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Who's applying this cycle even if the odds are against you?
- Thread starter JohnFe
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Check about my two cents on advisors I wrote earlier yesterday. In a nutshell, an "advisor," on average, is nothing more than a tool. Just my opinion.
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to make you feel better my states were
3.49/3.38 cGPA/sGPA (plus transferring under grad schools and tons of different transcripts from different schools). no research at all (was not a science major).
I got in for this fall and am waitlisted at two other places (including my pre application #1). so non-trads and low GPAs dont worry!
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👍
Non-trad. Late summer MCAT. No research. 3.8+ sgpa & cgpa. Average ECs. Applying broadly MD & DO.
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I'm applying too! 3.4 cGPA/ 3.0 sGPA-waiting for MCAT- Vocal Music Major- interesting ECs
I haven't quite nailed down my list- anyone have advice on schools that might take a good look at those of us who have the "odds against" us? I'm talking hollistic OOS friendlies or private schools. I'm trying to get a great list to give myself the best odds!
I haven't quite nailed down my list- anyone have advice on schools that might take a good look at those of us who have the "odds against" us? I'm talking hollistic OOS friendlies or private schools. I'm trying to get a great list to give myself the best odds!
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Is this the new panic thread now? Time flies. May the Vishanti watch over you all. 🙂
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Panic thread = Negative and pessimistic
This thread = Optimism and positivity
Good luck to everyone! And congrats to your acceptances!
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Good luck y'all. Apply early and broadly!
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I'm applying late with you guys. 3.0UGPA, 3.9 Grad GPA, August MCAT, loads of ECs, leadership etc. Most likely I won't get in this year, maybe next year but I'm applying just in case a miracle happens and my state school gives me a chance. Good luck everyone.
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Remember Winston Churchill fellas. If you're going through hell, keep going. If we don't make it this year, we get back up and get in next year. Then we destroy.
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3.8 Science GPA and 3.8 Overall (with 3.95 the past 3 years), 29 MCAT 11,8,10 (only took it once), plenty of leadership, lab experience, volunteering and I studied abroad (Spanish for the health professions minor). Also a nationally registered EMT so when I graduate this next week I'll be working as an EMT (hopefully) all next year.
Buuuuut, I do have 2 dorm room write ups (2009 and 2011) and a traffic ticket "Driving with controlled substance" from March of 2012 on my record. Not a criminal charge but basically what it meant was that I was pulled over and had smoked marijuana sometime during the day (drug test showed that I wasn't impaired only trace amounts are enough to get the ticket. I know it's different from the typical up hill battle but I wanted to join in. Good luck to everyone!
Buuuuut, I do have 2 dorm room write ups (2009 and 2011) and a traffic ticket "Driving with controlled substance" from March of 2012 on my record. Not a criminal charge but basically what it meant was that I was pulled over and had smoked marijuana sometime during the day (drug test showed that I wasn't impaired only trace amounts are enough to get the ticket. I know it's different from the typical up hill battle but I wanted to join in. Good luck to everyone!
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Reporting in with a 3.6 34 reapplicant- my issue is I applied (late) last year with a 3.74/34, I'm gonna reapply with a significant grade decline lol (2.85 senior GPA)
Leg go!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using SDN Mobile
Leg go!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using SDN Mobile
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I will be applying with 3.7 (science and cumulative) and a 28 MCAT. Also applying to DO schools, just hoping to make it in somewhere!
Good luck to everyone this cycle! May the odds be ever in our favor! (Sorry, couldn't resist)
Good luck to everyone this cycle! May the odds be ever in our favor! (Sorry, couldn't resist)
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You make me feel like I'm going off to battle to the death! But I dare day it is quite the appropriate phrase 🙂
Hi all,
Just wanted to chime in a few thoughts as we approach the start of applications...
I was also a statistical anomaly as well, and somehow managed to get in. (3.4, mid 30 mcat) Oddly past SDNers told me I should only apply DO because that's the best I could do...odd how that works.
Nonetheless, some pointers:
1) Apply early. If you're statistically have the odds against you, do everything reasonable to have the things you can control, done on time. On time, meaning being "complete" by late July/beginning of August at the latest. Why? Because 2 CHIEF reasons:
-Since interviews are rolling, its easier to standout when being compared to 10 or 100 earlier in the cycle, than 1000 or 10000 later in cycle. TBH, you're not in any position to necessarily bargain with it. I was in the exact situation. Maximize your odds.
-I know many friends of mine who had to reapply, but seriously, it is a PAIN to reapply. Why? because your LoRs need to be updated, your personal statement and secondaries may have to be updated, you spend tons of money, and so forth.
How I see it? Applying to medical school is an elective procedure. Meaning: You DO have the time to plan ahead, make sure all your ducks are in line. Maximize your odds for a good outcome. This NOT your crashing critically ill patient who needs an emergency thoracotomy without a time-out form checklist.
Not sure about you guys, but regardless if I were in school or not, the many thousands of dollars spent on the admissions process is not worth being sloppy and unorganized for it. You already have one red-flag perhaps: don't make another. Disclaimer: not trying to belittle you all here, i'm being dead serious-I had red flags going into this but I busted my tail to be on time and squeaky clean elsewhere and the red flags all disappeared. Applying late for lots of my friends seriously limited their interviews and subsequent acceptance(s).
2) Late MCATers, if you're taking it really late, I'd encourage you to apply next year. You may choose to ignore me on my advice, but that's what I'd do. (Oh wait, I did that. lol) BTW, don't hate the gap year: You cannot put a price on youth. Once you get into med school, you'll feel the burnout by the end of the year, and some people who have gone straight through are hating how they never took time off. Plus, the gap years I took were great because it strengthened my LORs because my letter writers had more to say, and knowing them for a longer time really helped.
3) APPLY BROADLY. Oh, yeah. APPLY BROADLY. What did you say? APPLY BROADLY. Point made yet? Nope. APPLY BROADLY!!! Does anyone understand this?
3) USE SDN's secondary resources! Get a jump start on those secondary prompts so you can have a quick turnaround! Going off from point three, you will have a TON more secondaries to accomplish, so get a head start so you don't burn out with the slew of secondaries on their way!
4) Show that you're unique. Show them that there is something awesome about you that they might me missing with their higher-stat applicants. I cannot tell you how many people seriously FAIL at answering the "tell me something interesting about yourself." When I do mock interviews, I always ask "WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE YOU," and it's very interesting how people answer this question. haha.
5) Good luck! It's a LONG process. For those of you who have never done this, be ready for the worst. Plan your interview trail well. Line up schools to fly out less often.
Questions? PM away.
Just wanted to chime in a few thoughts as we approach the start of applications...
I was also a statistical anomaly as well, and somehow managed to get in. (3.4, mid 30 mcat) Oddly past SDNers told me I should only apply DO because that's the best I could do...odd how that works.
Nonetheless, some pointers:
1) Apply early. If you're statistically have the odds against you, do everything reasonable to have the things you can control, done on time. On time, meaning being "complete" by late July/beginning of August at the latest. Why? Because 2 CHIEF reasons:
-Since interviews are rolling, its easier to standout when being compared to 10 or 100 earlier in the cycle, than 1000 or 10000 later in cycle. TBH, you're not in any position to necessarily bargain with it. I was in the exact situation. Maximize your odds.
-I know many friends of mine who had to reapply, but seriously, it is a PAIN to reapply. Why? because your LoRs need to be updated, your personal statement and secondaries may have to be updated, you spend tons of money, and so forth.
How I see it? Applying to medical school is an elective procedure. Meaning: You DO have the time to plan ahead, make sure all your ducks are in line. Maximize your odds for a good outcome. This NOT your crashing critically ill patient who needs an emergency thoracotomy without a time-out form checklist.
Not sure about you guys, but regardless if I were in school or not, the many thousands of dollars spent on the admissions process is not worth being sloppy and unorganized for it. You already have one red-flag perhaps: don't make another. Disclaimer: not trying to belittle you all here, i'm being dead serious-I had red flags going into this but I busted my tail to be on time and squeaky clean elsewhere and the red flags all disappeared. Applying late for lots of my friends seriously limited their interviews and subsequent acceptance(s).
2) Late MCATers, if you're taking it really late, I'd encourage you to apply next year. You may choose to ignore me on my advice, but that's what I'd do. (Oh wait, I did that. lol) BTW, don't hate the gap year: You cannot put a price on youth. Once you get into med school, you'll feel the burnout by the end of the year, and some people who have gone straight through are hating how they never took time off. Plus, the gap years I took were great because it strengthened my LORs because my letter writers had more to say, and knowing them for a longer time really helped.
3) APPLY BROADLY. Oh, yeah. APPLY BROADLY. What did you say? APPLY BROADLY. Point made yet? Nope. APPLY BROADLY!!! Does anyone understand this?
3) USE SDN's secondary resources! Get a jump start on those secondary prompts so you can have a quick turnaround! Going off from point three, you will have a TON more secondaries to accomplish, so get a head start so you don't burn out with the slew of secondaries on their way!
4) Show that you're unique. Show them that there is something awesome about you that they might me missing with their higher-stat applicants. I cannot tell you how many people seriously FAIL at answering the "tell me something interesting about yourself." When I do mock interviews, I always ask "WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE YOU," and it's very interesting how people answer this question. haha.
5) Good luck! It's a LONG process. For those of you who have never done this, be ready for the worst. Plan your interview trail well. Line up schools to fly out less often.
Questions? PM away.
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Thanks for the post! I will surely take note...If it is okay with you to answer this in public, how do you go about answering "why the low GPA" question? What schools granted you interview and acceptances?
Thanks!
gpa is alright with a 3.7....but i'm scheduled to take mcat on may 23 and I'm definitely not changing the date (I've already postponed it 3 times). I'm currently averaging 23-25 on the practice tests....hoping to score 27-29 on the real thing but I will apply either way in june.
Oh man....actually dreading the day of my mcat....can't seem to bring up the score no matter what i do.
Oh man....actually dreading the day of my mcat....can't seem to bring up the score no matter what i do.
How late did you apply?
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After hearing about my first app cycle, my advisor recommended against applying in the 2012-2013 cycle, saying I was not likely to get in unless I took a few years off. I ignored him, applied, and got in. End of story.
Moral: In most cases, ignore your premed advisor.
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How many schools are y'all applying to? I'm applying to 15. I, too, have a late MCAT.
We got this, guys! Hang on, it's gonna be an interesting ride!!!
We got this, guys! Hang on, it's gonna be an interesting ride!!!
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3 sGPA 3.2 cGPA, 34Q MCAT, currently an ER technician with lots of shadowing, some research, straight A's post-bacc so far but that undergraduate GPA is killing me. Applying broadly to both MD and DO schools, especially in-state (IL). Good luck everyone!!
Good luck!
I'm first time applicant but I'm also applying with similar stats (3.60/34).
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I couldn't agree more with this post! My premed advisor told me straight out that I had no shot at medical school. She told me to find another career. I think many premed advisors enjoy putting down premeds that walk into their office.
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Goodluck you guys! I was a real MD underdog and managed to get an acceptance this last cycle. You can do it!
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Odds are definitely against me! 3.6cGPA/3.1sGPA, 34 MCAT. Currently in a masters program. Decent EC's. Oh and an international student so I can only apply so broadly. Applying to 16 schools and hoping for the best.
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3.6 gpa/34 MCAT gives you about an 80% chance of admission. The average acceptance rate is close to half of that. Even a 3.2 and 34 gives you a higher than average chance at admission. Lets put stuff in perspective.
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I don't know if this is directed towards me since those are my stats, but I will respond anyway. I really wasn't trying to be neurotic, I just know that my sGPA is very low and that the discrepancy between that and my cGPA & MCAT is a red flag. Add that to the fact that as an international student I don't have any state schools and most of the schools I can apply to are mid to top tier private schools, I would say that the odds are against me.
ETA: I think this site easily makes you feel like the odds are against you if you have anything below a 3.8cGPA,sGPA and >33MCAT. I honestly still don't know what the 'real world'/non-SDN averages, etc are for an applicant with a good chance to get into medical school.
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3.35 GPA, waiting 10 days for the MCAT results. Only applying to two schools cuz I like to live dangerously.
Oh my
Why not just do early decision?
I thought you had to be really competitive to apply EDP.
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3.43 / 3.30sGPA from UG
3.87/ 3.87 sGPA from SMP
26 MCAT. retook for a 35.
Applying all of texas and 14 AMCAS schools.
3.87/ 3.87 sGPA from SMP
26 MCAT. retook for a 35.
Applying all of texas and 14 AMCAS schools.
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Yeah, EDP is a terrible decision for anyone, even if you're competitive lol.
3.42c / 3.35s / 34 MCAT
Graduated 4 years ago and was not really thinking med school.
Lots of unique EC's (athlete, volunteering...). Non-traditional. Have done research. Worked many science-related odd jobs. Going into my 3rd year working at a community college.
Anyone have any advice on MD schools that might be within my reach?
Graduated 4 years ago and was not really thinking med school.
Lots of unique EC's (athlete, volunteering...). Non-traditional. Have done research. Worked many science-related odd jobs. Going into my 3rd year working at a community college.
Anyone have any advice on MD schools that might be within my reach?
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So I've updated my applications to 35 MD schools (mostly midwestern/close to IS as possible) and 11 DO schools.
I feel kind of bipolar about this...sometimes I'm completely hopeless at any chance of MDs and even about the DO schools, since I only have 1 ii anywhere so far...and sometimes I feel like I really have a shot at MD, and take comfort from the fact that I haven't been rejected outright anywhere yet.
Probably the result of the toll that WAY too many secondary essays takes on your mental health
I feel kind of bipolar about this...sometimes I'm completely hopeless at any chance of MDs and even about the DO schools, since I only have 1 ii anywhere so far...and sometimes I feel like I really have a shot at MD, and take comfort from the fact that I haven't been rejected outright anywhere yet.
Probably the result of the toll that WAY too many secondary essays takes on your mental health
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Probably the result of the toll that WAY too many secondary essays takes on your mental health
I applied to 35 schools so I know how you feel! I keep going on the forums to procrastinate pre-filling out all the secondaries. They are driving me crazy.
I feel like the odds are against me because I submitted my app mid-july and I am still not verified, and I have an F and a D on my transcript, and I am a non-trad! 3.6 cGPA, 3.7 sGPA, 38 MCAT however.
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3rd time applicant, 3 MCAT scores over 2 years (22,29,30), 3.4 sGPA, 3.6 nsGPA, tons and tons of clinicial research, 3 publications (2 first author), good volunteer experience. Applied very late first year, waitlisted last year, 1 interview so far this year.
Sooo sick of this process. Someone pwetty pwease let me in
Sooo sick of this process. Someone pwetty pwease let me in
There's an Underdog Thread here for this cycle if you all want to look come on over there 😀.
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Very similar. 34 MCAT 3.54 cGPS 3.50 sGPA, great ECs and Rec's but submitted 7/19.
Ugh!
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I don't know a single person who is/has/will apply to med school and as a nontrad this whole process has been overwhelming as I've had to discover everything myself. Good luck to everyone here!
29 MCAT, 3.73 cgpa, 3.77 sgpa (down from 4.0. Thanks TMDSAS) applying to TX schools only. Nontraditional EC's so I don't know yet how they will be received. Application wasn't transmitted until Aug 9th so not early but not too late.
No II's yet.
29 MCAT, 3.73 cgpa, 3.77 sgpa (down from 4.0. Thanks TMDSAS) applying to TX schools only. Nontraditional EC's so I don't know yet how they will be received. Application wasn't transmitted until Aug 9th so not early but not too late.
No II's yet.
