Brief Profile:
I\'m finally de-anonymizing this profile now that applications are done. I hope that the information contained here can be both helpful and revealing to those of you out there who may have started out in a similar position as myself. If you are a talented student (be honest here) who may have wandered a bit off-course during undergrad - well, here you go.
Undergrad cGPA: 2.7 Undergrad sGPA: 2.2
...This is what you get when you engage in very rigorous coursework and think it\'s cool not to go to class or do homework. Pay attention kids - this is not conducive to your success. I had no idea I wanted to go into medicine until more recently and when that happened I was like...oh, crap.
Post-bac GPA: Straight A+\'s. 40 units, 1.5 years before applying. Continued taking a full course load during application cycle. If you have a 2.7 undergrad GPA, you don\'t have any room for excuses anymore. You better knock it out of the park.
In the interim: Worked in business (unique leadership experiences here) for a couple years. Taught a lot of kids. Taught martial arts.
Research: Two semesters during undergrad, 6 months during post bac, now going on two years. One (now two) publications, and a couple possibly in the works. I\'m very focused on basic science and can talk my research upwards, downwards, forwards, and backwards - make sure you know your own research when you go interview, especially at research-heavy institutions.
EC\'s: Founded and led a large student group, leadership during undergrad in a fraternity, level I urban county hospital volunteering, participated in a few programs for clinical exposure.
MCAT: Scored roughly where I expected. Despite averaging about 1 mistake per 4-5 practice tests on PS though, I dropped to a 12 on the real thing. Make sure you are doing well enough on your practice tests that you have a little wiggle room because most people I\'ve talked to have experienced something similar.
If you haven\'t started your MCAT studying yet and you want to project where you\'ll score on your MCAT...well, that\'s going to be difficult. If you really know yourself though, you might have some idea.
LOR: I had probably the best letters you can get, and am really lucky to have such vocal supporters. One committee letter, two science faculty letters, three research letters, one volunteer letter, and one from a business associate during my working years. I ended up sending 5-6 to schools, and 1 more after interview.
The final verdict: I put together what I thought was a very strong application in every aspect except for my undergraduate GPA. I busted my butt in every step of the process to write the best essays and letters I could. I think that this is reflected in the fact that I ended up getting interviews and acceptances at some really amazing places.
The good news is that there are schools out there that will read your whole application and take your GPA in context of your growth and recent performance. However, there are many others who simply cannot get over the C\'s you got almost a decade ago. That\'s their prerogative and I\'m sure they have their reasons. If this is truly what you want and you are willing to really stick your neck out there and put it all on the line, I think that almost anyone has a shot.
If you\'re looking at the list of schools, please also note that despite everything, I received not a single California or New York interview. (CA resident for application.)
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 2010
Undergraduate college: Top 5
Undergraduate Area of study: Engineering/Technology
Total MCAT SCORE: 523
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 132,
C/P 129,
CARS 132
Overall GPA: 2.90
Science GPA: 2.70
Summary of Application Experience
8 interview invites, 5 \"top 20\", 7 interviews attended 5 acceptances, matriculated with full scholarship.
No applications have been submitted yet during this cycle.
A Non-mouse. took the old MCAT and scored a 40 which is in the 100th percentile of all old scores.
We converted this to a 523 on the updated scale which is in the 100th percentile of the updated MCAT. We also converted A Non-mouse.’s section scores as follows:
A Non-mouse. scored a 15 on the Biological Science section of the old MCAT which is approximately equal to a 132 on the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems.
A Non-mouse. scored a 12 on the Physical Science section of the old MCAT which is approximately equal to a 129 on the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems.
A Non-mouse. scored a 13 on the Verbal Reasoning section of the old MCAT which is approximately equal to a 132 on the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.
