<p>PND, that's exactly what I told NCG! He then pointed out to me (by comparing them) that they're VERY different.</p>
<p>More importantly, NCG argued that this was a better way to measure admissions standards, because the fact that school X admits a 41 doesn't mean that they won't admit a 33. On the other hand, if their class is actually composed of 37's, then you know that a 33 is probably a pretty long shot.</p>
<p>The MSAR tends to assign an average of 37 to most top tier med schools indiscriminately. The actual average of matriculating students is usually around 35 (maybe higher for the Hopkins or Harvard's of the world). I know this because my school is one of those with a median of 37 but the actual number is around a 35. Throw in the fact these are COMPOSITE MCAT scores, it is likely the actual average/median of matriculating students is in the 34-35 range. So, in reality an applicant with a MCAT score of 34 is quite competitive for a school that's listed in the MSAR as having a median of 37.</p>
<p>For us with pre-med kids to know that school is admitting with 33 is the most important. Then the logic is where is the rest. Say, GPA=4.0 mcat=33 has better chance than GPA=3.7 mcat=33 (with everything else similar), correct? What is the most bothersome, though that mcat=27 is still very challenging.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is a 27 a good score?
Yes, very, in an relative sense. Remember, any premed who takes the MCAT at all has already survived his prerequisite classes, which include a lot of very tough classes. To score a 27 -- I think that's around the 65th percentile -- means you're beating an awful lot of pretty bright kids already.</p>
<p>On the other hand, absolutely speaking, it's hard for a 27 to get into med school, which is the purpose of the MCAT. The point is it's impressive, but often not impressive enough for what these kids were hoping.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Hey everyone, </p>
<p>I've been getting lots of questions about personal statements. A good way to write a stellar one is to first read and critique a lot of them. I used to read PS's for fun, and here is some advice. </p>
<p>The goal of the personal statement is to tell the admissions committees something about yourself that is not made obvious by anything else in your application. It should not be a rehash of anything you've already written. They already have your resume.</p>
<p>This is the way that most personal statements read:
First couple paragraphs: Description of patient X with Y condition
Next few paragraphs: What situation with patient X taught you about yourself, the healthcare system, and how situation inspired you to become a doctor
Final few paragraphs: A rehash of your resume that also supports your desire to be a doctor</p>
<p>Imagine for a minute that you're a medical school admissions director and you've suddenly got 2,000 applications on your desk to review. You're trying to decide who to interview and you get about 75% of applicants who's personal statements are written in the above format. Any deviation from the above will immediately pique your interest in an applicant. </p>
<p>Take this personal statement for example: Medical</a> Section: Sample Essays
The student writes about a very exciting medical experience then discusses the importance of understanding culture and his passion for urban medicine. He briefly describes relevant experiences from his education and activities. He avoids rehash and only mentions those aspects of the resume that are relevant. </p>
<p>Some of the most poignant personal statements I have read have managed to take something that's not overtly medically related and then bring the topic to medicine all the while weaving in relevant experiences but not repeating what's already been said about them. Check out this personal statement: Medical</a> Section: Sample Essays</p>
<p>This statement is excellent. The student gives us insight into his childhood and reflects on several experiences that have made him the person he is today. The theme of the essay is determination and resiliency, and he takes a few LIMITED experiences and tells stories about them in a way that ties them into the essay's theme. </p>
<p>I think it's a good idea to read the sample essays on this site:
Medical</a> Section: Sample Essays</p>
<p>Check this out too:
Health</a> Professions Program - Tips for Writing Personal Statements</p>
<p>** Things to avoid **
1. You want to avoid using too many generalities. You want to "show" not "tell". For instance, rather than saying something like, "I like to help people", you'll want to use a specific example and let the reader see that for him/herself; instead say something like, "Teaching English to ESL students was a rewarding experience; I got tremendous satisfaction from knowing that I played a small part in their future success." A good example of how NOT to write is here: Medical</a> Section: Sample Essays</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You'll want to avoid talking about politically controversial issues. If you worked for a political campaign, I would avoid using that as a jump-off for your personal statement. Avoid issues like abortion, euthanasia, etc. </p></li>
<li><p>Avoid language that is culturally sensitive (example: use "urban" or "metropolitan" instead of "inner-city"; use "indigent" instead of "lower-class"). Remember that people of many different backgrounds may be reading your essay and may be put off by some language. The best way to ensure that you're not doing this is to have people from many different backgrounds read your statement. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>You should write several drafts of your personal statement and get several people to read and critique your work. Once you've got it in its final form, have an experienced editor or an English professor do a final run through. </p>
<p>Finally, here are some websites that underscore what I've already discussed. I am willing to read some FINAL copies of personal statements, though I really don't have the time to be too involved in the editing/development process. I can however, provide some last minute commentary. Best of luck and I hope this helps.</p>
<p>
[quote]
You'll want to avoid talking about politically controversial issues. If you worked for a political campaign, I would avoid using that as a jump-off for your personal statement. Avoid issues like abortion, euthanasia, etc.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I agree that your essay should not be a soapbox for your personal social, political, and religious beliefs, but I disagree with your blanket statement to avoid talking about any form of activism. Activism can be a great foundation to build one's personal statement upon. The writer should focus on what they learned, felt, experienced - not the message they were supporting.</p>
<p>God bless you PrincessND for sharing your experience and inspiring and helping those who want to be a doctor. Not anyone can be a doctor. It is really a calling. There is no glamour in your profession, only hard work and lots of sacrifice to be able to make a difference in this screwed up world. You have given very good inputs and advices and I hope you will continued to share your med school experiences. Someday soon you will be rewarded for your good deed. All good doctors should be rewarded for their good deed.</p>
<p>Wow this is great. I have two questions but only about 1 minute.....
1. If someone got a 5 on AP Calc BC, and thus tested out of first year of calc, if they only take a stat class in college, is that enough? Would taking a 2nd year calc class really add anything? Also, if I take research methods instead of stats, would that be o.k., do most med schools count the AP credit for the math requirement?</p>
<ol>
<li>If I go to a good - top 20 university, but decide to take organic chem 1 and 2 in the summer back home at a cal state, would that look "bad"? Would love to get it done over the summer, so in the long run will be able to go abroad jr year. Thanks!</li>
</ol>
<p>Shades_children,
I didn't say you couldn't write about activism, but again, I think it's risky to talk about controversial issues. We can argue what that means all day long and never get anywhere, but that is my opinion. If you can write about an activist cause without politicizing, you're right, that can definitely be great. Students should have as many people as possible read their personal statements and give feedback. You never know who's going to be reading your personal statement, so keep that in mind as you're writing it.</p>
<p>Making<em>a</em>point,
Thanks so much. I'm on vacation right now and for the first time in a long time I have nothing to do. I'm glad if I can help anyone to reach their goals....and we need good doctors! :)</p>
<p>Hi Elizabeth,
1. I've just found this website that contains a document with every medical school that requires math and whether or not they allow AP credit to count toward the requirement. This will be of much greater assistance to you than I can be. To summarize for those not wanting to navigate away: many medical schools have math requirements of various lengths, some make you take calculus, for others stats suffices, and some let you get out of the requirement with AP credit, others don't.
NYU</a> College of Arts & Science Office of Professional and Career Advising
Click on "List of medical schools with math/and or calculus requirements"</p>
<ol>
<li>If at all possible, I would take orgo at your home institution. It looks the best if you've taken the most rigorous curriculum possible. But if you really want to go abroad and this is the only way to make that happen, then go for it. I would work with your counselor to see what other adjustments to your schedule can be made first.</li>
</ol>
<p>A good writer may be able to talk about activism without going into details about their specific issue or conveying their side in it; for example you could talk about the depth of your work in the last election without mentioning a part or names</p>
<p>I do think that writing about something in an essay will make it likely ground for an interviewer to ask about, and it's highly likely that they'll want to know which side you worked for.</p>
<p>Hi PrincessND!</p>
<p>Thank you for taking time out of time to answer questions! My current problem is the course load that I'm taking. Currently, I attend UCSD and am a second year undergraduate student. I am signed up for Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry B, Chemistry Lab, and an Intro to Statistics class. Honestly. I don't know if I should take with a rigor course load. What do you think? I know that I will have to eventually need to have a rigorous schedule as I am double majoring. My overall GPA isn't the highest (3.2) so maybe I should slow down. I'm even considering doing five years of undergraduate before I start applying to medical schools. Maybe, if I drop one course (probably Biochemistry) I can apply for internships and what not. I'm just torn to what to decide. I just don't want to feel behind but at the same time I really want to bring up my GPA as it's important for medical school. What do you think? Will medical schools look at my intense schedule or will they see if I've doing exceptionally well in my courses?</p>
<p>Thank you once again!</p>
<p>good point, Mike</p>
<p>BDM, MCAT=27 will guarantee my D. a spot at one Med. school without interview since her GPA most likely will meet a reguirement of 3.45. That is why I asked specifically about 27. If she gets much higher, than she will apply to other schools. If not, she will go to that one.</p>
<p>PND, Thanks again for all info., specifically for NYU site that lists requirements by various Med. schools. Very helpful!</p>
<p>As to the NYU site, remember to verify everything with the medical school. I wouldn't trust my app to (any) other school's take on what the decision on AP courses taken for prerequisites would be. That being said , it does match in general with what I have been saying for a while- there are very few schools that require a student to take calculus when they have a 5 in AP Calc BC. According to NYU :</p>
<p>
[quote]
Medical Schools with a Calculus Prerequisite that DO NOT Accept AP Credit
School # of Semesters Required Courses UC Davis 2 Calculus, Statistics UC Irvine 2 Calculus, Statistics UCLA 2 Calculus, Statistics Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences 1 Calculus (Business Calculus, Survey of Calculus and Introductory Calculus are permissible). To satisfy this prerequisite, math courses must have ‘Calculus’ in the title. University of Nebraska 1 A student who earned AP credit for Calculus I may take Calculus II at NYU, or practically any math course with Calculus I as a pre-requisite; in some cases the SOM admissions committee will ask for the course description.<br>
Medical Schools with a General Math Prerequisite that DO NOT Accept AP Credit
School # of Semesters Required Courses Howard University 2 Two semesters of college-level math is required. Some college work in calculus and statistics is recommended. University of Mississippi 2 Calculus I can satisfy one semester of this requirement. A two-semester course including trigonometry, analytical geometry, and calculus is also acceptable.
[/quote]
IMO you can spend you time more wisely by talking a Math department stats class and biochem. But again, just my opinion.</p>
<p>DRB’s Quote " As a physician, I find this thread troubling. There are indeed all kinds of roles for people with diverse interests in medicine. However, were I in septic shock in an ICU, my blood pressure and renal function controlled by IV pressors, my acid/base status controlled by a balance of buffers and respiratory control, and my infection being treated by a combination of antibiotics, I think I would prefer to have as a physician someone who graduated summa with high test scores, vs. the one who started a juggling club, was an amateur ventriloquist, contemplated starting a film club as a contrived effort to demonstrate “leadership”, or found no honors courses at their college of interest."
…</p>
<p>I am relieved to hear this side being represented on CC by a Physician. I agree with DRB that way too much emphasis is being placed these days in being ‘violinists’ or a ‘Club leaders’. I would be saddened if brilliant kids who are single mindedly passionate about Sciences get weeded out of Med school entrance simply because they did not show high caliber ECs.</p>
<p>I would much rather have an MD who has mastered his area treat me than someone who has great many ECs that don’t allow him the luxury of time needed to devote to his main purpose; ie mastering his area of expertise!</p>
<p>Pharmagirl,
Academics and well-roundedness are not mutually exclusive categories. Most students who gain admittance to medical school have mastered both.</p>