Hi guys.
So basically I've posted a similar thread last year around September, and my GPA was quite low around 3.3 cGPA by the end of my sophomore year. I've really set my goal as a pre-med back then, and it motivated me to study really hard in my third year. Fortunately, I got all A's except my organic chem lab which I got a B. I am quite happy because the courses I took this year were all very intense and known to be the some of the hardest ones here (Physics, upper-div physiology classes, chem lab, etc). Currently in my last quarter I am taking easy classes and one major upper-div class, so I'm hoping to get all A's and raise my GPA. Because my hardest major science classes will be done by this year, I am expecting somewhat easier science classes to get good grades next year.
No MCAT yet, but I registered for September MCAT and got 29 in a diagnostic test. Hopefully my summer MCAT course will help me get a score above 30.
In terms of my EC:
-1 year of part-time job at a doctor's office as a billing assistant/receptionist. Also go into consultation rooms occasionally to see the doctor diagnosing patients (~20hr/wk). *I checked my paycheck history and worked about 1000 hours.
-25 hrs shadowing internal medicine.
-Joined a research group in biophysics lab. Planning on continuing until possible.
-2 years of part-time job as a cashier/server (~25hr/wk) at a restaurant around campus.
-1 quarter of research in psychology/education department. Still keeps in touch with the PI, but the research wasn't just my type.
-Private tutor for a few months
- NO volunteer yet. I know this is crucial, but my university hospital somehow rejected my application because they "were full" at that time. A major hospital is opening their pre-med volunteer program soon, so I will be applying there this year.
LOR: none at this moment, but I have the list of people whom I can ask
-Biology professor
-PI (also my physics professors for this quarter)
-PI of my psychology research
-Doctor/Office Manager I am working for right now.
Regardless of my trend this year, I know my GPA is still weak for MD, so are my mediocre EC's. Seeing my friends in the major getting 3.8+ GPA kind of scares me a lot. I know my efforts got paid off, but most of the people here have been doing that since their first year. Right now, I just wanted some encouraging or constructive advice. Honestly I know the answer lies on raising my GPA, but do you guys think my chances are rather slim at this point?
On a side note, I am also very open to DO schools and will be applying to some of them next year. The only reason I am primarily focusing on MD schools is because the community I am from doesn't really recognize DO and view them as something similar to chiropractors. It is rather upsetting for me as what I want to do at the end of the day is just to practice medicine.
So basically I've posted a similar thread last year around September, and my GPA was quite low around 3.3 cGPA by the end of my sophomore year. I've really set my goal as a pre-med back then, and it motivated me to study really hard in my third year. Fortunately, I got all A's except my organic chem lab which I got a B. I am quite happy because the courses I took this year were all very intense and known to be the some of the hardest ones here (Physics, upper-div physiology classes, chem lab, etc). Currently in my last quarter I am taking easy classes and one major upper-div class, so I'm hoping to get all A's and raise my GPA. Because my hardest major science classes will be done by this year, I am expecting somewhat easier science classes to get good grades next year.
No MCAT yet, but I registered for September MCAT and got 29 in a diagnostic test. Hopefully my summer MCAT course will help me get a score above 30.
In terms of my EC:
-1 year of part-time job at a doctor's office as a billing assistant/receptionist. Also go into consultation rooms occasionally to see the doctor diagnosing patients (~20hr/wk). *I checked my paycheck history and worked about 1000 hours.
-25 hrs shadowing internal medicine.
-Joined a research group in biophysics lab. Planning on continuing until possible.
-2 years of part-time job as a cashier/server (~25hr/wk) at a restaurant around campus.
-1 quarter of research in psychology/education department. Still keeps in touch with the PI, but the research wasn't just my type.
-Private tutor for a few months
- NO volunteer yet. I know this is crucial, but my university hospital somehow rejected my application because they "were full" at that time. A major hospital is opening their pre-med volunteer program soon, so I will be applying there this year.
LOR: none at this moment, but I have the list of people whom I can ask
-Biology professor
-PI (also my physics professors for this quarter)
-PI of my psychology research
-Doctor/Office Manager I am working for right now.
Regardless of my trend this year, I know my GPA is still weak for MD, so are my mediocre EC's. Seeing my friends in the major getting 3.8+ GPA kind of scares me a lot. I know my efforts got paid off, but most of the people here have been doing that since their first year. Right now, I just wanted some encouraging or constructive advice. Honestly I know the answer lies on raising my GPA, but do you guys think my chances are rather slim at this point?
On a side note, I am also very open to DO schools and will be applying to some of them next year. The only reason I am primarily focusing on MD schools is because the community I am from doesn't really recognize DO and view them as something similar to chiropractors. It is rather upsetting for me as what I want to do at the end of the day is just to practice medicine.