3.6/3.5. Should I do Post-Bac or study like hell for MCAT?

[PlanBPlease]

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3.6 cGPA/3.5 sGPA. Should I do Post-Bac or study like hell for MCAT? I want to apply not this summer, but next summer. So, I have the next two years to work on this. Not to be rude, but only advice from Medical Students, Admissions committee people, or Residents.

 

[Ismet]

i mean, why WOULDN'T you study like hell for the MCAT. you should do that regardless of if you bring up your GPA or not. always try your best.

are you graduating this year or next year? (aka do you have another year to bring up your GPA?) what are you doing in your gap year(s)?

 

[PlanBPlease]

I graduate this may. So, no. However, what is sinking my GPA is my first year(3.1). I have made over a 3.75 my last three years.

 

[GrapesofRath]

There a number of schools where that GPA can be competitive with a good MCAT( emphasis on actually getting a good MCAT score).

So yeah, my priority if I were in your shoes would be actually going all out for the MCAT+ boosting non academic parts of your app>>>>>>>taking more classes to cause some slight boost in your GPA. You already have been a 3.75 student for 3 years; what do you think 1 or 2 semesters more of strong grades is going to accomplish.

 

[PlanBPlease]

i mean, why WOULDN'T you study like hell for the MCAT. you should do that regardless of if you bring up your GPA or not. always try your best.

are you graduating this year or next year? (aka do you have another year to bring up your GPA?) what are you doing in your gap year(s)?

Should I use my time to take more classes or spend all of that time on the MCAT?

 

[Ismet]

Should I use my time to take more classes or spend all of that time on the MCAT?

MCAT. You have a strong upward trend and it is common and somewhat expected for people to struggle in their freshman year and then find their stride. And really, a few more courses aren't going to bring your GPA up a considerable amount.

What are you doing in your gap years? Doing something significant in that time frame can be a huge benefit to your app.

 

[PlanBPlease]

MCAT. You have a strong upward trend and it is common and somewhat expected for people to struggle in their freshman year and then find their stride. And really, a few more courses aren't going to bring your GPA up a considerable amount.

What are you doing in your gap years? Doing something significant in that time frame can be a huge benefit to your app.

IDK yet. I have job offer to work in a clinical lab, a one-year master's program at JHU in Mental health research, and an offer for a two-year masters in biostats degree at my state school.

 

[Womb Raider]

IDK yet. I have job offer to work in a clinical lab, a one-year master's program at JHU in Mental health research, and an offer for a two-year masters in biostats degree at my state school.

It's good that you have upward GPA trends. I also strongly agree that you should focus your efforts on obtaining a great MCAT.

How is the rest of your application? Do you have lots of shadowing time? Meaningful ECs? Lots of exposure to medicine? Are you a URM?

 

[PlanBPlease]

It's good that you have upward GPA trends. I also strongly agree that you should focus your efforts on obtaining a great MCAT.

How is the rest of your application? Do you have lots of shadowing time? Meaningful ECs? Lots of exposure to medicine? Are you a URM?

My ECs are strong(at least, I think so). I have 500+ hours of direct patient contact. 4 years of research. shadowed 3 doctors. No, just a white male from the midwest.

 

[WedgeDawg]

If you only take advice from medical students, residents, and adcoms, you're going to miss out on a lot of advice by very knowledgeable people such as @GrapesofRath who is probably one of the best WAMC advisors here.

I agree with Ismet and Womb Raider that the MCAT should be your primary focus. Your GPA is acceptable for MD and it's unlikely that more coursework will raise it to any significant degree. I would recommend against pursuing graduate work unless you're planning on doing something with the graduate degree because the grades likely won't help you, but if they're low they can hurt you. Research seems like a good way to go.

But the MCAT is going to make or break you here.

 

[PlanBPlease]

If you only take advice from medical students, residents, and adcoms, you're going to miss out on a lot of advice by very knowledgeable people such as @GrapesofRath who is probably one of the best WAMC advisors here.

I agree with Ismet and Womb Raider that the MCAT should be your primary focus. Your GPA is acceptable for MD and it's unlikely that more coursework will raise it to any significant degree. I would recommend against pursuing graduate work unless you're planning on doing something with the graduate degree because the grades likely won't help you, but if they're low they can hurt you. Research seems like a good way to go.

But the MCAT is going to make or break you here.

I really do not mean to exclude anyone. It is just, that, at this point I need advice from people that really know this process. I am buying MCAT books right now....

 

[Goro]

Do well on MCAT. Your stats are competitive for a lot of MD schools and all DO,.

3.6 cGPA/3.5 sGPA. Should I do Post-Bac or study like hell for MCAT? I want to apply not this summer, but next summer. So, I have the next two years to work on this. Not to be rude, but only advice from Medical Students, Admissions committee people, or Residents.

 

[wagonwheel23]

You'll be good to go with a solid MCAT!

 

[Lucca]

Visit the MCAT forum for studying strategies and advice

 

[LurkerLurker]

n=1 here of course, but I had similar stats (3.66/3.52) for AMCAS, did pretty well on the MCAT (512, 87th percentile) and was just accepted to an MD program and have had II invites at a couple others and around half the DO programs I applied to.
So I would say make sure your ECs rock (that's part of what helped me I am sure), kill the MCAT, and apply broadly and early (I applied way late unfortunately) and you will be fine.

 

[Me.D.]

Study your booty off for the MCAT and definitely do what @Lucca said and visit the MCAT forum for advice on materials, advice, etc.
n=2 had a ~3.5, studied hard for the MCAT and got a 35 - helped me get my app looked at so I now have several acceptances. Make sure the rest of your app is stellar though! Do stuff in medicine/volunteering that you are passionate about so when it comes time to write essays and talk in interviews you can really convince your audience that you are passionate about the medical field/helping people.

 

[PlanBPlease]

I am going to use sterling MCAT prep and just do as many problems as I possibly can for the next six months. I guess I will take the MCAT this summer. I am not going to apply this seasons b/c I want to be as prepared as possible when I apply and not wing the application process.

 

[deleted610572]

Take the mcat and reevaluate. If you got equal to an old 35 then who cares that you have a 3.5 (especially since you have an upwards trend) but if you get a 29-30 then you might want to take a few classes.