The Holistic Application Review?

[Shirafune]

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I'm a California resident of Asian decent and would like to stay in California or explore the west coast at mid-tier and top-tier programs with a strong research focus. I am also interested in various MD/PhD programs. My sGPA/cGPA are both 3.9x with multiple A+s scattered throughout the years. Most of my time is spent working in my lab, but I do participate in leadership activities and clinical volunteering (~160 hrs) every week. I should have one 3rd and one 2nd author publication by the time I graduate and plan to spend my gap year working as a junior specialist. My PIs have said that they will outright strongly support whatever I decide to pursue as will my other professors, so I will have very strong letters.

My biggest concern is that my unbalanced MCAT (33 - 14PS/8VR/11BS) will keep my otherwise good application from being fully looked at.

1) How do schools decide who to send secondaries to?
2) How important is the MCAT after secondaries and interviews?
3) Is there such a thing as spending too much time in research for MD only programs? Or maybe I should try to find more clinical experience.
4) Is it problematic that I probably won't get a LOR from my volunteering supervisors?

Thanks!

 

[miamiheatfan]

I'm a California resident of Asian decent and would like to stay in California or explore the west coast at mid-tier and top-tier programs with a strong research focus. I am also interested in various MD/PhD programs. My sGPA/cGPA are both 3.9x with multiple A+s scattered throughout the years. Most of my time is spent working in my lab, but I do participate in leadership activities and clinical volunteering (~160 hrs) every week. I should have one 3rd and one 2nd author publication by the time I graduate and plan to spend my gap year working as a junior specialist. My PIs have said that they will outright strongly support whatever I decide to pursue as will my other professors, so I will have very strong letters.

My biggest concern is that my unbalanced MCAT (33 - 14PS/8VR/11BS) will keep my otherwise good application from being fully looked at.

1) How do schools decide who to send secondaries to?
2) How important is the MCAT after secondaries and interviews?
3) Is there such a thing as spending too much time in research for MD only programs? Or maybe I should try to find more clinical experience.
4) Is it problematic that I probably won't get a LOR from my volunteering supervisors?

Thanks!

1. 85% of schools (most schools, I don't know the exact number) automatically send secondaries to everyone. Some schools screen and do it by having applicants meet minimum metrics. Some do a holistic screen. With your numbers you'd receive secondaries from most of these schools, but a few schools like Vanderbilt will be hard because they don't send secondaries to many people.

2. https://www.aamc.org/download/261106/data/aibvol11_no6.pdf
This link shows the importance of everything in getting an interview and acceptance. Basically the link says to get an interview MCAT is third after both GPAs but I personally believe MCAT is #1 as it's harder to find people with high MCATs than high GPAs. After the interview, to get accepted, MCAT is 6th.

3. You NEED clinical experience. Adcoms like to see that you've interacted with patients. But for MD/PhD you need a lot of research as well. Try to get as much of both as you can.

4. No I don't think that is problematic. You need your research PI obviously and professors primarily.

Hope I answered everything you wanted. PS, if you're thinking about retaking your MCAT, don't haha.

 

[FalconSlice]

I'm a California resident of Asian decent and would like to stay in California or explore the west coast at mid-tier and top-tier programs with a strong research focus. I am also interested in various MD/PhD programs. My sGPA/cGPA are both 3.9x with multiple A+s scattered throughout the years. Most of my time is spent working in my lab, but I do participate in leadership activities and clinical volunteering (~160 hrs) every week. I should have one 3rd and one 2nd author publication by the time I graduate and plan to spend my gap year working as a junior specialist. My PIs have said that they will outright strongly support whatever I decide to pursue as will my other professors, so I will have very strong letters.

My biggest concern is that my unbalanced MCAT (33 - 14PS/8VR/11BS) will keep my otherwise good application from being fully looked at.

1) How do schools decide who to send secondaries to?
2) How important is the MCAT after secondaries and interviews?
3) Is there such a thing as spending too much time in research for MD only programs? Or maybe I should try to find more clinical experience.
4) Is it problematic that I probably won't get a LOR from my volunteering supervisors?

Thanks!

There is a sticky on the Physician Scientists forum you should read (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/what-are-my-chances-read-before-asking.539268/) and post there if you have any questions about the MD/PhD (and/or MSTP) programs.

 

[MrLogan13]

Staying in California is tough.