3.308 gpa, apply in august with MCAT+Summer Classes?

[jtgcr0511]

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I am a junior with current gpa: 3.308, I calculated that I can get to a ~3.42 if If I take summer classes and apply in august after taking the Mcat,

I was initially planning to take the april mcat but I am considering taking quite a few summer classes to raise the gpa and postpone the Mcat until august

I know that it will set me back in terms of applying early on June 1st. I had initially planned to take the April Mcat and send in the application on June 1st, and then take summer classes while doing secondaries.

I thought it was beneficial to have those classes factor into my gpa before I send in my application and take more time preparing for the mcat.

Do you guys thing it is a good idea to wait until august to apply or should I not miss the opportunity to apply early and just take the April Mcat and send in applications on June 1st?

Also if I attain an Mcat score of 38-40, what would my chances be for any medical school in the United States, I have 3 years of EMT experience, 1.5 years as a research assistant in a stem cell lab, very good recs, and possible physician shadowing soon?

 

[ModernAlchemist]

I am a junior with current gpa: 3.308, I calculated that I can get to a ~3.42 if If I take summer classes and apply in august after taking the Mcat,

I was initially planning to take the april mcat but I am considering taking quite a few summer classes to raise the gpa and postpone the Mcat until august

I know that it will set me back in terms of applying early on June 1st. I had initially planned to take the April Mcat and send in the application on June 1st, and then take summer classes while doing secondaries.

I thought it was beneficial to have those classes factor into my gpa before I send in my application and take more time preparing for the mcat.

Do you guys thing it is a good idea to wait until august to apply or should I not miss the opportunity to apply early and just take the April Mcat and send in applications on June 1st?

Also if I attain an Mcat score of 38-40, what would my chances be for any medical school in the United States, I have 3 years of EMT experience, 1.5 years as a research assistant in a stem cell lab, very good recs, and possible physician shadowing soon?

Judging by the the official AAMC chart, you would have roughly a 75% chance of acceptance with those number. Here's the chart:

https://www.aamc.org/download/157450/data/table24-mcatgpagridall2008-10.pdf.pdf

I have a feeling that you haven't started studying for the MCAT yet if you are predicting a 45. I don't say that to be rude, but just so you don't get too disappointed and so you don't count on that score. I was in a similar position as you when I started studying for the MCAT.

 

[Catalystik]

What is your BCPM GPA? Have you considered waiting an extra year to further improve your cGPA before applying in June 2012? That would give you more time for some solid MCAT study to be sure you get a good enough score to offset your lowish GPA.

 

[jtgcr0511]

What is your BCPM GPA? Have you considered waiting an extra year to further improve your cGPA before applying in June 2012? That would give you more time for some solid MCAT study to be sure you get a good enough score to offset your lowish GPA.

my BCPM Gpa is 3.126, I have started studying for Mcat last semester and have been studying as if I am preping for the April Mcat.

I have considered a year off and applying in June 2012, but I was thinking of trying my luck this year and applying broadly 30+ schools,

To get the most out of my application for this year i was wondering if waiting till august with that gpa increase help me,

If worst comes to worst and I do not get into any US med schools and get into a carribean med like SGU then I'd prefer that than taking a year off, what do you guys think?

 

[bravofleet4]

i think that would be a terrible idea honestly...if you have a weak application you want to apply early not late. take the year off. it'll also give you more time to prepare for the MCAT. don't count on a 38-40 to get you in b/c honestly so very few people score that high. just do as hard as you can but continue working on other aspects of your application like your GPA and EC's.

 

[jtgcr0511]

i think that would be a terrible idea honestly...if you have a weak application you want to apply early not late. take the year off. it'll also give you more time to prepare for the MCAT. don't count on a 38-40 to get you in b/c honestly so very few people score that high. just do as hard as you can but continue working on other aspects of your application like your GPA and EC's.

Will i have a higher chance if i apply early with the lower stat or a higher chance if i apply in august with the higher stats

I know a 38-40 mcat is very rare but i am aiming atleast a 33+ and I know it is possible for me

also, do i have very little chances for us med schools entirely for this cycle even with applying to 30+ low tier schools (i am a NJ resident), id much rather go to a Caribbean med school than take a year off if possible,

 

[JustMeditate]

Trust me when I say you would NOT prefer an acceptance at a Caribbean school to a gap year. Caribbean med schools have a bad reputation for a reason. First off, they are in the business for money, and are not particularly interested in your education or success, meaning you'll most likely receive a poor education and very little faculty aid. Secondly, getting into a residency after graduating from a Caribbean school is EXTREMELY difficult. MD's and DO's get first dibs on residency positions, meaning that Caribbean students have to be at the very top of their class in order to even be considered for a residency program, even for an FM residency. And if you want to specialize, and you graduate from the Caribbean, you can kiss that dream goodbye. By the time residency programs turn to Caribbean students to fill up slots, all the specialties have gone bye-bye. The Caribbean should be your last resort.

Honestly, take another year to up the GPA and study for the MCAT. Sending in an application late puts you at a GINORMOUS disadvantage. People with insane stats---3.8-3.9 GPA and 35+ MCAT---get rejected simply because their applications were late and all the interview spots were taken. An extra year to up those stats and your EC's is definitely worth it. Trust me, you won't enjoy being tens of thousands of dollars in debt, a Caribbean graduate, with no residency acceptances and no good job prospects. The investment of an extra year is definitely worth a better chance at med school and the job security going to a non-Caribbean school would provide.

 

[Catalystik]

OP, you might want to educate yourself further about Caribbean schools in SDN's International Medicine > Caribbean Forum. I agree with bravofleet4 and JustMeditate that a non-US med school should be your last resort. Read it widely, as there are helpful posts from folks with actual experience of those schools.

Your BCPM is on the low side too, and needs to be raised. It would be helpful if you could manage a solid striang of As in upper-level science to improve it.

Why is it low? Did you have a bad freshman year, or have you averaged Bs in science classes all along? Any grades below a C+?

 

[jtgcr0511]

OP, you might want to educate yourself further about Caribbean schools in SDN's International Medicine > Caribbean Forum. I agree with bravofleet4 and JustMeditate that a non-US med school should be your last resort. Read it widely, as there are helpful posts from folks with actual experience of those schools.

Your BCPM is on the low side too, and needs to be raised. It would be helpful if you could manage a solid striang of As in upper-level science to improve it.

Why is it low? Did you have a bad freshman year, or have you averaged Bs in science classes all along? Any grades below a C+?

I have had a freshman year with a 2.54 with Cs in Biology 1 & 2. I have looked into offshore carribean schools and I agree with you all that it should be a last resort.

I was wondering if I should apply this year with this upward trend in gpa and a solid mcat score (35+) on june 1st 2011 or wait until end of my senior year and apply on june 1st 2012.

All the reapplicant threads I have read all say that If you reapply to the same schools you have to show an improvement in some portion of your application (mcat, gpa, EC, etc.). I know that the time from now till june 1, 2012 will significantly raise my cGPA and BCMP gpa,

If I apply broadly this june 1, 2011 with a solid mcat (35+) and my current gpa and do not get any acceptances then will that hurt my chances if I reapply with a higher gpa and mcat on june 1, 2012? There will definitely be an improvement in my application but will giving it a shot this year hurt my reapplication chances?

I do not mind taking a year off if that means I can get into an MD school and not have to settle for an offshore md, or do school to save a year.