What do you think will/has hurt you the most during the application process?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

The most hurtful part of my application is my

  • GPA

    Votes: 67 39.6%

  • MCAT

    Votes: 28 16.6%

  • clinical experience

    Votes: 26 15.4%

  • volunteering experience

    Votes: 7 4.1%

  • research experience

    Votes: 21 12.4%

  • other

    Votes: 20 11.8%
  • Total voters
    169
randombetch

randombetch

Membership Revoked
Removed
10+ Year Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2009
Messages
1,146
Reaction score
9
Members do not see this ad.
Just wondering what you guys think. Sorry if this thread has been done before!

I think at this point, research is going to hurt me the most...

I'll have 2 summers of research, junior independent work, and will be doing my senior independent work by the time secondaries are complete.
 
Unless you're applying for M.D./Ph.D. programs that seems like plenty of research. As long as you understand and can discuss your research you'll be fine. I don't have that much more research experience than you (2 summers and 3 semesters... will be 4 at the end of this year) and I'm applying for MSTP.
 
three misdomeanors
 
Clinical experience is where I was the most weak. Very limited shadowing, and not a lot of hospital volunteering. I'm thinking my MCAT+GPA+research+other stuff balanced it out.
 
definitely my freshman year gpa...I learned a lot that year, mainly from my mistakes unfortunately. However, at least 1 school so far has been able to look past that 😍(jury is still out on a few other places). My ECs are pretty solid along with 3 years of good gpa.

I think the biggest thing that stood out on my application was my dedication despite the results of my first few courses in college.

**Also, I wish I hadn't used AP credits and taken "accelerated" courses that my school offered...was almost finished w/ pre-reqs by the summer after freshman year (not good when that was my worst gpa :scared: lol). In hindsight I shouldn't have used AP Chem or Calc credit so I would have more actual grades included**
 
harvman11 said:
Unless you're applying for M.D./Ph.D. programs that seems like plenty of research. As long as you understand and can discuss your research you'll be fine. I don't have that much more research experience than you (2 summers and 3 semesters... will be 4 at the end of this year) and I'm applying for MSTP.
Click to expand...

Thanks haha, but I'll really only have 2 summers and 1 semester of research when I'm applying (senior thesis will be done mostly after interviews and etc.). And since I'm majoring in economics, I don't think they'll view my junior independent work with as much credence.
 
ive been told my LORs were pretty "peripheral" except for one that was "good"
 
I'll let you know once I've taken the MCAT and finished my prereqs, haha.
 
mybubbles14 said:
definitely my freshman year gpa...I learned a lot that year, mainly from my mistakes unfortunately. However, at least 1 school so far has been able to look past that 😍(jury is still out on a few other places). My ECs are pretty solid along with 3 years of good gpa.

I think the biggest thing that stood out on my application was my dedication despite the results of my first few courses in college.

**Also, I wish I hadn't used AP credits and taken "accelerated" courses that my school offered...was almost finished w/ pre-reqs by the summer after freshman year (not good when that was my worst gpa :scared: lol). In hindsight I shouldn't have used AP Chem or Calc credit so I would have more actual grades included**
Click to expand...
ditto.
Now, 3 years later I cannot believe that I thought it was a great idea to take regular orgo(we have freshman orgo and sophomore/junior level which is definitely harder) just because I was allowed to in terms of pre-reqs.
I signed up for two semesters in Orgo and ended up learning to have some patience at the same time. Lovely.
 
I don't see an option for "that hooker I butchered with a steak knife"
 
i find interesting that gpa is the biggest drawback here, and not mcat.
 
I don't so much. All of those things except GPA can be improved upon relatively easily. The MCAT less so obviously, but still orders of magnitude easier than a *#!$ed up GPA.
 
i got some right here

I'm a junior: no CE, no research, just switched from predent so haven't shadowed yet, and the only prereq I've done thus far is gChem, english, and math even though I had ample opportunity to do the others. but b/c nobody respects community college, i waited...

waait...am I supposed to impress adcoms?



ahh that makes more sense....
 
Last edited:
loveoforganic said:
I don't so much. All of those things except GPA can be improved upon relatively easily. The MCAT less so obviously, but still orders of magnitude easier than a *#!$ed up GPA.
Click to expand...
i suppose you're right, but i had assumed (incorrectly i guess) that a majority of premeds have very strong GPAs
 
my MCAT is probably holding me back more than anything else (not that i consider myself to be held back very much!). it was good enough so that i felt too nervous about it going down if i retook it, but not great enough to make me jump off the page at the highest ranked schools. alas. i'd say i'm doin' okay, though 😎
 
Other: The first time I applied I didn't get my application in early!
 
My GPA is what I really feel is holding me back, although my MCAT is average... I underestimated the extreme competition in the medical school application process. I bought into the "you'll get in somewhere, just apply broadly" stuff I read on here. Ah well 😛

It's tough out there guys!
 
randombetch said:
Just wondering what you guys think. Sorry if this thread has been done before!

I think at this point, research is going to hurt me the most...

I'll have 2 summers of research, junior independent work, and will be doing my senior independent work by the time secondaries are complete.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, if this amount of research qualifies as the "most hurtful" part of your application, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

My research experience consists of maybe forty hours assisting my advisor in a study about how my school prepares students for the MCAT- not even science related. Definitely the Achilles' heel of my application.
 
Timing of my application here... Complete a little later than most SDN folks. Also, as a non-science major, I have absolutely no science research (although I do have non-science research), which I think has put a damper on my application.
 
Two important categories you left out are: applying to the right number/type of med school based on how competitive you are, and timing of your application.
 
Dang, I should have included those additional options. Oh well...
 
Essay writing skill and apply late for one of my top choice school.
 
this may sound like I have an ego (trust me I do not I am suprised by the outcome and I am still pinching myself to make sure it is not a dream) but nothing was bad about my appl. my three times taking the mcat showed improvement as well as the 2.49 undergrad gpa to the 3.96 PB GPA and the 3.92 MS gpa my personal statement was very expressive I applied early so my first acceptance was in early oct. My interviews went well. i only completed 8 appl at first I wished i applied to tulane and some NYC schools because i had doubts in myself but I guess everything happens for a reason. However i am glad it is over!!!! LOL
 
GPA for sure, specifically the downward trend.
 
faith2 said:
this may sound like I have an ego (trust me I do not I am suprised by the outcome and I am still pinching myself to make sure it is not a dream) but nothing was bad about my appl. my three times taking the mcat showed improvement as well as the 2.49 undergrad gpa to the 3.96 PB GPA and the 3.92 MS gpa my personal statement was very expressive I applied early so my first acceptance was in early oct. My interviews went well. i only completed 8 appl at first I wished i applied to tulane and some NYC schools because i had doubts in myself but I guess everything happens for a reason. However i am glad it is over!!!! LOL
Click to expand...

wow. i am out of breath after having read that. PLEASE use punctuation.
 
faith2 said:
no
Click to expand...
Faith2, I love you and all and your posts are insightful but you really need to use punctuations like period (.), comma (,), colon and semi-colon. Methinks the first two are all you need for now. I know, it takes time.lol
 
the reason i do not I am a teacher all day I am correcting students then through the application process perfection was a must the sdn site is the time that i get to just be myself ie informal so if you want to put the punctuations in fine i am open to it and I promise you I am not I offended by this request and i will try to put less at a time so it is not a big run on not this post the next one LOL


archimedesxx said:
Faith2, I love you and all and your posts are insightful but you really need to use punctuations like period (.), comma (,), colon and semi-colon. Methinks the first two are all you need for now. I know, it takes time.lol
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
Fearful for the Application process due to GPA
Replies
2
Views
735
AJS59
AJS59
2026PreMed
What do people mean when they tell you to do "research" ?
Replies
12
Views
1K
2026PreMed
2026PreMed
W
Jobless during application cycle
Replies
1
Views
570
Butalbusaur
Butalbusaur
O
The single most important advice I offer you younglings
2
Replies
51
Views
4K
gunitboy
G
P
How would you classify these courses on AMCAS application?
Replies
3
Views
857
PlaceMeToBe
P
Top