Why do you think you got waitlisted/rejected post interview?

[angldrps]

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This is for all those who have already interviewed in the previous cycles. If you were wait listed or rejected after any of your interviews, what do you think was about the interview that could have contributed to this admissions decision? Basically, if you could go back and do these interviews again, is there something you think you could have done better/differently?

The purpose of asking this is so the current applicants can gain some tips on how to improve their interviews by learning from past applicant's interviewing experiences.

 

[Goro]

As an interveiwer, I've written about this before, but one actually has to work at getting rejected. For many schools, being interviewed is the same as getting accepted.

We've wait listed people for having too many poor grades, a poor MCAT history (ie, 19, 20, 20 then 26...we like the avg MCAT score to be >24); being too nervous at interview; not fully understanding what they're getting into; not having enough ECs [like, none at all!]; thinking that osteopathy is identical to allopathic medicine (they're not, and you should know why); being interested in a lucrative specialty; being more interested in procedures than people; being blabbering idiots; not being able to think on their feet; poor verbal English skills (if I can't understand you, how will a patient?); being too immature; doing all of their pre-recs one at a time over a multi-year spread at CC's; and not being interested in the interview (looking bored, etc).

We've rejected or low-wait listed people for having bad LORs (rare); having a felony conviction or multiple misdemeanors (multiple DUI much more serious than a one time event); outright lying about their file or background; being too immature (I had a girl start crying in the interview once); overdominating the conversations (we rejected one 4.0 person because she wanted to answer other interviewee's questions); addressing the interviewers by their first names; never making eye contact with any of the interviewers; snapping gum during the interview; and for trying to get back into medicine after being kicked out of other medical schools.

There are probably others, but that's all I can think of on the fly.

This is for all those who have already interviewed in the previous cycles. If you were wait listed or rejected after any of your interviews, what do you think was about the interview that could have contributed to this admissions decision? Basically, if you could go back and do these interviews again, is there something you think you could have done better/differently?

The purpose of asking this is so the current applicants can gain some tips on how to improve their interviews by learning from past applicant's interviewing experiences.

 

[chiddler]

interesting. why would you invite to interview if you just ending up waitlisting them due to poor grades? i thought interview is when everybody is on equal ground. is this not true?

As an interveiwer, I've written about this before, but one actually has to work at getting rejected. For many schools, being interviewed is the same as getting accepted.

We've wait listed people for having too many poor grades, a poor MCAT history (ie, 19, 20, 20 then 26...we like the avg MCAT score to be >24); being too nervous at interview; not fully understanding what they're getting into; not having enough ECs [like, none at all!]; thinking that osteopathy is identical to allopathic medicine (they're not, and you should know why); being interested in a lucrative specialty; being more interested in procedures than people; being blabbering idiots; not being able to think on their feet; poor verbal English skills (if I can't understand you, how will a patient?); being too immature; doing all of their pre-recs one at a time over a multi-year spread at CC's; and not being interested in the interview (looking bored, etc).

We've rejected or low-wait listed people for having bad LORs (rare); having a felony conviction or multiple misdemeanors (multiple DUI much more serious than a one time event); outright lying about their file or background; being too immature (I had a girl start crying in the interview once); overdominating the conversations (we rejected one 4.0 person because she wanted to answer other interviewee's questions); addressing the interviewers by their first names; never making eye contact with any of the interviewers; snapping gum during the interview; and for trying to get back into medicine after being kicked out of other medical schools.

There are probably others, but that's all I can think of on the fly.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

interesting. why would you invite to interview if you just ending up waitlisting them due to poor grades? i thought interview is when everybody is on equal ground. is this not true?

I wouldn't say that you're on equal ground. Sometimes they might be intrigued by some aspects of your application (leadership, etc.), and bring you in despite lower grades to get to know you better. At that point, if you do have lower grades, it's your opportunity to try and wow them out of their pants. Everything is taken into consideration when determining the final decision. Interview is just part of it.

 

[Dmr6186]

interesting. why would you invite to interview if you just ending up waitlisting them due to poor grades? i thought interview is when everybody is on equal ground. is this not true?

Yeah, that does seem to make little sense. And why interview someone with no ECs? Is it just because they couldn't carry themselves well when they answer the question of, "Why do you have such little EC activity when others have more?"

Edit: Saw this after I posted 😀 Does seem to make more sense.

I wouldn't say that you're on equal ground. Sometimes they might be intrigued by some aspects of your application (leadership, etc.), and bring you in despite lower grades to get to know you better. At that point, if you do have lower grades, it's your opportunity to try and wow them out of their pants. Everything is taken into consideration when determining the final decision. Interview is just part of it.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

As an interveiwer, I've written about this before, but one actually has to work at getting rejected. For many schools, being interviewed is the same as getting accepted.

We've wait listed people for having too many poor grades, a poor MCAT history (ie, 19, 20, 20 then 26...we like the avg MCAT score to be >24); being too nervous at interview; not fully understanding what they're getting into; not having enough ECs [like, none at all!]; thinking that osteopathy is identical to allopathic medicine (they're not, and you should know why); being interested in a lucrative specialty; being more interested in procedures than people; being blabbering idiots; not being able to think on their feet; poor verbal English skills (if I can't understand you, how will a patient?); being too immature; doing all of their pre-recs one at a time over a multi-year spread at CC's; and not being interested in the interview (looking bored, etc).

We've rejected or low-wait listed people for having bad LORs (rare); having a felony conviction or multiple misdemeanors (multiple DUI much more serious than a one time event); outright lying about their file or background; being too immature (I had a girl start crying in the interview once); overdominating the conversations (we rejected one 4.0 person because she wanted to answer other interviewee's questions); addressing the interviewers by their first names; never making eye contact with any of the interviewers; snapping gum during the interview; and for trying to get back into medicine after being kicked out of other medical schools.

There are probably others, but that's all I can think of on the fly.

The balded part, in particular, caught my attention because it was the opposite of what I thought. I remember reading in an interview-skills book that one's name is the sweetest thing for him/her to hear. Therefore, the book encouraged addressing the interviewers by their first names. Good to know.

 

[Brumz]

doing all of their pre-recs one at a time over a multi-year spread at CC's

Can I ask the reasoning behind this, or what the issue is?
Is the issue with taking courses at a community college, or is it an issue with taking classes so spread out?

I've already got a bachelors degree, and am going back to school to do my med-prereqs.
I will probably be taking two classes a semester, and one in the summer, in order to get through my med-prereqs. I was planning to do the prereqs at the community college because classes are more available more often there, especially in the evening. I don't have the ability to go during the day, and my local university offers very few night classes. I figured it would take about a year and a half to get all of my med-prereqs done, and I was planning on applying to med school in 2-3 years, depending on the cycle.

But if you don't think this is a good idea, of you know that adcoms don't approve of it, I might do otherwise.

 

[DrWily]

From that one book i read some time, way back when, last year I think...

One ADCOM will read your application, and select you for an interview. Maybe he was a low GPA student himself and wanted to give someone a chance, or maybe he's an animal lover, and you wrote that you love animals so they invite you for an interview. Then after the interview, your case file is presented to the ENTIRE ADCOM board for review. This is when discussion takes place, and some Adcoms may feel strongly against you for having a lower GPA, low MCAT, whatever They then vote on whether or not to accept, waitlist, or reject you.

So just because you have an interview does not make you automatically accepted if you perform well. They will still review all of your stats/LORs/ECs/interview before they decide anything.

 

[DrMeows]

I guess I'm a good example. I interviewed at 2 schools last cycle, got waitlisted at both and never pulled off. After speaking with the schools, there was no issue with my interview. Rather, come to find out it is recommended I retake a few science classes to increase my sGPA. Therefore, interview does not mean acceptance always. Sigh 🙁

 

[chiddler]

From that one book i read some time, way back when, last year I think...

One ADCOM will read your application, and select you for an interview. Maybe he was a low GPA student himself and wanted to give someone a chance, or maybe he's an animal lover, and you wrote that you love animals so they invite you for an interview. Then after the interview, your case file is presented to the ENTIRE ADCOM board for review. This is when discussion takes place, and some Adcoms may feel strongly against you for having a lower GPA, low MCAT, whatever They then vote on whether or not to accept, waitlist, or reject you.

So just because you have an interview does not make you automatically accepted if you perform well. They will still review all of your stats/LORs/ECs/interview before they decide anything.

i did not know that.

confidence shot 🙁

 

[Ost3oclast]

i did not know that.

confidence shot 🙁

+1. I was pumped dmu gave me an interview even with my 26 mcat. Now just feeling like Im gonna get interviewed and subsequently rejected a week later.

 

[MedPR]

Can I ask the reasoning behind this, or what the issue is?
Is the issue with taking courses at a community college, or is it an issue with taking classes so spread out?

I've already got a bachelors degree, and am going back to school to do my med-prereqs.
I will probably be taking two classes a semester, and one in the summer, in order to get through my med-prereqs. I was planning to do the prereqs at the community college because classes are more available more often there, especially in the evening. I don't have the ability to go during the day, and my local university offers very few night classes. I figured it would take about a year and a half to get all of my med-prereqs done, and I was planning on applying to med school in 2-3 years, depending on the cycle.

But if you don't think this is a good idea, of you know that adcoms don't approve of it, I might do otherwise.

1.5 years is not a "multi-year spread". Pre-reqs are typically 2 semesters of bio, 2 semesters of gen chem, 2 semesters of orgo, and 2 semesters of physics. Completing that in 1.5 years is good, even at a CC.

 

[MedPR]

The balded part, in particular, caught my attention because it was the opposite of what I thought. I remember reading in an interview-skills book that one's name is the sweetest thing for him/her to hear. Therefore, the book encouraged addressing the interviewers by their first names. Good to know.

You're joking, right?

 

[DrWily]

You're joking, right?

From my own experience, professionals like to hear their title in their name when being addressed.


Such as.. Dr. Seuss, Dr. House, Dr. Doolittle.

 

[Dmr6186]

You're joking, right?

+1

Literally the worst thing you can do is address anyone in these types of situations by their first names. Even moreso because people with doctorate degrees are the ones who are most likely going to be doing the interviews. If John Smith, DO, is interviewing you, you address him as Dr. Smith, not John, or even Mr. Smith.

Don't parents teach there children anything these days 😉

 

[ModernAlchemist]

From that one book i read some time, way back when, last year I think...

One ADCOM will read your application, and select you for an interview. Maybe he was a low GPA student himself and wanted to give someone a chance, or maybe he's an animal lover, and you wrote that you love animals so they invite you for an interview. Then after the interview, your case file is presented to the ENTIRE ADCOM board for review. This is when discussion takes place, and some Adcoms may feel strongly against you for having a lower GPA, low MCAT, whatever They then vote on whether or not to accept, waitlist, or reject you.

So just because you have an interview does not make you automatically accepted if you perform well. They will still review all of your stats/LORs/ECs/interview before they decide anything.

Well this is a little scary. I'm sure everyone who read this is thinking about the one deficit in their application that they are sure they will now be rejected for. On a related note, I really hope they are forgiving of one of my verbal scores being low...

 

[oms2]

great info in this thread.

 

[timmaycakes]

I guess I'm a good example. I interviewed at 2 schools last cycle, got waitlisted at both and never pulled off. After speaking with the schools, there was no issue with my interview. Rather, come to find out it is recommended I retake a few science classes to increase my sGPA. Therefore, interview does not mean acceptance always. Sigh 🙁

Sorry to hear about that. I feel like I'm in the same boat, I have a decent MCAT but horrendous sGPA 🙁

I wonder why they would give someone an invite and make them go all the way out to the school just to shoot them down, if they felt the sGPA was low in the first place.

 

[angldrps]

As an interveiwer, I've written about this before, but one actually has to work at getting rejected. For many schools, being interviewed is the same as getting accepted.

We've wait listed people for having too many poor grades, a poor MCAT history (ie, 19, 20, 20 then 26...we like the avg MCAT score to be >24); being too nervous at interview; not fully understanding what they're getting into; not having enough ECs [like, none at all!]; thinking that osteopathy is identical to allopathic medicine (they're not, and you should know why); being interested in a lucrative specialty; being more interested in procedures than people; being blabbering idiots; not being able to think on their feet; poor verbal English skills (if I can't understand you, how will a patient?); being too immature; doing all of their pre-recs one at a time over a multi-year spread at CC's; and not being interested in the interview (looking bored, etc).

We've rejected or low-wait listed people for having bad LORs (rare); having a felony conviction or multiple misdemeanors (multiple DUI much more serious than a one time event); outright lying about their file or background; being too immature (I had a girl start crying in the interview once); overdominating the conversations (we rejected one 4.0 person because she wanted to answer other interviewee's questions); addressing the interviewers by their first names; never making eye contact with any of the interviewers; snapping gum during the interview; and for trying to get back into medicine after being kicked out of other medical schools.

There are probably others, but that's all I can think of on the fly.

THANK YOU for providing us with your insight. much appreciated!🙂

 

[DrMeows]

Sorry to hear about that. I feel like I'm in the same boat, I have a decent MCAT but horrendous sGPA 🙁

I wonder why they would give someone an invite and make them go all the way out to the school just to shoot them down, if they felt the sGPA was low in the first place.

No idea, but here's hoping retaking a couple of classes will make them accept me this year 😳 🙄

 

[Brumz]

1.5 years is not a "multi-year spread". Pre-reqs are typically 2 semesters of bio, 2 semesters of gen chem, 2 semesters of orgo, and 2 semesters of physics. Completing that in 1.5 years is good, even at a CC.

Got it. Thanks. 👍

 

[dessimay]

doing all of their pre-recs one at a time over a multi-year spread at CC's

I would assume this comment takes into consideration a full time job and other EC's? I was planning on finishing these pre reqs while nursing and I'm not sure how feasible it is to do more than 1 at a time. Obviously if I can I will but I was going to start with 1 class at a time at a CC and see how it goes. I have 6 pre reqs left. CC is just much more flexible with hours, cheaper, and honestly some (but definitely not all) of the professors are just as good if not better than my undergrad professors were at Emory.

 

[NekoBeats]

From that one book i read some time, way back when, last year I think...

One ADCOM will read your application, and select you for an interview. Maybe he was a low GPA student himself and wanted to give someone a chance, or maybe he's an animal lover, and you wrote that you love animals so they invite you for an interview. Then after the interview, your case file is presented to the ENTIRE ADCOM board for review. This is when discussion takes place, and some Adcoms may feel strongly against you for having a lower GPA, low MCAT, whatever They then vote on whether or not to accept, waitlist, or reject you.

So just because you have an interview does not make you automatically accepted if you perform well. They will still review all of your stats/LORs/ECs/interview before they decide anything.

This actually makes perfect sense. Last year, I was stoked to receive a secondary, and then an interview, from a unique program that lets you earn your degree from a top school. The average GPA/MCAT for this school are much higher than my own stats so I was super excited for the chance to interview. Like another poster, I had heard that if you got an interview at a school, it means that you are now on equal footing as everyone else, so I was really banking that my EC's (which were directly in line with their mission statement) would get me the acceptance. Needless to say, despite the pretty good odds of getting accepted post interview (50%+), I got rejected. My speculation is that an individual reviewer picked me for a secondary/interview because they thought my EC's/LOR's were good. But then post-interview, when my file was brought before adcom, a majority of the faculty downvoted me because of my low numbers. If I get an interview again this year, I'm gonna need to figure out a way to get them to really like me...

It really just boiled down to numbers in the end, unfortunately 🙁

 

[Goro]

They meet the minimum standard, but to the interviewer, it might not be enough, based upon what comes out of the interview.

We as a committee DO "rescue" people from some of the hard-asses who think that because the student got a C in anatomy that he/she would do poorly here. We indeed look at the whole person.

interesting. why would you invite to interview if you just ending up waitlisting them due to poor grades? i thought interview is when everybody is on equal ground. is this not true?

 

[Goro]

It's taking the course so spread out that worries us. After all, your medical school course load will be, at a minimum, 5x more than anything at the undergrad level. Your expected course load will be fine.

The peros we wait-listed took something like one course/year! over a long period!

Can I ask the reasoning behind this, or what the issue is?
Is the issue with taking courses at a community college, or is it an issue with taking classes so spread out?

I've already got a bachelors degree, and am going back to school to do my med-prereqs.
I will probably be taking two classes a semester, and one in the summer, in order to get through my med-prereqs. I was planning to do the prereqs at the community college because classes are more available more often there, especially in the evening. I don't have the ability to go during the day, and my local university offers very few night classes. I figured it would take about a year and a half to get all of my med-prereqs done, and I was planning on applying to med school in 2-3 years, depending on the cycle.

But if you don't think this is a good idea, of you know that adcoms don't approve of it, I might do otherwise.

Originally Posted by chiddler
interesting. why would you invite to interview if you just ending up waitlisting them due to poor grades? i thought interview is when everybody is on equal ground. is this not true?
Yeah, that does seem to make little sense. And why interview someone with no ECs? Is it just because they couldn't carry themselves well when they answer the question of, "Why do you have such little EC activity when others have more?"

Keep in mind that this is RARE! It's happened maybe 2x that I can rememebr over >10 years.

 

[dudeliness]

It's taking the course so spread out that worries us. After all, your medical school course load will be, at a minimum, 5x more than anything at the undergrad level. Your expected course load will be fine.

The peros we wait-listed took something like one course/year! over a long period!

[/I]

Originally Posted by chiddler
interesting. why would you invite to interview if you just ending up waitlisting them due to poor grades? i thought interview is when everybody is on equal ground. is this not true?
Yeah, that does seem to make little sense. And why interview someone with no ECs? Is it just because they couldn't carry themselves well when they answer the question of, "Why do you have such little EC activity when others have more?"

Keep in mind that this is RARE! It's happened maybe 2x that I can rememebr over >10 years.

I just interviewed at LECOM-Erie today and I thought it was a pretty good experience overall, but there were a couple that kind of chattered on and on. That's got to be frustrating for the adcoms as much as it was for the rest of us interviewees. I'm assuming that a good balance, not to shy and not too overbearing, is what is ideal in these group settings.

I was going to ask, a second year student we had lunch with told us that we should email our interviewers to thank them. Does that seem weird to you, or would that be ok? Not sure what would be acceptable.

 

[Goro]

It's OK. A formality at best.

I was going to ask, a second year student we had lunch with told us that we should email our interviewers to thank them. Does that seem weird to you, or would that be ok? Not sure what would be acceptable.

 

[nicolemsm]

I just interviewed at LECOM-Erie today and I thought it was a pretty good experience overall, but there were a couple that kind of chattered on and on. That's got to be frustrating for the adcoms as much as it was for the rest of us interviewees. I'm assuming that a good balance, not to shy and not too overbearing, is what is ideal in these group settings.

I was going to ask, a second year student we had lunch with told us that we should email our interviewers to thank them. Does that seem weird to you, or would that be ok? Not sure what would be acceptable.

I would send a nice thank you note before an e-mail personally... It's easy to just send it to the main campus and then put c/o if you don't know their office location per say.

 

[dudeliness]

I would send a nice thank you note before an e-mail personally... It's easy to just send it to the main campus and then put c/o if you don't know their office location per say.

That's true, the ms2 who talked to us said email specially because it's more convenient for them to reply that way, but like goro said its not exactly mandatory to even say anything.

 

[theTiger128]

As an interveiwer, I've written about this before, but one actually has to work at getting rejected. For many schools, being interviewed is the same as getting accepted.

We've wait listed people for having too many poor grades, a poor MCAT history (ie, 19, 20, 20 then 26...we like the avg MCAT score to be >24); being too nervous at interview; not fully understanding what they're getting into; not having enough ECs [like, none at all!]; thinking that osteopathy is identical to allopathic medicine (they're not, and you should know why); being interested in a lucrative specialty; being more interested in procedures than people; being blabbering idiots; not being able to think on their feet; poor verbal English skills (if I can't understand you, how will a patient?); being too immature; doing all of their pre-recs one at a time over a multi-year spread at CC's; and not being interested in the interview (looking bored, etc).

We've rejected or low-wait listed people for having bad LORs (rare); having a felony conviction or multiple misdemeanors (multiple DUI much more serious than a one time event); outright lying about their file or background; being too immature (I had a girl start crying in the interview once); overdominating the conversations (we rejected one 4.0 person because she wanted to answer other interviewee's questions); addressing the interviewers by their first names; never making eye contact with any of the interviewers; snapping gum during the interview; and for trying to get back into medicine after being kicked out of other medical schools.

There are probably others, but that's all I can think of on the fly.

CRAP!...I am guilty of this. I have taken a majority of my prereqs at a CC. I am going to pray that at least one school will take me in despite this 🙁

 

[JeetKuneDo]

CRAP!...I am guilty of this. I have taken a majority of my prereqs at a CC. I am going to pray that at least one school will take me in despite this 🙁

But did you take them one class per semester? If you took two to three a semester you should be ok.

 

[EETTOMD]

It's taking the course so spread out that worries us. After all, your medical school course load will be, at a minimum, 5x more than anything at the undergrad level. Your expected course load will be fine.

The peros we wait-listed took something like one course/year! over a long period!

[/I]

Originally Posted by chiddler
interesting. why would you invite to interview if you just ending up waitlisting them due to poor grades? i thought interview is when everybody is on equal ground. is this not true?
Yeah, that does seem to make little sense. And why interview someone with no ECs? Is it just because they couldn't carry themselves well when they answer the question of, "Why do you have such little EC activity when others have more?"

Keep in mind that this is RARE! It's happened maybe 2x that I can rememebr over >10 years.

In reference to taking classes at a CC, I am a nontrad and already have a BS and MS in electrical engineering with ~ 3.69 gpa both. I work full-time and the closest 4 yr is almost 100 miles away. So the CC is sort of my only option and I plan on finishing remaining prereqs ( orgo and bio) at the CC one class at a time. Will this affect me negatively ?

 

[MedPR]

In reference to taking classes at a CC, I am a nontrad and already have a BS and MS in electrical engineering with ~ 3.69 gpa both. I work full-time and the closest 4 yr is almost 100 miles away. So the CC is sort of my only option and I plan on finishing remaining prereqs ( orgo and bio) at the CC one class at a time. Will this affect me negatively ?

At a CC? Not really. Taking pre-reqs one at a time? Yes.

 

[EETTOMD]

At a CC? Not really. Taking pre-reqs one at a time? Yes.

Even for someone working full-time? How much will CC affect chances at allopathic schools?

 

[ModernAlchemist]

Even for someone working full-time? How much will CC affect chances at allopathic schools?

 

[theTiger128]

But did you take them one class per semester? If you took two to three a semester you should be ok.

I took chem 1 spring of 2011. then i took anatomy and physiology during the summer of 2011. I then took chem 2 in the fall of that year. I didint take any prerec classes for my spring 2012 but, this summer I took gen bio 1, bio 2 and micro. I only signed up for physics 1 for this coming fall...

Would I even have a chance anymore? because I plan on taking physics 2 for spring 2013 and take my Ochem courses during the summer of 2013?

😕

 

[angldrps]

I took chem 1 spring of 2011. then i took anatomy and physiology during the summer of 2011. I then took chem 2 in the fall of that year. I didint take any prerec classes for my spring 2012 but, this summer I took gen bio 1, bio 2 and micro. I only signed up for physics 1 for this coming fall...

Would I even have a chance anymore? because I plan on taking physics 2 for spring 2013 and take my Ochem courses during the summer of 2013?

😕

remember, every schools has their own sets of rules to decide who gets in, so I would suggest you contact admissions counselors from the schools you are interested in and ask them. If you have solid MCAT/GPA + ECs, you should be fine.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

I took chem 1 spring of 2011. then i took anatomy and physiology during the summer of 2011. I then took chem 2 in the fall of that year. I didint take any prerec classes for my spring 2012 but, this summer I took gen bio 1, bio 2 and micro. I only signed up for physics 1 for this coming fall...

Would I even have a chance anymore? because I plan on taking physics 2 for spring 2013 and take my Ochem courses during the summer of 2013?

😕

Every case is different. You were probably working full time while taking these courses? If so, that should be alright. If your mcat score is strong it probably won't even matter.

 

[EETTOMD]

Haha ModernAlchemist! Goal is become a physician. MD/DO.. different paths, different challenges, same destination, same responsibilities.

 

[MedPR]

Even for someone working full-time? How much will CC affect chances at allopathic schools?

I worked full-time, took 12 CC credits (5 retake, 7 new), and volunteered 10 hours per week. Then I worked full-time, took 7 CC credits and studied for the MCAT.

So yes, don't bother trying to use working full-time as an excuse for a light load. It isn't a good one and ADCOMs won't appreciate it.

 

[MedPR]

I took chem 1 spring of 2011. then i took anatomy and physiology during the summer of 2011. I then took chem 2 in the fall of that year. I didint take any prerec classes for my spring 2012 but, this summer I took gen bio 1, bio 2 and micro. I only signed up for physics 1 for this coming fall...

Would I even have a chance anymore? because I plan on taking physics 2 for spring 2013 and take my Ochem courses during the summer of 2013?

😕

It doesn't kill your chances. It just doesn't look great when you take 1 class at a time. The point of taking classes is to show that you are capable of a heavy courseload. If you can't show that, ADCOMs won't know if you'll be able to handle medical school.

 

[EETTOMD]

I worked full-time, took 12 CC credits (5 retake, 7 new), and volunteered 10 hours per week. Then I worked full-time, took 7 CC credits and studied for the MCAT.

So yes, don't bother trying to use working full-time as an excuse for a light load. It isn't a good one and ADCOMs won't appreciate it.

I work roughly 70 hrs/wk on top of two volunteering activities. I am not retaking any classes for gpa repair or boost. I wanted to know from Goro whether my undergraduate/graduate record and major would indicate to adcoms that I am capable of handling a heavy course load. It is hard to find even a single class that fits, never mind 3-4. I am not looking for an excuse, just some feedback. I don't want to put in the effort and be told later that just two classes are holding me back. A BS and MS in engineering without a subpar gpa isn't given as charity. I had to work hard for it and I would like to know whether adcoms at most institutions will take that into account when they see two CC pre-reqs. Thank you for the feedback though. I appreciate criticism.

 

[Goro]

Strongly concur. How are we going to know if you can handle the massive course load of medical school (MD or DO, it won't matter)????

I worked full-time, took 12 CC credits (5 retake, 7 new), and volunteered 10 hours per week. Then I worked full-time, took 7 CC credits and studied for the MCAT.

So yes, don't bother trying to use working full-time as an excuse for a light load. It isn't a good one and ADCOMs won't appreciate it.

 

[Goro]

Decent UG performance should be a helpto us in determining your abilities. But do keep in mind that engineering and biological sciences are very different and I have seen enginering majors stuggle in medical school, because their way of tackling things is simply different.

I work roughly 70 hrs/wk on top of two volunteering activities. I am not retaking any classes for gpa repair or boost. I wanted to know from Goro whether my undergraduate/graduate record and major would indicate to adcoms that I am capable of handling a heavy course load. It is hard to find even a single class that fits, never mind 3-4. I am not looking for an excuse, just some feedback. I don't want to put in the effort and be told later that just two classes are holding me back. A BS and MS in engineering without a subpar gpa isn't given as charity. I had to work hard for it and I would like to know whether adcoms at most institutions will take that into account when they see two CC pre-reqs. Thank you for the feedback though. I appreciate criticism.

 

[ModernAlchemist]

Haha ModernAlchemist! Goal is become a physician. MD/DO.. different paths, different challenges, same destination, same responsibilities.

hahaha of course of course. I use memes and gifs any chance I get.

 

[MedPR]

I work roughly 70 hrs/wk on top of two volunteering activities. I am not retaking any classes for gpa repair or boost. I wanted to know from Goro whether my undergraduate/graduate record and major would indicate to adcoms that I am capable of handling a heavy course load. It is hard to find even a single class that fits, never mind 3-4. I am not looking for an excuse, just some feedback. I don't want to put in the effort and be told later that just two classes are holding me back. A BS and MS in engineering without a subpar gpa isn't given as charity. I had to work hard for it and I would like to know whether adcoms at most institutions will take that into account when they see two CC pre-reqs. Thank you for the feedback though. I appreciate criticism.

Well, 70 hours/wk isn't full-time, it's 30 hours OT. Again though, the whole point of taking classes is showing that you are capable of handling coursework. As Goro mentioned above, engineering isn't the same as biology even though the majority of people would agree that engineering is a much harder major than biology. With that said, doing well in engineering classes doesn't necessarily mean you can do well in biology classes.

Don't engineers get paid pretty well? Couldn't you cut back on your hours to take a class or two more each semester?

 

[EETTOMD]

Well, 70 hours/wk isn't full-time, it's 30 hours OT. Again though, the whole point of taking classes is showing that you are capable of handling coursework. As Goro mentioned above, engineering isn't the same as biology even though the majority of people would agree that engineering is a much harder major than biology. With that said, doing well in engineering classes doesn't necessarily mean you can do well in biology classes.

Don't engineers get paid pretty well? Couldn't you cut back on your hours to take a class or two more each semester?

Thanks for the feedback MedPR and Goro. 70 hrs is normal hours for me, not OT. So if I understand you correctly, if taking multiple classes at time is not a possibility, then I am at a significant disadvantage? This does present quite a dilemma for me. Kinda sucks to be honest. Cutting back hours is just not possible right now. I wonder how the non-science majors prove their ability to handle the course work? ( serious question, not meant to offend anyone)

 

[Ost3oclast]

Thanks for the feedback MedPR and Goro. 70 hrs is normal hours for me, not OT. So if I understand you correctly, if taking multiple classes at time is not a possibility, then I am at a significant disadvantage? This does present quite a dilemma for me. Kinda sucks to be honest. Cutting back hours is just not possible right now. I wonder how the non-science majors prove their ability to handle the course work? ( serious question, not meant to offend anyone)

Im non-science (kinesiology). I think for me, working 60 hours a week, while taking up to 17 hours a semester helped in showing my ability to handle a lot (while doing all sorts of other stuff too). So far being non-science hasnt held me back. I've already got 2 II's. I would think your work schedule would get you some leeway. Maybe not? :/

 

[drgioiadds]

TBH, I have experienced it all--rejected post interview, accepted and wait listed and did not do anything different at all 3.

 

[MedPR]

Thanks for the feedback MedPR and Goro. 70 hrs is normal hours for me, not OT. So if I understand you correctly, if taking multiple classes at time is not a possibility, then I am at a significant disadvantage? This does present quite a dilemma for me. Kinda sucks to be honest. Cutting back hours is just not possible right now. I wonder how the non-science majors prove their ability to handle the course work? ( serious question, not meant to offend anyone)

I don't think it's a significant disadvantage, but it certainly doesn't help you. I understand needing to work and pay bills and although I work only 50 hours per week I also understand how hard it can be to find classes that fit into your work schedule. Do what you have to do and hope for the best.

All of the "traditional" non-science majors I knew took the pre-med classes on the same schedule as us science majors. Most people aren't working 70 hour weeks, so regardless of their major or applicant status (trad or non-trad) they can get at least a few classes done each semester.

Don't stress over it, but if an opportunity arises where you can make room for more than 1 class at a time, you should consider taking it.