Brief Profile:
Non-traditional applicant, applying as economically disadvantaged
Extra-curricular: -Hospice Volunteer at the VA -Heavy research experience with multiple publications and abstracts including in high-impact journals -Strong leadership experience
Personal Goals: -Interested in perusing academic medicine -Oncology/immunology interests
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 06/10/2013
Undergraduate college: Bryn Mawr College
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 514
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 130,
C/P 129,
CARS 126
Overall GPA: 3.67
Science GPA: 3.73
Summary of Application Experience
First MCAT: 9/9/9 Put off applications for a year so that I could re-take.
Summary of Experience:
Interview day was packed with tours, interviews, and information sessions with no free time in between! I loved the feel of the school and I especially loved the focus on research. The interviewees that I met were also really easy to get along with. I think that Pittsburgh is selecting for the right factors... seemed like a great group of people. They also had research assistance such as grant-writing (they have a high number of students that get the grants too!). I want to apply for the 5th year.
Pros: Strong emphasis on research, seems like an awesome city to live in during my mid-20s, beautiful hiking in the area, students during interview seemed great.
Cons: Seemed like a lot of people in the city smoke cigarets,
Summary of Experience:
Interview was personalized. I stayed with hosts in the "white coat ghetto" and it seemed like prices range from $300-$500 per month! Hosts were excellent; it reminded me of Bryn Mawr. There is a strong feed of students from Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, and UPenn to this school. They are building a new Children's Hospital. The hospital is the largest in the area, so patients are fed in from a wide range. I also met independently with several researchers and it appears that there is ample opportunity for research and a vast array of superb mentors.
Pros: Small class, personalized medical school experience, very affordable living, emphasis on PBL and small group learning.
Cons: Patient population is not very diverse, research opportunities are not as broad as at some other schools, lectures are not recorded.
Summary of Experience:
Geffen Scholarship! AMAZING! My top choice wants me! SO SO SO EXCITED!
Post interview: Students seemed very laid back, the hospital is amazing, opportunities for research are vast. This is my top choice to date. It would be an honor to attend Geffen.
catzzz88 took the old MCAT and scored a which is in the percentile of all old scores.
We converted this to a on the updated scale which is in the percentile of the updated MCAT. We also converted catzzz88’s section scores as follows:
catzzz88 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.
catzzz88 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.
catzzz88 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.
