30MCAT/ 3.9GPA Chances?

rwhhwl · Jun 10, 2010

Hello Fellow Sdn Members!

I'm worried about applying to med schools. I keep hearing how hard it is, and I'm getting a little freaked out. I'm from a 4 year institution in California (a mid range UC).

My scores:
30 MCAT
11 Bio Sci 11 Phy Sci 8 Ver Reasoning
Note: I signed up for August test to boost my scores a little bit, hopefully.

3.94 GPA (overall)
3.92 BCPM
3.98

Extracurriculars:

Sub-Collegiate Tennis Club Competition: 10 hrs/week for 3 yrs
Recognition: 2nd place regionally, and attended nationals in arizona (team)

Volunteer for clinic: 7 hrs/week for 1.5 yrs
Recognition: Just rec from physician.

Research: 10 hrs/week for 1.75 years
Recognition: local conference + eighth author on article + completed thesis my junior year

Honors Program: 3 hrs/week
Recognition: School honors/ leadership program. 6-10 scholarships that paid for majority of college tuition

Counselor: Criticized me for taking only 13-15 units per quarter (research, honors program, and internships gave me three units since sophomore year and on, so the rest were filled by classes. Big problem?).

Weaknesses: Please do tell. Let me know where you think is a good "fit." I know top 10 schools are basically out of reach. I was curious if UCD/UCI are possibilities for CA resident?

Sincerely,
A worried pre-med.

TACMON · Jun 10, 2010

My numbers are close to yours. I don't plan on retaking the MCAT, I don't have the will power to do it. I think you have a good shot at your state schools. Also, I've heard Drexel is partial to Cali residents (maybe).

mdbound1987 · Jun 10, 2010

rwhhwl said:
Hello Fellow Sdn Members!

I'm worried about applying to med schools. I keep hearing how hard it is, and I'm getting a little freaked out. I'm from a 4 year institution in California (a mid range UC).

My scores:
30 MCAT
11 Bio Sci 11 Phy Sci 8 Ver Reasoning
Note: I signed up for August test to boost my scores a little bit, hopefully.

3.94 GPA (overall)
3.92 BCPM
3.98

Extracurriculars:

Sub-Collegiate Tennis Club Competition: 10 hrs/week for 3 yrs
Recognition: 2nd place regionally, and attended nationals in arizona (team)

Volunteer for clinic: 7 hrs/week for 1.5 yrs
Recognition: Just rec from physician.

Research: 10 hrs/week for 1.75 years
Recognition: local conference + eighth author on article + completed thesis my junior year

Honors Program: 3 hrs/week
Recognition: School honors/ leadership program. 6-10 scholarships that paid for majority of college tuition

Counselor: Criticized me for taking only 13-15 units per quarter (research, honors program, and internships gave me three units since sophomore year and on, so the rest were filled by classes. Big problem?).

Weaknesses: Please do tell. Let me know where you think is a good "fit." I know top 10 schools are basically out of reach. I was curious if UCD/UCI are possibilities for CA resident?

Sincerely,
A worried pre-med.

That 8 in verbal will hurt you at a few schools, but your gpa is so high that it may offset your mcat. Since your gpa is essentially perfect, you may be better off just applying asap so you can have an early application and increase your chances. If you get your retake mcat scores in september, you will be VERY late and if you do not raise that verbal and keep the other scores consistent, you will have an issue. As far as weaknesses go, the biggest problems with your application are outside of the classroom. I don't see any non-medical community service, leadership, or shadowing. This could potentially be a serious issue. Your gpa may get you in the door for an interview, but your outside activities (which if great will get you not only an interview but an acceptance...along with interview skills) are lacking. If you were to have to reapply for next year, I would think your lack of these activities outside the classroom would be the reason why.

rwhhwl · Jun 10, 2010

To MDBound1987:

I really like your analysis. It's true. I should've done more community service. Sigh.

Here is my list of schools:
1. UCSF (I know, chances less than 0.2 percent)
2. Stanford
3. UCLA
4. UCSD

Here are the more likely in target ones (even so, quite difficult):
5. Northwestern University
6. Case Western
7. UCD
8. UCI
9. USC
10. Boston University
11. Tufts University
12. Georgetown
13. Albert Einstein
14. Wake Forest University School of Medicine
15. The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
16. The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Services
17. The Ohio State University College of Medicine
18. Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
19. Saint Louis University School of Medicine
20. New York Medical College
21. University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
22. Drexel University College of Medicine
23. Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson
24. Temple University School of Medicine
25. Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
26. Medical College of Wisconsin
27. Loma Linda
28. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Chicago Medical School
29. Albany Medical College
30. Eastern Virginia Medical School
31. Darthmouth Medical School

The 7 hours of volunteering per week are at a clinic for the underserved. We take vitals, see patients, translate, etc. Do you think that would cover my clinical/volunteering bases?

I already submitted my application on June 2nd. Would they hold off on giving me a secondary until my second score comes in?

Thanks,
Fellow Grateful Pre-med Student

mspeedwagon · Jun 10, 2010

You have less than a 0.2 percent chance at Brown. I don't know why so many people here apply to Brown (which admits virtually no one off AMCAS) and as OOS to UMass (which accepts no OOS except to their MD/PhD programs).

To all SDNers... if you are thinking of applying to Brown (unless you are from RI) or UMass M.D. program (as an OOS applicant) please make a check-out to M-Speedwagon instead. I will gladly send you a rejection letter. I can even send you an authentic one if you would like. I'll do this for half the application fee of either of these schools.

Hope2beDr · Jun 10, 2010

You have less than a 0.2 percent chance at Brown. I don't know why so many people here apply to Brown (which admits virtually no one off AMCAS) and as OOS to UMass (which accepts no OOS except to their MD/PhD programs).

To all SDNers... if you are thinking of applying to Brown (unless you are from RI) or UMass M.D. program (as an OOS applicant) please make a check-out to M-Speedwagon instead. I will gladly send you a rejection letter. I can even send you an authentic one if you would like. I'll do this for half the application fee of either of these schools.

Yea mspeedwagon, so true! Please save your money and apply to another school. Same with OOS applying to UW haha chances are sooooo slim!

mspeedwagon · Jun 10, 2010

And Loma Linda for non-7th day adventists. I think I should compile a list of schools that basically says you are either a) a ***** and haven't done your research OR b) insanely rich that you really don't care and are more than willing to make a donation to schools. I agree that UW OOS is definitely one of those schools.

Hope2beDr said:
Yea mspeedwagon, so true! Please save your money and apply to another school. Same with OOS applying to UW haha chances are sooooo slim!

rwhhwl · Jun 10, 2010

Thanks for the advice mspeedwagon. The message on Brown has gotten through to me. And for Loma Linda, I attend church regularly though not seventh day adventist, so I was going to give it a shot. I have multiple friends who go there, and went to the same fellowships/church sessions that I did.

mspeedwagon · Jun 10, 2010

If you are from the region, religious, have friends that go there and have good stats... definitely worth applying to Loma Linda. Too many people on here add Loma just because it is in CA and they want to apply to all options in CA. Obviously you have done your research.

Not worth applying if you are not from the region (a minor plus), religious (a big plus) or know people that went there (or don't have high stats), the EXCEPTION being if you are a 7th Day Adventist (always worth applying if you are a 7th Day Adventist).

rwhhwl said:
Thanks for the advice mspeedwagon. The message on Brown has gotten through to me. And for Loma Linda, I attend church regularly though not seventh day adventist, so I was going to give it a shot. I have multiple friends who go there, and went to the same fellowships/church sessions that I did.

30MCAT/ 3.9GPA Chances?

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