Fairly Unique Case - Hoping for Evaluation and Advice

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>I hope to graduate in Spring 2011 and, like many others, attend medical school that fall. Here are the quick bullet points to the story so far:</p>

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<p>But then a grisly turn!</p>

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<p>Questions</p>

<p>I finish a certificate in Spanish with one more class, but I’d like to concentrate on my science courses this semester. I can take my final Spanish course this spring, over the summer, or during my senior year.

  1. Should I finish the certificate by application time?</p>

<ol>
<li>Will taking only three science courses this semester as my only courses be looked upon negatively?</li>
</ol>

<p>This summer I can research at Texas Southwestern Medical School or possibly at my own undergraduate or medical institution. I could also fully concentrate on the preparing and taking the MCAT and volunteering over the summer and maybe take a science class that could boost my BCPM. I could split time researching and preparing.
3. What do you suggest I do this summer?</p>

<p>I have started reading MCAT books. I plan on taking a preparation class this spring or over the summer. I would prefer to concentrate on my grades.
4. When should I take a preparation course and the MCAT?</p>

<p>I’ve heard a generally lukewarm response to Kaplan courses. You guys know best.
5. What is the best course or method to prepare for the MCAT?</p>

<ol>
<li>Are my recommendations, publication, and earlier research experience from my private investigators too old?</li>
</ol>

<p>I think my best letters of recommendation from professors would come from professors I took general chemistry labs or general biology labs with or the professor I retook organic 1 and 2 with. My cell structure lab professor said he would write me a very good letter.
7. Are these lab/retake professors suitable for a letter of recommendation from a professor?</p>

<p>I suppose I’m out of contention at top tier schools, but I really hope to not wait a year and still be able to go allopathic. It would be nice to shoot for at least a middle tier.
8. Give it to me straight. What’s my outlook?</p>

<p>I surely, surely appreciate your informed input!
-aperturescience</p>

2

<p>Spanish certificate normally wouldn’t matter much, but in your case I’d think any academic credentialing would help. Lighter-than-normal courseloads (e.g. non-standard loads by the standards of your university as a whole) are indeed looked down upon. Summer school or a research internship is fine while you study for the MCAT; don’t spend the summer exclusively studying for it. Take the class immediately before you are going to take the exam. Kaplan is fine. The research experiences from high school are too old, but the publications still count. LORs depend on the rules established by your undergraduate institution, but I’d use one lab recommendation at the most – and even then, make sure it’s a full faculty member.</p>

<p>Outlook is impossible without more information. Is your 3.2 including both the retakes and the original C/D? What school are you at now? (Are you sure the provisional is out the window? Double check.) Who were you charged by? ATF? State police? University? Are you generally a good standardized test taker? (What was your SAT score?) What is your home state? What was your publication like? (What journal was it in, and how far up in authorship were you?)</p>

3

<p>The 3.2 includes the C, D, and retake As.
I’m at Temple in Philadelphia, PA.
I was charged by Liquor Control Board and Temple because I was present and was found not guilty by both.
I am a good standardized test taker and interviewer, 1530/1600.
I am a Pennsylvania resident.
I was in Genesis and second author.</p>

<p>Also, I am in the Honors Program most of my courses and science classes have been the honors version.</p>

4

<p>From what I can tell, it’s not pretty. Combining a charge* (even with a subsequent acquittal) with a 3.2 (or even a 3.4), including a D… I’m not familiar with applications in this range, but suffice to say that I think it’s going to be a pretty bad uphill battle.</p>

<p>EDIT: Amended in light of following post.</p>

5

<p>I was cited to appear in court, not arrested, which I have never been, but thank you for your input. I’ll be working hard!</p>

6

<p>If you are a Pa resident I wouldn’t take the two osteopathic schools (PCOM and LECOM) “off the table” plus the new medical school in Scranton (Commonwealth Medical College). Rather than shooting for middle tier, a more realistic approach will be getting in…anywhere.</p>

7

<p>Middle tier is my optimistic goal if a lot of things fall into place, but I’m definitely not ruling anywhere out.</p>

8

<p>As much as I hate to agree here, but the fact is the above posters are right. Your low GPA mixed with red flags of the etOH variety makes your chances at MD or DO quite slim. An optimistic goal would probably be “low” tier MD. DO schools may be more forgiving of the GPA but your charge and apparently weak collegiate ECs (incl. clinical, volunteer & leadership experience) may be of some concern to them. With how competitive this process is and how many great applicants with better qualifications and none of the red flags there are (many of whom still don’t manage to get in anywhere), I suspect it will be quite difficult for you, but best of luck.</p>

9

<p>Thanks! Do schools notice and consider when you’ve taken calculus based physics as opposed to algebra based?</p>

10

<p>No. Not really. Do whichever you’ll do well in. Frankly, even taking honors courses doesn’t seem to matter much, nor does what you major in. Just do well. A 3.8 in sociology is >> 3.0 in chemical engineering and a 3.8 at No-Name State is >> 3.0 at Harvard.</p>