Brief Profile:
Went to Korea University for 2 years (Statistics Major) before transferring. Lived in S. Korea for 12 years.
- Research in a Molecular Biology lab for 2 years (Two publications, one as first author in peer-reviewed journal, attended as presentor in conference) - Research on immigration and its impact on local economics and politics for 1 year, including field research in Mexico (Two publications) - EMT-B certified (mostly used in volunteering at local events) - ER Volunteering (~ 6 months) - Volunteering in various leadership positions - I love teaching! :Tutoring for underprivileged children (6 months) :Tutoring Korean to second generation immigrant children (1 year) :Teaching Sunday School (2 years) :Teaching a summer program at museum of natural history (2 weeks) - Doctor shadowing experiences (Plastic Surgery / Infectious Diseases) - Volunteering at AIDS Foundation (on and off 2 years) - Volunteering (including organizing) at fundraising event for cancer research - Volunteering at a clinic for homeless (7 months) - Played as 1st flute in Korea University Orchestra (2 years)
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 2007
Undergraduate college: University of Utah
Undergraduate Area of study: Mathematics
Institution: University of Korea
Area of Study: Computing and Information Science
Total MCAT SCORE: 514
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 130,
C/P 129,
CARS 126
Overall GPA: 3.72
Science GPA: 3.65
Summary of Application Experience
I applied much later than advised. The AMCAS was completed by November, and the secondaries were completed around the end of December. This probably hurt my application a bit - there are a couple schools I haven't even heard back from at all. Bleah.
The GPA and MCAT scores aren't probably top caliber, but I do think living in Korea for 12 years makes up for the not so great verbal MCAT score.
Overall I thought my extracurricular experiences were quite typical as a pre-med in Utah, except maybe the very strong emphasis on research (science and humanities). It also does depend on what school you are applying to - one interviewer told me that my experiences were quite atypical.
I had three very strong recommendation letters, and three moderate letters (The University of Utah requires six recommendation letters). One of my interviewers mentioned the letters, so I guess it does count.
Overall however, I think my essay is what got me into any schools at all. I spent a lot of time structuring it, and a couple interviewers mentioned how much they enjoyed reading it. I mention a lot of politically touchy subjects (social justice, immigration, etc.) and so I do think my essay may have had a lot to do with the rejections.
I applied and completed the applications for 12 schools total, received 4 interviews. I went to 3 interviews (the travelling sucked). I was accepted to 1 school, waitlisted at 1 school, rejected at 1 school after interviews. The waitlisted school is the first choice and therefore I will probably not withdraw from the waitlist.
User #10250 took the old MCAT and scored a 33 which is in the 91th percentile of all old scores.
We converted this to a 514 on the updated scale which is in the 91th percentile of the updated MCAT. We also converted User #10250’s section scores as follows:
User #10250 scored a 12 on the Biological Science section of the old MCAT which is approximately equal to a 130 on the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems.
User #10250 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.
User #10250 scored a 9 on the Verbal Reasoning section of the old MCAT which is approximately equal to a 126 on the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.
