Who got in Med School w/ a bunch of W's?

[hooeen]

First off, I'd like to say hello to everyone on board. Hope everyone is doing well tonight. I just found this forum a while back and am very glad that I did because I know I will be collecting a lot of informative data from everyone here

My main concern posting this post is that...

I'm just wondering how many people have actually got accepted into Med School with tons of W's(6+) on transcript while doing undergrad courses because I somehow am in the situation and highly doubt about my chances towards any acceptance. I'm feeling very agonized right now. I really hope to see if anyone was in my shoes and still made it in Med School eventually.

Thanks in advance.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[TexasMDtobe]

I had something like 5 W's from my freshman year, but I don't know about 6+. At two of my interviews, the interviewers asked me to walk them through my W's and explain the circumstances, so I can tell you the schools definitely pay attention to them. I don't know whether this will ease your anxiety or exacerbate it, sorry.

Relevant concerns:
- length of time since the W's
- which classes
- reasons for dropping
- and of course, the rest of your application

 

[Bernoull]

There's bound to be people who've been admitted with that situation. I had 2 Ws, an F, a D and 2 Cs which arguably could be worse than 6 Ws...

So what's more meaningful to ADCOMs is the circumstances around those grades and whether the grades are aberrant or indication of academic ability.

Mine were clearly aberrant (I averaged around 3.8 for 2yrs punctuated by two dismal semesters of 1.6 & 2.9 - due to family difficulties). I briefly explained the circumstances (2-3 lines) in my PS and nobody ever brought it up at any point in the admissions process.

In ur situation is there any reason behind the >6 Ws? Honestly Ws aren't inherently good or bad bcos they can indicate "gpa shopping" or personal difficulties; however a trend may raise eyebrows.

 

[JustAGuy]

I had some.

 

[anfleisch]

Dont the Ws indicate if you were passing or failing at the time? That could make a difference.

 

[moto_za]

I had somewhere between 15-18 W's and F's. Oddly, no one ever asked about them.

.

 

[searun]

I had two Ws on my college transcript which I exercised to avoid a crash and burn. Six med school acceptances. No one raised an eyebrow. Now 6 Ws, hmm, that might generate a raised eyebrow and an inquiry. But probably not fatal.

 

[auburnO5]

I have 4 W's on my transcript, and I was not asked about them at any of my interviews.

I am also on 4 waitlists with no acceptances...

 

[Auspicious2010]

I have 4 W's on my transcript, and I was not asked about them at any of my interviews.

I am also on 4 waitlists with no acceptances...

Ouch. I am sorry to hear that. Did you apply late in the cycle?

 

[Auspicious2010]

First off, I'd like to say hello to everyone on board. Hope everyone is doing well tonight. I just found this forum a while back and am very glad that I did because I know I will be collecting a lot of informative data from everyone here

My main concern posting this post is that...

I'm just wondering how many people have actually got accepted into Med School with tons of W's(6+) on transcript while doing undergrad courses because I somehow am in the situation and highly doubt about my chances towards any acceptance. I'm feeling very agonized right now. I really hope to see if anyone was in my shoes and still made it in Med School eventually.

Thanks in advance.

I think if you can do well on MCAT and maintain a high GPA, you will still have a pretty good chance in getting accepted to medical school. Don't worry too much about the Ws. What's done is done. It's best to focus on other aspects of the application that you can still work on.

 

[eablackwell]

I'm applying this cycle with 7 Ws.

5 were from one semester when I withdrew due to serious illness that resulted in 2 surgeries

1 was a chinese course that ended up conflicting with a job offer I couldn't turn down

1 was an online course over the summer when I went to Europe to train and compete in a world championship athletic event


I'm pretty sure if you have valid reasons behind it, and it's not like 5 times withdrawing from orgo 1, then it should be okay.

As for withdrawing passing or withdrawing failing. None of mine state it one way or the other, although I was passing all when they happened

 

[CATrtb]

I had probably 8 W's and 4 F's. But they were during my first freshman year 13 years ago. Went back to college in 02' and made A's all the way through (had 2 W's during this time).

I was asked about the F's briefly, I replied "I was young and didn't know what I was doing" and then we moved on.

2 acceptances.

 

[caseofthemndays]

I had 2 W's in one semester, a couple of C's, no D's or F's. No one even blinked. 3 interviews, 2 acceptances.

 

[PltEnthusiast]

<phew>

I never even thought about it but after seeing a thread on this topic I was like..whaaa..
but glad to know that what I thought was right, meaning if there is a valid reason and an increasing improvement, it shouldn't be a problem.

I had to drop a semester due to extreme circumstances but I did very well since then. I didn't include an explanation in my PS because the theme of the PS was different. Also, I asked adcom at an open house if it is a must to explain such things in the PS and he said that if it goes with the theme of your PS then you can but it is not a must as long as you have done well and you are ready to explain at the interviews!

 

[x3mit]

I know a friend that got in MS with 7W's & he got 2 acceptances from 2 schools where he applied to regardless of an unreasonable excuse he came up with during the interviews lol. Good luck to you!

 

[thesauce]

First off, I'd like to say hello to everyone on board. Hope everyone is doing well tonight. I just found this forum a while back and am very glad that I did because I know I will be collecting a lot of informative data from everyone here

My main concern posting this post is that...

I'm just wondering how many people have actually got accepted into Med School with tons of W's(6+) on transcript while doing undergrad courses because I somehow am in the situation and highly doubt about my chances towards any acceptance. I'm feeling very agonized right now. I really hope to see if anyone was in my shoes and still made it in Med School eventually.

Thanks in advance.

I had at least 6 and it never came up

 

[Food]

I had somewhere between 15-18 W's and F's. Oddly, no one ever asked about them.

That's because you waved your hand and said "these are not the Ws you're looking for..."

 

[thesauce]

That's because you waved your hand and said "these are not the Ws you're looking for..."

"you don't need to see his identification..."

 

[JustAGuy]

It might be because they were old grades, most were retaken, and I wrote a sob story in my PS.

 

[Colonol Forbin]

I had 2, and got in...but 6 is alot

 

[hooeen]

It might be because they were old grades, most were retaken, and I wrote a sob story in my PS.

Wow!! you are my idol !!

How old are those grades? 10+ years old?

By the way, it seems that just a few lovely people here have 6+ W's; this makes me feel totally nervous of applying. ;(

But yeah, thanks everyone for sharing I really appreciate it.

 

[JustAGuy]

How old are those grades? 10+ years old?

Yes.

Just apply early and broadly. You could also consider DO programs. They seem a bit more forgiving about stuff like that.