well, if he's concerned, he could always ask bayshore why- they may give him an answer (though I would ask someone higher up than his admissions person- they generally don't have much info).

__________________
GI Elective [x].......Wards [x]
Wards [x] ............Night Float [x]
MICU [x] .............CCU []
Wards [x] ............PGY 1 1/2 []
Elective!![x]..........Move Complete[]
VACATION!!!! [x]

Very Very strange... MMM .my undergrad gpa sciences was about 3.5 and a graduate (masters of science) was 3.6 overall (different science related field) Was at prior DO school atop my class before leave of absence to take care of parents. Now applied to SGU with 20 Mcat taken was back when and was accepted. But my reccomendations were great and phones calls were made on my behalf to top sgu admin (guess my undergrad professor has relationship with some SGU people so SGU knew his recommendation was solid)

Go figure???

__________________
It's someplace simple where we could live. Something only u can give. Thats faith n trust n peace while we're alive, The one poor child that saved this world, There's 10 million more who probably could, If we all just stopped n said a prayer for them. So take these words, sing out loud, Cuz everyone is forgiven now, Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again. I wish everyone was loved tonight, n somehow stop this endless fight, Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days. - GOO GOO DOLLS

you might have had a chance at a US school if you had retaken the MCAT and gotten a higher score. Did you consider it?

__________________
GI Elective [x].......Wards [x]
Wards [x] ............Night Float [x]
MICU [x] .............CCU []
Wards [x] ............PGY 1 1/2 []
Elective!![x]..........Move Complete[]
VACATION!!!! [x]

I can understand why he was asked to take the MCAT again. A 7 seems kinda low for the verbal section, although a 24 isn't a bad score either way. When I asked bayshore about 1.5yrs ago about MCAT scores, they wanted a minimum of 8's on every section of the MCAT to be considered. This could be why he's been asked to retake the MCAT.

I dont understand and maybe b/c I am a victim of the MCAT. I was close to 8 on all sections but was very strong everywhere else in my app. I say this b/c I was accepted to med school in NJ with all kids with big name college degrees and high MCATs. So as I little test and being proud and never ashamed, I announced my score and was branded as lucky to get in. Well, towards the end of the semester I was number one in my class until family emergency forced me to take a leave.

No that my bro is in his ppractice he can care for mom and dad. forward to today where I was just accepted to SGU.

So i guess the moral or the story is no system is perfect and MCATs will predict nothing. They are still part of the equation so do you best but dont let it act as a predictor of med school success. Hardest part of med school is getting in b/c once it starts you will be saying what the hell have I gotten myself into. Once the initial shock dissipates you realize its the best decision ever.

__________________
It's someplace simple where we could live. Something only u can give. Thats faith n trust n peace while we're alive, The one poor child that saved this world, There's 10 million more who probably could, If we all just stopped n said a prayer for them. So take these words, sing out loud, Cuz everyone is forgiven now, Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again. I wish everyone was loved tonight, n somehow stop this endless fight, Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days. - GOO GOO DOLLS

i agree that mcats do not predict performance in medical school in my opinion but they are a vital part of the admission process so it is a very important number.

__________________
Yadira

Yes I agree MCATS are vital but relationships build with admissions, faculty etc from doing Summer programs at Med schools held much more weight vs a number. But like I said that is my situation which is prob very untraditional.

__________________
It's someplace simple where we could live. Something only u can give. Thats faith n trust n peace while we're alive, The one poor child that saved this world, There's 10 million more who probably could, If we all just stopped n said a prayer for them. So take these words, sing out loud, Cuz everyone is forgiven now, Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again. I wish everyone was loved tonight, n somehow stop this endless fight, Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days. - GOO GOO DOLLS

wait- i don't get it- you were in a US med school and a family emergency required you to get a LoA, ,right? So, if you don't mind me asking, how come you didn't go back to your originial school. I mean I have a freind, who because he and his wife had a baby while he was a 2nd year take a LoA for a year (his 3rd year MS her 3rd year residency) to take care of the baby and the school arranged it so he just came in a year later. I have another friend who had a crisis of commitment(wasn't sure if med was really what he wanted to do)during his 1st year, took a LoA after 1st semester and was able to come back in the next year. Was your school not willing to make that kind of provision?
Also it sounds as if this happened awhile ago (correct me if i'm wrong) and MCAT averages have jumped considerably in the last few years. For example, i started the whole medical school application ordeal in 99- the average MCAT for the schools i was applying to was ~28- but when i applied the last cycle for schools before i got into SGU (03)- the average had jumped to a 30, so maybe when you were applying the acceptable score was lower.

Very commendable BTW that you took time off to take care of your mom and dad and 2 sons that are (or gonna be!) doctors- they are very good parents- you must be very proud of them!. Good Luck at sgu!

__________________
GI Elective [x].......Wards [x]
Wards [x] ............Night Float [x]
MICU [x] .............CCU []
Wards [x] ............PGY 1 1/2 []
Elective!![x]..........Move Complete[]
VACATION!!!! [x]

I am going to try to be concise as possible and also try and respect my privacy on a public forum but hopefully one can come away with a sense of the meaning of perserverance.

ok

*In 2001 - After three attempts at MCAT with same results yet doing better in each section I was accepted into US med school in NJ. I am not sure if med schools look at MCATs but if you take my best score from each each section then my score isnt so bad at all.

*I was in first year and brother was in third year of med school. Parents are very humble hard working people never having the chance to go to college.

*It was more of a family crisis where if it wasnt addressed my parents would parent would have succum to health problems and lost there house b/c there health problems prevented them from working and living off disability at the time.

*Its tough when you have to transition from being the child to acting like a parent to your own parents who reject the notion of being cared for by the kids they raised. So being my bother was in third year and I was in first it was easier for me to take leave.

*Now as far as med school..
Had great relationship with Dean who told me to take my time and there would be a seat for you waiting. At the time I had no way of knowing how long I would be gone. (At least til my bother finished up). At the time I was atop my class (yes the kid who was originally on an alternate list for acceptance was now atop his class academically)

To maintain my mind while taking leave I want back for my masters science at local university.

*OK this is where I was the victim of admin politics at my school b/c I challanged there decision so listen up --- Dean during my LoA had retired and a new miltary type by the book Dean took over. When I called to tell them I would be back in Aug 2005 b/c I graduated with Masters in 2004 and had no money I mean I was poor but at least educated enough to get a good job with the Department of Defense federal US Govt. (You have to understand I did not come from a family with much financial wealth yet they did show me unconditional love and support in any endevor).

* A lower staff admin person told me that was fine and remembered me being very good student. So time going by and we are 2 weeks before Aug 04 class begin (remember I said I would be back Aug 2005 b/c I would have at least some money to move and reacclimate myself to med school stuff since my masters of science was in software engineering)

*I get a letter telling me if I am not back in two weeks I would lose my seat even though I received no in-processing paperwork b/c of the disconnect between higher and lower admin people.

*Now b/c this new dean was strict people were covering up there mistakes and I was ultimately the on to pay the price. After my appeal I got a canned answer that I should have read the student handbook. Well who the hell does that instead you depend on admin to answer your questions and guide you according to policy. So by tring to protect my seat I had to make some people look not so good b/c they were not doing there job,

* I feel I should have been grandfathered in b/c the old Dean was much more flexible and does have the power to extent my LoA but since they were going to a new cirriculum structure they wanted me back sooner. (By the was there class structure was that most people were failing Physiology so instead of failing half the class they lowered the failing grade. (not a problem for me)

*The under grad professor got wind of wait happen to me and introduced me to SGU and I am glad he did. Outstanding rep, class structure, and environment to become true doctors vs some kids who think its there generational right to become doctors b/c there parents where. They had no people skills but I dont want to get outside the scope of my story.

Moral of story. Alway put one foot in front of another, live in the present, dont be weighed dont by what if'ing yourself to dead or fearing whats to come in the future. Learn you lessons backwards while living live forwards.

Hope this clears it up. So I guess I am kinda of not your typical molded med student b/c I grew up with so many negative opportunities and very few positive ones but loving parent and hard lessons learn from my childhood friends growing up (some who are dead , in jail for bad/ lack of positive choices). I was lucky enough to taking the right path.

anyhow hopefully my experiences will make me a better more understanding doctor...Sorry to get off subject

Cant wait to get to the Rock!

__________________
It's someplace simple where we could live. Something only u can give. Thats faith n trust n peace while we're alive, The one poor child that saved this world, There's 10 million more who probably could, If we all just stopped n said a prayer for them. So take these words, sing out loud, Cuz everyone is forgiven now, Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again. I wish everyone was loved tonight, n somehow stop this endless fight, Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days. - GOO GOO DOLLS

find that this is generally the case!!

Thank you- it was very inspirational to read your story- thank you for taking the time out to write it.
I think that the others school's loss is definitely SGU's gain!!!

__________________
GI Elective [x].......Wards [x]
Wards [x] ............Night Float [x]
MICU [x] .............CCU []
Wards [x] ............PGY 1 1/2 []
Elective!![x]..........Move Complete[]
VACATION!!!! [x]