3.2 GPA / 35N MCAT / Nontraditional Applicant

[TylerF]

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Hey all, I've been looking for a site like this for a minute so I'm glad to have found it! I am a non-traditional applicant. Here's a little bit about that situation: I graduated from Indiana University in August 2007 and decided that before I applied to medical school I wanted to move to Colorado to basically be a ski bum for a year before getting serious and attending medical school. Its something I've wanted to do since I was probably six, so I did it. Plus I figured I'd be able to apply for U of C Denver instate after a year. Also, unfortunately my dad has always put a lot of emphasis on the idea that how succesful you are is the same as how much money you make and once I told him I was thinking about becoming a doctor he pushed me VERY hard in that direction. So I wanted to take some time and be absolutely sure that I was going through with this for the right reasons. I felt I couldn't make that decision and still apply for the 2008 entering class in any sort of timely fashion so I ended up deciding to take another year off which means I am now applying for the entering class of 2009.

Anyway! I graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry, Minor in Math, 3.36 GPA, and got a 35N on the MCAT - 13 Verbal 12 Physical 10 Biological. I have only one summer of shadowing a doctor as clinical experience, though within a month I will be moving to Denver and trying to get a job at a hospital, or at least do some volunteering because I feel that my lack of clinical experience is a weak point that I can strengthen for next year if I don't get in. Sooooo, what are my chances? Also, what are some schools to apply to that put more emphasis on MCAT scores as my GPA is not exactly a strength?

Thanks! Tyler

 

[Livingapparatus]

Terrific MCAT! However the lack of clinical may hurt you quite a bit.

What kind of schools are you looking to get into though. For alot of MD it will be tough with the 3.2 (not bad but below average). But if you do not mind DO I see your chances being preety good.

What about LOR's?

 

[Mobius1985]

Does your GPA show a rising trend from freshman year? Is your science/math/physics GPA higher that "all other" grades? It would help if you have demonstrated recently that you can handle upper-level science courses and get straight As. Would you consider taking more coursework to demonstrate this if your last two years in college didn't do so? Did you do any volunteering in the last year? Or at least work on the ski patrol assisting injured folks? If not, this won't look good to have no good ECs for the last year. Definitely get this going ASAP.

 

[TylerF]

I am looking at my transcript here and for the most part my grades were consistently in the A-/B+ range, but I got three C's along the way which dragged the overall average toward the B+ side. (Note that I listed the wrong GPA--I actually got a 3.36--So I ended up just above a B+ average overall.) My senior year, however, I busted my ass and got mostly A's in some 400 level chem classes. So I would say my GPA was pretty consistent, with a few bad grades, but a strong finish. I would absolutely take more classes if I don't get in--though the fact that you bring it up is, I must admit, rather discouraging! And like I said, I'm planning on working in a hospital and/or volunteering somewhere for the next year. Though that doesn't really help me out for this application cycle.

Oh, and since I was a chem major/math minor I took almost no classes but science/math/physics and when I did, I made sure they were fun classes (read: really easy classes). So no, my overall GPA is slightly higher than my science etc. GPA.