
 
To all of my fellow underdogs...

3.22 sGPA, 3.38 cGPA, 28 MCAT (7 PS, 10 VR, 11 BS)

+Institutional action

zero medical volunteer work


Never give up hope. Don't let individuals and their opinions on these forums get in the way of your dreams.

Accepted -- PCOM Class of 2016
 
Salt is good said:
I did not say I don't want to retake my MCAT. I will retake it next May or June because I feel like I'm not ready to take it in Jan. The problem is that English is my 2nd language and It will be really hard for me to boost up my VR and my overall score If I retake this JAN. Thank for your advice guys!
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I don't mean to sound harsh, but if you got an 18 then your science skills (in addition to your English skills) are severely lacking. Second language English is not your only problem. No one will interview you with an 18O, even with your bomb-ass GPA. Study hard and do it right next cycle. Get that MCAT up, interview well, and roll around in your acceptance letters next cycle. 👍
 
Salt is good said:
3.92,3.90,and 18O anychance ?
Click to expand...

nochance.

Listen to everyone here. You need to retake. I got a bunch of secondaries too, but that doesn't mean much these days. This is going to be a long, expensive, and sad cycle for you. Hope you're independently wealthy! At this point it's probably wise for you to work on getting your verbal up and mastering the sciences.
 
hello everyone! this is my first post on SDN. I am an MPH student currently in Grenada at St. George's University. I have a seat in the January 2012 MD class here at SGU but I am going to defer to August 2012 to try for DO school. I have a good graduate GPA for MPH but I am definitely an underdog, and I applied to 7 DO schools in the southeast. word of advice, avoid Caribbean schools if possible. they aren't terrible but any US school is better in my opinion. good luck everyone!
 
getoutofgrenada said:
hello everyone! this is my first post on SDN. I am an MPH student currently in Grenada at St. George's University. I have a seat in the January 2012 MD class here at SGU but I am going to defer to August 2012 to try for DO school. I have a good graduate GPA for MPH but I am definitely an underdog, and I applied to 7 DO schools in the southeast. word of advice, avoid Caribbean schools if possible. they aren't terrible but any US school is better in my opinion. good luck everyone!
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Haha I love your username. And thanks for this post; I hope people who are considering Caribbean over DO read it.
 
whoever applied to PCOM, I think I was given the wrong info. I thought they take the best subscores from each attempt, but they take the best composite score. Can anyone confirm this for me?
 
Laiba said:
oh nice from where??
How come i have no interview calls 🙁 🙁 🙁
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PCOM

Just relax and be patient, if I received an interview I'm sure you'll be receiving a call sometime soon!
 
Salt is good said:
I did not say I don't want to retake my MCAT. I will retake it next May or June because I feel like I'm not ready to take it in Jan. The problem is that English is my 2nd language and It will be really hard for me to boost up my VR and my overall score If I retake this JAN. Thank for your advice guys!
Click to expand...

What really helped me raise my score up was using a combination of ALL Examkrackers (especially the 101 verbal passages- i have a brand new extra one - if you're interested PM me) and the PR hyperlearning edition.

If anyone is interested in these PM me and ill give you more details. 🙂
 
Hey helicase - are you IS or OOS? I'm still waiting to hear back from PCOM and I'm OOS. Congrats on your interview!! Knock it out of the park !!
 
GlimmerGlass said:
Hey helicase - are you IS or OOS? I'm still waiting to hear back from PCOM and I'm OOS. Congrats on your interview!! Knock it out of the park !!
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Thank you, I'll do my best!

I'm in state...from PA and go to college in Philadelphia.
 
EvryDayImHustln said:
To all of my fellow underdogs...

3.22 sGPA, 3.38 cGPA, 28 MCAT (7 PS, 10 VR, 11 BS)

+Institutional action

zero medical volunteer work


Never give up hope. Don't let individuals and their opinions on these forums get in the way of your dreams.

Accepted -- PCOM Class of 2016
Click to expand...

This post just made my week....Congrats 🙂
 
I'm a late underdog...

3.25 cGPA/ 3.45 sGPA/ 25Q (B8,P9,V8)

Applied late (submitted primary 9/7) due to getting married and working a lot. Primary just verified and waiting for secondaries. :xf:

What are my chances due to applying so late?? :/
 
Emdee2bee said:
I'm a late underdog...

3.25 cGPA/ 3.45 sGPA/ 25Q (B8,P9,V8)

Applied late (submitted primary 9/7) due to getting married and working a lot. Primary just verified and waiting for secondaries. :xf:

What are my chances due to applying so late?? :/
Click to expand...

Your stats aren't terrible. You probably have a shot if you apply broadly. If not, then getting your application in EARLY next cycle will get you interviews for sure.
 
Emdee2bee said:
I'm a late underdog...

3.25 cGPA/ 3.45 sGPA/ 25Q (B8,P9,V8)

Applied late (submitted primary 9/7) due to getting married and working a lot. Primary just verified and waiting for secondaries. :xf:

What are my chances due to applying so late?? :/
Click to expand...

Very similar GPA and same MCAT as you: I submitted on 8/30 and was released on 10/6, received 9 secondaries so far. You'll be fine! Get started on your secondaries, you'll get a lot of them!
 
I love your screen name, Getoutofgrenada...I should change mine to getoutofdomrep...I am going to medical school in the Dominican Republic and I am desperately trying to get out and go to a DO school. I face many challenges, such as a foreign pre-med (done here in the Dominican Republic) and a low MCAT. I am taking a year off to improve my MCAT, take some classes in the US, volunteer, shadow, and then apply for 2013 admission.

Tell me about your experiences in Grenada, because I was thinking that if I couldn't get into a DO school, I would go to Grenada instead of back to the Dominican Republic. At least from what I know, in Grenada you can do clinical experiences in the US, unlike here in the Dominican Republic, which as we all know is DEATH for residency.
 
Hey guys,
I am kind of worried about my score.
3.5 overall, 3.4 science, 12 BS, 11 PS, 6 VR. Does anyone know if the committee look at overall MCAT or is the 6 going to affect my app?
Thanks.
p.s. I applied late as well. My primary has not even been verified yet.
 
piojita63 said:
I love your screen name, Getoutofgrenada...I should change mine to getoutofdomrep...I am going to medical school in the Dominican Republic and I am desperately trying to get out and go to a DO school. I face many challenges, such as a foreign pre-med (done here in the Dominican Republic) and a low MCAT. I am taking a year off to improve my MCAT, take some classes in the US, volunteer, shadow, and then apply for 2013 admission.

Tell me about your experiences in Grenada, because I was thinking that if I couldn't get into a DO school, I would go to Grenada instead of back to the Dominican Republic. At least from what I know, in Grenada you can do clinical experiences in the US, unlike here in the Dominican Republic, which as we all know is DEATH for residency.
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Hi, I have a bunch of friends who went to SGU in Grenada, did their clinicals in U.S. and got matched to internal medicine residency positions. They loved their experience in SGU.
 
aspiringphys said:
Hey guys,
I am kind of worried about my score.
3.5 overall, 3.4 science, 12 BS, 11 PS, 6 VR. Does anyone know if the committee look at overall MCAT or is the 6 going to affect my app?
Thanks.
p.s. I applied late as well. My primary has not even been verified yet.
Click to expand...

Of course that 6 is going to affect your app, but probably not as much as you think. Some schools may screen you out based on it, but others have mentioned that it's still possible to get in with a 6. Just apply broadly to a lot of schools. Good thing your BS and PS are awesome. GPA is about average, and total score is a 29 which is right around (or slightly above) average so you should be fine. Look up the secondary essay questions for each school you applied to and begin working on them right now so you can submit them asap when you get verified.
 
aspiringphys said:
Hi, I have a bunch of friends who went to SGU in Grenada, did their clinicals in U.S. and got matched to internal medicine residency positions. They loved their experience in SGU.
Click to expand...

Maybe I was a bit harsh. It is definitely a great school and has great ties with the United States. You are assured a rotation spot, mostly in New York and New Jersey. It was actually just posted on the SGU website that the most recently published stats on the USMLE step 1 show a higher first time pass rate than the US average (92% for US and 94% for SGU). That being said it is just not where I would like to be. The country isn't that great in my opinion and it is very expensive to go to school here (~$50,000 USD per year). I did defer to August and if I do not get in to a US DO school I will still attend SGU MD and have almost the same opportunities.
 
Just got my MCAT score: 24O (10 PS, 9 VR, 5 BS...I absolutely bombed the BS )

sGPA: 3.20
cGPA: 3.35
Bio Major with Honors

LOR's: PreMed committee, 2 MD's (shadowing), 1 DO (shadowing), 1 Science, 1 Non-Science, 1 Research Advisor
Work: Pharm. technician, then at a dialysis center, then wireless store associate
Volunteer: EMS (non-EMT), church, school cultural group
Research: cortisol studies for 1.5 years with thesis

Damn how bad am I looking? (App already verified and received secondaries from schools)

Also, how do I update the score in AACOMAS? I released the score through MCAT THX.
 
sovereign said:
Just got my MCAT score: 24O (10 PS, 9 VR, 5 BS...I absolutely bombed the BS )

sGPA: 3.20
cGPA: 3.35
Bio Major with Honors

LOR's: PreMed committee, 2 MD's (shadowing), 1 DO (shadowing), 1 Science, 1 Non-Science, 1 Research Advisor
Work: Pharm. technician, then at a dialysis center, then wireless store associate
Volunteer: EMS (non-EMT), church, school cultural group
Research: cortisol studies for 1.5 years with thesis

Damn how bad am I looking? (App already verified and received secondaries from schools)

Also, how do I update the score in AACOMAS? I released the score through MCAT THX.
Click to expand...

That 5 will be your undoing. You're a bio major and getting a 5 on the BS section will probably be a huge red flag to AdComms. You're going to have to retake the MCAT, either in January or wait til next cycle. If you release the score through MCAT THx then AACOMAS will receive it. I have heard it takes them a while to update your app, but each individual school should receive the updated score almost immediately. You can always call them to check if they receive it.
 
DrWily said:
That 5 will be your undoing. You're a bio major and getting a 5 on the BS section will probably be a huge red flag to AdComms. You're going to have to retake the MCAT, either in January or wait til next cycle. If you release the score through MCAT THx then AACOMAS will receive it. I have heard it takes them a while to update your app, but each individual school should receive the updated score almost immediately. You can always call them to check if they receive it.
Click to expand...

Yeah I figured so. I can't believe I got a 5. It was my strongest section while studying / practice tests. I was averaging 10-11 everytime. 👎
 
DrWily said:
Of course that 6 is going to affect your app, but probably not as much as you think. Some schools may screen you out based on it, but others have mentioned that it's still possible to get in with a 6. Just apply broadly to a lot of schools. Good thing your BS and PS are awesome. GPA is about average, and total score is a 29 which is right around (or slightly above) average so you should be fine. Look up the secondary essay questions for each school you applied to and begin working on them right now so you can submit them asap when you get verified.
Click to expand...

Thanks I will start on the secondary questions. I am hoping I don't have to re-write.
 
aspiringphys said:
Hey guys,
I am kind of worried about my score.
3.5 overall, 3.4 science, 12 BS, 11 PS, 6 VR. Does anyone know if the committee look at overall MCAT or is the 6 going to affect my app?
Thanks.
p.s. I applied late as well. My primary has not even been verified yet.
Click to expand...

My stats are very similar to yours (high sciences, 6 VR, GPA a bit higher) and I just got accepted to LECOM-B. I have two other interviews as well but I applied very early. For me retaking the MCAT wasn't an option (already took it twice) so I just applied early and got pretty lucky. Hopefully it will happen for you but if not, if you apply asap next cycle you should be fine granted you have good ECs and interview well. Good luck!
 
aspiringphys said:
Hey guys,
I am kind of worried about my score.
3.5 overall, 3.4 science, 12 BS, 11 PS, 6 VR. Does anyone know if the committee look at overall MCAT or is the 6 going to affect my app?
Thanks.
p.s. I applied late as well. My primary has not even been verified yet.
Click to expand...

I think you'll be fine. Don't know about all schools by mine looks at the Bio score more than anything else.

I had a lower GPA, but similar MCAT breakdown to you but my VR and PS sections were swapped. (12 Bio, 11 VR, 7 PS). I'm a first year now.

I'll bet you'll be fine.
 
DJack said:
Updated front page.

Also who has two thumbs 👍👍 and got an interview.... This guy!! Interview next Tuesday! (I think I got a time given up by someone else). I'm not gonna give any more specifics cause I don't want to jinx it lol. Wish me luck!
Click to expand...


I just saw where you posted! I think you got my spot! How did you like the school? I really would have liked to go there, but I couldn't justify the time off and the expense. Good luck.👍
 
Hey yall...I got into PCOM!

That was stressful...

Don't give up guys! and don't be stupid like me and assume that just because you got multiple interviews means your going to get in...I got wait-listed at my first two interviews and almost pooped myself.

Long live the underdogs!
 
(coming out of some looooooooooooooong time lurking...)
hi to all fellow underdogs!

sGPA: 3.3
cGPA: 3.5
MCAT: 26 O (10 VR, 8 PS, 8 BS)

i'm also pretty late in the cycle. just got verified last week.
(AND still waiting on one LOR... ugh)
trying to stay sane...breathe....:scared::scared:
 
museic said:
Hey yall...I got into PCOM!

That was stressful...

Don't give up guys! and don't be stupid like me and assume that just because you got multiple interviews means your going to get in...I got wait-listed at my first two interviews and almost pooped myself.

Long live the underdogs!
Click to expand...

Congratulations! That's a great school, you're going to have an awesome time there!


sardines said:
(coming out of some looooooooooooooong time lurking...)
hi to all fellow underdogs!

sGPA: 3.3
cGPA: 3.5
MCAT: 26 O (10 VR, 8 PS, 8 BS)

i'm also pretty late in the cycle. just got verified last week.
(AND still waiting on one LOR... ugh)
trying to stay sane...breathe....:scared::scared:
Click to expand...


Luckily, your cGPA is about average, and your MCAT is well rounded. Apply broadly and I think you'll get a few nibbles.
 
sardines said:
(coming out of some looooooooooooooong time lurking...)
hi to all fellow underdogs!

sGPA: 3.3
cGPA: 3.5
MCAT: 26 O (10 VR, 8 PS, 8 BS)

i'm also pretty late in the cycle. just got verified last week.
(AND still waiting on one LOR... ugh)
trying to stay sane...breathe....:scared::scared:
Click to expand...

Your stats aren't all that bad. I'd say (without looking at your ECs) that the only thing working against you is being late in the cycle. Which schools are you applying to?
 
Sweet, appreciate the encouragement. I was getting discouraged about everything taking so long.
 
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dannydickman said:
Very similar GPA and same MCAT as you: I submitted on 8/30 and was released on 10/6, received 9 secondaries so far. You'll be fine! Get started on your secondaries, you'll get a lot of them!
Click to expand...

Thanks, I really appreciate the encouragement. I was getting real discouraged due to everything being so late and taking so long.

Will schools be doing interviews until school starts next year?
 
Emdee2bee said:
Thanks, I really appreciate the encouragement. I was getting real discouraged due to everything being so late and taking so long.

Will schools be doing interviews until school starts next year?
Click to expand...

Most interview until Mar/April.
 
Fellow Underdogs:

undergrad GPA of 2.92 (I know I know)
Major: Biotechnology and 2 minors in Biochem and Religion

Grad GPA of 3.3 so far, most likely a 3.6 after this semester.
UMDNJ Masters of Biomedical Sciences

MCAT: most recent was 24M 10VR, 7PS, 7BS.

ECs:
7 years of EMT as both Volunteer and Paid.
3 years of work as a PCT in an ER Trauma center.
Honors Frat, student council, awards for leadership, Honors award from ROTC.
Shadowed both MD and DO docs.
Researched at undergrad, current research on antibiotics and will be published.
Tons of letters from current grad professors, undergrad professors, my squad captain, MD and DOs.

Applied to (among others): PCSOM (KYCOM), LECOM, PCOM, UNECOM.

Finished primary app sometime in June. Secondaries were all out by August. All confirmed and awaiting my newest MCAT scores to be updated. I am hoping my ECs will give me some help. Good luck to everyone
 
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Pumped! Got the call from lmu-dcom the other night with an acceptance and I got the letter of acceptance from KCUMB yesterday! Good luck to everyone!! I'm watching this board and have fait in the underdogs!!!
 
So....

B.A. in psychology and B.S. in psychobiology, cgpa 3.32, sgpa 3.14

M.A. in psychology (neuro emphasis) gpa 3.84

MCAT: 7PS 9VR 9BS M

have 8 secondaries out atm and patiently, and very unconfidently, waiting with fingers crossed
 
edited
 
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Well ladies and gents, one journey has ended and another has begun. I have been accepted into KCUMB - a proof that anything is possible.

I had a 3.08 sGPA and a 3.26 cGPA, an underdog especially considering KCUMB's minimum 3.25 sGPA requirement. Don't let anyone tell you what you can or can't do. You can do anything if you put your heart and soul into it - good luck underdogs, I'm rooting for you all.

-ksmajmudar
Class of 2016
 
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