- Joined
- Feb 9, 2013
- Messages
- 671
- Reaction score
- 265
Undergrad GPA: 3.3 bcpm and overall, downward trend.
MCAT in 2009: 27 (9/9/9)
MCAT in 2013: 32 (10/11/11)
M.S. in Medical Science with a 3.85 GPA.
EC's:
300 hours Hospice Volunteering
150 Hours volunteering at food pantry
50 hours various other volunteering.
60 hours shadowing.
Working full time since graduating undergrad and through M.S. program.
So I applied this cycle in the first week, sent everything back really quickly. Got an interview at my undergrad institution in Sept...and then nothing. Placed on waitlist and then just got rejected. I'm in FL, so I have a lot of state schools whose stats are not far off. I certainly expected to have more success.
Things I know are weak in my app:
Undergrad GPA - Duh
No Research - I have a friend who works in a lab where I can volunteer. Will be doing little tedious things. The research is on grape genetics so not really related.
LORs - So this is a big one I think. I graduated undergrad in 2010, and never really had great contact with my professors. My M.S. program was basically online so I never got to know my professors well there either. For this past cycle, I had all the required ones...but they were probably weak. Could get good ones from employers and other people I've worked with, but at this point professors are a long shot.
So I'm going to apply again this cycle, and would appreciate any suggestions on things to improve my app in a short time. Would the type of research I could do be beneficial? I did accumulate some of these things (Finished M.S. in December) during the cycle, so will simply having them all when I apply help me significantly? (As opposed to an update). I just feel a bit lost because I don't know what I can do for my weaknesses.
I think I am definitely non-trad at this point, should I try to go outside the LOR reqs from professors and just simply get them from employers, volunteers, physicians? Many schools say you can do this, but everyone here usually just suggests to try to get the required ones. Anyone had success with no LORs from professors?
Also, this is more directed towards my MD application. I did not apply DO last cycle, simply because I thought I would get in and didn't want to spend the money. Will definitely apply DO this time though.
MCAT in 2009: 27 (9/9/9)
MCAT in 2013: 32 (10/11/11)
M.S. in Medical Science with a 3.85 GPA.
EC's:
300 hours Hospice Volunteering
150 Hours volunteering at food pantry
50 hours various other volunteering.
60 hours shadowing.
Working full time since graduating undergrad and through M.S. program.
So I applied this cycle in the first week, sent everything back really quickly. Got an interview at my undergrad institution in Sept...and then nothing. Placed on waitlist and then just got rejected. I'm in FL, so I have a lot of state schools whose stats are not far off. I certainly expected to have more success.
Things I know are weak in my app:
Undergrad GPA - Duh
No Research - I have a friend who works in a lab where I can volunteer. Will be doing little tedious things. The research is on grape genetics so not really related.
LORs - So this is a big one I think. I graduated undergrad in 2010, and never really had great contact with my professors. My M.S. program was basically online so I never got to know my professors well there either. For this past cycle, I had all the required ones...but they were probably weak. Could get good ones from employers and other people I've worked with, but at this point professors are a long shot.
So I'm going to apply again this cycle, and would appreciate any suggestions on things to improve my app in a short time. Would the type of research I could do be beneficial? I did accumulate some of these things (Finished M.S. in December) during the cycle, so will simply having them all when I apply help me significantly? (As opposed to an update). I just feel a bit lost because I don't know what I can do for my weaknesses.
I think I am definitely non-trad at this point, should I try to go outside the LOR reqs from professors and just simply get them from employers, volunteers, physicians? Many schools say you can do this, but everyone here usually just suggests to try to get the required ones. Anyone had success with no LORs from professors?
Also, this is more directed towards my MD application. I did not apply DO last cycle, simply because I thought I would get in and didn't want to spend the money. Will definitely apply DO this time though.