Ask AdmissionsConsultants

[newdad]

Shocker thanks for the suggestion. I plan to teach myself and take a number of pre tests. I hope to ace it! I have two years to study, anyone one would be able to ace it if they have the time. Can an admission consultant please reply to my original message. I plan on using them when the time comes so you have business!
-Robert Hernandez

You can take the MCAT whenever you want, they wont stop you. Its just very important to take the classes relevant to the mcats before you take the test (atleast for most people). If you can take a prep class for the MCAT that would also be great. I wish you the best of luck.
[/quote]

[ummike]

I’m a freshman at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and I currently have a 2.5 gpa after my 1st semester but am around B+/A range in biology and praying for a B in calculus. My main question was since I know I’m not going to be the best candidate academically will me doing a lot of extracurriculars (community service and research primarily) offset my non-3.8 gpa and non-34 MCATs? I’m a biology major and my goal is a 3.5 with a 28 or above on my MCATs. Also, I got a C in my introductory Chemistry (Non Organic)because I swamped myself with 17 credits – oops – would it be smart to retake it or leave it alone and focus on Organic 1 and 2 next year and just try to overcome my C in there? thanks for your help.

[moderator]

quote:

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Originally posted by newdad

Shocker thanks for the suggestion. I plan to teach myself and take a number of pre tests. I hope to ace it! I have two years to study, anyone one would be able to ace it if they have the time. Can an admission consultant please reply to my original message. I plan on using them when the time comes so you have business!
-Robert Hernandez

You can take the MCAT whenever you want, they wont stop you. Its just very important to take the classes relevant to the mcats before you take the test (atleast for most people). If you can take a prep class for the MCAT that would also be great. I wish you the best of luck.

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[/quote]

Per our protocol, the consultants only respond to posts on this thread. I am confident you will receive a response shortly.

[newdad]

Thanks moderator!
I will wait patiently.

[twu]

quote:

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Originally posted by UCBShocker

I am also looking at the very serious possibility of applying again next year if the other school I am waiting on also does not work out. I applied in early July (but was not verified until early august), do you think this was the problem? Is my science GPA too low? My junior and senior year science GPA were 3.86, but my sophmore year brought it down because of two Bs in calculus and one in physics.

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Interviewing is always good. So long as you didn’t present yourself as a reformed axe-murderer at the interview, you’ll likely either be accepted into the entering class or put on the waiting list.

Waitlist strategies are numerous, but with specific regard to your question about the “letter of intent,” I think that’s something you can certainly begin now. Your letter to the Admissions Committee should reiterate your interest in that institution, citing specific reasons, such as the curriculum, the extracurricular opportunities, etc.

I suspect there may be something on your application which prevented you from getting more than two interviews. If you’d like one of our consultants to help you figure it out, give us a call and we’ll arrange a Ding Analysis for you.

If this is your second time applying with poor responses from the med school, you may just have to apply a third time. Your numbers seem to be well within the averages for most medical schools in this country and you seem to have the proper motivation. I can’t tell you specifically what’s wrong without seeing the rest of your application.

Good luck.

Good luck.

Timothy Wu, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

[twu]

quote:

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Originally posted by newdad

In conclusion, can someone tell me my overall outlook?

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You can certainly take the MCAT when you feel you are ready without the benefit of having taken the one-year courses prescribed by the AAMC. After being a medical school admissions consultant for over six years now, I really would NOT recommend doing that however.

I’ve known more than a few people who have tried just that and performed poorly on the MCAT. It’s not the kind of test I’d recommend taking more than once to maximize your shot at medical school.

Your overall outlook, at least from how you present your case here, seems to be good. Now you just have to get your premed courses in and your applications organized.

Good luck.

Timothy Wu, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

[twu]

quote:

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Originally posted by sugarbunnie

I am about to graduate with a BS in Biology. My current GPA is like a 2.75. i have shadowed, done research and volunteer work, and i plan to take the MCAT in August, for which i began a princeton review last november. I have already been told that I have pretty much ruined my chances of ever getting into any allopathic school of medicine in the US. Right now I am applying to some Post-bacc premed programs, and some master’s programs. Is there anything else I can do…..will i ever have a shot at getting into med school

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Acceptances to medical schools is based on more than just an MCAT and GPA. A 2.75, while puts you in the lower tier of accepted applicants, does not completely ruin your chacnes however. There are other things that can help mitigate the problems a low GPA will cause such as a good MCAT score, good extracurriculars, and most importantly, a well-written application.

Good luck.

Timothy Wu, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

[twu]

quote:

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Originally posted by newdad

Shocker thanks for the suggestion. I plan to teach myself and take a number of pre tests. I hope to ace it! I have two years to study, anyone one would be able to ace it if they have the time. Can an admission consultant please reply to my original message. I plan on using them when the time comes so you have business!

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As I wrote in my original response to your posting, I’d recommend against self-teaching for the MCAT. Your future as a medical student and physician are just a little too important for that. Considering that you have a few premedical courses to finish off anyway, what’s the rush to take the MCAT before then?

If you’d like some help developing a strategic plan to boost your chances of getting into medical school, give us a call at the number below.

Good luck.

Timothy Wu, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

[twu]

quote:

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Originally posted by ummike

I’m a freshman at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and I currently have a 2.5 gpa after my 1st semester but am around B+/A range in biology and praying for a B in calculus. My main question was since I know I’m not going to be the best candidate academically will me doing a lot of extracurriculars (community service and research primarily) offset my non-3.8 gpa and non-34 MCATs? I’m a biology major and my goal is a 3.5 with a 28 or above on my MCATs. Also, I got a C in my introductory Chemistry (Non Organic)because I swamped myself with 17 credits – oops – would it be smart to retake it or leave it alone and focus on Organic 1 and 2 next year and just try to overcome my C in there? thanks for your help.

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Academics and motivation to become a physician receive approximately equal weight in admissions decisions. Having a great GPA and MCAT coupled with poor extracurriculars and an undocumented motivation to become a doctor results in rejections. While you certainly need extracurriculars, they won’t necessarily “offset” a poor GPA.

I’d recommend studying harder and not burying yourself under a mountain of work. Choose one or two good extracurriculars and have a manageable courseload. I routinely took 17-18 credits in college, but if that’s too hefty for you, lighten it up by stick to 15 or 16. I would not recommend re-taking the intro chemistry class.

Timothy Wu, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

[newdad]

[/quote]

As I wrote in my original response to your posting, I’d recommend against self-teaching for the MCAT. Your future as a medical student and physician are just a little too important for that. Considering that you have a few premedical courses to finish off anyway, what’s the rush to take the MCAT before then?

If you’d like some help developing a strategic plan to boost your chances of getting into medical school, give us a call at the number below.

[/quote]
Thanks for your advice on the MCAT. I just thought it would be good to show what I was doing for the two years out of school (TWINS). You being an expert, I will take your advice and refrain from taking the MCAT. What would your suggestion be for me two do over the next two years at home that would benefit my admission. I have been reviewing the board comments you (admission consultants) made and realize how professional the consultants are. I will defiantly need your experience when I get my package ready.
-Thanks Robert Hernandez

[twu]

quote:

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Originally posted by newdad
What would your suggestion be for me two do over the next two years at home that would benefit my admission. I have been reviewing the board comments you (admission consultants) made and realize how professional the consultants are. I will defiantly need your experience when I get my package ready.

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There are no specific activities I can recommend to you in this forum, but keep in mind my general advice to clients is to choose something that will demonstrate your motivation 1) in becoming a physician, 2) to learn more about healthcare, 3) help people, 4) in becoming a leader within your community.

You may want to talk to one of our consultants now and within one hour develop a strategy that will help make your application solid when the time comes to apply.

Good luck.

Timothy Wu, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

[ummike]

Is having a 3.5/28 MCAT at least competitive in the med. school market? Or am i not going to have a snowball’s chance in hell at it?

[solipsis]

dr. tim,

in your judgment, is pace university’s science curriculum respected by medical schools in the tri-state area? my current i-banking hours makes it very hard to attend more presitigious programs like nyu, columbia, hunter, etc.

secondly, how do adcom view ex-investment banker/finance types trying to enter medicine?

thanks.

[twu]

quote:

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Originally posted by ummike

Is having a 3.5/28 MCAT at least competitive in the med. school market? Or am i not going to have a snowball’s chance in hell at it?

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The data we have from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) shows that the middle fiftieth percentile of all matriculants to medical school sported a cumulative GPA of 3.56 and MCATs in the 29-30 range.

This does not take into account other applicant variables such as extracurriculars and motivation. The application theme that you build is just as important in making the case for you to become a physician as your actual premed grades and test scores. At AdmissionsConsultants, we’re experts in helping our clients write an effective application that brings together their years of experience into something that’ll help boost their chances of acceptance.

Good luck.

Timothy Wu, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

[twu]

quote:

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Originally posted by solipsis

in your judgment, is pace university’s science curriculum respected by medical schools in the tri-state area? my current i-banking hours makes it very hard to attend more presitigious programs like nyu, columbia, hunter, etc.

secondly, how do adcom view ex-investment banker/finance types trying to enter medicine?

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Because I’m not very familiar with Pace University, I can’t responsibly comment on the rigor of their science curriculum. My general advice to my clients has always been to take premed courses at as competitive an institution as possible. Columbia and NYU, in my mind, are probably New York City’s most competitive programs.

A lot of applicants today are career-changers and many of them come from the business world. The AdComs don’t favor any particular group of career changers, but successful applicants will all be able to demonstrate their motivation to go to medical school. Questions of why this and why now routinely come up at interviews.

Above all the grades and the college’s brand name recognition, however, is your personal story of why you want to become a doctor. Tons of applicants each year are denied admission despite good grades and MCATs from schools like Harvard. Those applicants didn’t find the right application theme to exhibit, which can be hard, but help is available.

Good luck.

Timothy Wu, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

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