Howdy SDN:
I'm having a frustrating cycle. I've only received one interview invite, two pre-interview holds, and six rejections, while the rest of the 23 schools I've submitted my application to have remained silent. I'm beginning to fear that I might have to reapply next cycle.
I'm looking for some advice on how I should proceed. My GPA (especially my BCPM GPA) is clearly very weak. I'd love to think that I might get another interview or two...but I'm having a hard time accepting that on faith considering how quiet things have been. Would it be best if I just bit the bullet and applied for an SMP for 2013? Are there alternatives that might suit me better? Update letters/letters of rec? Following are my stats and application info - I've tried to keep them slightly unspecific in order to maintain some sense of anonymity. If you have questions of want more info just let me know.
Primary Submitted: 7/8
Verified: 8/13
MCAT: 37 (12/13/12)
*California resident
*Graduated from UCLA w/ double major - science + humanities
Total GPA:3.51 (185.30 credit hours)
BCPM: 3.16 (92)
AOGPA: 3.86 (93.3)
*my grade trend is upwards, with a dip occuring my sophomore year"
BCPM: 3.35(freshman)-->2.74-->3.06-->3.43-->3.5(post-bacc, 2 courses)
Experiences:
Resident Assistant - 3 years; letter of rec from Director
Clinical Volunteer - 1 year; ~200 hours; minor leadership role
Research Assistant - 1 year; completed honors thesis as part of undergrad coursework; presented poster at uni; letter of rec from PI
Shadowing - ~3 month surgical shadowing program @ a UC campus; ~100 hours of shadowing in OR and clinic; academic component
Substitute Teacher- ~3 months
Letters of Rec:
1 from English prof
1 from RA director
1 from research PI
1 from Science prof (post-bacc class at CSU)
Schools
*complete at schools between late August and mid september*
UCLA (interviewed)
GW (pre-int hold)
Penn State (pre-int hold)
Albany (complete)
Albert Einstein (complete)
NYMC (complete)
SLU (complete)
Wake Forest (complete)
SUNY Downstate (complete)
Tufts (complete)
UC Davis (complete)
Baylor (complete)
Mount Sinai (complete)
University of Michigan (complete)
Wash St. Louis (complete)
Stanford (complete)
UPenn (complete, status update of death)
UCSF (rejected pre-2ndary)
Pitt (rejected)
UC Irvine (rejected)
Rochester (rejected)
Cornell (rejected)
Geisel (rejected)
Thanks to all for your help and advice - I'm feeling a bit beaten and need some direction.
I'm having a frustrating cycle. I've only received one interview invite, two pre-interview holds, and six rejections, while the rest of the 23 schools I've submitted my application to have remained silent. I'm beginning to fear that I might have to reapply next cycle.
I'm looking for some advice on how I should proceed. My GPA (especially my BCPM GPA) is clearly very weak. I'd love to think that I might get another interview or two...but I'm having a hard time accepting that on faith considering how quiet things have been. Would it be best if I just bit the bullet and applied for an SMP for 2013? Are there alternatives that might suit me better? Update letters/letters of rec? Following are my stats and application info - I've tried to keep them slightly unspecific in order to maintain some sense of anonymity. If you have questions of want more info just let me know.
Primary Submitted: 7/8
Verified: 8/13
MCAT: 37 (12/13/12)
*California resident
*Graduated from UCLA w/ double major - science + humanities
Total GPA:3.51 (185.30 credit hours)
BCPM: 3.16 (92)
AOGPA: 3.86 (93.3)
*my grade trend is upwards, with a dip occuring my sophomore year"
BCPM: 3.35(freshman)-->2.74-->3.06-->3.43-->3.5(post-bacc, 2 courses)
Experiences:
Resident Assistant - 3 years; letter of rec from Director
Clinical Volunteer - 1 year; ~200 hours; minor leadership role
Research Assistant - 1 year; completed honors thesis as part of undergrad coursework; presented poster at uni; letter of rec from PI
Shadowing - ~3 month surgical shadowing program @ a UC campus; ~100 hours of shadowing in OR and clinic; academic component
Substitute Teacher- ~3 months
Letters of Rec:
1 from English prof
1 from RA director
1 from research PI
1 from Science prof (post-bacc class at CSU)
Schools
*complete at schools between late August and mid september*
UCLA (interviewed)
GW (pre-int hold)
Penn State (pre-int hold)
Albany (complete)
Albert Einstein (complete)
NYMC (complete)
SLU (complete)
Wake Forest (complete)
SUNY Downstate (complete)
Tufts (complete)
UC Davis (complete)
Baylor (complete)
Mount Sinai (complete)
University of Michigan (complete)
Wash St. Louis (complete)
Stanford (complete)
UPenn (complete, status update of death)
UCSF (rejected pre-2ndary)
Pitt (rejected)
UC Irvine (rejected)
Rochester (rejected)
Cornell (rejected)
Geisel (rejected)
Thanks to all for your help and advice - I'm feeling a bit beaten and need some direction.