I heard that with a 3.5 and 9 9 9 on the mcat you get an auto interview invite if you are IS. Do you still have to do the secondary?
If any of you IS and WWAMI people wouldn't mind posting some stats and general info about your application I'd really appreciate it. I will be applying IS for 2009 and am getting kind of anxious.
Also, if you wouldn't mind taking a look at my MDapps that'd be great. I will add that I am very interested in primary care and possibly getting my MPH to focus on health promotion in urban underserved communities.
Alright, I'm going to be very forthright and maybe a little harsh in my criticism of your application, so here goes.
First, to answer your question, here is how the process works for in-state applicants. A weighted GPA and a cumulative MCAT of 27 (9s on each) will grant you an automatic interview. However, that doesn't mean you don't fill out a secondary. You go through the whole process, just as every other applicant does. You especially WANT to do this as well, because there is an autobiography to write in the secondary, and you clearly have a long list of things you have done that have led you to medicine. Once your secondary is complete, you will receive an interview almost immediately (maybe a week or so).
Now, as for your application, I looked at your activities, GPA, and MCAT. I will tell you that my MCAT is a 29, and last year when I applied, and got rejected, and met with the dean afterwards to discuss improvements, he alluded to the fact that my MCAT score was low. An MCAT of 27 will hurt you a lot for applying to UW. It will be fine for many of the other schools on your list (though you shouldn't waste your money at USC, because I'll tell you right now that they will offer you a secondary, and definitely not offer you an interview, simply because they lean heavily on scores, and with a sub 3.5 and 27, you would need a miracle or connection to make that happen... I know you don't want to, but re-taking the MCAT and getting above a 30 would be very beneficial to your UW app. Your ECs are very strong, but the UW doesn't ignore MCAT or GPA in favor of those, they look at the whole package.
You will undoubtedly get into a med school this time around, but don't put all your eggs in the UW basket. It seems they really enjoy rejecting people and having them re-apply, to see what changes they will make and that they are dedicated to going to UW and primary care. I would retake the MCAT as soon as possible. If UW is your absolute biggest desire, it won't hurt you, since you already have an auto-interview. Getting above a 30 will be a tremendous help.
**This is all my opinion, and not the word of the school. Any facts I have spit out are 99% from personal experience, or the word of other applicants. 1% is from the mouths of admissions employees. Additionally, take everything I have said with a grain of salt. I am stating my opinion and what I think will most benefit your application, since it seems like you have already put your heart into UW.
As a side note, don't get too discouraged if you don't get into UW. I didn't get in last year, and I may not get in again this year. I was really bummed last year, and it's not worth the heartache. You're going to be a doctor eventually, you may just train somewhere you hadn't planned. This is a stressful process, but it doesn't need to be. If you invest too much emotion, that's when you begin to let yourself down when disappointment strikes. With every new happening in the process, look at it from a positive perspective, and be thankful you're a smart enough individual to even apply to med school
🙂
