Will the good make up for the bad?

[JJThomson]

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[Stratego]

You've salvaged your GPA nicely. Your ECs look great. You just need an MCAT score to determine how competitive you'll be. Yes, your recent record will override your poor beginning. Well done!

 

[JJThomson]

You've salvaged your GPA nicely. Your ECs look great. You just need an MCAT score to determine how competitive you'll be. Yes, your recent record will override your poor beginning. Well done!

Thank you for responding and for the encouragement. It's nice to hear, the autoshop/W's stuff has been weighing on me.

I don't have an MCAT score yet and I don't want to speculate on what I'll get. I want to say something high, but I know how cocky and naive that sounds. I am registered for the september MCAT, because I decided to apply next year and study all summer. I decided to apply next year as a senior so I'll have 2 full years at my 4 year university on my application. I want to get in on my first try.

 

[Stratego]

Good plan.

 

[Mobius1985]

I agree that you have the potential to do fine in the application process with a good MCAT score (31+). Great ECs!

 

[JJThomson]

Do you have any suggestions on how to explain my 2 semester withdrawals? I currently plan to say I just wasn't committed to school and didn't really know what I wanted to do. Since I took ~4 years off before going back and I will have 4 years of solid grades to prove that I have changed, do you think that will be a good enough explaination?

 

[Mobius1985]

Lots of folks have problems early on until they figure things out. I don't think you'll need to explain, but if so, you've got a good answer. You're correct that time has distanced you from your old self, and four years of consistent grades has redeemed you.

 

[JJThomson]

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[jamesq]

I have started to ask for my LOR. My school does not have a commitee letter, but it does have a letter service that allows you to upload 5 letters. So far I have asked for 3 LOR:

1) Organic chemistry prof, he offered to write me a letter. I had the highest grade in his honors class.

2) Another O-Chem prof, he said he would meet with me for lunch and I could provide him with details on why I think I should get a letter. He already told me he will probably write me one, but he wants me to tell him why he should. He has a long list of thing I have to do to get a letter, but I am confident that because of this the letter will be something useful.

3) Post-doc I have worked with for a year. He offered to write me a letter unsolicited. He evaluated a paper I wrote (not published) on our project, and a research proposal he had me write. He also attended a presentation I gave. We have a good work relationship and it should be a strong letter. I think the lab PI will probably co-sign.

4) The last two letters I am not sure about. I need a humanities/non-science letter. I took most of my GE at a cc and don't want to get a letter from there. At my 4-year university I have taken Psychology and Anthropology classes. These would be "non-science right? Probably not humanities though?

5) I have 3 possibilities for the last letter. Which one is best?

a) Main OR manager who I have worked for part time for 3 years (paid job). I have good annual evaluations with some nice comments in them.

b) Anesthesiologist who I have worked with in the job above. He has always been helpful by answering my questions, and friendly. He is well known in the community.

c) I have volunteered my time and equipment teaching CPR/First Aid to counselors and volunteers at a residential drug and alcohol rehab program. The director knows me very well, and has expressed a lot of gratitude for my volunteer work.

I think all of the above would write strong letters, but which one is most useful?

I think the best letters would be the Organic chem professor (1), anesthesiologist, and the CPR/First aid. Im a little hesistant about the post-doc, just because they are not established fully in their field yet, unlike a PI who heads the lab. Overall, it seems you will be getting strong letters so congrats!

 

[FuturaDocta]

Wow! You really cleaned up after yourself. Great job. I'd say you made up for the bad. That is an amazing upward curve and you your end GPA is also above average. You definitely have a good shot at those med schools.

 

[JJMrK]

I have started to ask for my LOR. My school does not have a commitee letter, but it does have a letter service that allows you to upload 5 letters. So far I have asked for 3 LOR:

1) Organic chemistry prof, he offered to write me a letter. I had the highest grade in his honors class.

2) Another O-Chem prof, he said he would meet with me for lunch and I could provide him with details on why I think I should get a letter. He already told me he will probably write me one, but he wants me to tell him why he should. He has a long list of thing I have to do to get a letter, but I am confident that because of this the letter will be something useful.

3) Post-doc I have worked with for a year. He offered to write me a letter unsolicited. He evaluated a paper I wrote (not published) on our project, and a research proposal he had me write. He also attended a presentation I gave. We have a good work relationship and it should be a strong letter. I think the lab PI will probably co-sign.

4) The last two letters I am not sure about. I need a humanities/non-science letter. I took most of my GE at a cc and don't want to get a letter from there. At my 4-year university I have taken Psychology and Anthropology classes. These would be "non-science right? Probably not humanities though?

5) I have 3 possibilities for the last letter. Which one is best?

a) Main OR manager who I have worked for part time for 3 years (paid job). I have good annual evaluations with some nice comments in them.

b) Anesthesiologist who I have worked with in the job above. He has always been helpful by answering my questions, and friendly. He is well known in the community.

c) I have volunteered my time and equipment teaching CPR/First Aid to counselors and volunteers at a residential drug and alcohol rehab program. The director knows me very well, and has expressed a lot of gratitude for my volunteer work.

I think all of the above would write strong letters, but which one is most useful?

I would go with those 4, personally.

Congratulations on a strong application.

 

[JJThomson]

Thank you all for your help. I appreciate the replies. When I was planning my letters I was trying to meet the common requirements of 2 science and 1 non-science/humanities. Are the requirements flexible or do schools only want exactly what they ask for? I wish I could include more non-prof letters but my school LOR service only allows 5 max, and I want to meet the requirements of as many schools as possible.

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[Krisss17]

I'm just confused about the auto shop...where you taking it at a college even though you were in high school? Otherwise if it was a high school class, it shouldn't do anything to your GPA.

Either way, I don't think that wouldn't make that much of a difference...you are just not meant to be an auto mechanic!

I think if you perform on the MCAT like you have with your recent schooling, you'll do great, and I wish the best success!

 

[JJThomson]

I'm just confused about the auto shop...where you taking it at a college even though you were in high school? Otherwise if it was a high school class, it shouldn't do anything to your GPA.

Either way, I don't think that wouldn't make that much of a difference...you are just not meant to be an auto mechanic!

I think if you perform on the MCAT like you have with your recent schooling, you'll do great, and I wish the best success!

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[Krisss17]

It stinks that it lowers your GPA from what would other be a 4.0, but I wouldn't worry about it. Your sGPA is still 4.0 as it wouldn't be included in a science GPA.

I really think you will be fine...so being an auto mechanic isn't for you...it isn't for most people.

Good luck!

 

[JJThomson]

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