Chances at MD??

[Sophisticatedj]

Hi. I am a recent graduate of an undergraduate institution. I graduated with a 3.3 cGPA and I believe my sGPA is about 3.0. I have some volunteer experience as well as some shadowing experience, but not a huge amount of either. I volunteered at a hospital for about 3 hrs/week and it totaled up to about 43 hrs. I volunteered a few hrs with habitat for humanity. I also do lots of community service with my church. I have been active with the church for about 8 years now. I shadowed 2 physicians, both were ob/gyn. I was involved in 3 organizations at school, one in which I held a position as secretary. I plan to take the MCAT in a couple of months. I am trying to decide what my chances are of being accepted as an MD student. I don't have a preference as to what school I would go to...whichever school accepts me I will attend. I am currently working at an OB/GYN clinic as an administrative specialist. I have good recommendation letters, 2 from science professors, one from someone i volunteered with, one from a pastor and I am trying to decide on who the 5th one should come from. I just want to know if there is a chance that my application will even be looked at and considered. There is a slight downward trend in my GPA over the four years. I would love some incite into what I should do and how likely my chances are. Thank you!

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[Skeeks]

Hi. I am a recent graduate of an undergraduate institution. I graduated with a 3.3 cGPA and I believe my sGPA is about 3.0. I have some volunteer experience as well as some shadowing experience, but not a huge amount of either. I volunteered at a hospital for about 3 hrs/week and it totaled up to about 43 hrs. I volunteered a few hrs with habitat for humanity. I also do lots of community service with my church. I have been active with the church for about 8 years now. I shadowed 2 physicians, both were ob/gyn. I was involved in 3 organizations at school, one in which I held a position as secretary. I plan to take the MCAT in a couple of months. I am trying to decide what my chances are of being accepted as an MD student. I don't have a preference as to what school I would go to...whichever school accepts me I will attend. I am currently working at an OB/GYN clinic as an administrative specialist. I have good recommendation letters, 2 from science professors, one from someone i volunteered with, one from a pastor and I am trying to decide on who the 5th one should come from. I just want to know if there is a chance that my application will even be looked at and considered. There is a slight downward trend in my GPA over the four years. I would love some incite into what I should do and how likely my chances are. Thank you!

Chances honestly are pretty tough for MD schools at this point. The GPA with a downward trend will be a major obsticle. You might have a chance at low teir schools if you can score at least a 32 on the MCAT. Unfortunately your sGPA is right on the cutt off of being considered. That just means your application wont be thrown out without being looked at, but when compaired with their average applicant (3.6cGPA 3.5sGPA) its going to be kind of tough for you to convince them that you are med school material.

Thats all the bad news. Now have you considered DO schools? They have a grade replacement policy that allows you to replace old poor grades with your most recent grade. This can do some major repair to your gpa that you wont get with MD schools. Just incase you dont know a DO can practice medicine in ever specialty or surgery that an MD can. Its just a difference of letters and some prestigue. But if you really want to be a doctor DO is your best bet.

Good luck

 

[Sophisticatedj]

Thanks so much for your help! Do you think that if there were things that stood out in my application it would give me a better chance? I'm just asking because often times I've heard that schools really like to see things that will set an applicant apart from other students. For example, if I happened to have an awesome personal statement and great recommendation letters.

 

[Goro]

Your numbers are not competitive for MD programs but fine for DO. You need to at least double your patient contact experience (we need to know that you know what you're getting into) and definitely shadow some MDs and DOs.

If you have your heart set on MD, an SMP will do the trick.

What you need to have stand out is your altruism and your humanity. We want to train good doctors, not merely good students.

Do you think that if there were things that stood out in my application it would give me a better chance? I'm just asking because often times I've heard that schools really like to see things that will set an applicant apart from other students. For example, if I happened to have an awesome personal statement and great recommendation letters.

Hi. I am a recent graduate of an undergraduate institution. I graduated with a 3.3 cGPA and I believe my sGPA is about 3.0. I have some volunteer experience as well as some shadowing experience, but not a huge amount of either. I volunteered at a hospital for about 3 hrs/week and it totaled up to about 43 hrs. I volunteered a few hrs with habitat for humanity. I also do lots of community service with my church. I have been active with the church for about 8 years now. I shadowed 2 physicians, both were ob/gyn. I was involved in 3 organizations at school, one in which I held a position as secretary. I plan to take the MCAT in a couple of months. I am trying to decide what my chances are of being accepted as an MD student. I don't have a preference as to what school I would go to...whichever school accepts me I will attend. I am currently working at an OB/GYN clinic as an administrative specialist. I have good recommendation letters, 2 from science professors, one from someone i volunteered with, one from a pastor and I am trying to decide on who the 5th one should come from. I just want to know if there is a chance that my application will even be looked at and considered. There is a slight downward trend in my GPA over the four years. I would love some incite into what I should do and how likely my chances are. Thank you!