Application Cycle One: 2001

• Undergraduate college: MIT
• Undergraduate Area of study: Physical Sciences

• Institution: MIT
• Area of Study: Biological/Life Sciences
• Degree Obtained: Minor

• Total MCAT SCORE: 520
• MCAT Section Scores: B/B 131, C/P 130, CARS 127   Detailed Breakdown
• Overall GPA: 2.78
• Science GPA: 2.55

Summary of Application Experience

I was a very irresponsible student in college (obviously). During one semester I had 3 D's and a C, and was on academic probation. However, during my last semester I got a 3.5. Still, my GPA from undergrad was somewhere around a 2.4-2.5 (including 9 C's, 4 D's, and 1 F). So I knew I wouldn't be getting acceptances any time soon.

I chose to do an informal post-bac so that I could continue doing research after I graduated. I ended up taking one or two classes at a time (fortunately, my work allowed me to leave during the day, and make up the hours whenever I wanted) and ended up with a fairly decent post-bac GPA.

When I interviewed at Drexel, I was grilled on the fact that I hadn't taken a full-time postbac course load. The adcom member pointed out (rightly) that I hadn't yet shown that I could handle a full-time science course load, and do well. This was definitely a drawback of doing a part-time postbac. I agreed, but also pointed out that I was doing research full-time, taking one or two classes during the day, and serving as an Army officer one weekend a month.

I think that with a sub 3.0 GPA, it pretty much is impossible to get into any school unless you do a postbac. Furthermore, I think it's almost impossible to get into a top 30 school unless you do a formal postbac, and do really well. I chose to do an informal postbac (saved me a ton of money, plus I was earning a salary at the time) and it was enough to get me a couple of acceptances, although I had to apply three times. I think the fact that I only took 7 postbac classes spread over a few years was not enough classes to convince schools that I was truly a different person from when I was an undergrad. I'm sure that my military and research experiences (i.e. non-typical premed EC's) helped offset my GPA somewhat, and probably got me a second look at some schools. I know that they are not top schools, but then again, if you do the crime, I guess you gotta do the time.

One bit of advice for applicants that had a rough start academically: You need to accept the fact that you were immature and irresponsible in the past. Don't make excuses for past shortcomings. I tried that the first two times I applied and didn't get (in) anywhere. Make clear in your interviews that you understand that your past behavior was inexcusable. Also realize that an informal post-bac may not be enough work to convince adcoms that you have truly reformed. In retrospect, I now realize that a GPA of 3.8 in 7 postbac classes does not (and should not) completely counterbalance a GPA of 2.4 over 4 years. Still, if I had to do my postbac over again, I would probably still do the informal route, for the reasons stated above.

Anyway, I'm very grateful that the adcoms realized that people change, and gave me a second chance. I'm doing well as a first year at Drexel now, and I'm happy to be here. (3/1/03)

Update: 11/30/07- Finished Drexel in the middle of the pack, decided on Emergency Medicine... Now a 2nd year EM resident in a moderately competitive residency in the NE, and loving it.