33 MCAT, 3.4 gpa. Need help in applying

[Bob Bill]

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I am planning on applying this summer for MD programs. Here is a brief overview of my profile.

I got 29 on my first MCAT ( PS 10, VR 9, BS 10) and 33 on my second MCAT (PS 12, VR 10, BS 11).

My projected GPA when I graduate is going to 3.39(cum.) and 3.47 (science) (Neurobiology Major). I was really sick for my first year of college and had a 3.0 GPA at the end of freshman year. Sophomore year I was able to raise my GPA to 3.35 but in the summer after sophomore year I was diagnosed with cancer. I received treatment throughout that summer and through fall semester of junior but my GPA had dropped back to 3.1. I have been able to resurrect my grades since (3.8+ GPA). I always took full courseload and often took 3-4 science classes per semester (although I now found out that, med schools dont really consider the strength of the classes you took).

I have decent EC:
4 years of research (computer-based) on Traumatic brain injury
3 years of research on stroke and adult neurogenesis
500+ hours of volunteer experience in a hospital
100 hours of volunteer experience in a rehab center with stroke and TBI patients
100+ hours of shadowing a neurosurgeon in clinic and OR
I am also planning on conducting public health research in a developing country, during my year off, to improve maternal health and birth outcomes

I am not really sure what kind of med programs to apply to. I know my GPA is below average and my MCAT score is good but not great. I am planning on completing my application as soon as it opens.

Thanks for all of your advice, I really appreciate it.

 

[aSagacious]

I got 29 on my first MCAT ( PS 10, VR 9, BS 10) and 33 on my second MCAT (PS 12, VR 10, BS 11).

Congrats on the improved score, quite impressive.

I was really sick for my first year of college and had a 3.0 GPA at the end of freshman year. Sophomore year I was able to raise my GPA to 3.35 but in the summer after sophomore year I was diagnosed with cancer.I received treatment throughout that summer and through fall semester of junior but my GPA had dropped back to 3.1

That's a very legitimate excuse for poor performance, and you should make a point of mentioning this during your primary/secondary essays.

I have been able to resurrect my grades since (3.8+ GPA).

AdComs always like to see an upward trend in grades.

...although I now found out that, med schools dont really consider the strength of the classes you took.

Not true, they certainly take the rigor of the course load into consideration. Unfortunately, though, it tends to hurt applicants more than it helps them. For example, a kinesiology major might pull a 3.9 with a relatively soft course load, while you struggle to keep a 3.4 in neuro, so the kinesiology major might get a few more looks initially. If, however, a kinesiology major and a neuro major both had a 3.7, I'd say the neuro major has the competitive advantage in the eyes of the AdCom.

I am not really sure what kind of med programs to apply to. I know my GPA is below average and my MCAT score is good but not great.

I'd recommend applying to at least 25-30 schools (with a few DO schools sprinkled in, if you're open to the idea of a DO school). Your ECs are above average, and your MCAT is competitive (though I don't think competitive enough to make up for your GPA in some schools).

What I like to do is break schools up into tiers using the 'LizzyM' system.

Your LizzyM score = (MCAT) + (10 x GPA) + 1
Yours = (33) + (10 x 3.39) + 1 = 67.9

Now, do this with the average matriculant for each of your candidate schools (you can find these numbers in the MSAR).

Generally, the tiers I construct are:
Reach school > your Lizzy score + 4
Average school = your Lizzy score +- 4
Safety school + 4 < your Lizzy score

... hope that helps.