Particularly if you have experience on an admissions committee or insight into their process.
Long time reader here. Graduated UG in 2008. I applied for 2009 but only had one interview, waitlisted, didn't get in. I will give you a brief overview of my background since then.
I went to a top 10 for undergrad and was an engineering major. I also took all pre-med required classes. My GPA in the end was about a 3.4 (major), 3.2 overall. I took a very very heavy classload every year and it was the first couple that messed me up (Organic chem, Biochem were B-, C+). I took the MCAT twice and got a 30 and 34. I got one interview and was waitlisted (did not get in). I had good extra curricular stuff, particularly one intense clinical internship.
After that I joined a research group and over 2 years had 5 publications and 2 presentations at national conferences. One publication was as first author in a major journal.
Then I got into an awesome grad program and won a fellowship to do an MS at a top 5 program. My GPA was perfect in grad school but most classes were less technical. I finished at the end of 2011 and after that started working in industry (related to medicine, interact with physicians). I was laid off a few months ago.
I still want to go to medical school. What do you think of my chances?
I can have everything for AMCAS complete by 8/15 (including letters) so probably verified by 9/15. The earliest MCAT I could sign up for was 9/7 and I'm getting 36-38 on practice tests. Is that just too late or are my scores good enough for a couple interviews?
Should I wait and re-take old pre-med classes? I feel like successfully completing a grad program and doing really well on the MCAT should show that I've matured as a student and have the ability to do well in medical school. As a 28 year old, I want to make the right choice...
summary
UG: 3.3, Grad (MS): 3.9 (both top 10 schools)
5 publications (1 first author)
excellent extra-curriculars but mostly happened during undergrad years
industry experience
2008 MCAT (34), 2013 MCAT (36 - projected)
Thank you in advance.
Long time reader here. Graduated UG in 2008. I applied for 2009 but only had one interview, waitlisted, didn't get in. I will give you a brief overview of my background since then.
I went to a top 10 for undergrad and was an engineering major. I also took all pre-med required classes. My GPA in the end was about a 3.4 (major), 3.2 overall. I took a very very heavy classload every year and it was the first couple that messed me up (Organic chem, Biochem were B-, C+). I took the MCAT twice and got a 30 and 34. I got one interview and was waitlisted (did not get in). I had good extra curricular stuff, particularly one intense clinical internship.
After that I joined a research group and over 2 years had 5 publications and 2 presentations at national conferences. One publication was as first author in a major journal.
Then I got into an awesome grad program and won a fellowship to do an MS at a top 5 program. My GPA was perfect in grad school but most classes were less technical. I finished at the end of 2011 and after that started working in industry (related to medicine, interact with physicians). I was laid off a few months ago.
I still want to go to medical school. What do you think of my chances?
I can have everything for AMCAS complete by 8/15 (including letters) so probably verified by 9/15. The earliest MCAT I could sign up for was 9/7 and I'm getting 36-38 on practice tests. Is that just too late or are my scores good enough for a couple interviews?
Should I wait and re-take old pre-med classes? I feel like successfully completing a grad program and doing really well on the MCAT should show that I've matured as a student and have the ability to do well in medical school. As a 28 year old, I want to make the right choice...
summary
UG: 3.3, Grad (MS): 3.9 (both top 10 schools)
5 publications (1 first author)
excellent extra-curriculars but mostly happened during undergrad years
industry experience
2008 MCAT (34), 2013 MCAT (36 - projected)
Thank you in advance.