Tip for future applicants/Self-pity thread

[EEL08]

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When you're planning on taking your MCAT for the first time, study so hard you will only have to take it once. Take it from me. I feel like my 22 is going to really hold me back. I really could kick myself. I have to admit I'm jealous of my husband. He scored a 28 on the MCAT and has three interviews already. UNECOM e-mailed him encouraging him to send in the secondary and UMDNJ called a left a message saying they're very interested in him as a candidate but first they need his secondary and LORs. He was actually accepted to an allopathic school in the 90's with a 23. Sometimes I think it would help if I was an underrepresented minority, not just a minority. Okay that's my self-pity vent that I had to get out somehow. Now it's time to suck it up and keep studying to take the MCAT again.

 

[superfan56]

i went from a 21P to a 28P. It's really almost sad how many more doors open up just by a few numbers. Hope you get somewhere this year, if not, I know you'll make it next cycle

 

[EEL08]

i went from a 21P to a 28P. It's really almost sad how many more doors open up just by a few numbers. Hope you get somewhere this year, if not, I know you'll make it next cycle

Thanks! I really hate to sound like a whiner but sometimes I just need to get it out and move on. Both of us applying kind of complicates things. We won't live apart. I guess I'm just impatient to know where we will be moving next year and if I need to plan on doing another masters degree.

 

[Colbert]

In all honesty, a 21 to a 28 isn't "just a few numbers." Seven points on the MCAT is a monstrous change in your percentile ranking amongst other applicants. It was also probably the result of doing sufficient preparation for the MCAT, and not just looking over a few things before you go in.

EEL, I can understand how frustrating this is, and how you probably want to be very excited for your husband right now but at the same time feel some jealousy. You got the self-pity part out of the way. Now step it up. Any test prep course you'd take would have you take 5 practice tests before the real one. How many did you take before you took the MCAT? They'd also have you go over the tests after you finished to see which ones you got wrong and why they were wrong. Is that something you worked into your prep? I really feel those are two the most important things you can do for the MCAT. You can know every single thing about Gibbs free energy, but if you can't solve a problem about it, you don't really know it.

Good luck and don't get discouraged, you're getting interviews and hopefully in a year from now you'll look back and realize how much you stressed yourself out over nothing.

 

[Saregamapadanis]

At my school, I heard the story of a guy who got a 19 the first time and a 38 the second time.

I guess he studied his behind off. He is right now in med school somewhere in st. louis.

Point: It can be done. stay focused & positive.

 

[EEL08]

I am trying hard to stay positive and I really am happy for my husband. After so many years of wanting to be a doctor he really deserves it. I know what I did wrong the first time around with the MCAT. I worked too much on knowing the content and not on how it would actually fit into the MCAT. I took a diagnostic test last November and a couple weeks before the test I two more practice tests. I did go over them but honestly I just didn't focus enough on how the questions would be asked. I know I can do much better this next time around, although a 38 would definitely be pushing it. 😉 I think the end of the semester is stressing me out along with the whole application process. The idea of possibly putting down and losing deposits makes me nervous financially speaking. If I can just make it through December 11 (the day of my last final) I think I'll be good. Thanks for the encouragement guys. 🙂

 

[prestian]

I know I don't post often, but probably should to give people some hope. I had a 23Q with a 3.3 undergrad cum and 3.2 science and have five interviews so far. Iam atypical in that i have my MPH but i still thought my 23 would kill me. I had all of my secondaries in by the end of August and am just now beginning to hear from some schools, I got my NYCOM interview last week. Just try to stay positive, I'm sure you'll hear more after the hollidays. It seems to me that my application kept getting pushed back at a lot of schools because they didn't want to interview me just yet, youre probably in the same position. Eventually you'll hear from them.

 

[Saregamapadanis]

wow, 23 and interview? especially at nycom? amazing. Congratulations though.

 

[EEL08]

I know I don't post often, but probably should to give people some hope. I had a 23Q with a 3.3 undergrad cum and 3.2 science and have five interviews so far. Iam atypical in that i have my MPH but i still thought my 23 would kill me. I had all of my secondaries in by the end of August and am just now beginning to hear from some schools, I got my NYCOM interview last week. Just try to stay positive, I'm sure you'll hear more after the hollidays. It seems to me that my application kept getting pushed back at a lot of schools because they didn't want to interview me just yet, youre probably in the same position. Eventually you'll hear from them.

That does actually make me feel better. What are your ec's like? I think mine are at least decent but it's hard to judge. I don't have an MPH but will in May. Would you mind sharing where you got interviews?

 

[Saregamapadanis]

although a 38 would definitely be pushing it.

Not really. I thought 35 on mcat was great once, but then I went to school the next day, I found 2 other people who scored higher, one a 37... another was a 39. So a 38 , 35... all these are attainable. You are right however about just memorizing content- it is not enough. You need to constantly do alot of practice tests, so much that the content should be second nature to you (especially in the physical sciences section, you should be able to guess the answer without doing much math) and you should be able to map the passage in your head for verbal.

 

[EEL08]

Not really. I thought 35 on mcat was great once, but then I went to school the next day, I found 2 other people who scored higher, one a 37... another was a 39. So a 38 , 35... all these are attainable. You are right however about just memorizing content- it is not enough. You need to constantly do alot of practice tests, so much that the content should be second nature to you (especially in the physical sciences section, you should be able to guess the answer without doing much math) and you should be able to map the passage in your head for verbal.

Another thing I've realized is that I've done more memorizing rather than actually learning it to retain it. The physical sciences is my worst section, especially anything Physics I related. I probably won't end up studying much for verbal although I could probably bring my score up in that area at least a little bit. I didn't study for verbal at all the first time around.

 

[t-funk]

I kind of did the same thing as you for studying for the MCAT. My original goal was to study the material, most of which I hadn't seen for 10 years, for 2 months and then do practice tests for 2 months. I got so far behind with working, taking classes, and not being able to study until after my kids were in bed and I had done my homework that I wasn't able to start doing practice tests until 3 weeks before the test date. I fell asleep almost every night with my face in an MCAT book for many months.

After I started doing the practice tests, I realized the MCAT wasn't really about the material at all but more about quick comprehension of convoluted material you haven't seen before. By then, it was too late. I was burnt out and I knew I had studied all wrong. If I were to ever do it again, I would jump straight into the practice tests and study those and their answers like crazy just to undersatnd how they want you to think. And I wouldn't do it for more than 2 months to avoid burnout. I was averaging about 2-3 points higher on my practice tests than I got on the real thing so that came as a major shock too. Sometimes I wish I could take it again to see if I could do better.

So anyway, I totally agree that it is not about content or memorization or knowledge but just knowing how to take an MCAT.

 

[prestian]

I won't actually have my MPH until december. My biggest EC's are research experiece. I have really good benchwork experience and clinical experience. In college I was the captain of the Equestrian team but thats about it.

So far;
LECOM-B - Waitlisted
LECOM-ERIE - Accepted
WVSOM - Interviewed, no word yet
Touro-CA - Interviewing on Monday
NYCOM - Interviewing in January

Feel free to ask me anymore questions!

 

[Saregamapadanis]

Another thing I've realized is that I've done more memorizing rather than actually learning it to retain it. The physical sciences is my worst section, especially anything Physics I related. I probably won't end up studying much for verbal although I could probably bring my score up in that area at least a little bit. I didn't study for verbal at all the first time around.

I don't know, I guess it depends on how you study I guess. I memorized all the equations and ended up with a 12 in physical sciences. Besides, as you practice more problems, the equations become second nature to you. Good luck with your studying- just spend alot of time in the nights and weekends.

 

[Beau Geste]

wow, 23 and interview? especially at nycom? amazing. Congratulations though.

All my DO interviews came from my 23Q MCAT as well. My re-take was much better, and I think some MD schools are still holding on to my app because of it, but I had 5 interview invites from my 23 also.

 

[EEL08]

Well here's to holding out hope then. 😀 I think it definitely has been difficult trying to work study time around my kids. They're not at the age where they want to do their own thing yet or even can so it makes things interesting. Honestly I should be glad I don't have more rejections yet. Do I need to knock on wood now? 🙄

 

[Saregamapadanis]

All my DO interviews came from my 23Q MCAT as well. My re-take was much better, and I think some MD schools are still holding on to my app because of it, but I had 5 interview invites from my 23 also.

wow, i guess the DO schools do care about more than just numbers, Interesting. I knew they cared, but not as much as this. Anyway, I am sure you will make an excellent physician in the future nonetheless. the numbers don't mean much.

 

[t-funk]

One more thing EEL, I think you'll have an acceptance even before you have to retake that test over again. If you do, will you still retake it?

 

[EEL08]

One more thing EEL, I think you'll have an acceptance even before you have to retake that test over again. If you do, will you still retake it?

Well the thing is I may get in this year but I may not matriculate. It all depends on which schools take me and which schools take my husband. If there is a school he really feels would suit him better and I wasn't accepted there I might forego an acceptance to allow him to attend that school and I would reapply. It really depends on so many different factors.

I've thought about whether or not I would retake it. Honestly though, I hate knowing I have a 22. I know I'm capable of doing much better. I've paid for the Examkrackers books and will be studying until the end of January. I've paid for the test although I think I could get some money back. At this point, I'm 95% sure that even if my husband and I were both accepted and chose to matriculate at a particular school I would still retake. Is that crazy? 😛

 

[LauraDO]

No I don't think it is crazy, you know you are better and you hate having that one number represent you because you feel like it is a misrepresentation, I would do the same thing, I completely understand

 

[t-funk]

No I don't think it is crazy, you know you are better and you hate having that one number represent you because you feel like it is a misrepresentation, I would do the same thing, I completely understand

No, I completely understand EEL. Like I said, sometimes I think about retaking it for the same reasons that Laura just said. Although I do think it's a very hard test and a lot of extraordinarily intelligent people take this test so a 22 is not something to be ashamed of. The creators of the MCAT have the very difficult task of making a test that distributes scores to very smart people and these scores, in my opinion, separate a very small, or nonexistent, margin into a very large one. Except for crazy smart people who get 35+ or whatnot.

 

[Yourmother]

I was the captain of the Equestrian team but thats about it.

I played polo for years and I was an excercise rider at Keeneland and Churchill but I'm afraid to put that down.

Too WASPy, too blueblood, too old money.

 

[EEL08]

Good, so I'm not crazy then. 😀 You know I thought of another reason I'm kind of antsy to find out where I stand with the schools. I took one English class then CLEPed out of the rest. LECOM-Erie requires I take another English class and for UMDNJ I would have to take another math class. I'm already registered for three classes for my Masters degree in the spring, 2 of which I have to take to graduate. I would like to get an idea of what I need to take ahead of time. I might have to just register for a math class and english class and hope I know more by the time spring semester starts.

 

[prestian]

If its what youre interested in then you should put it. I don't see any reason for it to be looked down upon. In addition to being on the team i also started it so it was my biggest leadership role, which has been really good to talk about during interviews.

 

[DC DOC]

Don't give in to the number hype, I also thought I flopped the MCAT with a 22 (which I did) but it turns out schools will look beyond the MCAT. I have been accepted to LECOM Erie with a 22 just like yours. My verbal was the worst section. If you have shown through your application stats that you really want to be there, it can be done, so don't give up hope. I know what it feels like. Wait until December when the schools will start extending more interview offers. I bet you will do fine, you have good EC's and I am sure your letters are good too. Good Luck!

 

[Beau Geste]

wow, i guess the DO schools do care about more than just numbers, Interesting. I knew they cared, but not as much as this. Anyway, I am sure you will make an excellent physician in the future nonetheless. the numbers don't mean much.

I don't know if I should be irritated at these comments or smile so I'll do both 😡 🙂

 

[superfan56]

a 24 at PCOM is still the average. A 22 is 2 std deviantions below, so I'd be surprised if they didn't give you a fair shot

 

[MaximusD]

a 24 at PCOM is still the average. A 22 is 2 std deviantions below, so I'd be surprised if they didn't give you a fair shot

How the hell is a 22 two standard deviations away from 24? Do you know that that would put him in the 2.3rd percentile? Not likely.

 

[EEL08]

Okay so my husband talked with Lora Donia at UMDNJ and we will be applying. She said the cutoff MCAT is 22 so I barely make the cut. Let's see if the rest of my app can keep me from getting rejected. Still not sure about applying to PCOM though.

 

[Saregamapadanis]

The creators of the MCAT have the very difficult task of making a test that distributes scores to very smart people and these scores, in my opinion, separate a very small, or nonexistent, margin into a very large one. Except for crazy smart people who get 35+ or whatnot.

I disagree. I can see why the test may seem hard, but I think its all in the mind. The test is not that hard at all, it only tests intro physics, chemistry, intro to orgo and biosciences- how can it be hard?. Alot of people psych themselves out because they are not confident enough in their science backgrounds and at the back of their minds get discouraged when they get something wrong- this makes the test hard, but it is not really that hard at all.
I saw this alot in students who first seem to join the test prep classes and ask their instructor for "the answer". they get discouraged when you show them the fault of their thinking. Alot of times , they just want to get the answer and move on to the next question. Many students get discouraged when they do bad on their diagnostic test, they want someone else to show it to them how its done, they dont' want to do it themselves- this attitude is the problem. In my opinion, a person doesn't have to be an einstein, all he/she needs to do is address the weak areas and learn to think through the test. The students who learn their own method of doing the test tend to do alot better than students who delude themselves with the ideas of "smartness" or intelligence or want other people to show it to them. This ofcourse, is all my personal opinion.

 

[HemaOncoDoc]

I disagree. I can see why the test may seem hard, but I think its all in the mind. The test is not that hard at all, it only tests intro physics, chemistry, intro to orgo and biosciences- how can it be hard?. Alot of people psych themselves out because they are not confident enough in their science backgrounds and at the back of their minds get discouraged when they get something wrong- this makes the test hard, but it is not really that hard at all.
I saw this alot in students who first seem to join the test prep classes and ask their instructor for "the answer". they get discouraged when you show them the fault of their thinking. Alot of times , they just want to get the answer and move on to the next question. Many students get discouraged when they do bad on their diagnostic test, they want someone else to show it to them how its done, they dont' want to do it themselves- this attitude is the problem. In my opinion, a person doesn't have to be an einstein, all he/she needs to do is address the weak areas and learn to think through the test. The students who learn their own method of doing the test tend to do alot better than students who delude themselves with the ideas of "smartness" or intelligence or want other people to show it to them. This ofcourse, is all my personal opinion.

In theory, most of what you said is true. However, it is easier said, than done. That is why Kaplan, Princeton Review, etc are making loads of money on test prep. If it was such an easy test, then you would have a great number of higher scores. It is true that the MCAT is a mind game to some extent, but it is still the means of getting into med school.

Once you're in med school, you are competing with all the other Type A obsessive compulsive individuals who excelled in some form or fashion.

Oh, by the way, congrats on your MCAT.

 

[Saregamapadanis]

I don't know if I should be irritated at these comments or smile so I'll do both 😡 🙂

Sure, I meant it as both. 😀👍

I'm 95% sure that even if my husband and I were both accepted and chose to matriculate at a particular school I would still retake

wow, thats admirable. But if I was in your situation and was accepted to a school, I would save myself the nuisance of going through another 8 (5?) hour test, good luck on the test by the way, the sky is the limit for your grade 👍.

 

[Saregamapadanis]

In theory, most of what you said is true. However, it is easier said, than done. That is why Kaplan, Princeton Review, etc are making loads of money on test prep. If it was such an easy test, then you would have a great number of higher scores. It is true that the MCAT is a mind game to some extent, but it is still the means of getting into med school.

Once you're in med school, you are competing with all the other Type A obsessive compulsive individuals who excelled in some form or fashion.

Oh, by the way, congrats on your MCAT.

So true man, there are people who take the kaplan class twice or thrice. I guess if you have money to spare, how can you complain?

Thanks for that congrats, I am looking forward to joining you med students next year, though i heard there isn't much competition once you are in school, there is alot of collaboration.

 

[HemaOncoDoc]

So true man, there are people who take the kaplan class twice or thrice. I guess if you have money to spare, how can you complain?

Thanks for that congrats, I am looking forward to joining you med students next year, though i heard there isn't much competition once you are in school, there is alot of collaboration.

Yeah, whatever floats your boat. I found that prepatory classes keep you on track. It is so easy to get off track when you have school and the rest of your life to juggle at the same time.

You're most welcome. Honestly, it depends on the school that you go to. There are bound to be gunners at every school. However, I have friends at other schools who feel as though there is little or no comaraderie among classmates. I suppose it depends on the matriculants and the school itself.

 

[Saregamapadanis]

Yeah, whatever floats your boat. I found that prepatory classes keep you on track. It is so easy to get off track when you have school and the rest of your life to juggle at the same time.

Absolutely, I meant no disrespect to any of the testpreps.

You're most welcome. Honestly, it depends on the school that you go to. There are bound to be gunners at every school. However, I have friends at other schools who feel as though there is little or no comaraderie among classmates. I suppose it depends on the matriculants and the school itself.

Yep, as long as you end up being a good physician, its all good.

Good luck 👍 with studying!!

 

[t-funk]

The students who learn their own method of doing the test tend to do alot better than students who delude themselves with the ideas of "smartness" or intelligence or want other people to show it to them. This ofcourse, is all my personal opinion.

I think that is kind of what I was trying to say when I said it wasn't memorization or knowledge but more about knowing how to take an MCAT. And, unfortunately for me, I learned that too late in the studying game. Another thing is that at least my MCAT went way beyond basic sciences. There was a need to apply basic sciences to these convoluted, poorly worded, segments into something comprehensible in a very quick time frame. I just think that the vast majority of pre-meds are highly intelligent, competitive people who have been very successful and I don't think there is as much differentiation in abilities as the MCAT might suggest. That's just my opinion though.

The one thing that gets to me is people that come on to this board without an MCAT score and say they know they will do well bc they always do well on standardized tests. I just want to scream that 90% of the people who have gotten to the point of applying to medical school do well on standardized tests. It means nothing. Other than the GRE, I have never gotten less than a 99% on any other standardized test in my entire life and I still got a 27. The competition on this test is extraordinary in my opinion.

Anyway, you did amazing on your MCAT and I don't think you should play down how well you did. Will you be my study partner next year ... please?😀

 

[Saregamapadanis]

Anyway, you did amazing on your MCAT and I don't think you should play down how well you did. Will you be my study partner next year ... please?😀

Sure! lets DO it 🙄
and thanks for that mcat compliment future doctor funk! 🙂

 

[EEL08]

wow, thats admirable. But if I was in your situation and was accepted to a school, I would save myself the nuisance of going through another 8 (5?) hour test, good luck on the test by the way, the sky is the limit for your grade 👍.

Well of course it's also not just me I have to worry about. If I was the only one trying to get accepted it might be different. I somehow don't think that we'll know for sure where we'll be moving to by then. It would be great though to get to make the decision whether or not I want to take it instead of it being necessary. 😀

 

[t-funk]

Sure! lets DO it 🙄
and thanks for that mcat compliment future doctor funk! 🙂

Woo Hoo ! 🙂

 

[CDO2012]

When you're planning on taking your MCAT for the first time, study so hard you will only have to take it once. Take it from me. I feel like my 22 is going to really hold me back. I really could kick myself. I have to admit I'm jealous of my husband. He scored a 28 on the MCAT and has three interviews already. UNECOM e-mailed him encouraging him to send in the secondary and UMDNJ called a left a message saying they're very interested in him as a candidate but first they need his secondary and LORs. He was actually accepted to an allopathic school in the 90's with a 23. Sometimes I think it would help if I was an underrepresented minority, not just a minority. Okay that's my self-pity vent that I had to get out somehow. Now it's time to suck it up and keep studying to take the MCAT again.

Don't feel so bad... I know someone that got in w/ a 20.. if you have other good aspects of your application you still have a chance.. also the earlier you apply the easier it is to get in... just work what you have 🙂

 

[Old Grunt]

The day I set foot into Medical School as a student is the day my MCAT is a distant memory.

It just gets you in the door, you do the rest. Look at it that way and nug it out.

 

[POPS45]

EEL I think you have a def. chance to get in my stats are similar to yours I have a 3.15 gpa and a 3.02 sci with a 24 MCAT. I was able to get a couple of interviews and was accepted to Touro NY. Just interview well and you will get in.

 

[EEL08]

The thing is, I really feel like I'm a good applicant otherwise. I know my GPA isn't stellar but it's not bad. I can't do a post-bacc to bring it up and even so I'm not sure how much it would actually raise my GPA. Plus it's obvious that my weakness is the MCAT score. I'm actually fine getting interviews and accepted in the spring semester. I'm more impatient because there are some classes I might need to take depending on which school might offer me an interview. It helps if a school is going to reject me eventually that they might as well just do it now so I won't have to register for english and/or math and/or biochemistry. I'm pretty sure I'm set at DCOM already. It would also be nice to know earlier rather than later because we'll have to look for daycares and preschools. I know a lot have a waiting list so knowing that ahead of time would be nice. Plus I need time to adjust to the idea of them actually going to daycare because when that day comes I can almost guarantee I will bawl like a baby.

Okay now let me ask your opinions on this PCOM situation. So my husband honestly is not thrilled about PCOM due to the LOR requirement that he has not been able to meet. I tried to encourage him to contact PCOM again (they already e-mailed him back the canned response a while back) to find out what he can do or if he can make a replacement. I told him he should just call PCOM but he's really not interested in asking again so he told me I could ask. It would be weird though calling on my husband's behalf. I guess generally he's just turned off by the school in general because that requirement is not very non-trad friendly. There is a miraculous chance that he is accepted to UMDNJ and I'm accepted to PCOM and we could make it work because they're 30-60 minutes away from each other. However, I almost feel weird applying without him. It would be nice if we could both be close to the kids. I don't know. I was planning on completing the PCOM secondary this weekend but I'm just not sure. I was hoping I could get some input from you guys cause ya'll* are awesome! 😀

*I'm originally from IL so I don't normally say ya'll. Just happened to sound good in this instance. 😀

 

[Beau Geste]

I'm from IL and I say y'all. But then again, I'm from the Southern IL boonies.

 

[AIF]

EEL, from what I've read on here you and your husband are going into this from the team approach and that makes it significantly harder. You have done a LOT to try and make sure you're together, I think it's perfectly justified to ask him to follow up the PCOM issue. The more doors you open (even if you push them), the better.

BTW- I have great respect for what you two are trying to do. At the end of the day my husband is my biggest supporter and I know I'll always have a career but I'm damn lucky to have a happy family, I'm sure you feel the same 🙂

 

[EEL08]

I'm from IL and I say y'all. But then again, I'm from the Southern IL boonies.

And I'm from the bustling metropolis of Southern IL.

 

[EEL08]

EEL, from what I've read on here you and your husband are going into this from the team approach and that makes it significantly harder. You have done a LOT to try and make sure you're together, I think it's perfectly justified to ask him to follow up the PCOM issue. The more doors you open (even if you push them), the better.

BTW- I have great respect for what you two are trying to do. At the end of the day my husband is my biggest supporter and I know I'll always have a career but I'm damn lucky to have a happy family, I'm sure you feel the same 🙂

It definitely does make it a lot more difficult. He was just making the point with me on the phone that if I apply to PCOM and he doesn't then we have the chance of going to schools close by without whatever stigma might exist of being a married couple. He already thinks we were rejected from one school because of that. I told him if we get rejected from a school because of that then it's not a school I want to attend anyway. Honestly, I'm open to having to wait another year if he gets into a school he really loves and I'm not accepted there. He does have 10 years on me after all. It would just be easier in regards to timing. If we finish at the same time we could do the residency match together without him having to wait a year and find something to do in the meantime. AIF, my husband is definitely my biggest supporter as well. We do have a great family and I always knew I would love being married. Our kids are amazing too even the times when they're driving me crazy. 😍

 

[LauraDO]

The thing is, I really feel like I'm a good applicant otherwise. I know my GPA isn't stellar but it's not bad. I can't do a post-bacc to bring it up and even so I'm not sure how much it would actually raise my GPA. Plus it's obvious that my weakness is the MCAT score. I'm actually fine getting interviews and accepted in the spring semester. I'm more impatient because there are some classes I might need to take depending on which school might offer me an interview. It helps if a school is going to reject me eventually that they might as well just do it now so I won't have to register for english and/or math and/or biochemistry. I'm pretty sure I'm set at DCOM already. It would also be nice to know earlier rather than later because we'll have to look for daycares and preschools. I know a lot have a waiting list so knowing that ahead of time would be nice. Plus I need time to adjust to the idea of them actually going to daycare because when that day comes I can almost guarantee I will bawl like a baby.

Okay now let me ask your opinions on this PCOM situation. So my husband honestly is not thrilled about PCOM due to the LOR requirement that he has not been able to meet. I tried to encourage him to contact PCOM again (they already e-mailed him back the canned response a while back) to find out what he can do or if he can make a replacement. I told him he should just call PCOM but he's really not interested in asking again so he told me I could ask. It would be weird though calling on my husband's behalf. I guess generally he's just turned off by the school in general because that requirement is not very non-trad friendly. There is a miraculous chance that he is accepted to UMDNJ and I'm accepted to PCOM and we could make it work because they're 30-60 minutes away from each other. However, I almost feel weird applying without him. It would be nice if we could both be close to the kids. I don't know. I was planning on completing the PCOM secondary this weekend but I'm just not sure. I was hoping I could get some input from you guys cause ya'll* are awesome! 😀

*I'm originally from IL so I don't normally say ya'll. Just happened to sound good in this instance. 😀

What is the LOR issue did I miss this?

 

[EEL08]

What is the LOR issue did I miss this?

Well PCOM requires a LOR from your pre-med advisor or committee. If that's not possible, which it isn't for either of us, then it has be your advisor or dean of the college from the school that granted your undergraduate degree. The dean and advisor are not the same ones as when he was there. He has tried to contact the departmental advisor who has not responded. He contacted the interim dean who said he does not write LORs for people he doesn't know and if my husband just needs a letter stating that he is in good standing he can get one from the registrar's office. I still have to e-mail the academic dean of my school to see if he will write one which I'm sure won't be a problem.

 

[LauraDO]

Well PCOM requires a LOR from your pre-med advisor or committee. If that's not possible, which it isn't for either of us, then it has be your advisor or dean of the college from the school that granted your undergraduate degree. The dean and advisor are not the same ones as when he was there. He has tried to contact the departmental advisor who has not responded. He contacted the interim dean who said he does not write LORs for people he doesn't know and if my husband just needs a letter stating that he is in good standing he can get one from the registrar's office. I still have to e-mail the academic dean of my school to see if he will write one which I'm sure won't be a problem.

That is what I thought you might be referring to, I dont know for PCOM PA but I talked with the people at PCOM GA about that same issue and they told me it was fine for me to have a letter from two science professors instead (like many of the other schools do)