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- Oct 28, 2015
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first of all, it's so great that you're doing well. congratulations on your journey and the growth that it's lent.
...have you considered DO (and why yes or no) and what is your science GPA? also what's the breakdown of your 518?
...because of your circumstances and just how much material you have to navigate around to tell your story, I'd recommend at least 20 pairs of eyeballs (both those who know you well and those who you don't) reading and rereading your personal statement.
His GPA is a 2.9in the sciences. Wouldn't you recommend increasing that for MDIt was very hard to read through the Stephen King length novella. To help me better help you, what was your GPA/sGPA YEAR BY YEAR? Strong rising GPA trends are always helpful, BTW.
Your MPH will not count for MD schools, but DO school will.
A 518 MCAT is nothing to sneeze at. But what worries me is that there is a great deal of inconsistency in your transcript, which will give pause to screeners and Adcom members who will worry about your ability to handle the rigors of a medical school curriculum. Prolonged and consistent academic excellence allay these fears. Now, if an Admissions dean tells you that yuou need more scientific coursework, why are ignoring that advice?
1. What do you recommend I do to supplement my application beyond taking additional coursework? I was told pretty explicitly by an admissions director from one of my rejections that I was voted against by a couple of committee members due to needing "8-12" more credits of coursework to demonstrate sustained ability/success, and that once I had this they believe I would be a strong candidate for their program. I am hoping to do this through 10 credits of A&P and Biochemistry.
The PS is for "Why Medicine?" and "Who Am I?" Swecondaries will have prompts for "anything else you want to tell us?" or "give examples of your overcoming adversity" or "explain poor academics"
2. How much of my history do I disclose through personal essays/during interviews/through supplemental statements? My original approach (as seems to be recommended on SDN) was to basically not, but following conversations with a couple of physicians who serve as adjunct faculty at various programs, it was recommended that I do. This year's essay ended up addressing it pretty directly, but not dwelling on it nor turning it into an excuse (at least from my perspective). If it ever came to it, I have statements/records from treating professionals attesting to my experiences.
BU, NYMC, Albany, your state schools, Tulane, UCSF, Columbia, Pitt, Duke, Case, Rosy Franklin, Drexel, Tufts, Dartmouth, any DO school.
3. What schools out there really appreciate reinvention, or have a similar mission and are realistic considerations? I know that CMED and MSU-CHM are pretty closely aligned with my interests in target demographic. I wouldn't say I am focused on primary care exclusively, rather whatever specialty I would enter my goal would be to perform it in areas of high need/with vulnerable populations. I would also like to become more involved in research, so programs that have that academic connection to research would be amazing. Lab work is a bit of an unknown to me at this point, but I could at least see myself doing research around the physical-social-emotional intersection of health. I am a major learning junkie, and I know that I want to be involved in the academic/research side of medicine throughout my career.
His GPA is a 2.9in the sciences. Wouldn't you recommend increasing that for MD
....but when I wrote my personal statement I wrote how my adversities gave me a new motivation (and unique perspective) to pursue medicine. I can send you a PM of it if you would like! Honestly, I think your application is solid minus the GPA issue but I think you already know that!!
If you have to apply next year, would you consider applying to schools outside of MI? There are several schools that really like non-trad students or students with life experience. I applied to a lot of schools based on their mission and not their MSAR stats and still received IIs.
It was very hard to read through the Stephen King length novella. To help me better help you, what was your GPA/sGPA YEAR BY YEAR? Strong rising GPA trends are always helpful, BTW.
...what worries me is that there is a great deal of inconsistency in your transcript, which will give pause to screeners and Adcom members who will worry about your ability to handle the rigors of a medical school curriculum. Prolonged and consistent academic excellence allay these fears. Now, if an Admissions dean tells you that yuou need more scientific coursework, why are ignoring that advice?
The PS is for "Why Medicine?" and "Who Am I?" Swecondaries will have prompts for "anything else you want to tell us?" or "give examples of your overcoming adversity" or "explain poor academics"
2. How much of my history do I disclose through personal essays/during interviews/through supplemental statements? My original approach (as seems to be recommended on SDN) was to basically not, but following conversations with a couple of physicians who serve as adjunct faculty at various programs, it was recommended that I do. This year's essay ended up addressing it pretty directly, but not dwelling on it nor turning it into an excuse (at least from my perspective). If it ever came to it, I have statements/records from treating professionals attesting to my experiences.
BU, NYMC, Albany, your state schools, Tulane, UCSF, Columbia, Pitt, Duke, Case, Rosy Franklin, Drexel, Tufts, Dartmouth, any DO school.
3. What schools out there really appreciate reinvention, or have a similar mission and are realistic considerations? I know that CMED and MSU-CHM are pretty closely aligned with my interests in target demographic. I wouldn't say I am focused on primary care exclusively, rather whatever specialty I would enter my goal would be to perform it in areas of high need/with vulnerable populations. I would also like to become more involved in research, so programs that have that academic connection to research would be amazing. Lab work is a bit of an unknown to me at this point, but I could at least see myself doing research around the physical-social-emotional intersection of health. I am a major learning junkie, and I know that I want to be involved in the academic/research side of medicine throughout my career.
Getting past the autoscreen is the issue.