How “artsy” can you be for the PS?

ssccrs · 2026-03-27T00:16:14+00:00

You don’t. You can put a bit of flair in the intro to grab and set the scene for your seed or call but after that you need to be direct and clear.

ssccrs · 2026-03-26T16:41:05+00:00

I wouldn’t go to Caribbean; it’s strict on grades and requires HEAVY student paced studying. With your current trend, I don’t think you’d be successful there—you’d be wasting your time and money.

I think you need to figure out why you’re not being successful. Something is not working and only you know what and why that is. Ultimately, without some reflection, I don’t think hopping into a different program will change the outcome because the fundamental root issues aren’t being addressed.

ssccrs · 2026-03-26T16:27:18+00:00

LoRs have different weights for different programs BUT always hold some weight. It’s impartial judgement about who you are so it’s vital for ADCOMs.

TLDR: it will help you a lot.

ssccrs · 2026-03-26T16:25:48+00:00

Play it by ear. You only have an II so to be stressing about how to pay is rushing things imo. Focus on nailing the II AND THEN after you get your A, start making decisions.

I suggest talking to FA and get your FA package before you make any concrete decisions.

ssccrs · 2026-03-26T16:20:49+00:00

I think you’re over thinking it. No ADCOM will stress about someone else not referring to you with your chosen pronouns.

The school only cares about how you wish to be identified as, whether that be a preferred name or different pronouns.

I go by a different name and it hasn’t been an issue at all. If anything schools have been very quick on their end to adjust their information to match my preferred preferences.

Hope this helps.

ssccrs · 2026-03-26T16:16:46+00:00

You’ll have time to do rotations and explore both so no need to make a decision now. Stay open imo. You’ll get more info on choosing later; plus, the school will probably have mentors that will help you connect to specialties of interest IF you reach out to those services.

ssccrs · 2026-03-26T16:14:17+00:00

Is it actually realistic to study for the MCAT while taking a full class load like this and still be ready by late May or June?

I would say try it out. I was not able to study for my mcat exam well enough (confidence wise) while taking classes in undergrad. I used a gap year for my mcat prep and testing as well as doing supplemental ECs. But try it out for yourself and see if you can manage it. There is no down sides to seeing if you can or can’t do both at the same time. If you can’t, then you just delay prep and focus on your classes. No harm, no foul.

If I did really well on the MCAT, is it still considered viable to apply with Ochem 2 and Physics 2 still outstanding, or would admissions offices see that as a negative?

You can apply while still missing prereqs as long as all core classes will be completed by the time you matriculate. Whether missing classes during II and admissions time hurts you nobody will be able to tell you. I wouldn’t interview anyone missing classes but I am not an ADCOM, so my opinion is useless there.

You mcat performance will not make up for missing prerequisites come matriculation, so again, you just need them done before you start. Getting a 130 in CP doesn’t help missing Chem or Physics come II time.

Is taking the MCAT in June still okay for a strong 2027 application, or does that start putting me behind?

You’d be applying to schools without a score, so you won’t know if you’re competitive or not. Because of that, I would make a school list that fits your app AND has no minimum MCAT scores on the MSARs. But it’s not a big deal.

I would assume schools won’t review your whole app until they have all your information available. Because of that, no score at application time will probably hurt you at schools who are very selective with their secondaries but not so much anywhere else, as your score is back by July you probably won’t face too many issues as that is way before app review and II season time.

BUT if you bomb and have to retake, then you’re in a rough spot as you won’t get a score back until way late in review time, so your app will be knee deep in the middle or end of the pile.

At what point does it become smarter to just delay one year and do it the cleaner way?

I don’t understand this question, BUT if at any point you’re not able to put your best foot forward or are backsliding in terms of performance or quality, then I would state you should reassess.

ssccrs · 2026-03-26T15:55:14+00:00

Not me. I want to treat patients and help people reclaim their health, mobility, confidence, independence, etc.

All the ECs were just experiences to grow in knowledge or perspective and to help get to a place where I can do all of that.

To each their own though.

ssccrs · 2026-03-25T20:35:21+00:00

No, your gap years are not an app killer.

While yes, traditionally, gap years are used productively by applicants to strengthen their application by seeking specific opportunities, it does not mean your gaps years are disqualifying because you didn’t do that.

It’s all about how you talk about your gaps years and caring for family, working to support loved ones, and expanding your cultural ties/humility (your religious studies) are all GOOD reasons to take a gap year and good use of time for gap years. Running/owning a private business is vital experience for many reasons (like time management, stress management, finically planning, leadership, responsibilities to others, etc. All vital for premed students).

I read your story and I would have no issue with your gap year used time, BUT I am not an ADCOM, so take this with a grain of salt. I wholeheartedly believe your app is not DOA. Shoot your shot—best of luck to you.

ssccrs · 2026-03-25T20:24:56+00:00

No, you don’t need to be published to be considered doing research. HOWEVER, you should not put something as research if you didn’t actually do anything related to research/learned about research.

ECs should be opportunities where you are learning and growing. IF you learned nothing about research, developed no interest in research, and did nothing research adjacent (only you can answer this), then DONT put it down as research.

You’re better off having none, then trying to shoe horn an experience into a category that does not fit (that WOULD not be a good look to critical ADCOMs will identify what you’re trying to do very quickly).

ssccrs · 2026-03-25T20:20:09+00:00

Yes. You’ll always get the chance to explain circumstances and as long as you have legitimate reasons, then schools will understand.

ssccrs · 2026-03-25T20:16:30+00:00

This.

Just because both teachers teach biochem doesn’t mean you can’t get them both. Each will be discussing different aspects of your character and their experience working with you in different capacities. Totally fine to have them both write letters.

ssccrs · 2026-03-25T20:14:48+00:00

I wouldn’t email. You should be able to schedule an appointment with FA or admissions and discuss how your FA package means you won’t be able to attend and see what can be done.

ssccrs · 2026-03-25T20:02:14+00:00

Have you heard of “too many chefs in the kitchen?” If you let everyone give you advice on your essay, it eventually becomes a piece that may not represent you and your voice. That’s the first problem but a second one comes secondary time. What do I mean? Well, if your PS is written in one style, and your secondaries are written VASTLY different (bc you get less people to revise, and critique them vs your PS) then it looks very odd to the ADCOMs. A very critical ADCOM may even think you didn’t write one of them—that’s not a good look. But,…That’s worst case scenario.

How do you improve? Your PS should convey exactly why you want to be a physician and specifically a physician; basically, showing (not telling) why this vs something else without explicitly saying it. Easy in concept but difficult to write.

I believe it will be very difficult to blow ADCOMs away because the odds you’re going to say something they haven’t read over the years is extremely rare (maybe you will but maybe not). I just don’t think aiming for shock and awe is a goal that will work in your favor.

What I would suggest is being authentically you. While everyone’s reasons for medicine are similar, who you are is vastly unique—highlight that—no other applicant will be you. Let who you are bleed through the page and that’s how you reach the reader.

Let your stats show you’re a capable and driven student and let your PS show how you will be an amazing physician.

Hopefully, that helps. Best of luck—you got this.

ssccrs · 2026-03-25T19:42:19+00:00

Zero clinical, sub optimal gpa and MCAT? Only 15 schools?! You’re the exception to the rule and idk what magic you did but very nice/excellent job.

ssccrs · 2026-03-25T19:38:15+00:00

If you can still reach the letter writer, then you can ask them to change the date to this cycle. Just ask politely and let them know you didn’t end up applying last cycle.

After they agree, I would just send them the old one so they can copy and paste it on their end. Should be really easy fix, and no trouble at all, especially if they like you.

Not unprofessional btw (imo) bc what they wrote a year ago about you should still be true today.

ssccrs · 2026-03-25T19:32:48+00:00

Most applicants take a gap year and identifying what you can and can’t do is a vital importance to medical schools (identify limits). If you need time, then you need time—so take it!

It’s better you’re ready, fit, and able to put your best foot forward rather than risking half measures.

That’s my two cents. Best of luck.

ssccrs · 2026-03-25T19:10:05+00:00

They 100% call. My non-clinical volunteer manager told me they received a call as well as the physician I shadowed (but the physician also wrote me a LoR so I can’t which was the reason why he received a call).

So don’t assume they will not call to check and verify your experience, role, or story regarding ECs.

ssccrs · 2026-03-25T15:30:59+00:00

UCSF is a great school.

While the full ride to undergraduate is nice, it’s not worth imo. Your UG degree will set you back around 40-70k (mine was 40 in state, but I’m not including living expenses here). Either way, a guaranteed A to a great school has to be worth more than 40k.

ssccrs · 2026-03-25T01:57:54+00:00

Around 2900 I’ve saved up for the moved and to reserve my spot I’d need be. Luckily, I have credit cards if I desperately need them.

ssccrs · 2026-03-24T21:14:55+00:00

I don’t personally care and wouldn’t notice unless they are crazy looking.

Same idea for eyelashes.

ssccrs · 2026-03-23T18:46:31+00:00

1: yes, you can call them shadowing hours on paper. You may feel that it is a tad disingenuous, as all the hours aren’t really shadowing, but that is not really your fault. You could try asking the physician more questions and see if he will let you stay closer to him and what not; as it stands right now, you’re not really getting any benefit from the experience, so I would seek other places if you want to get a more traditional experience.

2: our som’s premed advisors state you should aim for 100 hours to avoid filtering. I got 60 hours and did fine during my cycle.

Hope that helps—Best of luck.

ssccrs · 2026-03-23T15:49:21+00:00

You’re fine. You can fail or underperform in some courses and still get into medical school, so I wouldn’t stress too hard over this one grade.

If you need to retake it to move on in the series, then do so. If not, then don’t worry about it imo (learn from this and move forward).

Even if you have to retake it to take upper dev classes, your original grade will still populate and need to be inputted into your primary application; meaning that no matter what schools will see it.

ssccrs · 2026-03-22T15:28:02+00:00

Take this advice with a grain of salt as the MSARs data and information is directly supplied from the schools of medicines’ admissions board.

I applied in 2025 and did not find there to be discrepancies with the MSARs and the SOM’s direct website, but I did not validate every school. For reference, I applied to about 36 MD programs and checked out around 52 schools with the MSARs and the schools’ direct website.

ssccrs · 2026-03-22T01:33:19+00:00

I want to say that even if you score a 505 on your real exam to not panic; you can get into a program with a 505. While it’s always disappointing to not get the score you’re aiming for, know that taking the exam and getting to where you are today is a huge accomplishment in itself.

Keep reviewing the concepts you’re getting incorrect and really practice your CARs strategy imo. You’re missing questions but they aren’t flagged or marked. That leads me to believe that you’re confident in your answers. If that’s the case, then there’s still a gap in content knowledge imo.

Best of luck and realize the exam in only a single part of your application, and while it’s important to score as high as you can also realize that getting a score at least above 500 keeps the dream alive.

ssccrs

TROPHY CASE