can't get into medical school high but imbalanced MCAT and OK GPA

Hi Alex: Thank you for the web site and taking time to help us, the premed fellows.

I am 27 years old. I did my undergraduate study in biochemistry with 3.44 GPA (Sci. GPA 3.61)from a top 25 school. My MCAT is 31 with verbal in the bottom 25%. Somehow, I always felt that by being an asian my chance with those stat is really low.

I had applied twice and only the last time I got an interview from the state school (the only school I applied) which rejected me without waitlist. I am currently finishing up my MS in public health at a less known school in the southeast. I am on the border of giving up. All my other friends either got in already or had chosen other path.

From what you're saying, I guess you're getting extremely high scores on the science sections but very low on the verbal portions. I'm not sure if the low verbal score is affecting your chances or if it is something else such as your personal statements/secondaries, which are very important at many schools. Though, I do not know what you exactly mean when you say "being an Asian your chances are very low"--is it discrimination or something else that you're implying?--but I thing (and hope) that being Asian is not your problem, even though you may want to attribute your misfortunes to this. There are plenty of asians and everyone else in medical schools.

Given that your verbal is in the bottom 25%, I'd assume that you may not be the most prolific writer, but I may be wrong. If you're applying again, make sure that you get professional help and feedback with your essays and your secondaries. Even though you graduated some time ago, I'm sure if you go back to your school and ask premed advisors to take a look at your essays and to help you with them, they will be more than happy to oblige. You can also ask the professors where you're doing your MPH , especially MD's if there are any, to read your essays and give their criticisms/suggestions. Do not think--just go and ask for help. There are also services such as www.accepted.com who make it a business to help you write and polish your essays. I do not know anyone who used them and the prices seem steep, but they claim to be helpful.

Also, try to get in touch with the admissions dean/office at the state school where you interviewed, and ask them for advice. I know for a fact that people do things like that, and you may get a straight answer about the deficiencies in your application, which would enable you to troubleshoot that area. I know it feels awkward, but you've got to do what you've got to do. E-mail them or call them. Ask to speak to the dean or an assistant dean of admissions, explain your situation and mention that you applied to them and try to get some advice. The worst thing that could happen is that they'll say "No".

It is not all that clear to me--did you apply to only one school? I'd be surprised if you did because as you know most people apply to 15-20 schools even those who have very good GPA and MCAT. Also you need to choose wisely where to apply. You do not want to apply exclusively to the top 20 schools which are extremely hard to get into.

I cannot and will not give advice to anyone regarding whether they should persist or not, for the simple reason that I do not know. The chance is that if I give such advice one way or the other, I will be wrong on average 50% of the time. Admissions unfortunately is not a game whose outcome is easy to predict as you know all too well from your own experience.

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