What do you say when your science gpa is bad?

[annabelle.]

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Ok, I have no idea how I got an interview because my science gpa is probably around a c+ average and I got a 25 on the MCAT. Anyways, I desperately need some advice on how to answer the question "Why were your science grades low?" The truth is that I hate mundane classes that have nothing to do with the practice of medicine and they were impossibly hard and idiotic (I went to Vanderbilt as an undergrad).
I am thinking about saying something like: "The truth is that I have no excuses or explanations, I can only say that I can assure you that you will not be disappointed in me if I go to this school"

PLEASE tell me your opinions!!

 

[HollyJ]

I'm sorry to tell you this, but I don't think that there's a whole lot that you can say. You haven't shown that you can do the work or that you can understand the basics that they want you to have.

I wish that I could tell you something else. Good luck.

 

[LP1CW]

I'm glad that you got an interview, that's great. How did you get an interview with a 25 and a 2.5 GPA. A B- would be a 2.7. So, you must be in the mid-2's.

What's unique about you? What am I missing? Where did you get an interview at?

Also, to say that you thought the core courses were mundane will kill you. They believe that these courses are fundamental, necessary and part of the process.

My larger question is: If you didn't prove yourself on the MCAT, GPA, what's going to convince them that you'll change now?
You tell us. If by some chance you get in, what are going to do to be a better student, committed? How are you going to prepare for the boards?

I wish you the best of luck.

 

[annabelle.]

I got an interview to UK's med school. The only reasons that I got one is that although I am smart, I don't test as well as I should. I had the BEST recommendations that I could have possibly had coming from Vandy, and have also had a unique life where I have lived in many places including Europe, Alaska, Mexico and lots of places in the US. And my home is Kentucky (so I am an in-state resident to UK). I know many people think that I should not have got an interview, but I did, so now I must think of something to say, even though it might be "I have no excuses" I need some help on coming up with something that might minimize the damage I could possibly do when I answer it (I am guessing they are going to ask this question)

I think that I answered all your questions?

 

[annabelle.]

I have one more question...is it true that once you are asked for an interview, you are more or less on the same playing field as everyone else?

 

[indigoblue]

try to make up for it somehow.... perhaps mcat science sections...

 

[TTSD]

Well, the first thing I have to ask is there an upward trend? Did you screw up during your first few years but then your last few you kicked @$$? I'm somewhat in the same boat, my science GPA is lousy due to my basic/intro classes but I'm kicking butt on my advanced.

 

[annabelle.]

Yes there is an upward trend, although it is not huge, I got much better grades in my advanced courses than I did in my intro courses!

 

[evines]

I have one more question...is it true that once you are asked for an interview, you are more or less on the same playing field as everyone else?

I've heard this about some schools, but I am skeptical that this is true. They obviously like something about you, though. Good for you.

 

[exmike]

with a 2.3 science GPA, and a 25 mcat, i dont think there is anything you can do to explain it away. but good luck on your interview, it could make or break you in your situation.

 

[peterockduke]

Originally posted by HollyJ
You haven't shown that you can do the work or that you can understand the basics that they want you to have.

Riiiiight. Apparently, you are an adcom and don't come off as an arrogant for saying that. Funny, this person got an interview, so someone thinks he/she has the potential to understand the basics and then some.

Apparently, the school sees something in him/her that is more than grades. I think the best thing you can do is let them know you are a hard worker and that you might not be the best at academics/testing, but this does not mean that you ever quit or that you don't constantly strive to improve. It also wouldn't hurt to mention that you go to a competitive undergrad. People on this board might not like it, but they most certainly do care.

You have an interview, a lot of people don't. There is something that their screeners see in you that is worthwhile, more worthwhile than MCATs and grades. If you can, steer the conversation to those areas.

 

[Tezzie]

Sorry to say this but a 2.x science GPA, along with a 25 MCAT, doesn't show inability just in tests ...

 

[Tezzie]

Originally posted by peterockduke
Riiiiight. Apparently, you are an adcom and don't come off as an arrogant for saying that. Funny, this person got an interview, so someone thinks he/she has the potential to understand the basics and then some.

Apparently, the school sees something in him/her that is more than grades. I think the best thing you can do is let them know you are a hard worker and that you might not be the best at academics/testing, but this does not mean that you ever quit or that you don't constantly strive to improve. It also wouldn't hurt to mention that you go to a competitive undergrad. People on this board might not like it, but they most certainly do care.

You have an interview, a lot of people don't. There is something that their screeners see in you that is worthwhile, more worthwhile than MCATs and grades. If you can, steer the conversation to those areas.

Oh what a bunch of BS!

In this case a 3.5+ for U of Whatever would be more valuable.

The MCAT and the grades are just an indication, yes! But if someone is TRULY unable to take tests then wtf are they going to do for boards?

 

[toomuch]

My science GPA is very comparable to yours and I will pray for an interview anywhere. Congratulations!! I personally beleive you can develop some explanation about your grades because though every semester there was a reason you got the C or B and not the A. I think the truth is the most important thing to the adcomms. Especially making sure that if you were immature or naive during your undergraduate years then the most important thing is to tell them that you have learned from these experiences and plan to do better rather than avoid the subject or say there are no explanations. Medicine is an applied science and if you think science is boring then, I don't think they will beleive that you will do well in medicine.

tm

 

[Naphtali]

"Oops, call me butterfingers."

 

[Sparkles]

You have given me hope as well!!
3.5 Science and overal GPAs and 24 MCAT. (Praying for an interview... just one!!!!)

 

[HollyJ]

Originally posted by peterockduke
Riiiiight. Apparently, you are an adcom and don't come off as an arrogant for saying that. Funny, this person got an interview, so someone thinks he/she has the potential to understand the basics and then some.

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that this was a feed-people-bullsh*t-that-they-want-to-hear thread.

Under a 3.0 and a 25 are pretty subpar. Anyone who says differently is selling something.

 

[sickofit]

Originally posted by HollyJ
Anyone who says differently is selling something.

Life is pain, Highness!

 

[bella_dottoressa]

Come on now. No one here is an adcom person. It's awesome that you got an interview. None of us saw your file, but someone did and liked it. That's awesome! Don't let anyone here make you believe that you didn't deserve the invite, or an acceptance to med. None of us really know your situation, or how things went for you in undergrad. Don't walk in there thinking "man i wonder how i even got an interview here"...be confident in your ability to do well in med, and go blow them away. Good luck!! 🙂

 

[DrMom]

Not to rain on your parade, but almost all med school classes are science classes & you have a history of not performing well in them. In addition, you didn't do well on the MCAT. This does not bode well for you doing well in med school.

I don't know how you can sell this to an interviewer as I don't see any positive spin (other than the fact that somehow they decided to grant you an interview). I am always amused by the "I don't do well in science classes but I want to be a Dr posts." Maybe you can do it, but your history (as given here) doesn't show it.

Good luck. If you don't get past this interview and you still think you're med school material, I recommend doing a post-bacc & doing very well in it to try to prove your abilities.

 

[TTSD]

Dr. Mom, he did get an interview so the adcoms probably DID see something in there and he said he has an upward trend. Maybe he got excellent LORS, has great ECs and other circumstances that make up for the GPA. We also don't know what his courseload and strength of classes were like. Perhaps he just fouled up in his early years but then came around in his advanced courses?

I think advanced courses would probably show more of medschool material than the "pre-med" classes.

 

[peterockduke]

Originally posted by crystal18mc
Come on now. No one here is an adcom person. It's awesome that you got an interview. None of us saw your file, but someone did and liked it. That's awesome! Don't let anyone here make you believe that you didn't deserve the invite, or an acceptance to med. None of us really know your situation, or how things went for you in undergrad. Don't walk in there thinking "man i wonder how i even got an interview here"...be confident in your ability to do well in med, and go blow them away. Good luck!! 🙂

Exactly.

The OP realizes his grades are not the best, no use condemning him or telling him it's hopeless. He has an interview... and you only need one.

 

[efex101]

FYI some state medical schools give interviews to all the state applicants...regardless of stats.

 

[DrMom]

Originally posted by TTSD
Dr. Mom, he did get an interview so the adcoms probably DID see something in there and he said he has an upward trend. Maybe he got excellent LORS, has great ECs and other circumstances that make up for the GPA. We also don't know what his courseload and strength of classes were like. Perhaps he just fouled up in his early years but then came around in his advanced courses?

I think advanced courses would probably show more of medschool material than the "pre-med" classes.

I noted that he got an interview in my post. I'm just making the point that there is a reason that science GPA is emphasized & that if you have a repeated problem in science classes (even if it's that you "don't test well") you're not likely to do well in med school.

As to courseload, I repeatedly took over 20 hours in undergrad and worked. Med school course load is way more than anything I did before.

Maybe the OP will do fine, I just think that this should be looked at realistically.

 

[DAL]

For the people who want to argue whether or not he's good enough given his GPA.....STOP!!!!!! He's clearly not looking to be bashed, he's just looking for advice. If you can't give it, don't post.

coesp,

Were there circumstances that resulted in your low grades? Work? Too much time in the lab? Too much time volunteering? I see you said you just didn't like the courses, but if you say that in your interview then you've wasted the trip. Med school IS science courses, so you really need to think long and hard about what to say.

In all honesty, if I was in your shoes, I would stress why you want to enter the field of medicine, sell your good qualities as much as possible, and talk about why you can succeed in med school despite your science GPA. You have to make a believer out of your interviewer.

Here's something else. I would make sure the topic of your GPA comes up. I mean, if he doesn't bring it up, you should. Your interviewer is your voice to the ad comm., and if you can't make him believe you'll be a successful med school and physician, you won't get in. Don't avoid the topic, or run from it, or try to give a quick answer and move on. Openly discuss it and I mean really be prepared to make a believer out of your interviewer.

And No, the field isn't level once you get to an interviewer. Maybe it is at some schools, but I doubt it is at most of them. The interviewer is just a part of the process.

 

[bella_dottoressa]

Gosh guys. There is no need to put this kid down! We don't know the extraneous factors that had to do with his performance in undergrad. We don't know the trend of his grades, what classes he made Cs, Bs, or As in etc. SDN is usually so great and supportive a community, but I don't really see that in this thread. Who are any of us to judge how this person is going to do in med or what kind of a physician they'll become?

 

[xanthines]

I agree with both of these points. At some (most?) med schools, a committee meets and decides who should be a member of the next class. When they look at your app, they will see your GPA and MCAT scores, AGAIN! You need to address those issues in the Personal Statement or Supplemental App or Interview stages. If you chicken out or haven't thought of anything to say and haven't blown the interview, write them a letter explaining your numbers in a concise, logical manner. Most med schools will include it in your app. Whether the committe reads or not? Oh well, that's up to them, but at least you tried.

Low GPA's and MCAT scores do not mean you will do badly in medical school. Over the years, studies have shown that students with low numbers are at a significantly higher risk of poor performance in medical school and worse, dropping out (which looks bad for the school, BTW). The schools have to play by the numbers because over time, it is in their favor. Just like in Vegas, baby! On an individual level, the predictive power is decreased (not really, but you know what I mean!).

So try to think up a good answer. Search the forums, because I'm pretty sure you're not the only one to have this problem. Think about why you REALLY didn't do well. Unfocused? Partying? Mention your upward trend. Personal problems (my friend's GPA sank like a rock when his ex-girlfriend told him she was pregnant after they had just broken up (revenge, obviously)?

-X

P.S. I am not an adcom member! Just my opinion.

Originally posted by DAL
Here's something else. I would make sure the topic of your GPA comes up. I mean, if he doesn't bring it up, you should. Your interviewer is your voice to the ad comm., and if you can't make him believe you'll be a successful med school and physician, you won't get in. Don't avoid the topic, or run from it, or try to give a quick answer and move on. Openly discuss it and I mean really be prepared to make a believer out of your interviewer.

And No, the field isn't level once you get to an interviewer. Maybe it is at some schools, but I doubt it is at most of them. The interviewer is just a part of the process.

 

[Tezzie]

I think part of being a welcoming and helpfull community is to also be realistic to people. I don't write this so i can bash the poster nor to find out the reasons why he got the interview. The problems that i see are these though :

To the OP. The main question should be : Did you try and find your science courses to be ultra rigurous or did you just didn't study? Med school *IS* hard and barely making it through undergrad school raises the question of how will you be able to handle med school.

The other thing on my mind is that you say you don't do well on tests. The problem is though that you will you have multiple tests during med school which are even tougher than the MCATs or your Bio 101. How are you going to deal with them when you failed in doing so in the past?

The question that you should ask to and about yourself is both how much you want and if you truly have the ability to do this. You need to be both honest and realistic.

If in the past you just slacked off and you think that NOW you will have the ability (and after seeing what slacking off does to you) to change and work your ass off and pull through med school then there are tons of ways to get there. If not then that's another story which i am not willing to get into.

Either way good luck!

Tezzie

 

[freesolo]

Tezzie makes great points, if you dont do well in science classes, how can you go to med school, if you do well in upper division science classes, and not to good in the lower division, than maybe thats why he got an interview. That would be insane if someone gets in with crappy grades in science classes throughout his college term. Wait maybe a 40+ on the mcat will do it, but he better have one hell of an excuse for those bad grades in all those science classes.

 

[CJLaw]

Originally posted by crystal18mc
Gosh guys. There is no need to put this kid down! We don't know the extraneous factors that had to do with his performance in undergrad. We don't know the trend of his grades, what classes he made Cs, Bs, or As in etc. SDN is usually so great and supportive a community, but I don't really see that in this thread. Who are any of us to judge how this person is going to do in med or what kind of a physician they'll become?

Historically SDN has been a supportive community, but I have seen a trend in pre-allo lately of spoiled gunners and bitter bookworms (like Tezzie) flaming people seeking advice.

Obviously the OP had something in his packet that the adcom found promising--maybe his EC's, LOR's, or (most likely) his personal statement. My advice to the OP is reemphasize the points in your personal statement and highlight the creative aspects of your EC's. Also, as a poster said earlier, make sure that you address your GPA--don't run from it. If he doesn't bring it up, you should. This shows that you acknowledge your shortcomings and take responsibility for your actions. But remember to emphasize your willingness to focus and improve if they admit you.

 

[fonzy]

In most med schools the grading system is pass/fail and high pass/ honors etc. Is a person who just manages to pass going to make a bad doctor? Why don't they keep just the ones whose performance is excellent and kick the rest out of med school?

 

[Wednesday]

Hey OP,

The truth is that I hate mundane classes that have nothing to do with the practice of medicine and they were impossibly hard and idiotic

I wouldn't say this, since you have just described the first year of medical school at many schools. If I were you (and congratulations BTW) I would try to steer clear of excuses and focus on why you will do better in med school. An upward trend would be a good thing to point to and explain that those classes held your interest more because they seemed more related to medicine (or something like that). I would think that you would want to take responsiblity for your actions (not just say well those classes were boring, my teachers were out to get me, etc) and then focus on the future.

As for how you will do in med school, it's not really for us to say (and you didn't ask anyway 😉 ). You'll probably have to get better at taking tests and studying things that you don't think are very important (or always as interesting as you'd like). But hey, you probably already know that stuff. No need to worry about it now. Just do your best in the interview! Good luck!

 

[bella_dottoressa]

Hey guys, I didn't mean to make any attacks on anyone posting in this thread or anything. I DO think that a very difficult thing to do is tell people the truth even when the truth sucks and might be painful to hear, and I commend people who can give forthright and honest advice. I find that hard to do sometimes, so more power to the people who can! My only point is that it is very easy to read a post and think this kid isn't cut out for med school, but none of us know that or are qualified to make that sort of assumption. Unless of course we're admissions people. 🙂

 

[bigbaubdi]

Originally posted by coesp
Ok, I have no idea how I got an interview because my science gpa is probably around a c+ average and I got a 25 on the MCAT. Anyways, I desperately need some advice on how to answer the question "Why were your science grades low?" The truth is that I hate mundane classes that have nothing to do with the practice of medicine and they were impossibly hard and idiotic (I went to Vanderbilt as an undergrad).

You have to put the right spin on it. Rather than focusing on why is your overall science GPA so low, focus on why you have improved your grades over the last few semesters. Think long and hard about the reasons why you were doing so poorly at first and why you did much better later on. Think about how this has affected you as a person and how it has made you much more mature and capable of handling the academic rigors associated with being a pre med at a prestigious university.

There is no way that you could do well in your advanced courses unless you have mastered basic concepts in biochem, ochem, gen bio, etc.. During your interview, focus on specific upper level courses that you have done real well in as evidence that you are capable of handling the rigors associated with med school. Hopefully you have gotten a LOR from a prof that has taught one of these upper level courses.

Don't get down on yourself b/c of some stats-obsessed premeds on SDN. Being a good doctor has nothing to do with being a good test taker. Sure you need to be able to do all of the work but if you are motivated to become a doctor, then you certainly will go out of your way to learn all of the required material.

I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Anbessa]

Hey, I happen to know a bit about the way U of K operates and I can tell you that they're known for this type of thing. They totally play favorites/connections in their admission process. It's totally political. I've heard sooooooo many stories from Univ of Louisville med students (and I've talked to at least 15 of them and more than half said that they were really dismayed with the way UK treats certain applicants over others, so....needless to say, this cat has some connections somewhere along the line that's not visible to us.

 

[Tezzie]

CJ2Doc this is the 2nd time that i have seen you post crap without knowing what you are talking about. Stellar LORs or an excellent personal statement will never make up for such bad scores. If that was the case then everyone should have slacked off during undergrad and have a great personal essay and get accepted. For the most part nowadays pretty much everyone has great LORs anyway. From what i understand you haven't even been through the process yet. So wait until you get there until you try to give out advice on subjects you are still unaware of. You are also damn right that i am a bookworm. I am a student. That's what i am supposed to do ... study. Sure i have other things in my life also but school right now is about 50% of my life.
I wish you good luck in thinking that you can get away in med school without studying. Now please go back to Everyone and start posting some more racist comments cause i have missed them.


Although a question is raised on my mind. How can someone who gets a C- in a course have a good LOR from that professor? What is the professor going to say " He was hardworking, motivated, great student but i just gave him a C- for fun" ? It's just doesn't make any sense.

Also yes if someone doesn't have the knowledge they will become a bad physician (*IF* they make it through boards). A good physician is usually someone who is willing to listen to their patients, respect them, work with integrity AND have the knowledge. If you don't know wtf you are doing ... then yes you are a bad physician.

Furthermore the pass/fail system that someone mentioned. Usually most students at most med schools are brilliant. They just make it through a couple of courses but i am pretty sure they are doing great on others. These are people though that were EXCELLENT through most undergrad science courses. You just cannot compare basic O-Chem with med school biochem. If you find the basics HARD then how are you going to do the advanced?

The OP managed to somehow get an interview. That's great. But don't attack people who wish to inform him that even *IF* he gets accepted what is he going to find ahead of him.

 

[CJLaw]

Originally posted by Tezzie
CJ2Doc this is the 2nd time that i have seen you post crap without knowing what you are talking about. Stellar LORs or an excellent personal statement will never make up for such bad scores. If that was the case then everyone should have slacked off during undergrad and have a great personal essay and get accepted. For the most part nowadays pretty much everyone has great LORs anyway. From what i understand you haven't even been through the process yet. So wait until you get there until you try to give out advice on subjects you are still unaware of. You are also damn right that i am a bookworm. I am a student. That's what i am supposed to do ... study. Sure i have other things in my life also but school right now is about 50% of my life.
I wish you good luck in thinking that you can get away in med school without studying. Now please go back to Everyone and start posting some more racist comments cause i have missed them.


Although a question is raised on my mind. How can someone who gets a C- in a course have a good LOR from that professor? What is the professor going to say " He was hardworking, motivated, great student but i just gave him a C- for fun" ? It's just doesn't make any sense.

Also yes if someone doesn't have the knowledge they will become a bad physician (*IF* they make it through boards). A good physician is usually someone who is willing to listen to their patients, respect them, work with integrity AND have the knowledge. If you don't know wtf you are doing ... then yes you are a bad physician.

Furthermore the pass/fail system that someone mentioned. Usually most students at most med schools are brilliant. They just make it through a couple of courses but i am pretty sure they are doing great on others. These are people though that were EXCELLENT through most undergrad science courses. You just cannot compare basic O-Chem with med school biochem. If you find the basics HARD then how are you going to do the advanced?

The OP managed to somehow get an interview. That's great. But don't attack people who wish to inform him that even *IF* he gets accepted what is he going to find ahead of him.

Oh, tezzie--you couldn't handle me in Everyone, so now you hide in here and flame any newbie who you don't feel fits YOUR medical school mold. Then you call me a rascist--with absolutley no basis, but that's what you do--resort to name-calling when you can't meet someone on an intellectual level. I'd say that's pretty bad form for someone who "turned down Harvard." You're a real class act.🙄

Anyway, I was choosing to give a new poster some positive reinforcement after getting flamed by nerdy elitists like you. But why do you flame instead of congratulate? I want to go deeper. Is it because you are so narcisisistic (sp?) that you believe anyone who is interviewed or accepted to medical school that doesn't meet your standards somehow spoils your personal achievement? Or is it that you believe grades are the sole measure of a person? Or is it that your self esteem is just so low that disparaging others enables you to feel a little bit better about yourself? In my opinion, its option #1.

Lastly, why can't I give someone advice about how to address a fault in their application? I have plenty of experience interviewing for professional positions and promotions while addressing some shortcomings. I've sat in front of a panel of high ranking law enforcement officers and explained when, why, and how much weed I used to smoke when interviewing for a job as a police officer. (oh yeah, my answer was so good, I was offered the job) I have sat in front of a panel consisting of an army Col., Major, and Sgt. Major when interviewing for solider of the year. I have sat in front the Chief of Staff of a US Senator, interviewing for a job that I had no business even applying for. So I think that I can comment about how to address a few mistakes to a medical school adcom about a few C's. Unless medical school is intrinsically different than my experiences?

One more question, Tezzie. If I DO follow your logic and am not able to make comments to anyone about applying to medical school because I have yet to go through the process. How are YOU able to comment on the depth and knowlege needed to pass a medical school class when you have yet to even buy your books for the first class of first year?

Next time you want to attempt to embarass an SDN member for showing postiveness to another--make sure its someone who can't put together a coherent sentence (your logic MIGHT actually work with someone like that)--otherwise keep that weak **** outta my paint. (CJ is now doing the Dikembe Mutombo finger waggle)

 

[profunda]

I dont think the OP has any idea what he/she is talking about.

I would dare say the entire 2 years basic science of all med schools are mundane classes, even at state schools that want to emphasize primary care. Half the lectures discuss research diagnosis/treatment that has not come out yet.

And since most residency specialties look at USMLE 1 as the primary factor and cutoff for interview, your lack of test taking skills and interest in mundane subjects make you an extremely undesirable student for a med school. Students like you would never make orthopedics surgery, derm, EM, other surgeries, etc. Med schools want to match their students to the top residency of their choice and dont want to have to worry about scrambling for them.

 

[profunda]

And if you cant study well for the MCAT, you hell as wont study well for USMLE 1.

 

[tygrwds]

To the OP:

First of all, congrats on earning that interview. You will definitely have an uphill battle ahead of you, but don't forget to stay positive. Having spoken to a few medical students, I have learned that staying positive at the interview is something you must do in light of bad stats (I had a 6-V in my 25P score, although my GPA was decent, and have interviews in HI next month). Make sure that you emphasize what you're doing to improve yourself, whether it's reading more, doing research, etc.

Obviously, if you don't get in, there's always next year. You should research some post-bacc programs so you can boost your GPA, MCAT, and your overall app.

Best of luck.

 

[Tezzie]

CJ2Doc what you are saying has nothing to do with what the OP posted or what my responce was to him. I was never unsupportive of him. Like a few other posters i gave him the cold hard facts.

I have no pre med or med agenda for that matter. We *KNOW* how things work. We *KNOW* what to do in order to get there.

The OP has some *SERIOUS* issues. If i just close my eyes and my mouth and say "you are just great - you are going to do great" i will be lying.

I don't have any problem with people being supportive of the OP. Check my posts and tell me when i have unsupportive of anyone on this board. But at the same time that doesn't mean that i will present him with false facts or give false advice. The OPs problem is not a faulty application. It's the complete disregard for sciences and test taking. That's more than just "fault". That's not having the basis for studying in medical school.

Congratulations to you for being through so many interviews. The med school admission process *IS* different though! And as far as my knowledge of med school ... well having been to 22 schools so far and having seen the M1s, along with having my brother going through med school now and a long history of physicians in my family i am pretty much well aware of what to expect. I know about the curriculum of each school because in the end it's going to be one of the major points of why i chose school X over school Y.

I don't model myself after other people so i wouldn't want other people modeling themselves after me either. Each applicant is unique. But most of us share a basic thing. A strong science backround and the love for medicine. The unique part comes in the ECs. Not in how you approach sciences.

 

[CJLaw]

Tezzie,

I am not saying that everone has to be "pie in the sky". If this guy had started a "what are my chances" thread, I would not be opposed to your unabashed truthfullness. However in this case, a kid asked advice on how to cover his self acknowledged shortcomings in an interview and you gave a diatribe on why he shouldn't even have been considered.

Like you, I believe someone with a 2.5 and a 20 MCAT score has no buisness being considered for medical school admission on the face value of their stats, but for this person someone more qualified than you or I believes that he warrants a deeper look. We should respect that. My point is that there is no need for a flaming when a person asks for practical advice on how to tackle a particular issue in an interview or personal statement.

 

[TTSD]

Originally posted by Anbessa
Hey, I happen to know a bit about the way U of K operates and I can tell you that they're known for this type of thing. They totally play favorites/connections in their admission process. It's totally political. I've heard sooooooo many stories from Univ of Louisville med students (and I've talked to at least 15 of them and more than half said that they were really dismayed with the way UK treats certain applicants over others, so....needless to say, this cat has some connections somewhere along the line that's not visible to us.

Really? Dammit.. knew I should've applied to Cambridge, my family has historical ties to that school :-\

But as to this ongoing war between Tezzie and CJ2Doc.. I think both are brining up valid points.

On the FACE of things Tezzie is right.. the OP is a poor candidate if the scores are taken at face value and the numbers would indicate a hard time in medschool and a poor gamble. And the OP's comment about mundane knowledge certainly didn't help his position.

Though on the flip side, if the adcoms weren't using a specific cut-off.. they saw something they evidently thought was promising. Whether it was a huge improvement, amazing ECs, stellar PS and/or LORs.

The cumulative GPA only tells part of a story. Perhaps he is weak in his basics because he goofed around.. but he did cite improvement which means he did at least have a fundamental grasp to suceed in advanced courses. Especially considering advanced courses do NOT get easier as you go along.

 

[usmaple]

Originally posted by CJ2Doc
Next time you want to attempt to embarass an SDN member for showing postiveness to another--make sure its someone who can't put together a coherent sentence (your logic MIGHT actually work with someone like that)--otherwise keep that weak **** outta my paint. (CJ is now doing the Dikembe Mutombo finger waggle)

If I may interrupt the flames for a little side note: for those keeping track, that's now two pre-allo references to the various appendages of Dikembe Mutumbo in less than a week. I never thought he could be worked into everyday conversation so smoothly.

the original