3.55 / 34N Which schools?

[callthedocta15]

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Hello,

I was wondering if you could spend some time to review my situation, and help me to find ways to strengthen my application before the next app cycle.

I am a senior, planning on taking a yr off to do research and continue teaching the mcat at kaplan. I have a 3.5c and 3.5s GPA (upward trend), but this semester I am on track to getting a 3.9+, and hopefully the same for next semester (thus the 3.55 or maybe even 3.6). My MCAT, taken Sep. 2010, is a 34N (11P,11V,12B).

Some other areas of my application:
Major: Biochemistry
10-15 hrs/wk / 3 yrs research (1 publication, working on a few other projects that should result in 2-3 more publications by mid next year)
150 hrs / 1 yr ER volunteering (working with patients)
10-15 hrs/wk / 1 semester interning for a NPO that works with sick children (coordinating volunteers, etc)
Studied abroad in London 1 semester (did horrible in school ~2.9GPA how do I explain this so it doesn't look so bad?)
Global Medical Brigades - 1wk medical trip to Honduras + yr long preparation - headed a committee
Haiti - 1wk medical missions trip
Around 10 hours of shadowing with an ER doctor
My LOR from my PI will likely carry some weight, and the others should be okay too

A couple questions:
Should I retake the MCAT if out of 8 AAMC PT, my average was 38, and I feel like I bombed on the actual test date? (I know it is balanced, and I know the general opinion of retaking a balanced high score, but my GPA is dangerously low and could use some padding. How much would getting a 38 on a retake improve my application/would it compensate for my GPA?)

What are my chances at getting into the following schools:
University of Maryland (in-state)
NYU
Cornell

What are some schools that I should add to my list/how many?
What should I focus on next semester?
Should I take a difficult Molec/cell biology course to show my competence in the sciences?
Will adcoms be more forgiving about my GPA if I took 18+ credits per semester/tripled up in sciences 3 semesters?

If I wanted to be competitive for top 25 schools, do I have any other options? (take an additional yr off to rack up more clinical hours/publications/life experiences?)

I apologize in advance for the long post. Thanks for your help!

 

[IDreamtIChased]

If you want to go to med school, you have nothing to worry about. With your kind of experience and stats, you're pretty much guaranteed.

If you want to go to a top 10 med school, you should definitely re-take the MCAT (especially if your average was 38 - congratulation!). Your GPA can be forgiven if you have other things to show for it.

University of Maryland is a good school with a median 32 MCAT - so you have an EXCELLENT chance.

NYU (34) and Cornell (36) - you would have better chances if you re-took the MCAT

I would recommend applying to 15 schools - 5 in the top 25, 5 in the top 50, 5 in the top 100 (or something like that...)

You're a biochem major - so adcoms already know you are strong in the sciences

I would not recommend taking 18+ credits (unless you absolutely have to in order to graduate)

Try to get that GPA up with a few electives or something and you'll be fine (you might not even need to retake the mcat to go to a top tier - you have excellent experiences)

 

[Catalystik]

With a ~3.6/34, consider schools like these which have a good OOS matriculation rate:

UCF, USCal, Boston, Tufts, SLU, Einstein, Rochester,
Colorado, UConn, Georgetown, Miami, Iowa, Maryland, UMinn, Stony Brook, Wake, Cincinnati, Penn State, UWisconsin,
Loma Linda, Loyola, RFU, UKentucky, Creighton, Albany, SUNY Downstate, Hofstra (new), Jefferson, MCW

I'd suggest you aim for a total of 60-80- hours of shadowing, split among a few types of doc, including primary care.