Want to reapply this year but am uncertain...

[DrFlower]

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Hello everyone! 🙂

I've been lurking in these forums for over a year, but was too bashful to post. 😉 At any rate, I've decided it's time to post my dilemma in hopes to get some advice (encouraging or otherwise) on what I should do.

In a nutshell, I'm a sort of non-traditional reapplicant (I've been doing research at a pharmaceutical company for several years), with an overall GPA of 3.44 and a BCPM GPA of 3.29. I've taken the MCAT twice--the first time I achieved a disappointing 27Q (8V, 8P, 11B) and the second time I received a dismal 28N (9V, 10P, 9B). 😱 Not a significant improvement. I applied after my first MCATS a couple of years ago and just received the latter set of scores.

My activities include significant research experience (many abstracts, a few co-authorships, presentations at national conferences, and am writing a paper right now) but also clinical and community volunteering, along with CNA (certified nursing assistant) training and EMT training. I am planning on taking a few graduate courses as a special student. As far as other life experiences, I have experienced a couple of difficult situations that resulted in my GPA plummeting one of my years as an undergrad prior to my first application but also solidified my desire in pursuing a career in medicine.

Guys, what should I do? Retake the MCATS? Wait another year after more classes? Do I even have a chance?

Thanks so much--any advice is fantastically appreciated.

 

[sunflower79]

from one flower to another,

from where I'm standing, your application looks awesome except for the mcat (clinical experience notwithstanding). Are you not a testtaker? tried using review books? If you break 30 you are so in. And you seem capable of it, given your score trend, though you have to evaluate if you gave it your all the last time.

You can consider the following:
a) take the mcat one last time. This depends on your thoughts on the above.
b) apply anyway to a wide range of schools, including DO schools.

you could do (a), then (b) if the scores don't pan out. But at least you gave it another shot, and chances are low that it would go down (statistically speaking anyway, see the mcat announcement booklet). It's your call.

also, when doing graduate coursework, make sure they are in the hard sciences and not public health or something. Or retake any undergrad science courses you got below a C in. You need to pull up your bcpm even if nominally (remember the upward trend counts).

good luck!
~sunflower

 

[Monkeyguts]

A 28R got me into three schools this year. Pretty dismal, huh? 😀

 

[DrFlower]

Thank you very much, sunflower79. 🙂 I absolutely agree with the MCAT--I know I can break 30, given results from my practice exams, and also know that given my GPA, it makes the MCAT even more critical. Monkeyguts, I think it's absolutely awesome (congratulations!) that you got accepted to three schools with a 28R! It's encouraging if anything else--your GPA however, must have been better than mine. May I ask which schools? And by dismal (I truly don't think a 28 is really that bad), it was just to apply to my situation, because my GPA is so low.

Do you think, however, I should wait to apply for the next cycle, after I've taken my graduate classes? Because I'm a reapplicant, I really want to make sure I've done everything possible to make my application the best than it can possibly be. At the same token, the thought of waiting another year... Well, a woman's gotta do what she's gotta do if she wants to become a physician, right? 😉

 

[Monkeyguts]

I PM'd you DrFlower

 

[sunflower79]

Do you think, however, I should wait to apply for the next cycle, after I've taken my graduate classes? Because I'm a reapplicant, I really want to make sure I've done everything possible to make my application the best than it can possibly be. At the same token, the thought of waiting another year... Well, a woman's gotta do what she's gotta do if she wants to become a physician, right? 😉

One way to look at it is to say, you've waited several years already, what's another one? It would be to your advantage to have the grades from your graduate coursework under your belt. It also gives you more time to brush up whatever else needs honing in your app. I've been through this, send me a PM if you have more ?'s.

best,
~sunflower

 

[Can U Feel It?]

Actually some schools may consider your MCAT to be a 30 if they take your highest score from each section. I believe that Tufts is one school that does this.

 

[Luck]

DrFlower,

Apply to osteopathic schools also so that you could at least get in somewhere.

 

[DrFlower]

Actually some schools may consider your MCAT to be a 30 if they take your highest score from each section. I believe that Tufts is one school that does this.

Does anyone know which schools take the highest of your scores besides Tufts?

 

[DeLaughterDO]

DrFlower,

Apply to osteopathic schools also so that you could at least get in somewhere.

May I repeat - DO NOT apply to osteopathic schools "just so you can get in somewhere!" If you are interested in osteopathic medicine and it's philosophy, then apply. If not, don't.

Jonethan De.

 

[DrFlower]

DeLaughterDO--I totally agree.

People should go into medicine--whether it be allopathic or osteopathic--because they love what each represents and encompasses what they want to pursue. Choosing DO to just "get in somewhere" is silly--because if it's not where you want to go, how happy would you be?

 

[Amy B]

Did you talk with the schools that rejected you? Schools are totally willing to meet with you and talk about your application and what it was that held you out of their school. Call the dean of admissions where you have been rejected and set up a time to meet or atime to talk on the phone.

From your stats and your other things, you should have been able to get in somewhere.

How many schools did you apply to?
How were you during your interviews?
How is your personal statement?

If it isn't your grades holding you out, then you should not waste your time or money taking more classes. I know lots of people who have gotten in with even a lower MCAT than yours. 28 is average and I wouldn't suggest you take it over.

Which schools did you apply to? Were they the top schools that demand 4.0, 37 MCATs?

 

[DrFlower]

Hi Amy B,

Thank you for your reply. 🙂 I didn't apply to very many schools, and a lot of them were the more competitive ones. Not to mention I applied very late in the cycle (I submitted my AMCAS in October, for crying out loud! What the heck was I thinking?! Oh wait a minute, I wasn't! 😳 ) All in all, I really did feel my attempt the first time round was a bit weak, rushed, and not planned well. I received one interview which went extremely well, and I was waitlisted at that school I think because of the interview. When I spoke with the director of admissions, she told me that my MCATs and grades were a bit weak and that's why I wasn't outright admitted. So my goal was to raise my MCATs to at least a 30 and take a few classes to raise my GPA. Unfortunately I wasn't able to hack the first and was unable to take classes until now because my fiance was out of work and I needed to fend for the both of us in an expensive city.

 

[Luck]

DeLaughterDO--I totally agree.

People should go into medicine--whether it be allopathic or osteopathic--because they love what each represents and encompasses what they want to pursue. Choosing DO to just "get in somewhere" is silly--because if it's not where you want to go, how happy would you be?

You probably don't even know enough about DO to not want to get it. If you do more research you'll realize that instead of wasting your time trying to raise your MCAT you can become a doctor already by applying DO. What philosophy do you have to be into? It's just another way to become a doctor. STOP WASTING YOUR TIME AND APPLY TO DO SCHOOLS NOW. 🙄

 

[Indebt4Life]

From what you have stated, I think that you have a very good chance of getting into an allopathic school. Don't go the DO route. I think that your MCAT is good but your GPA is a tad low for a non-trad and if you intend to apply as an out of stater. Instead of retaking the MCAT, take some post-bac classes to raise your GPA. All of your ECs are amazing and will land you an acceptance.

 

[anitra627]

from one flower to another,

from where I'm standing, your application looks awesome except for the mcat (clinical experience notwithstanding). Are you not a testtaker? tried using review books? If you break 30 you are so in. And you seem capable of it, given your score trend, though you have to evaluate if you gave it your all the last time.

You can consider the following:
a) take the mcat one last time. This depends on your thoughts on the above.
b) apply anyway to a wide range of schools, including DO schools.

you could do (a), then (b) if the scores don't pan out. But at least you gave it another shot, and chances are low that it would go down (statistically speaking anyway, see the mcat announcement booklet). It's your call.

also, when doing graduate coursework, make sure they are in the hard sciences and not public health or something. Or retake any undergrad science courses you got below a C in. You need to pull up your bcpm even if nominally (remember the upward trend counts).

good luck!
~sunflower

"also, when doing graduate coursework, make sure they are in the hard sciences and not public health or something."


sigh. this makes me so sad. i just do not understand why public health is so looked down upon in the MD and even Pre MD (!) world. i don't mean to criticize your for your opinion- it does seem true that allo schools look much more favorable on hard science grad work than public health grad work but the fact that that's the way it is makes me sick. you know, i've been going through this process for a long time and regardless of outcomes, there are a few things in the world that piss me off as much as the U.S. med school system. Why is it that med schools are so insistant on doing what's "Traditional" rather than what's actually going to make someone a better physician. I agree that a load of hard science work for someone with a low GPA proves to adcoms that the work in med school can be handled- but i also believe that the public health perspective is extremely important to modern medicine. and i am so tired of this rift between medicine and public health. i simply do not understand why it has to be this way, though i can venture to guess that it's because public health often comes up under the institutional shadow of med programs at many schools.

so here's my question. can anyone tell me which schools out there are a little more open-minded and a little less sadistic about this particular issue? is there any medical school out there that ostensibly works toward the HEALTH of people who actually thinks that (gasp!) public HEALTH experience is important? please share.

 

[Bunsen Honeydew]

I didn't even realize the rift, or whatever you want to call it, existed until I read some stuff on this board. I'm interested in doing a dual program; I'm WL right now at 2 med schools and admitted to a really good MPH program, which I'm probably going to defer. I'd rather do a dual program, but unfortunately didn't get into the MD school I applied to that had one.

I think that the deal is that if you took the MPH to clearly better your GPA, which might be obvious when adcoms look at your app, then it may be looked down on. Although, like you said, I'm not sure why other master's program wouldn't have the same effect. MPH is a great degree and program. I'm interested in policy stuff, but also epi, which is what I'm admitted into. Epi is hardly "soft" science, as you know. My experience (talking to M.D. who have both) is that it is a great combo degree, providing the big picture (communities and populations) and small picture (treating patients one-on-one). I've met a couple of MDs who were going to leave medicine for a variety of reasons, and went and got their MPHs, and are now applying both in unique ways. Very cool.

I don't think you have to worry too much abuot which schools look down on an MPH applicant -- I can't imagine any do, although individual interviewers can be ignorant anywhere. If you're located in NYC like I am, most schools would welcome the dual degree. Check out Sinai -- they have a great community-based medicine program. Also Einstein, Columbia, and Downstate.

Anyway, good luck to you. I'm sure you will have lots of positive things to say about your experience that will impress adcoms re: your decisions and degree!

BH

 

[Laz]

For those of you who didnt get in this cycle and are reapplying for next year.... are you asking for LOR's from the same people? Will they just send the same one they did previously? Is that allowed? Im confused

 

[Amy B]

My premed advisor saved my letters from previously applying. So I used 3 old ones (2 years old) and got 2 new ones.

Who sent your letters for you? Do they have copies? Are they less than 2 years old? If so, you can reuse them and then you only have to get a couple new ones.

If you are going to use the same people and they don't mind writing them again, then have them do a new one. They can say the same thing, but that way they can put this year's date. However sometimes you don't want to ask them again or feel uncomfortable asking them again, or in my case some of my writers had left the university and from my EC had quit her position.

No school ever questioned the fact that 3 of my letters were from April, 2002.