what are my chances?

[alexandertg6]

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Hello and thank you for taking the time to read this.

I am currently about to be a first time reapplicant, and I need some advice on where I might have a chance of getting in. I graduated from UNC in 3 years this past May with a B.S in Biology (original, no?). My cGPA and sGPA are both about 3.55 with a strong upward trend (had a 3.0 freshman year-- all Bs... no Cs, but no As either).

First MCAT attempt (last year before I took physics and orgo) was a 32O: VR 9 PS 10 BS 13. Second attempt (this year after taking physics and orgo) was a 35N: 10VR 11PS 14BS.

As far as resume/ECs go I served as president of the UNC chapter of Rotaract (a humanitarian service organization). I have a solid 5 years of clinical experience both paid and unpaid including shadowing and volunteering (which also resulted in a very strong and personally written letter of recommendation from the Chief of Staff of a hospital whom I have known for many years). I also have about a year of research experience in an HIV lab during which time I received a grant for my own project, but I do not have my name on any publications.

In this year off I am founding and programming a software start-up that is very people oriented (and taking MBA level classes on entrepreneurialship) while looking for a medical mission trip to gain international experience and fluency in Spanish (Im almost there).

Last year I interviewed at NYMC, UNC, ECU, UCF, and Wake Forest and was wait listed at Wake Forest and UCF but rejected outright by NYMC, UNC, and ECU >.<... but I did have a 3.4 gpa that may have worked to my disadvantage. Other possibly relevant or irrelevant info: Im 21, technically a white male I think (father is a middle-eastern immigrant and mother is white), and essentially trilingual. Its a shame that makes any difference... but this is the world we live in. Also I have some connections at Duke and UCF.

What are my chances/where might I be likely to get in? I would like to apply to some reach schools (probably Duke) but am not looking for a hardcore research school (like Pritzker or Hopkins... not that I would get in either place lol but hopefully you get the idea)

Thanks again!

Alex

 

[BuffNerd]

It sounds like you are a very good applicant! MCAT is great, GPA not too shabby, good involvement, etc.
Your problem last year may have been only applying to 5 schools.
I think that with your boosted MCAT, continued experience, etc., you should have some success this cycle. I would advise applying to more than 5 schools though. Maybe shoot for 10-15.
Are you a NC resident? Also, maybe buy an MSAR (they're pretty cheap) and look for private schools you're interested in and even state schools that are OOS friendly. I don't have a lot of school-specific suggestions because I don't know if you're looking for a certain region of the country, etc., but an MSAR should give you all the info you need!

PS - hopefully you've already submitted your AMCAS and some secondaries...It's getting kind of late in the cycle if you aren't rolling on all those already.

Good luck!

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

So you graduated from college at age 18?

 

[V5RED]

So you graduated from college at age 18?

OP said he is 21 and just graduated from college in May.

 

[Goblue89]

Hello and thank you for taking the time to read this.

I am currently about to be a first time reapplicant, and I need some advice on where I might have a chance of getting in. I graduated from UNC in 3 years this past May with a B.S in Biology (original, no?). My cGPA and sGPA are both about 3.55 with a strong upward trend (had a 3.0 freshman year-- all Bs... no Cs, but no As either).

First MCAT attempt (last year before I took physics and orgo) was a 32O: VR 9 PS 10 BS 13. Second attempt (this year after taking physics and orgo) was a 35N: 10VR 11PS 14BS.

As far as resume/ECs go I served as president of the UNC chapter of Rotaract (a humanitarian service organization). I have a solid 5 years of clinical experience both paid and unpaid including shadowing and volunteering (which also resulted in a very strong and personally written letter of recommendation from the Chief of Staff of a hospital whom I have known for many years). I also have about a year of research experience in an HIV lab during which time I received a grant for my own project, but I do not have my name on any publications.

In this year off I am founding and programming a software start-up that is very people oriented (and taking MBA level classes on entrepreneurialship) while looking for a medical mission trip to gain international experience and fluency in Spanish (Im almost there).

Last year I interviewed at NYMC, UNC, ECU, UCF, and Wake Forest and was wait listed at Wake Forest and UCF but rejected outright by NYMC, UNC, and ECU >.<... but I did have a 3.4 gpa that may have worked to my disadvantage. Other possibly relevant or irrelevant info: Im 21, technically a white male I think (father is a middle-eastern immigrant and mother is white), and essentially trilingual. Its a shame that makes any difference... but this is the world we live in. Also I have some connections at Duke and UCF.

What are my chances/where might I be likely to get in? I would like to apply to some reach schools (probably Duke) but am not looking for a hardcore research school (like Pritzker or Hopkins... not that I would get in either place lol but hopefully you get the idea)

Thanks again!

Alex

Your story is very similar to mine. I had multiple interviews last year with no acceptances. The only reasonable explanation for this is they were really late in the cycle, or you are just not a good interviewer (like me). When the time comes I would really practice your interviewing skills with friends/family. I have gone to my career center for practice interviews which have been very helpful, maybe you have something like this at your undergrad?

I think whats most important for you is to submit your app ASAP! I bought the MSAR this year and am very glad I did, so I would recommend doing so. I applied much more broadly and picked schools with high OOS acceptance rates. My stats are very similar to yours and I have an interview at George Washington so maybe you want to try there?

 

[alexandertg6]

Thanks for the encouraging responses everyone! I wish I had graduated at 18 haha but I was 20 when I walked. Also I applied to ~10 schools, interviewed at 5, and of the interviews rejected by 3, waitlisted by 2 and accepted by none 🙁...

I am getting ready to submit my AMCAS now... I know it is late, but I was on waitlists... and Im working 20 hours a day and penniless at the moment so i didnt want to apply until I knew I had to. It will work to my disadvantage regardless, but I have been told I am a good interviewer. As my exit interviewer from UNC described me "vanilla ice-cream -- good at everything but spectacular at nothing".

I am a NC resident and really hoping for a UNC level school... That would be fantastic if they would take me... ECU I doubt I have any chance at because I doubt I can convince them I plan on practicing rural primary care and that is literally all they want.

I really am more concerned with just getting in than regional specificity... anywhere that will take me is fair game, but if I had to choose parameters... in a big city with a good name would be nice... but not essential... Any suggestions?

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

Ah when you said "I graduated in 3 years this past May" I thought it meant you had graduated 3 years ago this past May.

My apologies 😳

 

[cyanide12345678]

Hello and thank you for taking the time to read this.

I am currently about to be a first time reapplicant, and I need some advice on where I might have a chance of getting in. I graduated from UNC in 3 years this past May with a B.S in Biology (original, no?). My cGPA and sGPA are both about 3.55 with a strong upward trend (had a 3.0 freshman year-- all Bs... no Cs, but no As either).

First MCAT attempt (last year before I took physics and orgo) was a 32O: VR 9 PS 10 BS 13. Second attempt (this year after taking physics and orgo) was a 35N: 10VR 11PS 14BS.

As far as resume/ECs go I served as president of the UNC chapter of Rotaract (a humanitarian service organization). I have a solid 5 years of clinical experience both paid and unpaid including shadowing and volunteering (which also resulted in a very strong and personally written letter of recommendation from the Chief of Staff of a hospital whom I have known for many years). I also have about a year of research experience in an HIV lab during which time I received a grant for my own project, but I do not have my name on any publications.

In this year off I am founding and programming a software start-up that is very people oriented (and taking MBA level classes on entrepreneurialship) while looking for a medical mission trip to gain international experience and fluency in Spanish (Im almost there).

Last year I interviewed at NYMC, UNC, ECU, UCF, and Wake Forest and was wait listed at Wake Forest and UCF but rejected outright by NYMC, UNC, and ECU >.<... but I did have a 3.4 gpa that may have worked to my disadvantage. Other possibly relevant or irrelevant info: Im 21, technically a white male I think (father is a middle-eastern immigrant and mother is white), and essentially trilingual. Its a shame that makes any difference... but this is the world we live in. Also I have some connections at Duke and UCF.

What are my chances/where might I be likely to get in? I would like to apply to some reach schools (probably Duke) but am not looking for a hardcore research school (like Pritzker or Hopkins... not that I would get in either place lol but hopefully you get the idea)

Thanks again!

Alex

Your numbers look good. Gpa isn't bad at all. The upward trend will ofcourse help that as well. MCAT score is damn good too but more importantly you've done quite a bit of things on the side which is really good. If i were you I'd pick atleast 10 schools and apply broadly. Grab a MSAR. It will really help a lot. But with those stats and experiences your definitely getting interviews in decent schools (by decent I mean 30 and beyond on the us news rankings)...Good luck 😀