3.15 cGPA, 3.15 BCPM GPA. HELP IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!!

[drewskies]

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Hi Everyone!

So I've been hanging around the forums trying to glean whatever I can that match my situation, but I guess its time to get the "gosh darn honest truth."


So hit it to me. Don't hold back. I might cry for a few hours LOL, but I'll be good 😎

I'm hoping to apply to DO and MD schools this June 2011. If you recommend any particular post-bac programs, I'll also be interested.

BACKGROUND:
I am a California resident and Asian, attended and just graduated from the University of California, San Diego, with a B.S. in Microbiology (microbes just fascinate me🙂). To be honest I never really wanted to be a doctor. I was initially more interested in research until I walked in on a lecture/Q&A session in Sydney (I was studying abroad at the University of Sydney that time) about TB and V. cholerae, given by a WHO doctor. Somehow, that lecture inspired me and it made me really want to do international health and nutrition.

GPA:
Cumulative Undergraduate AMCAS GPA: 3.15
Cumulative Undergraduate BCPM AMCAS GPA: 3.15
Cumulative Undergraduate AACOMAS GPA: 3.24 (Grade Repeats already included.)
Cumulative All Other Undergraduate AMCAS GPA: 3.14
(I got this from the AMCAS GPA Calculator Version 4 Final Spreadsheet, though I may be off a few 0.01.)

I understand my GPA is far below average. As for showing signs of improvement? My first quarter GPA was 2.8, so its not that huge of an improvement. Also, I'm not sure if I should retake my B-'s?

EXTRACURRICULARS:
Due to my early interest in research, most of my ECs are research-oriented. I have also applied to many international research internships in Taiwan, Japan and Australia; I've also studied abroad in Sydney, Australia. So far in total, I have 2.5 years worth of research experience in various projects (Microbiology and Orthopaedics) culminating, at the end, of ONE co-authorship on a POSTER presented at the 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society at New Orleans.

For physician shadowing, I am shadowing an Endocrinologist's practice and working/shadowing for an Oncologist and his clinic.

LORs:
I have 2 letter of recs as of now. One from the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Matters for the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney, another from this amazing art teacher who taught Aboriginal Art Expression (also from the University of Sydney). I'm planning to ask the two physicians I'm shadowing for LOR. I realize that I do not have any from my own school. However, it is possible to get one from the Associate Dean for Education, Div. of Biological Sciences UCSD, if I ask. But, I'm not too thrilled to get one because she told me to write it myself and then give it to her to sign. From what I have read in the forums, those are the worse LORs.

MCATS:
As of now, I am studying for the April MCAT. I have taken a TPR course to help with it. My BS is decent, but my PS is not. I'm having difficulty in timing for PS b/c of all those physics calculations. I'm buckling down for that though. VR is ok, again I need to work on my timing. My big question is: What MCAT score do I need to be considered competitive for MD and DO scores?

PLANS:
My plan for this summer and the rest of the year is to get an EMT license, continue shadowing and try to shadow a DO ASAP. I may go do a volunteer program in South East Asia.

So as you can see, I'm in trouble and I wish I had focused more on my studies instead of wasting my time doing research. PLEASE HELP! If you need anymore info, I'd be happy to provide and THANK YOU for helping!

 

[Catalystik]

How many months and hours of shadowing and clinical experience will you expect to have by the time you apply? Any leadership, nonmedical community service, or teaching?

What is your year-by-year GPA and BCPM/sGPA? What are your lowest science grades? Are you taking any classes right now?

You need two science letters from faculty who have taught you, one nonscience, and ideally, a PI letter. A DO letter is a good idea too.

For a shot at MD have you considered an SMP?

 

[drewskies]

How many months and hours of shadowing and clinical experience will you expect to have by the time you apply? Any leadership, nonmedical community service, or teaching?

What is your year-by-year GPA and BCPM/sGPA? What are your lowest science grades? Are you taking any classes right now?

You need two science letters from faculty who have taught you, one nonscience, and ideally, a PI letter. A DO letter is a good idea too.

For a shot at MD have you considered an SMP?

By the time I apply, I will have about 220 hours of shadowing and clinical experience. As for nonmedical community service and leadership positions, I don't have anything substantial. I have tutored high school kids before, but that was only to make some spending money...

My year by year GPA is as followed:
1st Year: 3.1 cGPA, 2.88 BCPM GPA
2nd Year: 3.12 cGPA, 3.29 BCPM GPA
3rd Year: 3.2 cGPA, 3.2 BCPM GPA
4th Year: 3.19 cGPA, 3.19 BCPM GPA

My lowest science grades are B-'s as of now. I've had 2 Cs, but I've retaken classes for them and earned A's. However, I have 7 B-'s, 11 B's, 10 B+'s, 3 A-'s, and 6 A's (including retake classes).

You're right Catalystik, I still need one more science LOR from a professor. Would a community college do? As for my current LORs from the University of Sydney, both of them are from instructors whose courses I took while studying abroad. Will that hurt me? The reason I haven't had much success getting LORs from UCSD is the fact that the class sizes are so huge! I was never able to get close enough to professors to warrant a close relationship. As for PI letter, I'm not sure if I should ask my PI, mainly because he too wants me to write my own letter.

I have heard from friends that Drexel and Temple have SMPs, and I am interested. Are there more SMPs that you would recommend, Catalystik?

Thanks again.

 

[Catalystik]

Mine is only one voice, so don't let my views deter you. It helps to get lots of opinions.

I have a concern that without a recent upward grade trend in the sciences (meaning some As in upper-level Bio) that SMPs may not consider you a good risk. Do you have a postbac GPA, too, that shows this? If not, maybe you need to get some As for no other reason than to prove to yourself that you can get consistent excellent grades and survive a med school curriculum and to make sure the expense of an SMP will be worth it. A mediocre performance means no US MD school ever, but would not rule out a DO acceptance, which you can get now with a strong enough MCAT performance. An MCAT of 28-29 would probably get you into a DO school somewhere, but I think you'll need a higher score if you want to stay in California.

It's my opinion that for MD without an SMP you'd need more than a terrific MCAT score, you'd also need a solid string of As in upper-level science for a few terms to prove you can make it through med school and raise your BCPM GPA somewhat. If you had that, then you might get an MD acceptance with a 35+ MCAT score.

I have no expertise in SMPs. You might check out SDN's Postbaccalaureate Programs Forum where the first sticky lists all of them and gives some info. You can ask detailed questions there about what makes it more likely you'd get accepted into one, etc.

Getting a decent LOR at a huge university is always a challenge. Some will ask their lab TA, who knows them well, to write it, and then have the professor cosign it.

 

[drewskies]

Mine is only one voice, so don't let my views deter you. It helps to get lots of opinions.

I have a concern that without a recent upward grade trend in the sciences (meaning some As in upper-level Bio) that SMPs may not consider you a good risk. Do you have a postbac GPA, too, that shows this? If not, maybe you need to get some As for no other reason than to prove to yourself that you can get consistent excellent grades and survive a med school curriculum and to make sure the expense of an SMP will be worth it. A mediocre performance means no US MD school ever, but would not rule out a DO acceptance, which you can get now with a strong enough MCAT performance. An MCAT of 28-29 would probably get you into a DO school somewhere, but I think you'll need a higher score if you want to stay in California.

It's my opinion that for MD without an SMP you'd need more than a terrific MCAT score, you'd also need a solid string of As in upper-level science for a few terms to prove you can make it through med school and raise your BCPM GPA somewhat. If you had that, then you might get an MD acceptance with a 35+ MCAT score.

I have no expertise in SMPs. You might check out SDN's Postbaccalaureate Programs Forum where the first sticky lists all of them and gives some info. You can ask detailed questions there about what makes it more likely you'd get accepted into one, etc.

Getting a decent LOR at a huge university is always a challenge. Some will ask their lab TA, who knows them well, to write it, and then have the professor cosign it.

Thanks Catalystik for the sound advice; just one question out of curiosity: Are LORs from community colleges suitable?

If anyone else has any advice, I'd greatly appreciate it!

 

[Catalystik]

Are LORs from community colleges suitable?

As a generalization, they would not be your first choice, but some CC instructors have impressive credentials or also teach at local four-year schools, so someone like this might be suitable. In the end though, if you have no other choice, you do what you have to do to deliver the required LORs.

 

[drewskies]

Is there anyone who could provide additional advice and/or suggestions?

 

[drewskies]

BTW should B-'s be retaken for DO schools?