When to apply? Non-trad applicant with intl HIV/AIDS background

[Magellan25]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello all! I'm a nontraditional applicant with an International Health undergrad degree from Georgetown U. and lots of experience working on access to HIV/AIDS treatment in the Caribbean. But I’m really struggling over the decision of when to apply to medical school - this year or the next – and I’ve gotten many diverging opinions. I'd greatly appreciate any advice. First, here's my background:

I've had two years of experience facilitating access to HIV/AIDS treatment and care in the Caribbean as an advisor to the National AIDS Program director in the St. Lucia Ministry of Health during my Peace Corps volunteer service and as co-founder and leader of a multi-Caribbean country project. I've also worked on the Doctors Without Borders/MSF Campaign for Access to Essential Medicine.

I took a year each of general biology (2 B- grades) and general chemistry (2 C+ grades) as part of my International Health major at Georgetown U. before graduating in 2001. I recently finished my pre-reqs at CUNY-Baruch and received 2 As in Physics and a B+ and a B in Organic Chem. Overall, my undergrad cumulative GPA at Georgetown was 3.2.

The two certainties are that I'm taking a Kaplan MCAT course now in preparation for the August MCAT and I plan on taking two upper-level biology classes this Fall.

Basically, I'm not sure if I should 1) apply now and submit everything to AMCAS minus the MCAT scores 2) wait till after the MCAT in August and then apply or 3) continue to take more science courses and apply next summer? I've had a lot of great HIV/AIDS experience in developing countries, but I'm not sure if my science academics are strong enough even though I’ve demonstrated significant improvement in my science courses from when I was an undergrad.

I look forward to any feedback. Thanks very much…

 

[PhDtoDO]

I would wait.

If you have average numbers or just below average (Cs), then any delay in your application will get you sidelined.

I tried to gun it, submitted my application before I got my MCAT scores then rushed to retake it in August only to delay my AMCAS and do worse on the MCAT.

Don't apply unless you're ready and consider retaking Gen Chem and get an A in the first semester...they won't see the second one.

I decided DO was for me even after getting accepted to MD

If I were you I would wait and be ready with a good MCAT score in hand, or retake an April which wouldn't delay your applications.

My little sister and many of my friends did PC and I can say it takes time to get your health and/or academics back after returning.

You may be in a hurry to get on with your life, but, trust me, rushing into med schools applications is expensive and emotionally taxing.

Just my opinion,

Fellow HIV PH person,

PhDtoDO

 

[runningmom]

Caveat - I'm no expert on this as I am applying firrst time this cycle.

But from the ADCOMs, advisors, and med students I've spoken to, earlier is better when you are on the fence with respect to grades (as you are). Your August MCAT means you won't get a look until late and many spots will be filled by then. Just my 2 pennies....

 

[Magellan25]

Caveat - I'm no expert on this as I am applying firrst time this cycle.

But from the ADCOMs, advisors, and med students I've spoken to, earlier is better when you are on the fence with respect to grades (as you are). Your August MCAT means you won't get a look until late and many spots will be filled by then. Just my 2 pennies....

Thanks for your response. So from what you heard, you think I should go ahead and apply this year and plan on taking the science courses in the Fall to further support my application? You don't think I should consider waiting till next year to apply?

 

[runningmom]

Thanks for your response. So from what you heard, you think I should go ahead and apply this year and plan on taking the science courses in the Fall to further support my application? You don't think I should consider waiting till next year to apply?

Sorry - I guess I wasn't being clear. On the contrary, I think you should wait until next year. If I understand your post, you are not taking the MCAT until August, your application won't go forward until Oct when the scores are reported, thus putting you late in the application cycle for this year, which isn't a good place to be.

 

[Magellan25]

Sorry - I guess I wasn't being clear. On the contrary, I think you should wait until next year. If I understand your post, you are not taking the MCAT until August, your application won't go forward until Oct when the scores are reported, thus putting you late in the application cycle for this year, which isn't a good place to be.

Thank you all for your responses. I have heard such diverging opinions on this. All current med students or those recently accepted have recommended I apply this year by submitting everything I can so that when the MCAT scores are released the ADCOMs will have a complete file. They also said that any more science courses this Fall will count towards my science GPA for this admissions cycle. On the other hand, all ADCOMs I've contacted have all said that I stand a better chance at admission if I apply next year. It seems like it's a given that obviously I'll have a better chance to get in if I apply next year as I'll have 4 more upper-level bio courses to count towards my science GPA, as opposed to just 2 courses if I apply this summer/Fall.

I guess my follow-up question would be if I actually have anything to lose from applying this year (except application fees, which is acceptable)? Do you all think it's worth a shot?

 

[slim06]

I wouldn't recommend applying just to see what happens. The application process does take quite a bit of time and is pretty stressful. That time could be better spent in class or volunteering. But a bigger risk is what happens if you get into a school that you're not fully excited about.

I don't know if this is just my experience, but I found that at application time, I would have been happy to go to any school in the us or mexico. But as secondaries and interviews came around, I got greedy, and saw how much more certain schools could offer me. Come acceptance / waitlist time, the differences between the schools seems more pronounced.

Let's look at the scenarios for applying earlier:
1. You get into your dream school. Great, go attend! You would have gotten in the next year too (even if you're over 30).

2. You don't get in to any schools. You're out five thousand bucks (depending on the # of interviews), your nerves are shot, and you haven't been able to focus on your advanced science classes, so your performance suffers. That hurts you when you re-apply.

3. (most likely) Because of your late MCAT scores, you get into some schools, but not your dream school(s). Now you're faced with the question of whether to accept the offer or reapply.

Schools hate the notion of applicants reapplying just to get into a better school, which makes situation #3 worse for reapplying than #2. And at 90% of the schools (Iowa & Case are the exceptions) you can't hold onto a deferred acceptance and apply again.

So my advice, having been through the process as a 32 year old. Take a year off. Ace your advanced classes. Line up stellar recommendations. Write your PS. Submit your AMCAS on the first day for 2007. Send your secondaries and letters pronto (before August), and then go to your dream school in 2008.

Just my thoughts