I just want honesty in reviewing my application

It seems that I can’t get a straight answer when asking about my application to medical school. I have asked multiple contacts and I get vagueness or silence. I am 32 years old. I don’t need hand holding, I need honest opinions. If I don’t get in this cycle, then I need to know what is killing my opportunities so that I can fix it.
I was given a “highly recommends” letter from my college’s advisory board and my previous advisor said that she, “wasn’t worried about me.” I have applied to thirteen schools. Five schools have denied me, no bid deal as I expected it since they were shots in the dark. My first choice offered me an interview in August, which I gladly accepted. Since then, silence. The number one school has not offered, denied, or wait-listed me. I am still “under consideration”. Which means I may get a seat if they haven’t filled up with all-stars. Every other school? Crickets.

My first degree ten years ago was me skating by so I could graduate.
Freshman GPA 2.57 Hours 28.00
Sophomore GPA 2.13 Hours 31.00
Junior GPA 2.60 Hours 42.00
Senior GPA 2.78 Hours 51.00

So, my second visit to school was to prove to myself that I was capable of making the grades.

Post-baccalaureate Undergraduate GPA 3.93 Hours 56.00
Cumulative Undergraduate GPA 2.93 Hours 208.00

First MCAT : 502 124, 126, 126, 126
Second MCAT: 505 126, 126, 126, 127

Experience:
Senior Engineering Logistics Specialist - Raytheon
At Raytheon, I have been given the independence to develop my own ideas. I developed a code translation program that removes the
need for an employee to hard code information that is provided in a database. This saved my current project over thirty six thousand
dollars and is tangible to other Army technical manual projects. This was the subject of my Six Sigma project and is currently in use for
the development of the Repair Parts Special Tool List, National Stock Number Index, Part Number Index, and Maintenance Allocation
Chart. I have discovered that my enthusiasm for problem solving also spans to improving existing processes, especially when it benefits
my colleagues.

Provisional Patent
Insulating Pad for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation to Protect the Resuscitator from Defibrillating Shock
Provisional Patent: US. 62/204,946
While working for HEMSI, I found a need to reduce the time between compressions while defibrillating a patient. I came up with a selfadhesive,
single use, insulating pad that would attach to the patient’s chest and provide a barrier between the patient and the rescuer. I
tested the idea and recieved a provisional patent. After talking with a few companies, my product was not seen as fit for market as its
liability outweighed its possible effect. I learned how to file a patent and to take in account the legal ramifications when designing a
product.

Communications Director - Alabama Wilderness Medical Association
The AWMA is a nonprofit corporation that promotes and teaches medical care in austere environments; offering classes in Advanced
Wilderness Life Support and Wilderness First Aid. My election to the board is very recent, but as a member I will attend the quarterly
meetings and help instruct during scheduled classes. My personal goal is to work on the associations social media image. Which
includes developing marketing videos for classes, increase activity on the website and facebook, and create an instagram account. This
way, the association can start to network with similar associations more quickly and attract young doctors and medical students that may
be interested in taking CME courses.

EMT - Huntsville Emergency Medical Services
Huntsville Emergency Medical Services incorporated is a nonprofit ambulance service that is stationed in the city of Huntsville, Alabama,
and provides emergency medical services to all areas of Madison County. I spent many shifts as an EMT on advanced life support
ambulances, responding to emergency calls and driving for Huntsville Hospital’s Critical Care Transport. I also served standby for local
events and provided transport service to local patrons going to and from dialysis centers.
Most Meaningful Experience
Remarks:
When I realized that I wanted to become a physician I spent time to confirm with myself that I was willing to uproot my life. I wanted to
make the most mature decision when deciding to embark on the path towards medicine and assess myself at each landmark that I set for
myself. The first landmark was acquiring my EMT Basic certification and license. For me, a part time EMT job was a great way to get
experience in the industry while still being able to support my family as an employee in engineering. Every shift was a learning experience
and I always made it a point to find at least one thing to learn from each paramedic, EMT, ER physician, or patient that I met. Although
my abilities were limited, I was aware that each small consideration was beneficial for my patient. I would go find extra warm blankets for
my elderly patients or really focus on softly braking the ambulance as I drove to the hospital. I realized very quickly that I was meeting
people during some of the worst times in there life and showing them compassion and understanding was greatly appreciated.

Chief Medical Officer - Huntsville Cave Rescue Unit
Experience Description: As Chief Medical Officer, I am responsible for directing the medical abilities of the unit. Annually, I put on an emergency care provider and
CPR class. I coordinated the first mock cave rescue exercise that included surrounding rescue squads and medical students from
multiple colleges. I have also instituted a Patient Care Report Documentation System for patient care in the cave. Currently, we are
working on acquiring grants to update the unit’s current medical supply and capabilities, and networking with local physicians to establish
the unit’s first medical protocols.
Most Meaningful Experience
Remarks:
The HCRU is diverse group of electricians, plumbers, engineers, weather researchers, fathers, and mothers who enjoy caving and are
willing to jump to the aid of someone in need. I have developed friendships and a profound respect for my team members. During the
mock rescue, where I was the patient, I only felt comfortable about the situation when I saw it was one of them that was holding the litter.
It was then that I understood exactly how much trust I had in their capabilities. I have experienced such a diverse group training and
working together as analogous to an orchestra.

Eagle Scout
I was involved in scouts for about ten years. My Eagle Scout project was to repair and repaint playground equipment at the Penelope
House in Mobile, AL. The Penelope House is a nonprofit shelter for battered women and children of significant others. The supplies I
needed were donated by local businesses and friends and family helped with the implementation. I extended my project to include
building ramps for two storage facilities, and staining the wood fence that surrounded the playground. During the project, we found
someone, who fixed some playground equipment had left exposed screws in a location that could hurt the children. I made sure we didn’t
finish until each screw was flush.
Most Meaningful Experience
Remarks:
Eagle Scouts make up about seven percent of all boys who go into the Boy Scouts. I am proud to be an Eagle Scout because I believe it
is a reflection of character and of determination. It is not popular as an adolescent to be a scout and the peer pressure to quit can be quite
high. I use what I have learned as a scout everyday. Scouts is not just about tying knots and camping. A scout learns to be a good citizen
and lives by ideals like honesty, courtesy, kindness, cleanliness, bravery, trustworthiness, and reverence. When acquainted, Eagle
Scouts immediately form a bond of brotherhood; because it is a very small club and membership is earned with hard work.

Clinical Shadowing - multiple specialties - 138 hours

Rescuer - HEMSI High Angle Rough Terrain Team
The HART team was my first experience with a rescue squad. I spent every Tuesday night training in single rope technique, hauls and
lowers, single and double rope pick-offs, English reeves, and patient packaging. The HART team was on call for Madison county for
accidents involving bluffs, pits, caves, and the occasional hang glider.

Designer - Booz Allen Hamilton
This was my first job out of school. In my interview, the project lead engineer told me that the job was like trying to drink from a firehose.
He was right. The first year was a nonstop learning endeavor into engineering standards, design, drawing development, and military
contracts. During my time there I worked designing avionic systems of military helicopters, developed technical manuals, and installed
UID based tool management systems in Army Automotive installations. I enjoyed the problem solving aspects of my job and I was the
person people came to when they needed solutions quickly, but the lack of personal interaction during the day was irksome.

Letters of Req
Committee letter and two extra physician recommendations.

Personal Statement:
My story starts with a crack in the earth. Secretly hiding in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains
resides an opening that bridges our world to the underground. Slowly, I found my footing and lowered
myself until my chest reached the rock’s fissure. With much effort, I exhaled while squeezing myself
farther, contorting my entire body to make it through the unforgiving rock. The light creeped down the
opening’s vertical shaft to distinguish silhouettes of jagged rock walls, but it is soon swallowed by total
darkness. The cave echoed of underground waterways with a crisp, cold breeze. A voice called from
above. I looked up to catch a brightly colored bag filled with supplies. I turned on my headlamp to see
the faces of my fellow cave rescuers.
This was my first rescue. Six months of training led up to this one event. Heart racing with excitement
and nervous hesitation, I follow rescuers deeper into the cave. We scurry over rocks and dive through
tight passages. Then, we approach a river rock-covered passage that could only be traversed on
hands and knees. At this point, I realized that I had forgotten my kneepads. With each crawl forward
my knees felt like they were green twigs being snapped in half. The extra layers I had put on to keep
me from getting too cold were now making me overheat, and I felt out of breath and weak. My mind
was racing with: “What lies ahead?”, “Am I going to make it?”, and “Will I need to be rescued?” I kept
crawling. One hand and knee after the other, shifting around to take the pressure off my knees and
onto my hips. I could have quit and part of me wanted to, but I was too stubborn and proud. How would
it look to everyone else if I couldn’t make it back to the patient? How would it look to the firefighters and
EMS outside the cave if the rescue squad, who are the experts in cave rescue, had members who
couldn’t complete the job? So, I pushed on.
After what seemed to be an eternity of crawling, I stood up in the grand, domed-top Borehole Passage.
Past slick rock formation and chest high waterways, rescuers converged on the patient’s location. John
had fallen eight feet onto his back and was unable to self-rescue. He had been lying on the cold cave
floor for hours before we arrived. As the team inundated him with warm layers and extrication
equipment, a rush of energy and confidence flowed over me. While we transitioned to move John, I
removed two of my layers, chugged a liter of water, and took my place on the rescue litter. No longer
was I worried about how I was going to make it out or if I would need to be rescued. All my focus was
set on moving and working in a way that kept the litter moving quickly and as smoothly as possible. I
imagined this being a bad moment in John’s life and I was determined to improve it, even if it was just
by improving the quality of me moving the litter. Thunderstorms were rolling above us, and at any
moment the cave could flood, leaving us trapped underground, or worse, drowned. After six arduous
hours, the rescue team returned John to the earth’s surface, and he was transported to the local
hospital.
Prior to this, my attention was fixated on being a cave rescuer, but, after meeting John, I discovered
that my true enthusiasm was in patient care. This realization became the turning point in my life. Like
my first rescue, the premed path has been filled with questions of self-doubt, but

here is everything. I just want some honest opinions. Am I a decent applicant? Is it my grade history and MCAT that is holding me back? What do I need to focus on if I need to reapply?

Not on admissions committee but have previously been an applicant screener for an old job. Currently an MS3. I’ll give you my 2 cents.

GPA: Academic recency is great, especially with the stellar performance. Since you had a seemingly rough go at undergrad the first time, it would be beneficial to explain somewhere in your application (ie short blurb in personal statement) what went wrong and what you did to fix it.

MCAT: Score is below the matriculant mean but easily within 1 SD. Very balanced score with no outstanding deficiencies in any area. Sure, it would be great if it was a little higher, but I don’t think MCAT alone is keeping you out.

PS: Very interesting story, but it doesn’t tell ANYTHING about what drove you to medicine, why you think you’d make a good physician, how things along the way have shaped you, etc. Seeing as how your PS ended with “but…” I’m assuming there’s more that didn’t make it into your post, though. In general, I think that story can be greatly condensed into one, maybe two, paragraphs as an attention grabber. The rest really needs to incorporate your journey to this point, what has gone well, what you’ve improved upon along the way, etc. You got my attention, now tell me why you should be a doctor more than the next dude that was also on a rescue team. Why did you get into rescue? What was it about seeing the rescuee that made you want to get more into patient care than the excitement of spelunking?

Experiences: Overall, I think you should explain in more broad strokes what you did in the positions. That section is for you to tout not only what you have done, but what you have learned, how you adapted, how you became a more wholesome person, etc. What you wrote would be great for a job interview follow on to your current career. What you need to do is think about how the things you have done have shaped you into a desirable future physician. You did that in some sections, but others were almost too specific of job descriptors.

  • For example, good: “Which includes developing marketing videos for classes, increase activity on the website and facebook, and create an instagram account. This way, the association can start to network with similar associations more quickly and attract young doctors and medical students that may be interested in taking CME courses.” What would be better, to me, would be something like “developed social media program to broaden our network of like-associations and spark interest in multiple population groups…” It’s more broadly applicable, shows in a concise way that you understand that different markets have different advertising requirements, and you’re willing to adapt to those markets to provide them the best possible ads/product.
  • Not so good: “Huntsville Emergency Medical Services incorporated is a nonprofit ambulance service that is stationed in the city of Huntsville, Alabama, and provides emergency medical services to all areas of Madison County. I spent many shifts as an EMT on advanced life support ambulances, responding to emergency calls and driving for Huntsville Hospital’s Critical Care Transport. I also served standby for local events and provided transport service to local patrons going to and from dialysis centers.” There is a lot of detail here that should be obvious to the reader. Unless you’re in a niche area, you described pretty much all of EMS at the expense of including anything you took away from the job. You do go on in the extra remarks to talk about some of that though.
  • Bad: “The HART team was my first experience with a rescue squad. I spent every Tuesday night training in single rope technique, hauls and
    lowers, single and double rope pick-offs, English reeves, and patient packaging. The HART team was on call for Madison county for
    accidents involving bluffs, pits, caves, and the occasional hang glider.” This tells me what the rescue squad does, but it makes me think that you didn’t actually do anything but tie knots. The area of coverage for the team is kind of irrelevant. I think something like “I was trained in several rescue techniques. I learned how to work as an effective team member in a variety of challenging situations in which we would have to use our basic training and apply them in unfamiliar territory. There was a unique language that we used to keep communication concise in order to be more efficient, but not at the expense of creating a dangerous situation by being unclear in our meaning.”

Overall, I think all the pieces are there for you to get into medical school. You could do a lot better in selling yourself, in my opinion. Review the AAMC Core Competencies (easy to google) and keep those in mind as you write your app. Medical school applications are a little different than job applications, in that they’re looking for your traits and not just what you’ve done to make your previous company better.

Thank you for your thoughts. If I end up having to reapply, I will definitely take some time to develop my experience summary and my personal statement. I tend to express myself through my accomplishments and my technical abilities. I definitely based this off of my professional resume as I have had great luck with job offers in the past.

the last part of my PS should have ended like this:

Prior to this, my attention was fixated on being a cave rescuer, but, after meeting John, I discovered
that my true enthusiasm was in patient care. This realization became the turning point in my life. Like
my first rescue, the premed path has been filled with questions of self-doubt, but with each step I am
determined and motivated by a future opportunity to care for people like John.

This is based off of an article I read that my cousin sent me as she was preparing to apply for residency. Here is the article.

I am not defending my personal statement as it obviously isn’t working the manner I want it to.

I hear ya. Selling my accomplishments and not myself was something I struggled with over multiple edits when I was applying. I did engineering undergrad then flew planes in the AF, nothing that really screams qualifications for being a doctor when you look at technical skills alone. A couple of physician mentors helped me translate my actual work/skills into desirable traits for a physician.

The audience reading your application can range from office worker to physician to PhD and beyond. They don’t necessarily understand all of the nuances and background skills that go into actually achieving the accomplishments you have done, unfortunately.

Again, just my take. Hopefully it was all for naught and you get picked up this cycle. And thanks for sharing that article. I’m actually in the pre-plan stage for residency app/personal statement writing.

That is a great idea! if the time comes that I must reapply, I will be recruiting my mentors to help me translate my experience.

Kennymac said it almost perfectly. Looking at your stats, I think your MCAT is slightly low, but I think your post bacc GPA and ECs might cover it. I don’t know though - I might ask an adcom on your MCAT scores.

Yes, your PS needs some work - follow Kennymac’s advice. I would say try to answer every experience as to “why medicine”?

I made an account just to comment on this post. 32 years isn’t too old, I’m about the same age as you. GPA might be hurting you because cut-off for a lot of schools is 3.00 and you might be screened out automatically. Personal statement has been covered by a previous poster. ECs are great, different experiences are always great.

Now the school list. A lot of people mess up on school list. If you only applied to 11 schools, you should be aware that you might not get in. When I applied I did 50+. Overkill, yes, but I got >7 interviews and had the opportunity to deny the ones I didn’t want because of early admissions. The list itself needs to consist of several different types: your state schools + schools with low stats + schools that you’re average at. Your stats are not bad, you just need to cast a wider net. But seriously 11 schools is quite limiting. Some people, like my sister, can apply to 1 school and get in that 1 school. Other people, like me, have to spend extra money and extra time and more extra secondary money to get in … but it’s OK. It’ll all be OK just apply smarter/more broadly next time. You might be able to get in this cycle, it’s not may, yet!

good luck.