Update on my Mechanical engineering friend. He is an URM African student with a 3.0 cumulative and science gpa. Got a 525 on his MCAT! He is wondering if he will have any success at MD school applications. Not sure because of his gpa (engineering is not worth it lol). He is pretty good with all other areas reserach, EC’s, etc. Any idea on schools he should apply to?
3.0 GPA w/ 525 MCAT
- Thread starter gnich1914
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2019
- Messages
- 1,537
- Reaction score
- 1,514
Yes. Assuming he doesn't mess up the application timing, there is almost no way he isn't a slam dunk. People will take a look at that MCAT score, that major and instantly realize that he can do the work. He may have to explain it to those who just read numbers, but the world should be his oyster.
David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor.
Med School Tutors
David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor.
Med School Tutors
What should he know about app timing specifically? If you don’t mind
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2019
- Messages
- 1,537
- Reaction score
- 1,514
Just the general timeline knowledge all students should know. When to have things in, turnaround times, etc. I see more highly qualified students not make it for timing issues more than anything else, at least anecdotally.
David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor.
Med School Tutors
He will have a pretty good cycle. Apply broadly and apply early. Submit primary on May 31st, prewrite secondaries to submit and be complete at all schools by 1st week july. Make sure his LORs/Committee letter is good to go so it wont be a timing issue. Polished story in p statement and EC's, etc
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2019
- Messages
- 297
- Reaction score
- 471
Apply broadly. He should be fine. I disagree that he's gonna have a slum dunk. 3.0 is way too low that a 525 won't make up for it. His odds are good in that he will get in and become a doctor. But for t10's, it's gonna be hard. He's a flawed applicant with that GPA.
Is this person a US citizen? It's much harder as an international student (basing this off saying he is African vs African American) . Engineering is known to be hard, but a 3.0 could indicate to some people that this person was not willing to put in the time, how were the grades in non engineering science classes? . I still think if he applies smartly he will get in.
He is Nigerian American (2nd gen) and I am not sure about his grades in non engineering sciences courses. All I know is that at our school most engineering classes have class averages below 50% on their tests.
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2019
- Messages
- 297
- Reaction score
- 471
no one cares why his GPA is low. If it's low, it's bad.
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2010
- Messages
- 75,138
- Reaction score
- 120,726
Answer is yes, especially with a rising GPA trend.
Also suggest that he get an SDN account.
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2005
- Messages
- 28,736
- Reaction score
- 53,853
Some schools may automatically put URM appliants into the "full-review" queue rather than screen-out queue to avoid missing a student is good enough to do well in medical school despite what looks like a flaw in the application. Given the major, and perhaps knowing more about the school, the GPA 3.0 might not be too bad.
I agree that the application should be submitted during the month of June. Supplementals should be turned around promptly (within 2 weeks of receipt) and the entire application, including letters should be complete by September 1. Some people will be earlier than that but I don't believe it is essential to go crazy.
I agree that the application should be submitted during the month of June. Supplementals should be turned around promptly (within 2 weeks of receipt) and the entire application, including letters should be complete by September 1. Some people will be earlier than that but I don't believe it is essential to go crazy.
