The Underdog Thread

[artaxerxes627]

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I love this thread...I've been waiting for something like it for so long. I find myself getting so discouraged on these boards by some posters that I say "why even bother if this is who I am going to be working with"

Anyway I have a

3.73 sGPA
3.70 cGPA

23 MCAT taken last august (6PS, 8BS, 9VR)

I am taking the MCAT again in July hoping for a 30 or so...we'll see haha.

Did you not apply to any schools for 2010? Have you never applied before? Where are you applying for 2011? Good luck!

 

[gatewasani]

I applied to D.O. Schools last year with a 3.2GPA and 26O MCAT. I didn't get in. (VCOM, WVSOM, PCOM) It was the absolute best use of $280 of application fees I could imagine. If you have never applied to medical school before, and at least meet the minimum requirements here's my advice

(assuming you have:
a GPA over 3.0.
an MCAT over 20
and a nice assortment of shadowing and volunteer experiences
AND you ALREADY have your Pre-Medical Advising Committee Letter of Recommendation loaded onto interfolio...)

[First
http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/fap/

If you can get that, you get 14 freebee's from AMCAS.]

Second:
Apply. No, don't apply to dream schools, and don't apply to 20 schools to up your chances. apply to a couple schools that you know do sometimes take applicants with your scores. The medical school application process is STRENUOUS! If you are not about to start one this fall, figure out what you are doing to increase your MCAT score when you take it again this summer (yes, you are taking it again). And what you are going to do to increase your GPA. Yes, keep volunteering. No having 400 hours instead of 200 hours will not make the difference for your GPA or MCAT (not even with D.O.s) so, yes you should still be trying to get those higher.

I know people are all about save your money, up your stats and try next year. Yes, it's a chunk of change. But, MANY people with much better scores than us do not get in on their very first try. Being a second time applicant makes a big difference to admissions committees. Applying, getting rejected, uping your stats and sticking with your clinical volunteering and applying again with a stronger application means more than applying with that improved application for the first time.

There is A LOT more that can go wrong with your application besides your scores. Do you have all your letters? Are they good? like I asked before, do you have your Pre-Medical Advising Committee Letter of Recommendation? If not do you have a letter from your DEAN explaining why your school does not provide that letter and that they do recommend you as an applicant? Do you already have your personal statement drafted? Has the doctor that you shadowed and got an LOR from read your letter and given you the thumbs up? Has the pre-med advisor from your undergrad school read your statement and given you the thumbs up? Do you already know what you'll say in your secondary application essays? Are you prepared to have your applications in before the end of July (the latest that you could still be considered a proactive applicant). What if you get an interview? Do you know why you want to be a physician? What are you going to do if you don't get in this year?
The application process is long, grueling and you never ever get to have the feeling that you have things figured out, and you can settle down. Even if you apply early, if you are a weak applicant you will be waiting the longest to find out if you have been accepted or wait-listed. It is very tough, and so I encourage you to do a meaningful "practice run." Give it your best shot, but realize that you have a lot to learn about applying to school.

Third:
Apply to post-bacc programs. At least three.
How do you choose which ones? Call the offices of admission at the schools that you most desire to attend and schedule a meeting with their dean of admission. yeah, bring your resume and scores and stuff, if you've already filled out AMCAS or AACOMAS bring your summary. Don't expect them to care about looking at it. Just be prepared to be to the point and confident. Be prepared to tell them how THIS years applications is going, What you are doing with the application year, What you are going to do if you don't get in this year and a couple distant options for what you will do if you still don't get in the year after that. Own where you are right now. They will tell you about the post-bacc programs that they most respect and that you might have a shot at getting into. Apply to them. And applying to one that you are almost sure that you will get into (i.e. you are at least above the minimum stats).
This is what you are going to do if you don't get into medical school for 2011. Don't wait until you find out that you did not get in to medical school to apply to the post back programs. They are competitive as well. If you can not go meet these people face to face, call them. Remember if you are applying to their school for 2011 (and you are planning to have your app in before the end of july, right?) they are about to see your application in front of their face in a few weeks. They will still remember you and how determined you are to do whatever it takes to get into medical school no matter what.

If you get into one of these programs (and don't get into medical school) GO. You're serious now, and times ticking by. You want to be a physician, not a pre-med applicant.

Why are these programs better than just taking organic chemistry again at the local community college? If you have a 3.2 GPA over 120 credits you would have to take ONE HUNDRED more credits and ACE them ALL to up your GPA to a 3.43. Yes, retaking classes that you got C's and lower in to get them up to A's would help your over all GPA on the applications. But getting a fresh GRADUATE level transcript and bossing it around like a child to get a 4.0 - even on just 32 credits (one school year, as most graduate certificates are) - will show much more focused determination, and will prepare you much better for your upcoming med-school classes than a self-organized dabbling of undergrad - "post bacc" classes. It is also possible to get financial aid for a graduate certificate or masters degree, but not for continued dabbling in the 300-400 class number range.

Though this is not the case everywhere, since most of these programs are hosted by medical schools, they often have special incentives for students who transition from their post-bacc to their medical program. Sometimes this means a lighter load in the first years of med-school, sometimes it means that they straight up hold a spot for you if you have a decent GPA in their program and a menial MCAT.

Fourth:
If you did not score above 30 on the MCAT. Get ready to take it again. Every year until you score above 30 or get in to medical school you should be actively increasing your ability to answer MCAT questions with special focus on your weakest subjects. If you do not have a score over 30 do not say to anyone that you are not planning to retake the MCAT, You are planning to. Set a date. Plan for it. Unless you have completely given up on becoming a physician then you should not give up on the MCAT.

I know the MCAT is a masochistic exercise in misery even for those who do well on it the first time. But guess what. You have THREE, EIGHT HOUR tests coming your way after 2nd and 4th years of medical school And your licensing exam after your internship. And if you get that far and don't pass those, what are you going to do? you're going to take them again. If you aren't willing to improve your MCAT score and take it again, what does that say to a medical school about your determination to pass the USMLEs? They don't want to invest years of education into students who would refuse to try again if they didn't pass the first time.

Further reading:

Make phone calls. Get face time.
I'm serious. Getting a 10-15 minute meeting with a dean at a school that you really want to go to is not like seeing the bride before the wedding. They will NOT be angry or impatient that you are interested in their school. Most of they time they will give you straight up advice about how competitive you are and what you could do to make yourself a competitive applicant. As you continue to bust your ass to up your MCAT and/or GPA stay in touch with them. So long as you are polite and respectful and brush your teeth and make a firm handshake there is nothing wrong about a few Dean's of admission knowing your name and face. In fact, there is everything right about it. It gets you out there as a REAL applicant and not just someone who filled out the application. Plus it gives the feeling that the schools you are applying to are routing for you. Even if this means that they are routing for you to up your stats and keep trying it makes a BIG difference if YOU know that those kinds of people know that you want to be a physician. It takes a great deal of personal fortitude to apply to medical school - AGAIN. Get yourself all the encouragement you can.

More on phone calls:
Really, you should make at least one phone call to all the schools that you are interested in just to say, hello to someone in the admissions office. If you go there, you don't want to feel like a stranger. The more you want to go to a school, the more you should be making yourself familiar TO that school, as well as becoming familiar with the school.


AACOMAS and AMCAS applicant for 2011
3.28GPA 26O MCAT
Retaking the MCAT on July 16th
Beginning Post-Bacc at VCOM on July 26th

Don't stop believing

thats a very insightful post, not everyone will agree with your rationale, but I never really thought of it that way.
👍👍👍

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

If you are not about to start one this fall, figure out what you are doing to increase your MCAT score when you take it again this summer (yes, you are taking it again). And what you are going to do to increase your GPA.

I agree great advice but if you look at the original post....

DISCLAIMER: We are not looking for pity, or for the advice of take classes / get better MCAT. Don't waste your time.

I can only imagine it was created for people hoping to "slip in", instead of working to make themselves a better applicant, if they are unwilling to retake their MCAT when it is still June.

 

[Turd Furgeson]

Thought I would join the little party we got goin on over here....

Background:

1st 31 credit hours of college: 0.58 (yes it's possible... actually quite impressive if I say so myself... my level of interest in college didn't even lead me to withdraw from classes, just recieved Fs)

After working for a couple years and getting my act together, was accepted back to my school and became interested in medicine and decided to major in Biotechnology.

GPA post 1st 31 catastrophe: 3.39
GPA this past year ("Jr" year) : 3.69

Overall AACOMAS GPA: 3.1
AACOMAS Science GPA: 3.06

I have worked full time while taking appx 18 credits per semester

MCAT: taking in July, scoring 30-33 on practice tests (kaplan and aamc)

Have 16 schools on my list and am waiting on a summer class to end to get verified.... whoo hoo!!!!!!!!

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

Thought I would join the little party we got goin on over here....

Background:

1st 31 credit hours of college: 0.58 (yes it's possible... actually quite impressive if I say so myself... my level of interest in college didn't even lead me to withdraw from classes, just recieved Fs)

After working for a couple years and getting my act together, was accepted back to my school and became interested in medicine and decided to major in Biotechnology.

GPA post 1st 31 catastrophe: 3.39
GPA this past year ("Jr" year) : 3.69

Overall AACOMAS GPA: 3.1
AACOMAS Science GPA: 3.06

I have worked full time while taking appx 18 credits per semester

MCAT: taking in July, scoring 30-33 on practice tests (kaplan and aamc)

Have 16 schools on my list and am waiting on a summer class to end to get verified.... whoo hoo!!!!!!!!

GL man, I'm applying this year too. I had a 0.00 for my first 34 credits of college, beer was more important than withdrawing. It also helps once you figure out why you're going to college.

I think your SDN Screen Name should get you into Med school if nothing else

 

[HockeyDr09]

I agree great advice but if you look at the original post....




I can only imagine it was created for people hoping to "slip in", instead of working to make themselves a better applicant, if they are unwilling to retake their MCAT when it is still June.

I am retaking mine in July and started this thread thinking people would be doing the same. You have imagined incorrectly. What artaxerxes627 said was extremely helpful. I said that to deter people from just posting "retake MCAT". I have said this several times. Thanks for the advice artaxerxes!

 

[gatewasani]

GL man, I'm applying this year too. I had a 0.00 for my first 34 credits of college, beer was more important than withdrawing. It also helps once you figure out why you're going to college.

I think your SDN Screen Name should get you into Med school if nothing else

I think you are misinterpreting what this thread is about. Hockey said that stuff about Mcat and stuff because we already know that. We already know that we need to improve our MCAT and gpa's so there is no need to state the obvious. This is more like a support group to help us get there. I'm retaking mcat as well.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

In that case I did misinterpret it, it sounded like a "These are my stats and I'm not doing anything to change them and am going to let the cards fall where they may" thread. I apologize.

Good luck on your retakes, I find out in 2 weeks whether my MCAT belongs here and whether I'll be doing the same.

 

[DbDan]

I can only imagine it was created for people hoping to "slip in", instead of working to make themselves a better applicant, if they are unwilling to retake their MCAT when it is still June.

I believe it more meant, we all know we are low on the totem pole and we are all working to make ourselves better applicants. Its just to avoid every single person getting the criticism of take more classes or retake your MCAT when the whole point was to support one another as we try to make ourselves better applicants and achieve our goals.

 

[HockeyDr09]

Anyone else already have their LECOM applications in and now waiting on an interview invite? Someone in another thread (LECOM student?) said they have a stack of apps ready to be reviewed. I'm terrified!

 

[smmossey]

Did you not apply to any schools for 2010? Have you never applied before? Where are you applying for 2011? Good luck!

I'm applying for the 2011 cycle. I was going to apply for 2010, but it was getting into september and I hadn't shadowed a D.O. Plus I was going to London Spring Semester so interviews would have been tough haha.

I applied to

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Bradenton Campus, FL
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Virginia Campus, VA
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, FL
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, ME
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Admissions Office, WV

I also applied to Dartmouth just so I could submit my application but am waiting to apply to more M.D. schools till I retake my MCAT.

 

[Turd Furgeson]

GL man, I'm applying this year too. I had a 0.00 for my first 34 credits of college, beer was more important than withdrawing. It also helps once you figure out why you're going to college.

I think your SDN Screen Name should get you into Med school if nothing else

Wow! 0.0 after 34 hours... that's even more impressive. Gives you something interesting to talk about in your personal statement though, right?

Good luck to you too man, I'll be sure to follow your progress over the next couple months.

(btw, the guy who said you misinterpreted the purpose of this thread is challenging your verbal reasoning skills... haha)

 

[emno]

I'm applying for the 2011 cycle. I was going to apply for 2010, but it was getting into september and I hadn't shadowed a D.O. Plus I was going to London Spring Semester so interviews would have been tough haha.

I applied to

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Bradenton Campus, FL
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Virginia Campus, VA
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, FL
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, ME
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Admissions Office, WV

I also applied to Dartmouth just so I could submit my application but am waiting to apply to more M.D. schools till I retake my MCAT.

will you mind sharing your stat.
I am also applying to all these schools you have mentioned.

 

[Razmatazz]

I guess I will join this thread..

undergrad 1:
sgpa: 2.36
cgpa: 2.50

undergrad 2/post bacc:
sgpa: 4.0
cgpa: 3.95

final stats:
sgpa: 3.02
gpa: 3.14

MCAT: 20Q (2006), 22Q (2007), 29Q (2008)

Hoping they value the upward trend!

 

[HeatherMarie87]

Have a year or two before I'm in your shoes with applying but I feel the same way. But I flunked out of college when I was 18 and I know DO schools have grade replacement but As have never come easily to me. My gpa sits at a 3.45 I haven't taken the MCAT yet so we'll see how that goes and I have time to raise by gpa but I often come here to see my hopes being washed down the drain. I have great ECs and this has been a lifelong dream. I won't give up. If I don't make it in the first time around I'll take some post baccs and try again. I have talked to my advisor and if we stay committed our goal will come true!! Thanks for posting this thread!

 

[smmossey]

will you mind sharing your stat.
I am also applying to all these schools you have mentioned.

Sure it's

3.73 sGPA
3.70 cGPA
23S MCAT (6PS, 8BS, 9VR)

I'm retaking again in July...hoping for a 30 but we'll see. I really hate that stupid test 😛

 

[DrDre2001]

Sure it's

3.73 sGPA
3.70 cGPA
23S MCAT (6PS, 8BS, 9VR)

I'm retaking again in July...hoping for a 30 but we'll see. I really hate that stupid test 😛

?

You are not an UNDERDOG (which is a good thing for you)!!!

 

[DbDan]

?

You are not an UNDERDOG (which is a good thing for you)!!!

With a 23? ya I'd consider them an underdog. If they retake and score significantly better they are hearby banished from the underdog thread 😉 haha

FWIW, I'd consider anyone <3.2 or <25 an underdog. Then again after fall if my sGPA is 3.2 and my cGPA is 3.1 w/ my 33 do I have to kick myself out hrm

 

[megathunder]

So who are all the underdogs so far?

All yee underdogs, you are herefore requested to present yourself!

1. HockeyDr09
2. megathunder
3. Sinfest

Woof!

 

[DbDan]

So who are all the underdogs so far?

All yee underdogs, you are herefore requested to present yourself!

1. HockeyDr09
2. megathunder
3. Sinfest

Woof!

Its in the first post. I'd believe "founding members" would be the underdogs

 

[Mzeep]

You can add me to that list 🙂

 

[DbDan]

Updated List w/ Stats (that I could find at least)

hockeydr09 [3.15,27]
gatewasani
DbDan
megathunder [3.3,27]
Sinfest
shenanigans327
jzrull [3.6,25]
emno
cliffhuxtableDO
divajazzerina [3.15,??]
Spderjhn
DrDre2001
MZeep
Smmossey [3.7,23]
Turd Ferguson [3.1, ??]
Razmatazz [3.1,29]

I'd also argue based solely on looking that Razmatazz, MegaThunder and jzrull are borderline being in this group 😉

 

[elliotkw9]

After reading this thread for a while, I have come to the conclusion that more bickering has occurred than story/experience sharing. For those people who are worried about getting in, don't worry so much about getting into the school yet. I would spend my time making my application as positive as possible in order to secure an interview. At every interview that I attended the admissions counselor stated that once you get to this point grades and test scores become a small fraction of what factors into the final decision. That being said I would still try to improve my application in any way possible. I applied last year, was offered 5 interviews (both MD and DO), and was accepted into 2 schools. My MCAT score was a 25 and my GPA was around a 3.65 at the time of application. During the entire time I kept trying to improve my app. I graduated from undergrad with a 3.71 and accumulated over 2000 hrs of clinical shadowing and 200+ hrs of OR time. For those of you with low end MCAT scores, just make sure that you know what the min reqs for the schools you are applying to are. Some schools require nothing less than a 7 on all sections. Also, make sure to focus on the strong points exclusively in your personal statement (Let the school ask questions about the weak points in the interview). Finally for those of you who are getting ready to apply, don't get discouraged. Keep focused on your goal, if it is truly what you want to do with your life. People will tell you that you can't do it, but that is entirely up to how much effort and ambition you put forth. Understand that you may not get in your first time. I've known students with a 4.0 and a 34 MCAT that didn't get in their first year. If this is the case, then realize that the insight you've gained from your first round of applying is invaluable and can be used to better prepare your application. From my limited experience, those individuals that truly wanted to get into medical school overcame the obstacles and made it eventually. Good Luck Everyone!

 

[smmossey]

With a 23? ya I'd consider them an underdog. If they retake and score significantly better they are hearby banished from the underdog thread 😉 haha

FWIW, I'd consider anyone <3.2 or <25 an underdog. Then again after fall if my sGPA is 3.2 and my cGPA is 3.1 w/ my 33 do I have to kick myself out hrm

It's cool being an underdog what can I say. If I get higher than a 25 I think it's only fair I leave this board forever.

 

[DbDan]

If this is the case, then realize that the insight you've gained from your first round of applying is invaluable and can be used to better prepare your application. From my limited experience, those individuals that truly wanted to get into medical school overcame the obstacles and made it eventually.

This is so true 👍

The experience of having applied last year was invaluable. I improved my application just by knowing what I should include and how I should approach the season. If you want it bad enough, you will find a way to accomplish it. 👍

 

[artaxerxes627]

I am retaking mine in July and started this thread thinking people would be doing the same. You have imagined incorrectly. What artaxerxes627 said was extremely helpful. I said that to deter people from just posting "retake MCAT". I have said this several times. Thanks for the advice artaxerxes!

Thank YOU, HockyDR. And you too, MLT2MT2DO and gatewasani.

I can not stress how much can be gained by going through the application process and getting your advice straight from the top (Deans).

Unless you straight up do not meet the admissions requirements. I.E.
- GPA below the advertised minimum, usually 2.75.
- not going to take the MCAT soon enough (or too long ago).
- you have below a C in one of your Pre-reqs.
- you don't have 90 credits of a bachelor's already completed
- you are a convicted felon
Then I would encourage first timers to apply. While using your application year to increase your stats.

Yes, I did (and would advise) still doing this even if your application will be very late in the season.

To those who are concerned about the whole not submitting your application until you have a letter from an M.D. or D.O. - Submit anyway. You may want them to help you with your Personal statement...or you may not. But you have about 4-6 weeks from when you click "submit" until any schools actually see your application and contact your for secondaries and then you still have about 30-90 days to complete you secondaries and with most D.O. schools the supplementals (i.e. your LOR's) aren't "due" until February. (M.D. Schools usually December or January). So, I believe that you could get the letter with time to spare even after making your submission. For example, I found a D.O. in my area working in a children's hospital with a GOOGLE search! Cold called his office, Arranged for the shadowing (HIPAA and what not) before ever meeting him and he turned out to be one of the most sincere and helpful people that has influenced my journey thus far. I also know how to perform a pediatric exam now.

AACOMAS has the benefit of auto-filling ALL or your info from the previous application into the new one (hours of work). But if you have done all this before, collected all your letters, and aced a class or two since your first application (and have serious plans for your next application year) - you won't have any trouble having all your ducks in a row to apply IN JUNE of the next application year with much more confidence.

So yeah. This is the underdog forum. Don't avoid applying just because you don't "think" it could happen.

 

[drctother]

Dont forget me! 3.1-3.2ish and 30R MCAT (12,8,10)

Even more of an Underdog because I am Canadian

EDIT: Lets go with 3.1 so I fit in more lol cuz until i actually have AACOMAS confirmation i will not know if its 3.0, 3.1 or 3.2. Also depends on what I get in my retake of OCHEM 2

 

[ScarletKnights]

Hey guys first off I'd like to say I'm right there with you guys, GPA 3.1 and havent taken the MCAT yet. I'll be applying this cycle with hope that I get in. I know its a long shot but it doesn't hurt to try. Also I was wondering what schools have lower admission stats. I'm applying to Nova, LECOM, LECOM-B, NYCOM, VCOM-CC, Pikesville, Touros, Rocky Vista, and AT Still. Any other schools you guys think wouldn't be a waste of money applying to or maybe some school on my list I shouldn't apply to.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

Hey guys first off I'd like to say I'm right there with you guys, GPA 3.1 and havent taken the MCAT yet. I'll be applying this cycle with hope that I get in. I know its a long shot but it doesn't hurt to try. Also I was wondering what schools have lower admission stats. I'm applying to Nova, LECOM, LECOM-B, NYCOM, VCOM-CC, Pikesville, Touros, Rocky Vista, and AT Still. Any other schools you guys think wouldn't be a waste of money applying to or maybe some school on my list I shouldn't apply to.

I'm not from the area but I think it would be worth primary/secondary app fee to go for UMDNJ given your residency.

 

[DbDan]

I'm not from the area but I think it would be worth primary/secondary app fee to go for UMDNJ given your residency.

I second this. I think they list 24% of their students being from South Jersey and 80% in state.

 

[ScarletKnights]

Okay I'll probably shoot an app there way. I was just worried about my stats for UMDNJ since I know it's a rather competitive school.

 

[DbDan]

Okay I'll probably shoot an app there way. I was just worried about my stats for UMDNJ since I know it's a rather competitive school.

My theory is always to apply to match schools and some reaches, you never know who will get your app, what adcom will connect to your PS, who will look past stats to your ECs and like you, etc.

Hell, my entire AMCAS application is a reach, not to mention the fact I'd consider myself reaching on alot of DO schools... Never know if you don't try. I'm working my ass off and I'm living at home so I won't be sending myself spiraling into debt (hopefully) so its worth it to me to put in the work on the off chance I get an unexpected result.

 

[DrDre2001]

With a 23? ya I'd consider them an underdog. If they retake and score significantly better they are hearby banished from the underdog thread 😉 haha

FWIW, I'd consider anyone <3.2 or <25 an underdog. Then again after fall if my sGPA is 3.2 and my cGPA is 3.1 w/ my 33 do I have to kick myself out hrm

Eh, make that 23 and I would agree with you. 25 is only 1.19 points below the average for the MCAT, and 1 point below the median.

 

[medschl hpeful]

reading through the "what are my chances" thread and seeing a majority of students asking what their chances were with a lowly 3.90sci gpa and 38t mcat got me thinking . I came to this site in hopes of positive reinforcement and i now often leave believing i don't have a chance in the world. I'm hoping we can have a thread for all of us underdogs to help each other out, and stay positive.

To all the applicants with ~3.2 sci gpa and ~25 mcat (or a large variation between the two).
We can do it! Lets fill the thread with some tips, good news, and some positive stories of people who have been there before and gotten in.

Disclaimer: We are not looking for pity, or for the advice of take classes / get better mcat. don't waste your time.

i will update with any news that you guys want me to put up next to your name (applied, interviewed, accepted)
if anyone wants me to add their info or remove their info, let me know and i will take care of it.

underdogs

hockeydr09 [3.15,27]
gatewasani
dbdan
megathunder [3.3,27]
sinfest
shenanigans327
jzrull [3.6,25]
emno
cliffhuxtabledo
divajazzerina [3.15,??]
spderjhn
drdre2001
mzeep
smmossey [3.7,23]
turd ferguson [3.1, ??]
razmatazz [3.1,29]




the supporters

bold text
radiodoc99
ditchdoc73
skippygonenuts
willen101383
andres ponce
bonsaipalmtree

i don't know you and we have never met...... But i am in love !!!!!!!!! Lol lol lol lol lol lol . I have felt this way, but did not want to say it. When i read those, i feel like such an ass for even applying. I don't have stellar stats. I got interviewed last year. Wait listed, didn't get in.... But!!!!!! I know now that i have a shot!!!!!

You're the bomb!!!!!!

 

[futuredoc4432]

3.2 29s.. won't have my final transcript in til mid july though. add me to the supporter/underdog list if you'd like

 

[judasreznor]

Eh, make that 23 and I would agree with you. 25 is only 1.19 points below the average for the MCAT, and 1 point below the median.

What is the S.D. from the median of 26.19 of accepted students' MCAT scores?

 

[medschl hpeful]

thought i would join the little party we got goin on over here....

Background:

1st 31 credit hours of college: 0.58 (yes it's possible... Actually quite impressive if i say so myself... My level of interest in college didn't even lead me to withdraw from classes, just recieved fs)

after working for a couple years and getting my act together, was accepted back to my school and became interested in medicine and decided to major in biotechnology.

Gpa post 1st 31 catastrophe: 3.39
gpa this past year ("jr" year) : 3.69

overall aacomas gpa: 3.1
aacomas science gpa: 3.06

i have worked full time while taking appx 18 credits per semester

mcat: Taking in july, scoring 30-33 on practice tests (kaplan and aamc)

have 16 schools on my list and am waiting on a summer class to end to get verified.... Whoo hoo!!!!!!!!

again,,,, refreshing to see. I got pregnant my freshman year of college. So........ We can imagine that gpa. It still had a 1 in front of it. Lol it is never too late to wake up and smell the coffee. I feel recharged and ready and now im gonna study to retake that damn mcat again. Got a few apps in already. I'm already verified.... Can you die??? So just have to get that final piece in place. I wish everyone so much luck and energy for the road ahead!!!!!

 

[shenanigans327]

Updated List w/ Stats (that I could find at least)

hockeydr09 [3.15,27]
gatewasani
DbDan
megathunder [3.3,27]
Sinfest
shenanigans327
jzrull [3.6,25]
emno
cliffhuxtableDO
divajazzerina [3.15,??]
Spderjhn
DrDre2001
MZeep
Smmossey [3.7,23]
Turd Ferguson [3.1, ??]
Razmatazz [3.1,29]

I'd also argue based solely on looking that Razmatazz, MegaThunder and jzrull are borderline being in this group 😉

Guess I should show my stats: 3.2cGPA, 3.35sGPA and waiting on the MCAT (MCAT release on 6/22 only 6 more days!!)

 

[medschl hpeful]

I believe it more meant, we all know we are low on the totem pole and we are all working to make ourselves better applicants. Its just to avoid every single person getting the criticism of take more classes or retake your MCAT when the whole point was to support one another as we try to make ourselves better applicants and achieve our goals.

👍

 

[medschl hpeful]

i guess i will join this thread..

Undergrad 1:
Sgpa: 2.36
cgpa: 2.50

undergrad 2/post bacc:
Sgpa: 4.0
cgpa: 3.95

final stats:
Sgpa: 3.02
gpa: 3.14

mcat: 20q (2006), 22q (2007), 29q (2008)

hoping they value the upward trend!

razmataz,

what did you do to get such an increase in your mcat. Please please please share. I am having trouble getting out of the 22 range!!!!!!!!!! I will take all advice. CAN YOU PM OR IP WHAT EVER IT IS CALLED??????? THANKS!

 

[DrDre2001]

What is the S.D. from the median of 26.19 of accepted students' MCAT scores?

Around 2.5-3.0. I don't remember where I got this info, but I've had that number in my head for a few months now.

So, to me, someone with a 23 and a 3.7 is not an underdog. His GPA makes up for the 23.

 

[gatewasani]

I have a 3.4, 22Q

so i definitely belong here, I really don't know what happened on the mcat, my practice exam scores were so much higher and I end up with 4 points worse than what I considered my worst case scenario...

And I havent been able to study because i am taking a crazy class but will be done next week. I hope it all comes back quick, so I can sit for a late july/early august exam.

 

[judasreznor]

Around 2.5-3.0. I don't remember where I got this info, but I've had that number in my head for a few months now.

So, to me, someone with a 23 and a 3.7 is not an underdog. His GPA makes up for the 23.

Goodness. I had no idea that it was such a large number. That would make a whole lot of people competitive, assuming that the GPA S.D. is similarly large. I was thinking of putting myself in this thread, but given that the MCAT S.D. is so large, I don't think I would fit into this category. Nor do a lot of people in this thread, it seems.

 

[Razmatazz]

razmataz,

what did you do to get such an increase in your mcat. Please please please share. I am having trouble getting out of the 22 range!!!!!!!!!! I will take all advice. CAN YOU PM OR IP WHAT EVER IT IS CALLED??????? THANKS!

Try to grab the princeton books for cheap online from craigslist or something. I basically just studied a lot more / harder the 3rd time around (did a lot more bio studying/memorizing from those books, I got a 6 in BS the 2nd time and went up to an 11 the 3rd time lol).

 

[DrDre2001]

]Goodness. I had no idea that it was such a large number[/B]. That would make a whole lot of people competitive, assuming that the GPA S.D. is similarly large. I was thinking of putting myself in this thread, but given that the MCAT S.D. is so large, I don't think I would fit into this category. Nor do a lot of people in this thread, it seems.

Really? I wasn't surprised at all. Before I ever knew the S.D. officially, I would have expected it to be around a 3.

http://www.aacom.org/about/fastfacts/Documents/Summaries/2009MatriculantSummary.pdf ...top of page 6/11...It's a 3.27.

 

[judasreznor]

Really? I wasn't surprised at all. Before I ever knew the S.D. officially, I would have expected it to be around a 3.

http://www.aacom.org/about/fastfacts/Documents/Summaries/2009MatriculantSummary.pdf ...top of page 6/11...It's a 3.27.

With all of the negativity about low MCAT scores around here, this is kind of surprising to me. It seems that people around here preach that if you don't have a 3.7 sGPA and 29 that you don't have a shot anywhere. According to the numbers in that table, one would be almost assured (from a stats standpoint) of matriculating anywhere. Once again, many people are giving advice based upon biases or using statistics that are made up.

 

[medat101]

This is pretty much the attitude I have been seeing throughout the boards. Although my GPA is there my MCAT is a 27. To be honest I have already contacting schools regarding this and all you're doing is spreading misinformation to pre-meds with comments like that. For M.D you are 100% correct, but for D.O its more than just about your grades. If you have 3.2 with a 29 MCAT (your comment said 3.2 above 30) you have a strong chance at D.O schools if you're well rounded and driven. Take a look at the whole picture. When I said hope, I should have said something along the lines of be proactive. It's alright though, you can continue your negativity if you must.

Its incorrect to assume that M.D. schools just focus on your grades/mcat, while D.O. is more than just your grades. I had a average gpa and lower than average mcat score, and managed to attain a few amazing MD acceptances. Why? Because MD schools looks at much, much more than your grades and mcat.

 

[DbDan]

Really? I wasn't surprised at all. Before I ever knew the S.D. officially, I would have expected it to be around a 3.

http://www.aacom.org/about/fastfacts/Documents/Summaries/2009MatriculantSummary.pdf ...top of page 6/11...It's a 3.27.

I never actually looked at that... crazy, I'm apparently within 1 Standard Deviation of sGPA, just outside for cGPA and am over 2 Standard deviations above MCAT. I should be pretty competitive in theory.

 

[judasreznor]

I never actually looked at that... crazy, I'm apparently within 1 Standard Deviation of sGPA, just outside for cGPA and am over 2 Standard deviations above MCAT. I should be pretty competitive in theory.

Why wouldn't you be competitive (assuming you didn't apply to singular schools that have the very highest stats)?

 

[DbDan]

Why wouldn't you be competitive (assuming you didn't apply to singular schools that have the very highest stats)?

Dunno My GPA seemed to work against me last year to the point of no acceptances so I didn't think that 1 or 2 more courses would make me suddenly competitive.