What are some medical school "red flags"

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BiochemMaster

BiochemMaster

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I heard that sometimes ad comes will look for red flags on. Your application to see if you will be a trouble student in the future.
Members don't see this ad.
 
Disciplinary actions for cheating, alcohol, drugs. Failing courses or semesters. Academic dismissal. Periods of time unaccounted for. Getting fired from a job. Retaking the MCAT a very short time after getting a poor, and getting a similar score. Padding GPA with fluff classes, or community college classes.
 
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BiochemMaster said:
I heard that sometimes ad comes will look for red flags on. Your application to see if you will be a trouble student in the future.
Click to expand...

Bad LORs. Truly bad LORs are pretty rare, so when they happen they are a giant, waving, red flag.

A history of academic dishonesty or any institutional action or history with the law that suggests you have less than stellar morals or seem likely to compromise patient care.
 
Last edited:
My first two years of college, I essentially had no ECs. How bad is this?
 
jonnythan said:
Disciplinary actions for cheating, alcohol, drugs. Failing courses or semesters. Academic dismissal. Periods of time unaccounted for. Getting fired from a job. Retaking the MCAT a very short time after getting a poor, and getting a similar score. Padding GPA with fluff classes, or community college classes.
Click to expand...

For the bolded... really? To clarify my surprise: I thought the conventional wisdom was that one's major doesn't matter. Some majors have more 'fluff' classes than others, no? You think this is a red flag?
 
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A serious downward grade trend prior to applying.
Secondary essay quality not matching the pristine perfection of one's Personal Statement.
A sense of entitlement in the PS.
Light courseloads throughout college without significant time-consuming ECs or employment.
LORs with back-handed compliments (like, "Tries to keep his tardiness to a minimum").
An interviewee who has poor eye contact, mumbles consistently, puts feet up on the furniture, picks nose with finger.
 
Catalystik said:
A serious downward grade trend prior to applying.
Secondary essay quality not matching the pristine perfection of one's Personal Statement.
A sense of entitlement in the PS.
Light courseloads throughout college without significant time-consuming ECs or employment.
LORs with back-handed compliments (like, "Tries to keep his tardiness to a minimum").
An interviewee who has poor eye contact, mumbles consistently, puts feet up on the furniture, picks nose with finger.
Click to expand...

Define serious downward trend, don't they take into account during your second semester JR year your studying for the mcat? Also how intense should my eye contact be?
 
listener23 said:
1) Define serious downward trend, don't they take into account during your second semester JR year your studying for the mcat? 2) Also how intense should my eye contact be?
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1) All things are relative, but, eg, 3.5, 3.7, 3.1.

2) Stare with fixed intensity directly into the interviewers eyes with eyelids slightly raised. Don't blink. Avoid all facial expression. Just kidding. Actually, try not to stare at your shoes too much.
 
childish93 said:
Starring in porn between college and potential med school matriculation
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I thought this was the EC that trumps all other ECs..


Oh and to add to the red flags:
- felonies
- cheating /fraud
 
BiochemMaster said:
I heard that sometimes ad comes will look for red flags on. Your application to see if you will be a trouble student in the future.
Click to expand...
Calling them "ad comes."
But in all seriousness, anything that would indicate that you are a person of questionable character or that you are not ready for the academic rigor of medical school is a red flag, in my opinion.
 
In addition to those items mentioned above:

A 4.0 gpa with multiple withdrawals. It looks too much like someone was protecting the gpa above all else.

Being rude or condescending to anyone on campus at any time during interview day or treating any medical school employee like your maid or valet. (Don't hand a staffer your coat and expect them to hang it up for you!)
 
I'd add that mentioning one's mental illness can potentially be a red flag. I don't know how such things are best handled in an application, especially as they often play important roles in people's lives, but I do know that there have been a number of SDN threads devoted to them.
 
No, we expect you to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. In medical school, you'll be taking the MCAT from ever 3-5 weeks, or at least 2x/semester.

I'd say a downward trend is something that looks like a plateau with a severe fall off in years 3-4 or year 4.

I'll be posting a list of interview do's and don'ts (and have done so in the past) once interview season starts this fall.

One more thing that's a red flag: Very uneven performance. For example,
FR: 3.2
SO: 3.6
JR: 3.1
SR: 3.4

To be a credible candidate, you're expected to excel, and demonstrate that you can survive medical school. I don't want you acing Anatomy, and Histology as an MS1, but failing Biochem and Micro.

Define serious downward trend, don't they take into account during your second semester JR year your studying for the mcat?
 
Did someone mention that medical schools will give you leeway for a low GPA for a semester for studying for the MCAT? Cause that does not seem right. Medical students and doctors have so much to do, and a key quality of a doctor is to NOT let external factors affect your performance and practice. Also, it shows poor planning, why would you wait till junior year to take it?
 
BiochemMaster said:
Did someone mention that medical schools will give you leeway for a low GPA for a semester for studying for the MCAT? Cause that does not seem right. Medical students and doctors have so much to do, and a key quality of a doctor is to NOT let external factors affect your performance and practice. Also, it shows poor planning, why would you wait till junior year to take it?
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone is going to "give leeway for MCAT studying", but people would wait until junior year to take it because that's generally when the prereqs are finished. Gen chem 1/2, bio 1/2 freshman year... orgo 1/2 and physics 1/2 sophomore year.. mcat junior year, or summer between sophomore and junior, etc.

Look, don't overthink this. Don't get caught up in the details. Get good grades, do well on the MCAT, slowly build a portfolio of quality clinical experience and humanitarian efforts. Succeed.
 
Goro said:
No, we expect you to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. In medical school, you'll be taking the MCAT from ever 3-5 weeks, or at least 2x/semester.

I'd say a downward trend is something that looks like a plateau with a severe fall off in years 3-4 or year 4.

I'll be posting a list of interview do's and don'ts (and have done so in the past) once interview season starts this fall.

One more thing that's a red flag: Very uneven performance. For example,
FR: 3.2
SO: 3.6
JR: 3.1
SR: 3.4

To be a credible candidate, you're expected to excel, and demonstrate that you can survive medical school. I don't want you acing Anatomy, and Histology as an MS1, but failing Biochem and Micro.

Define serious downward trend, don't they take into account during your second semester JR year your studying for the mcat?
Click to expand...

Uh oh. This is kind of like my performance.

Would a "check mark" trend count as a red flag? For example:

Freshmen: 3.6

SO: 3.4

Jr: 3.1

Sr. 3.7
 
I don't think it's too worrisome. I would surmise that something bad happened in years 2-3 and you finally came out of the spin by year 4? I would hope that year 4 had some rigorous coursework too. I'd ask at interviews.

GypsyHummus said:
Uh oh. This is kind of like my performance.

Would a "check mark" trend count as a red flag? For example:

Freshmen: 3.6

SO: 3.4

Jr: 3.1

Sr. 3.7
Click to expand...
 
As for opposite trends, will I have to do a lot of explaining for say: Freshman: 3.2, Sophomore: 3.3, Junior: 3.8?
 
Goro said:
No, we expect you to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. In medical school, you'll be taking the MCAT from ever 3-5 weeks, or at least 2x/semester.

I'd say a downward trend is something that looks like a plateau with a severe fall off in years 3-4 or year 4.

I'll be posting a list of interview do's and don'ts (and have done so in the past) once interview season starts this fall.

One more thing that's a red flag: Very uneven performance. For example,
FR: 3.2
SO: 3.6
JR: 3.1
SR: 3.4

To be a credible candidate, you're expected to excel, and demonstrate that you can survive medical school. I don't want you acing Anatomy, and Histology as an MS1, but failing Biochem and Micro.

Define serious downward trend, don't they take into account during your second semester JR year your studying for the mcat?
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's absolutely me. I have a serious 'W' shaped trend (2 semesters with extenuating circumstances which I don't plan to bring up in my app) which I'm hoping will be somewhat salvaged by my 4.0 postbacc (while working more than f/t).
Also, my school had the most useless P/F system ever. You only got a 'pass' if you got an A or something higher than your current average. If you scored below your current average GPA or failed, the actual grade showed up. So, basically, it was only P/F grading if you got a grade that would have helped you anyway, and I didn't read the fine print...
Ah, well, c'est la vie, can't change the past and all that.
 
studentofsdn said:
As for opposite trends, will I have to do a lot of explaining for say: Freshman: 3.2, Sophomore: 3.3, Junior: 3.8?
Click to expand...

Yeah. "Got my **** together" would suffice though XD

In all seriousness, if your senior year is close to your junior year GPA, and you're not padding with B.S. 100-level classes, you will be looked upon relatively favorably at many schools. Just keep up the good work!
 
Pattycake25 said:
Yeah. "Got my **** together" would suffice though XD

In all seriousness, if your senior year is close to your junior year GPA, and you're not padding with B.S. 100-level classes, you will be looked upon relatively favorably at many schools. Just keep up the good work!
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm applying this cycle doe.. all my classes this past year have been 200 and 400 lvl bio and chem classes. Will one year of success be enough evidence to prove I can do well in med school?
 
jonnythan said:
Disciplinary actions for cheating, alcohol, drugs. Failing courses or semesters. Academic dismissal. Periods of time unaccounted for. Getting fired from a job. Retaking the MCAT a very short time after getting a poor, and getting a similar score. Padding GPA with fluff classes, or community college classes.
Click to expand...

Isn't that a bit of a blanket statement to say taking community college classes is a red flag?
 
Goro said:
No, we expect you to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. In medical school, you'll be taking the MCAT from ever 3-5 weeks, or at least 2x/semester.

I'd say a downward trend is something that looks like a plateau with a severe fall off in years 3-4 or year 4.

I'll be posting a list of interview do's and don'ts (and have done so in the past) once interview season starts this fall.

One more thing that's a red flag: Very uneven performance. For example,
FR: 3.2
SO: 3.6
JR: 3.1
SR: 3.4

To be a credible candidate, you're expected to excel, and demonstrate that you can survive medical school. I don't want you acing Anatomy, and Histology as an MS1, but failing Biochem and Micro.

Define serious downward trend, don't they take into account during your second semester JR year your studying for the mcat?
Click to expand...

So you follow performance based on years not semesters?
 
Not having a pre-medical committee letter is a red flag (in most cases).

However, there are some exceptions: not having a pre-med committee available at your school, being a non-trad, taking significant time off (years) before applying.

I would like to add that if you are a non-trad or post-bacc student, try checking with the pre-med committee (if available) at the institution where you currently are taking courses. They may be willing to write you a committee LOR, despite not being a bachelor-degree seeking student.
 
jonnythan said:
Going on a card-counting blackjack tour of Europe and Asia funded by a Chinese millionaire during a deferral year.
Click to expand...

Haha really? Man you guys make me nervous I was thinking medical schools might think this is a pretty cool opportunity! Freaking bureaucracy....
 
RaverMD said:
Haha really? Man you guys make me nervous I was thinking medical schools might think this is a pretty cool opportunity! Freaking bureaucracy....
Click to expand...
I honestly don't see why it wouldn't be. Chance to make big bank in 3mo with no long-term commitment needed. Sure, it's not a career plan and it's not typical, but I think it would show more lack of judgement NOT to try for it.
 
mehc012 said:
I think it would show more lack of judgement NOT to try for it.
Click to expand...

Sure. Nothing speaks to good judgment more than card-counting and pissing off people who have enough money to believe they are above the law, sometimes in countries where money actually can buy them the right to do whatever they want to do to you.

RaverMD said:
Haha really? Man you guys make me nervous I was thinking medical schools might think this is a pretty cool opportunity! Freaking bureaucracy....
Click to expand...

I'm an old, so this was over a decade ago, but one of my classmates on study abroad with me in college got lured into high stakes gambling by a "benefactor" impressed by his skills. He got shot and killed. It turns out people who have millions of dollars in countries where the majority live in squalor don't run in the most stable, moral circles. You might have more to be nervous about than what people here are thinking about you.
 
Plecopotamus said:
Sure. Nothing speaks to good judgment more than card-counting and pissing off people who have enough money to believe they are above the law, sometimes in countries where money actually can buy them the right to do whatever they want to do to you.



I'm an old, so this was over a decade ago, but one of my classmates on study abroad with me in college got lured into high stakes gambling by a "benefactor" impressed by his skills. He got shot and killed. It turns out people who have millions of dollars in countries where the majority live in squalor don't run in the most stable, moral circles.
Click to expand...
See, now that's the first reasonable argument I saw against the idea (granted, I ducked out of that thread in its first day). If it seems unsafe, that's worth weighing. If it just seems uncouth, that's a stupid reason to pass up the opportunity.
 
Plecopotamus said:
Sure. Nothing speaks to good judgment more than card-counting and pissing off people who have enough money to believe they are above the law, sometimes in countries where money actually can buy them the right to do whatever they want to do to you.



I'm an old, so this was over a decade ago, but one of my classmates on study abroad with me in college got lured into high stakes gambling by a "benefactor" impressed by his skills. He got shot and killed. It turns out people who have millions of dollars in countries where the majority live in squalor don't run in the most stable, moral circles. You might have more to be nervous about than what people here are thinking about you.
Click to expand...

Yea I'm not sure of the safety in other countries. It is something I plan on discussing much more in depth before committing to anything. I do know that it is extremely unlikely that anything would ever happen beyond a banning in the US, but I can't speak for countries with less stringent regulations on such matters. This is a very good point and something I have thought of. I will likely not follow through with this, but wanted to get some opinions just in case I decide it's worth it.
 
Catalystik said:
A serious downward grade trend prior to applying.
Secondary essay quality not matching the pristine perfection of one's Personal Statement.
A sense of entitlement in the PS.
Light courseloads throughout college without significant time-consuming ECs or employment.
LORs with back-handed compliments (like, "Tries to keep his tardiness to a minimum").
An interviewee who has poor eye contact, mumbles consistently, puts feet up on the furniture, picks nose with finger.
Click to expand...
I laughed at how specific you got with this, as if there are other things you could pick your nose with in an interview that would be acceptable. 🙂
 
listener23 said:
So you follow performance based on years not semesters?
Click to expand...
Year-by-year is the format of presentation on the AMCAS verified Grade Point Averages page. The entire transcript is elsewhere if an adcomm wants to microanalyze the reason for a lower GPA in one year, for example.
 
mehc012 said:
See, now that's the first reasonable argument I saw against the idea (granted, I ducked out of that thread in its first day). If it seems unsafe, that's worth weighing. If it just seems uncouth, that's a stupid reason to pass up the opportunity.
Click to expand...

Strongly disagreeing. Uncouth is a problem for someone applying to a professional position.

Starring in a porn movie is legal, can be lucrative, and is certainly an interesting and potentially 'once in a lifetime' opportunity. Should a prospective medical student do it?

Nose-picking is merely uncouth. Yet somehow, it seems to be regarded as a problem...
 
Correct. Keep in mind that a bad semester can tank a year, but I';ll see that one might have a bad Fall, but recover by Spring.

So you follow performance based on years not semesters?

Not true. AdComs don't know who has a committee and who doesn't. This is another pre-med urban legend.
Not having a pre-medical committee letter is a red flag (in most cases).
 
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