To secondary or to not secondary...

[echobot3000]

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Hey guys, I had a question about secondaries.

I got a 25P on my MCAT that I took in July and have a 3.31 overall GPA and and a 3.1 science GPA. I had my AACOMAS verified a week ago and received secondaries from my schools this week. I just took the MCAT on Sept. 8th and indicated that I was doing so on my AACOMAS app. I've heard that secondaries should be sent out as soon as possible to show interest in the schools, but I don't know with my current stats if they're just having me fill out secondaries so they can get my money knowing that I have little chance of getting interviewed. I also didn't know if they are even going to look at my app until they get the new score. Soooooo....should I go ahead and start filling and sending out my secondaries, or should I wait till I get my new score?

 

[godless]

I think at this point, since they already sent you the secondary you might as well just return it. Maybe your lower stats will make you more focused on writing a better essay. What's another 500 in fees in the long process to get into med school...

 

[ksmajmudar]

Hey guys, I had a question about secondaries.

I got a 25P on my MCAT that I took in July and have a 3.31 overall GPA and and a 3.1 science GPA. I had my AACOMAS verified a week ago and received secondaries from my schools this week. I just took the MCAT on Sept. 8th and indicated that I was doing so on my AACOMAS app. I've heard that secondaries should be sent out as soon as possible to show interest in the schools, but I don't know with my current stats if they're just having me fill out secondaries so they can get my money knowing that I have little chance of getting interviewed. I also didn't know if they are even going to look at my app until they get the new score. Soooooo....should I go ahead and start filling and sending out my secondaries, or should I wait till I get my new score?

Well, some schools screen before sending out their secondaries. If you don't mind sharing, where have you heard back from?

 

[iceman132]

Out of curiosity.... Do they always mail you secondaries? Someone said that you have to go to the website for some of them?

 

[ksmajmudar]

Out of curiosity.... Do they always mail you secondaries? Someone said that you have to go to the website for some of them?

I have never been mailed a secondary. All of them were received through email. Some schools have you fill out online applications and send them in that way. Other schools send you an application that you print out, fill out, and mail in to them.

 

[echobot3000]

Well, some schools screen before sending out their secondaries. If you don't mind sharing, where have you heard back from?

Well, I sent my app to 9 D.O schools. The ones that have given me secondaries are: both LECOMS (Erie and Bradenton), both ATSU (KCOM and SOMA), CCOM, DMU, and AZCOM. The ones that haven't are KCUMB and NYCOM/NYIT. I'm hoping that I receive secondaries from them next week. Do you recommend me going ahead and sending my secondaries without waiting for my new MCAT, as well?

 

[echobot3000]

Out of curiosity.... Do they always mail you secondaries? Someone said that you have to go to the website for some of them?

Yeah, I got mine through email and they give you a pin and directions on how to create an account and submit your app.

 

[DrWily]

Well, I sent my app to 9 D.O schools. The ones that have given me secondaries are: both LECOMS (Erie and Bradenton), both ATSU (KCOM and SOMA), CCOM, DMU, and AZCOM. The ones that haven't are KCUMB and NYCOM/NYIT. I'm hoping that I receive secondaries from them next week. Do you recommend me going ahead and sending my secondaries without waiting for my new MCAT, as well?

KCUMB has a cut off of 3.25 sGPA and cGPA so you likely won't be seeing that one. NYCOM has their secondary on their website for people to turn in so they don't notify you with an email.

 

[ksmajmudar]

KCUMB has a cut off of 3.25 sGPA and cGPA so you likely won't be seeing that one. NYCOM has their secondary on their website for people to turn in so they don't notify you with an email.

Err....I don't know how true that is, I have an interview at KCUMB for the 28th of september, and I have a 3.08 sGPA.

 

[DrWily]

Err....I don't know how true that is, I have an interview at KCUMB for the 28th of september, and I have a 3.08 sGPA.

Oh Damn, really? It's on their admissions website and I got a rejection letter from the pre-secondary so I thought it was true.

 

[echobot3000]

Oh Damn, really? It's on their admissions website and I got a rejection letter from the pre-secondary so I thought it was true.

Yeah, I went and checked and saw the same thing on their website. I didn't know that until you mentioned it. Did you email them about the secondary and then they sent you a rejection letter? or Did they just send you a rejection letter?

 

[ksmajmudar]

Oh Damn, really? It's on their admissions website and I got a rejection letter from the pre-secondary so I thought it was true.

Hmm... I think the reason they're interviewing me (I could be wrong) is because I've taken a lot of upper level science classes, including genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, histology, systems physiology, microbiology, cell biology, neurobiology, advanced cellular biology, advanced neurobiology, and I've done research and presented it at a conference. My understanding is that they place heavy emphasis on research and a rigorous science curriculum, so I figured that's why they wanted to interview me. I could be wrong though, the adcoms are truly mysterious at times!

 

[DrWily]

Yeah, I went and checked and saw the same thing on their website. I didn't know that until you mentioned it. Did you email them about the secondary and then they sent you a rejection letter? or Did they just send you a rejection letter?

I got a lovely letter in the snail mail about the rejection. I sent the director of admissions an appeal (figured it couldn't hurt) saying that I have a good upward trend in grades doing well in upper division chemistry courses and that Im currently taking classes this fall (just one class). She emailed me back saying they'll re-evaluate my standing when I submit my fall transcripts. I'm not holding my breathe since one class isnt going to bump me up magically to 3.25