Sent my application in....wish me luck!

[nismodrifter]

I completed my application today and mailed everything in. Hoping for the best in the coming weeks!

Background: I just finished my 3rd year of studies with a major in Physiology that also gave me a BSc. I hope having the BSc will help a bit when they look at the application.

GPA: 3.08 Science GPA: 2.84.
Reason for the grades: Severe illness/disability of a family member (my dad) in my first and second years of University. I wrote about my situation in my personal statement so I hope that will clear it up. It was a very stressful time that I hope I will never have to go through again. My third year of studies did improve, especially in science classes. Organic Chemistry II has not been completed yet....it is actually in progress right now and will be completed by June 16th. So I don't think that should really create any sort of problem.

I did write the MCAT and did send them my scores: PS-6, VR-10, WS-R, **-9 = 25R
I think that score is pretty average/acceptable. Only part that I am not happy about is the physics section. If that would have been a 9 or 10 then I would be very pleased but I just ran out of time.

Clinical Experience: Lots. Have been involved in clinical/health related stuff for the past 6 years (I'm almost 21....so I've been volunteering since age of 15). Unique stuff that I am involved in is a Health Promotion program aimed at the South Asian (East Indian) community in my city. It's the first program of it's kind and I have a leadership role in it so I hope that will help out. I wrote about it in my personal statement too. Also have the usual physician shadowing, community health center, flu shot clinics etc.

Extracurricular: Lots.

Letters: Letters from a nurse, social worker, the physician that I shadowed. One of my professors filled out the form but did not write a letter (which I am not too happy about but after doing some research on here it seems like many people have had this happen/only sent the form as a letter is optional).

I applied to both MUA and SABA so I will be happy if I get accepted to either. SABA would be preferred but if I get accepted to MUA I am not going to be complaining, it is a reputable school.

Applied for September and hoping that I get in for that class, if not I guess I will settle for January.

Well thats about it, wish me luck! It's going to take 5 business days for the application to actually get there (damn them for having a P.O box....I could have overnighted the package had it been an actual address).

[sabaspouse2006]

Your application seems quite competetive.

Best of luck to you!!

R/

[Bruce]

Good Luck Nis.. Not that it helps u now but Gardner does have an actual mailing address & it does speed up the process considerably... Anyway best of luck for September..

[koons680]

Just curious Nis why did you not apply to SMU or ROSS

[nismodrifter]

Good Luck Nis.. Not that it helps u now but Gardner does have an actual mailing address & it does speed up the process considerably... Anyway best of luck for September..

awww crap :( I should have called and asked.

[nismodrifter]

Application was recieved by them yesterday...got a confirmation that it was recieved via email yesterday as well. I'm just praying for good news in the coming weeks.

[nismodrifter]

Good news today! Got an email from SABA today and they would like to me to contact them about scheduling an interview!!!

Problem for me is that it is going to be IMPOSSIBLE for me to have an interview until at least Monday June 18th. The organic chemistry course I am taking is all day long (class all day with 50 min lunch break) and then 3 hour lab...by that time the SABA office on the east coast will be long closed.

Is 2 weeks an excessively long time or is that normal'ish? It's not like I can do anything about it....it's just bad timing with this course running at full speed. Doesn't look like I am going to get into September (saw that other thread which was talking about waitlist...) so this looks like it will be for January.

[nismodrifter]

bump! What's your opinion on the 2 weeks thing? Seems like September is full for sure...you think waiting 2 weeks will affect my placement into January?

[vaneleus]

bump! What's your opinion on the 2 weeks thing? Seems like September is full for sure...you think waiting 2 weeks will affect my placement into January?

My guess is no. However, it's just a guess and from someone that hasn't been accepted either...

[rdecastro]

bump! What's your opinion on the 2 weeks thing? Seems like September is full for sure...you think waiting 2 weeks will affect my placement into January?

I'd bag an hour of class for the interview. Or perhaps the school/prof has a number you can use?

[nismodrifter]

Well I sent an email back and told them that I can do an interview once my class is done. My head is going crazy enough right now with the class work...4 months of work compressed into 15 days of class...it's nuts. Lecture in the morning-then 55min lunch break-then 3 hour lab.

Oh well, we'll see how it goes...good thing is that I've got an interview.

[islandhopper]

Just curious Nis why did you not apply to SMU or ROSS
I could be wrong, but I think the GPA might be on the low side for Ross. Besides, not everyone is thrilled in playing Survivor Dominica:D

[nismodrifter]

I had my interview with SABA.

The interview was a pure grilling session. They asked all the usual questions but it wasn't really friendly or anything like everyone says. I could barely hear what they were saying, had to ask them to repeat what they had said SEVERAL times because their speakerphone SUCKS. All I heard was mumbling even after they said they would speak slower and louder.

They literally nitpicked me on every single low grade, low mcat, even grilled me on why I wanted to become a doctor (ie: questioning my motives...I actually felt insulted by one of the questions they asked me...I'm not going to go into detail about what the question was on here). I knew the interview didn't go well and sure enough I got the rejection letter in the mail.

I did get accepted to MUA though so I'm happy :).

Soo.....moral of the story for future applicants: YES...rejection after an interview CAN and DOES happen.

[sweetpeapotts]

They said your MCAT was low?

[nismodrifter]

Yes. Basically a 6 seems to be unacceptable. Their exact words were "Well......that's pretty low you know".

Rest of the sections were ok but it is the 6 that they did not like. I dunno...even at the University of Saskatchewan (a Canadian medical school) you are allowed to have one 7 on the MCAT. My interview is with a caribbean med school and they grilled me on a 6 asking why I got that mark etc. Weird IMO.

[sweetpeapotts]

Yes. Basically a 6 seems to be unacceptable. Their exact words were "Well......that's pretty low you know".

Rest of the sections were ok but it is the 6 that they did not like. I dunno...even at the University of Saskatchewan (a Canadian medical school) you are allowed to have one 7 on the MCAT. My interview is with a caribbean med school and they grilled me on a 6 asking why I got that mark etc. Weird IMO.


okay..just weirded out by that b/c i know someone who is doing her clinicals (she is at AUC), and i know her MCAT was much lower than yours...

[cabrillo]

sorry to hear that!!! when I was reading through the thread I was thinking that there was no way for you to be accepted since I got similar numbers and I applied more than a year ago!!! I dont know because I havent tried to apply to another caribbean school but I am pretty sure that a "bigger" ( a school that can accomodate more students per semester), you will have a better chance. Good luck

[cabrillo]

okay..just weirded out by that b/c i know someone who is doing her clinicals (she is at AUC), and i know her MCAT was much lower than yours...

got california approval, it has gotten tougher to get in:D for "average" students. Right Now, SABA requires at least 3.0 overall and as you can see from the OP more than 25 on the mcat. I believe they became too tough, too fast!! I mean is a good school but such high standards it is sometimes ridiculous. if you are a minority with those numbers might as well apply to the US. I believe the chances will be better than to get into SABA.:cool:

[unoriginalone]

After reading nismodrifter's experience, I'm shocked (and now, a little scared) about any interview I may receive from SABA. My profile is similar to hers.

[sweetpeapotts]

After reading nismodrifter's experience, I'm shocked (and now, a little scared) about any interview I may receive from SABA. My profile is similar to hers.

I will tell you this. I was really comfortable in my interview (didnt like the over the phone part but dealt with it as best I could). They DID ask all sorts of questions and they were personal. I was just honest and had a copy of my application next to me in case they referred to it. I didn't feel like they were grilling me but really felt as though they were trying to be selective. Other schools that I had interviews with (in the top four) were trying to sell themselves to me not vice versa. Don't get nervous yet. There were and still are times that I cannot believe that I was accepted. I do have a descent MCAT score and great GPA but not reallly any experience. I have been a stay at home mom for 3 years so my brain has been on vacation. So, I had reason to think they wouldn't accept me...but I still tried to rock my interview. Good Luck and dont be discourged.

[JLea]

I had a pleasant interview with the Director of Admissions and another person. While it was hard to hear both of them, the speakerphone did stink, I made it through OK. They asked mostly personal questions and did question my motives for wanting to be a physician. (Can't you make a difference in peoples' lives as a journalist?)

In my opinion, if one is truly called into the field of medicine, then a few personal questions won't cause them to question whether or not he or she wants to be a doctor. Hit them back with your convictions and prove to them that you are sincere.

As for GPA standards, my overall GPA is 2.69. I did poorly 20 years ago and then returned to school in August 2005. Since then I maintained a 4.0, but I do not have a ** degree. My MCAT was an acceptable 29. The clincher for me was the fact that I have around 1000 hours of hands-on clinical experience. I got my acceptance letters from Saba this week and from Ross last week.

Bottom line, each student is unique. It's up to you to present yourself in the very best possible light. Make your "downsides" into "upsides."

Good luck.
:)

[aspiringmedstudent]

I had a 6 on my MCAT as well, and they didn't bring that up at all. However, I did have another score - but it was only one point higher overall. Considering what you said, I am sorta suprised they didn't bring that up in my interview.

But with that said, I am gonna back sweetpea on what she said. My interview wasn't "warm" per se, but it was was fairly laid back yet matter of fact. They basically went over my whole application, but didn't say too much about my grades, other than I performed well with my degrees. I think most of it was just trying to get an idea about me, my reasearch and volunteer experience, and why I wanted to be a physician.

My interview with SGU was completely different. It was face to face, obviously, and I met with an alumni from SGU. He was really awesome and very compliant with my schedule. He even took part of his weekend to interview with me because I was having a hard time scheduling something away from work. But anyway. He was super nice, but the whole interview consisted of him checking off some questions on a form about my degree and research experience, writing a 10 min writing sample, and then the rest of the time we chatted about his experience at SGU and other Caribbean schools in general. I didn't feel like he was trying to sell SGU to me - in fact he said that if I went to any of the top 4 schools, that I would be OK. So that made me feel very good. When he told me he owed $268,000 of loans, though, I sort of thought in my mind right then, that SGU wasn't right for me. WAY too much money to owe back. But anyway - I do feel like the bigger schools try to sell themselves to you. I felt that way at both the SGU and Ross seminar I went to. I am digressing - this really has nothing to do with the scope of this thread.

I am sorry that happened to you nismodrifter, but congratulations on being accepted elsewhere! Good luck! :)

[unoriginalone]

I had my interview this morning, and my experience was very similar to NismoDrifter.

The first thing I remember them saying was that "Your role here is to convince us why you would be a fantastic physician". I was asked about my undegraduate institution performance, and was asked if I had been depressed or anything. When I suggested that I may have been, I was taken back by a definitive response of "You WERE depressed", from someone who has little to no background on who I am.

Next questions were nitpicks (Why did you withdraw from A&P? Why did you get a C+ in Organic II), followed by "If you were me would you admit yourself to Saba? Why?"

Other ones I believe were "How can we be convinced that you won't revert back to your undegraduate performance if you come to Saba?", "When I refer to USMLE Step 1, I am referring to..?", "How do your parents feel about you considering going to the Caribbean?" "Tell us about your Clinical Experience" "Why did you apply for January 2007?"

It ended with "do you have any questions for us? this is time for your final appeal".

I was never asked "why do you want to be a doctor?".

In summary, I'm not really sure how it went, if one can judge based simply on the intonation over the phone. I did appreciate the fact that they did make it clear they had to ask tough questions, but I suppose one just doesn't know what to expect. From what I gather, interviews at Ross and AUC are nothing at all like that. Whatever happens, happens...guess I'll find out in a few weeks.

[sweetpeapotts]

I had my interview this morning, and my experience was very similar to NismoDrifter.

The first thing I remember them saying was that "Your role here is to convince us why you would be a fantastic physician". I was asked about my undegraduate institution performance, and was asked if I had been depressed or anything. When I suggested that I may have been, I was taken back by a definitive response of "You WERE depressed", from someone who has little to no background on who I am.

Next questions were nitpicks (Why did you withdraw from A&P? Why did you get a C+ in Organic II), followed by "If you were me would you admit yourself to Saba? Why?"

Other ones I believe were "How can we be convinced that you won't revert back to your undegraduate performance if you come to Saba?", "When I refer to USMLE Step 1, I am referring to..?", "How do your parents feel about you considering going to the Caribbean?" "Tell us about your Clinical Experience" "Why did you apply for January 2007?"

It ended with "do you have any questions for us? this is time for your final appeal".

I was never asked "why do you want to be a doctor?".

In summary, I'm not really sure how it went, if one can judge based simply on the intonation over the phone. I did appreciate the fact that they did make it clear they had to ask tough questions, but I suppose one just doesn't know what to expect. From what I gather, interviews at Ross and AUC are nothing at all like that. Whatever happens, happens...guess I'll find out in a few weeks.

Wow my interview with Saba wasn't like that. I interviewed at one of the other two schools and I felt like it was more of a sales pitch to me than wanting to know who I was and if I was qualified. But it was VERY EASY...again...just my two cents...

[unoriginalone]

Wow my interview with Saba wasn't like that. I interviewed at one of the other two schools and I felt like it was more of a sales pitch to me than wanting to know who I was and if I was qualified. But it was VERY EASY...again...just my two cents...


It's the grades, sweetpea. Pure and simple. Maybe it's just my own jaded philosophy, but I don't believe that interviews should be completely different in nature based on GPA alone. We all know that it is the primary determinant for med schools, but the fact that there is such a disparity between some of us as far as the way we were interviewed goes to show you something.

[sweetpeapotts]

It's the grades, sweetpea. Pure and simple. Maybe it's just my own jaded philosophy, but I don't believe that interviews should be completely different in nature based on GPA alone. We all know that it is the primary determinant for med schools, but the fact that there is such a disparity between some of us as far as the way we were interviewed goes to show you something.

Maybe it is also b/c we had different interviewers. I forgot the names of mine but I know it wasn't the Dean of Admissions...it was Dr so and so and a student. I am sorry your experience wasn't good. My interview was very hard to judge b/c I couldn't see faces. I knew that I just had to wait and see. I just didn't feel "grilled" as some of you seem to have been. I would say that I guess I am lucky that my grades were so good, but that had naught to do with luck....that was dedication and the will to not get beated by my mother!!(lol)...anyway I wish you the best of luck...

[sweetpeapotts]

It's the grades, sweetpea. Pure and simple. Maybe it's just my own jaded philosophy, but I don't believe that interviews should be completely different in nature based on GPA alone. We all know that it is the primary determinant for med schools, but the fact that there is such a disparity between some of us as far as the way we were interviewed goes to show you something.

Maybe it is also b/c we had different interviewers. I forgot the names of mine but I know it wasn't the Dean of Admissions...it was Dr so and so and a student. I am sorry your experience wasn't good. My interview was very hard to judge b/c I couldn't see faces. I knew that I just had to wait and see. I just didn't feel "grilled" as some of you seem to have been. I would say that I guess I am lucky that my grades were so good, but that had naught to do with luck....that was dedication and the will to not get beated by my mother!!(lol)...anyway I wish you the best of luck...

[sabaspouse2006]

It's the grades, sweetpea. Pure and simple. Maybe it's just my own jaded philosophy, but I don't believe that interviews should be completely different in nature based on GPA alone. We all know that it is the primary determinant for med schools, but the fact that there is such a disparity between some of us as far as the way we were interviewed goes to show you something.

I know of one person who was accepted who had a very similar experience as yours. He felt grilled and examined and thought the interviewers slightly rude...... He had excellent grades.

I think interviewing is a developed skill. Not everyone is great at it and there are definite differences between people.

R/

[aspiringmedstudent]

I was just going to say what sweetpea said... It may be that you had a certain interviewer. I believe my interviewer was the Dean of Admissions. Dr. B? I know I can't say the name here. Anyway! I hope you have good news soon.