To apply this year or not? 3.54 cGPA 34N MCAT

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kfsa1

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Hi guys,

I'm a 2009 University of Michigan graduate who has spent the last few years improving his resume. I took my first MCAT in April 2010 and scored a 30N (13 PS 7 V 10 B) and applied but did not get in. I did take my MCAT again in August and my scores came back this time at 34N (14 PS 9 V 11 B). I am not sure if I should apply this year as it is very late in the cycle and with the verification time, it will not be until October that med schools see me app.

My credentials are:

EMT-B license
Volunteering at local hospital for 1 year.
Medical scribe for 1 year where I average 40+ hours in the clinic and actually seeing all the patients with the physician.
Tennis club president for 3 years in college.

The problem that I have is my science GPA is very low at 3.3. To make matters worse, my sGPA for just biology courses is barely above a 3.0. The only reason why it is at a 3.3 is because of the physics, chemistry and math that gets factored into the sGPA. What do you guys think about me applying this year?

Thanks!
 
Why didn't you apply earlier in the summer? I'm sure you had a plan whether to apply this year or next year and took the MCAT with that in mind, correct? To me, it seems like you were going to make the decision based on the August MCAT, and while you did great in the MCAT, it is very late in the cycle, especially if you haven't even submitted the AMCAS application. It will be probably November when your application is finalized for review, and that's very late. I would highly recommend applying next year (early!) and continue doing clinical work.
The high scores in the PS and BS in the MCAT compensates for your low sGPA (cuz it means you're not bad in those subjects) so I wouldn't worry too much about the GPA. It's not a low GPA, just below the median.
I think you'll be a very solid applicant with the extra ECs you will be doing this upcoming year. Good luck
 
Thank you for your input!

It is true that I was planning on applying this cycle. My original idea was actually to apply in early July but I voided my exam on 6/16. I then took the August and did not feel like I did very well so I ended up not submitting my app. Furthermore, I felt that taking the MCAT in August was already too late and I was prepared to apply next year. I think I will enjoy the perks of the working world 1 more year if the consensus is that it is too late in this cycle to apply.

Thank you.
 
I would try to build your ECs up a bit more as well. You have excellent clinical experience, no doubt. I would suggest getting involved with research and maybe some type of non-medical community service (after-school tutoring, soup kitchen, ect.).

If you add those things to your list, you'll be a very strong applicant.
 
Thank you Catalysk for your input.

1) I was wondering is it possible for me to get into Wayne State this year even if I apply this late in the cycle?

2) I am wondering if it would be of any value for me to apply to just a few schools which I would be happy to go to instead of 20+ schools. If I do go ahead with this and get rejected from all of them however, would it make things worse for next year as I would then be a "third time applicant"?

3) If I do sit out this year, I will be going back to my undergrad college to take courses. However, I plan on taking just 3 courses to ease myself back into school as it has been 2 years since I graduated. I am also planning on doing research (has to be volunteer unfortunately) at the same time. Would taking less than full time credits hurt me here?

Thanks.
 
1) Wayne gives the greatest weight to most recent coursework. Without an upward grade trend, I feel success there is unlikely at this time.

2) Not if you've made other improvements in your application during the next year and the schools aren't known to discriminate against reapplicants.

3) Adcomms look at the entire load you bear, not just academics. Part-time coursework won't hurt if you are otherwise busy.
 
Catalystik said:
1) Wayne gives the greatest weight to most recent coursework. Without an upward grade trend, I feel success there is unlikely at this time.
Click to expand...


That is very fair. How many credits or courses do you think would be sufficient for adcoms? As I said I am planning on taking about 9 credits (3 courses) in the Winter and another 3-4 credits during the spring which would total to about 12 credits.

Also, in regards to point #2, would it look better for me to just not apply at all this cycle and "save" my MCAT improvement until the following cycle? The reason why I ask is because I'm stuck on this idea that adcoms will compare apps from the previous year and strictly look at just improvements. If this is the case, I wonder if it may be better to apply with all of my "improvements" in one batch for my app next year. Sorry if I'm just asking the same question again.

Thank You.
 
kfsa1 said:
1) How many credits or courses do you think would be sufficient for adcoms? As I said I am planning on taking about 9 credits (3 courses) in the Winter and another 3-4 credits during the spring which would total to about 12 credits.

2) would it look better for me to just not apply at all this cycle and "save" my MCAT improvement until the following cycle?
Click to expand...
1) I've seen some very specific posts about this (not too long ago), and I think that 30 credits was mentioned in one of them. Why not do a Search, with search term "Wayne" or alternatively, call the school and ask.

2) Yes.
 
Catalystik said:
1) I've seen some very specific posts about this (not too long ago), and I think that 30 credits was mentioned in one of them. Why not do a Search, with search term "Wayne" or alternatively, call the school and ask.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your advice. I have decided to go ahead and take extra courses at my university!

The only question I have now is what my goal should be. Is it to raise by BCPM? or is it to show medical schools I can do well in upper level bio courses?

The reality for me is, as I have been away from school a long time, I will probably find it difficult to get straight As in ALL of my upper level courses if as a full time student. I realize every school is probably different in how they view post bacc work but generally speaking, would 12 credits be enough?
 
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I think that both goals are important, but the second moreso. Since Bio hasn't been your forte in the past, and med school coursework is predominantly upper-level Bio, I think you need to prove capability in that area, or adcomms will be concerned that you might not cope well with med school. Getting As would be important. So would not overloading yourself to the point where you don't get As (as a realistic understanding of your own limitations is important to show as well).

Twelve credits could be enough, especially since you will be busy with other things, and particularly in light of your recent MCAT score, which proves you "got the basics". My backup plan for you, though, would be to take more coursework in the summer and next fall so that further transcripts sent as updates show continued effort to prove yourself. If you were to end up reapplying the following season, you'd be in an even stronger position, BCPM GPA-wise.

What impact would 12 credit hours of A have on your cGPA and BCMP for next summer's application?
 
Catalystik said:
What impact would 12 credit hours of A have on your cGPA and BCMP for next summer's application?
Click to expand...

Well it looks like I made a mistake on my sGPA...it is a 3.38 (although I don't think it makes a difference).

If I were to get straight As in 12 credits, my sGPA would be a 3.45 and my cumulative would go up to a 3.58. The problem there is I took ALOT of courses in college where I graduated with 140 credits and took 83 BCPM credits. Therefore, I need a fair amount of credits to make a dent in my GPA. My trend for sGPA was :

3.16 Fr BCPM Credits 15
3.7 So BCPM Credits 17
3.35 Jr BCPM Credits 22
3.35 Sr BCPM Credits 29
 
Catalystik said:
At least it was a mistake in your favor.
Click to expand...

I guess that's right. But anyways, what do you think now that you have seen more detail about my GPA. Do you think 12 credits would be enough ?
 
I can't give you any guarantees, as every adcomm no doubt views these issues in their own way, but it has happened that 12 credit hours was enough for others like you, and quite possibly will be for you, too, in light of the other positives you'll have to offer. But you have to be prepared for the possibility that another year of higher grades could be necessary. Even after all that, you still have no guarantees, as so many other factors come into play for admissions decision making. All you can do is give it your best shot.

I was happy to see that there will be a noticeable chance in your BCPM.
 
Catalystik said:
I was happy to see that there will be a noticeable chance in your BCPM.
Click to expand...

Thank you for being so helpful. I was in the dark until now because my pre-med adviser just wouldn't speak with me. You have given me confidence that this is the right way to go from here on out.

Thank you again.
 
Work on it for a year, and consider applying DO too next year.

If you can get above a 3.5 cGPA, you have an ok chance at MD.
 
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