bth7 said:
This thread hits close to home . . . my GPA sucks (2.95) and my MCAT rocks (38.) I've spent far too much time thinking about what this says about me.
As much as I would like to disagree, I think my low GPA does say that I'm lazy. I say this because I am, as well as unfocused and unorganized. I also had a drug problem my first three semesters of college and failed two classes. I also got an A in Orgo during this same period . . . so extremes seem to be in my nature.
I don't think my high MCAT score says that I'm a genius. Mostly because I think the concept of a genius is a silly one. It says that I'm really good at taking the MCAT, which I am. My natural intellectual gifts are exactly what is tested in the MCAT. I am very aware that their are some really smart cookies out there, whose intellectual talents go unnoticed by the MCAT or any standarized test for that matter. Yet our culture seems downright obsessed with them.
What can we do? I think this is an important question. Going through this whole admissions process, I've started to (A) feel bad about myself and (B) become less interested in practicing medicine. I think the application process (and the MCAT in particular) actually discourage people who would make great doctors from considering this field. Isn't this a problem? Has it always been this competitive? Has it always been about these 2 numbers?
Your points are very valid. But, there's a reason why there are a large number of people who apply non-traditionally. In my opinion, as stated previously, GPA/MCAT scores can be explained. If you can prove why one had a crappy GPA yet a good MCAT score, then it should at least bump you up to secondaries at schools that screen during the AMCAS application. They want to know what other people say about you. It is helpful if these letters somehow tie into your GPA/MCAT situation, as well as other qualities. Its proof of why your GPA is low, yet provides proof of what you have done to improve yourself over a time period.
Does the MCAT discourage perfectly good people from applying. I don't know. But this whole road in becoming a physician is as much of a physical/academic challenge as it is a psychological challenge. What does it say if a person gave up if they got a low MCAT score? Yes the person might just be a bad test taker, and completely awesome, smart, kind, etc. But they have to realize that they shouldn't take this set back as a sign to give up. If they truly want to become a physician, they should rethink what went wrong, what to improve, how to improve, and do it. Same applies to a low GPA.
Often times the solution is retaking the MCAT, doing post-bacc, grad school. All of which cost money and yes not everyone has money to do these things. But at the same time, money exists out there, you have to find it. I wouldn't be here right now, doing post-bacc if I didn't have 3 jobs. Personally, if I can become a physician by enlisting in the Army, i'd do it in a heartbeat, but that would be relatively too easy
🙂 . But of course thats not the case so i'm intent on slugging it out with post-bacc, and applying in 2005.
For my application, my goal is to say, ok this is what happened, here's my proof, this is what i'm doing to show you what i can really do when not held back by more important matters, and here's my proof. The time it took me to apply will tell them, hey i want to be a physician, i've waited 2 years to apply, and i'll apply again if i have to, but at the very least, i'm a hardworker, not someone being lazy.
Now hopefully that'll work
😎 😀
