Ask AdmissionsConsultants

[rworkman]

Many people with your “stats” aren’t successful initially. This is for a variety of reasons and may have to do with the schools to which you originally applied, the nature of your essays, and multiple other factors I’m sure. Certainly med schools look favorably upon MPH degrees – it shows your interest in health and your determination to further your education to that end. It also shows that you had a “plan B” in place and followed through with it. Your performance in those MPH classes will be an important factor. Research with a publication is always a big plus – especially if you apply to “big name” research schools. It certainly sounds like you are on the right track.

If we can be of further aid, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards,

quote:

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Originally posted by reg34

I have previously applied to medical school, but I did not get again. Right now I am in a Master’s of Public Health program, but after this is done I want to apply to medical school again. I feel that my undergraduate GPA (3.25) was a factor before in me not getting in, because my MCAT (30) seemed pretty competitive. I was wondering if a MPH will benefit me in the application process, or will it show my dedication to the health field? Also, I am involved with more research and a possible publication while in graduate school, so hopefully that will improve my chances. Basically, I just wanted to know how medical schools viewed MPH’s.
Thanks!

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Ron Workman, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
(703) 242-5885

[Jordan]

Hi,

I am a first year Osteopathic student and am thinking about transferring to an Allopathic School. I would like to transfer for several reasons:

1. I am dissatisfied with the school. For instance, the school would purposely drop questions on an exam in order to help students pass. I think this is unfair since some students use up lots of their time to study and some go out and party and drink on weekends. Those students who study hard are the only ones deserving to pass and do well.

2. I feel that I would be at a disadvantage when competing for residency postions, especially since I would like to ultimately work and practice in California.

3. I feel as though my school is pushing the students towards primary care and I am interested in specializing.

What should I do to transfer, if it’s possible?

I am in good academic standing, but since my school does not rank, I don’t know where I stand. My school also gives letter grades and my GPA so far is 3.8 (this includes Biochemistry, Immunology, Microbiology, Genetics and Embryology, some Anatomy, some Physiology, and other classes that are part of our curriculum) I say some because we have a block schedule and we have Anatomy and Physiology in every block.

Thank you.

[twu]

“Transferring” as we know it implies that credits earned at one institution will be applied toward graduation requirements at another. While there are a few allopathic medical schools out there that do accept transfers from AOA-accredited osteopathic medical schools, the vast majority of them will only consider transfers from other LCME-accredited allopathic medical schools.

In that regard you’d have to identify which allopathic med school will take your osteopathic transfer credits.

Furthermore, much like transferring between LCME MD schools, you’d need a pretty compelling reason for the transfer and an open spot in your class year. Someone has to drop out of the school you’re applying to before that school even considers transfers.

It’s a difficult battle to go from a DO school to an MD school, and the reasons for this usually tevolve around the idea that DO and MD schools are very similar. It is not, by any measure however, impossible. If we at AdmissionsConsultants can be of any further assistance in helping you make the transfer from a DO to an MD school, please give us a call at the number below or visit our website.

Good luck.

Timothy Wu, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

[alexinrowland]

What colleges are paid more attention with medical schools?

thanks
alex

[twu]

No one college is paid any special attention when it comes to being admitted to med school. Granted that most admissions committees will value a certain GPA earned a top-tiered school somewhat more highly than that earned at a run-of-the-mill state school, so long as the individual applicant displays desirable traits, he’ll have a chance at a seat.

In selecting which college to attend to undertake your premedical/undergraduate studies, definitely choose a school that you think will be the best fit. However if it came down to two schools that are good fits, I’d err on the side of choosing the one with the higher national profile.

The premedical career as presented on the med school application is pretty important, and whatever perceived disadvantages there may be in going to a lesser-known school can be negated with a proper presentation. Let us know if we can be of further help.

Timothy Wu, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

[battycoda]

I am in great need of advice. I am graduating in May of 2004 and am going to take the MCAT again in August 2004. My question is this: Did I blow my chances of getting into medical school by getting an 18 on my 1st MCAT exam? I unfortunately was quite sick when I took it. I found out that I had cancer and am now beating it but am scared that this will throw off my possible chance of an interview. My other credentials are okay, my GPA is a 3.7, I am an instructor for the American Red Cross (21 diff courses), and instructor for summer program at my local 4-year institution, I volunteer, I am a surgical tech and a phlebotomist. But I am unsure if taking the MCAT will assist me in getting into Med School. PLEASE HELP

Suzanne Kersbergen

[Nathan1210]

Dear consultant,

I currently attend New River Community College. Unfortunately, I have already geared myself towards pre-med and have taken all of the pre-med classes except for the second part of physics. I have a 3.9 GPA (B in physics–yikes) and have been accepted as a Junior at Virginia Tech. I plan on earning a BS in Biology and BA in Chemistry in 2006. I come from a low-income single-parent family and have heard that this makes entering the medical profession near to impossible. As far as after school activities go I participate in Student Government and volunteer tutor in the Academic Assistance building. I’ve started preparing for the MCAT. I want to attend Uva, Vanderbilt, or John Hopkins.

Is my pursuit a lost cause? If not, how can I get more clinical/volunteer work? What other areas should I focus on?

Sincerely,

Nathan Zimmerman

[thymol_blue]

Suzanne,

You’re fine. You have a very reasonable excuse for scoring an 18 the first time around. Of course it will be necessary this time for you to score above a 30. When you write your AMCAS personal statement, defintely talk about your struggle with cancer and explain the first MCAT score. If anything, the fact that you overcame adversity usually gives you a leg up in the minds of admissions committee members. As long as you do well on the MCAT this time around, you’ll be fine.

[thymol_blue]

Nathan,

Actually, coming from a “low income, single-parent family” is not the minus that you perceive, it’s actually a plus. Why? It makes a great “story” for your AMCAS application essay. Generally speaking, ad. coms. are looking for what separates or distinguishes you from several hundred other similar applicants, and having to overcome personal hardship and achieving in the face of adversity can get you recognized. Of course, there is a fine line here between portraying yourself as a complete victim (not good) or as someone who has gained maturity through their struggles (they eat up stuff like that).

If anything, what can count against you is that you did all of your prereqs at a community college. What this means is that it would be in your best interests to do really, really well in all of your classes at Virginia Tech. If your GPA from community college drops significantly at Virginia Tech, it will look bad come application time.

You also have two other major deficiencies in your profile that would hurt you in applying to Hopkins, Harvard, etc.

#1: The highest priority hole that you need to address is getting some clinical exposure under your belt — and I emphasize clinical. It’s not enough to like science and want to help people in a general context, you must also demonstrate that you want to be around and want to help sick people. How do you do this? The standard thing to do is volunteer in a hospital. IMHO, that is low value stuff. Find opportunities where you can get personally involved: ask a doctor if you can spend an extended period of time shadowing him or her, work in a senior residence, hospice, etc.

#2: The schools at the top of the US News rankings are there primarily because of their research prowess. Consequently, they are interested in admitting students who have potential in academic medicine. Granted, the bulk of their graduates are not going to be academics, but clinicians in private practice, they still have a definite bias towards admitting students who show research interest. What does this mean? Get involved in research as soon as possible. Ask your Biology profs at Virginia Tech how you can get involved.

[mhi003]

I am applying for the seven year program at the University of Miami. One of the questions they ask is “Why do you think the Medical Scholars Program is right for you?” What kinds of things should I write here?

[twu]

quote:

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Originally posted by battycoda

I am in great need of advice. I am graduating in May of 2004 and am going to take the MCAT again in August 2004. My question is this: Did I blow my chances of getting into medical school by getting an 18 on my 1st MCAT exam? I unfortunately was quite sick when I took it. I found out that I had cancer and am now beating it but am scared that this will throw off my possible chance of an interview. My other credentials are okay, my GPA is a 3.7, I am an instructor for the American Red Cross (21 diff courses), and instructor for summer program at my local 4-year institution, I volunteer, I am a surgical tech and a phlebotomist. But I am unsure if taking the MCAT will assist me in getting into Med School. PLEASE HELP

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A poor performance on the MCAt will certainly raise eyebrows at the Admissions Committee’s conference table, but an 18 did not take you out of the running. Your good GPA, your community service activities, as well as your bout with cancer all come into consideration. The best advice anyone can give you at this point is to retake the MCAT and score >30.

Good luck. Let us know if we can be of help.

Timothy Wu, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

[twu]

quote:

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Originally posted by Nathan1210

I currently attend New River Community College. Unfortunately, I have already geared myself towards pre-med and have taken all of the pre-med classes except for the second part of physics. I have a 3.9 GPA (B in physics–yikes) and have been accepted as a Junior at Virginia Tech. I plan on earning a BS in Biology and BA in Chemistry in 2006. I come from a low-income single-parent family and have heard that this makes entering the medical profession near to impossible. As far as after school activities go I participate in Student Government and volunteer tutor in the Academic Assistance building. I’ve started preparing for the MCAT. I want to attend Uva, Vanderbilt, or John Hopkins.

Is my pursuit a lost cause? If not, how can I get more clinical/volunteer work? What other areas should I focus on?

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Coming from a low-income, single-parent family does not make it “near to impossible” for admission to med school. I would not worry about that aspect of your application.

What is nice is that you have a 3.9 GPA, but what detracts from that to some degree is the fact that you (presumably) took your premed courses at a community college. The feeling amongst most admissions committees is that community college courses are less rigorous and less competitive.

What you should be concentrating on is doing really well on the MCAT. Further once you transfer over to Virginia Tech, since you’re going to be a Bio and Chem major, I’d advise you to take higher level bio and chem courses just to show the AdComs that you can handle high-level coursework at a senior college.

Good luck to you. If you need further assistance, let us know.

Timothy Wu, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

[Luce]

Hello, i’m Luce
I was wondering if it was true that you have a better chance of getting into a certain school’s medical school if you went to the same school for your undergraduate…for instance:You would have a better chance of getting into Harvard Med because you went to Harvard for your pre-med.This will really help in knowing which schools i’ll apply to because as of now I’ve been basing mostly on how good the medical schools are. thnx in advance.

[jaidev86]

My name is Jaidev and I am a high school senior. I have been accepted to the University of Virginia under their early decision program. I really want to pursue medicine and become a doctor. However I really don’t want to take a science major in college. I am planning to major in my second area of interest (business) and this is because it’ll be my last chance to explore another field/subject before I devote my entire life to medicine.

Do you think this is a wise choice?
Will I be grilled in med school interviews about this and will they accept my explanation?

Also I know that volunteering at hospitals is pretty standard stuff and how can I go beyond that to stand out amongst applicants.

Thank you very much.

[rworkman]

Applicants typically are granted an interview automatically if they attend(ed) the same university for undergrad to which they are applying for medical school. But, there is a big difference between a courtesy (and possibly perfunctory) interview and a sure acceptance. Your record at that institution will still be the determining factor in how your application is perceived, but it never hurts to have a “foot in the door.” At the very least, you will have (hopefully) cultivated some relationships with influential faculty at your home institution, and the rigor of the premed curriculum will be well known.

The bottom line is that it helps, but only so far, and you’d better have a solid application once they look beyond where you did your undergrad.

quote:

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Originally posted by Luce

Hello, i’m Luce
I was wondering if it was true that you have a better chance of getting into a certain school’s medical school if you went to the same school for your undergraduate…for instance:You would have a better chance of getting into Harvard Med because you went to Harvard for your pre-med.This will really help in knowing which schools i’ll apply to because as of now I’ve been basing mostly on how good the medical schools are. thnx in advance.

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Ron Workman, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
(703) 242-5885

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