33M, 2.94sGPA, 3.3cGPA

[coolguy1441]

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Hello all, I just want to say thanks for taking the time to evaluate my chances, I really appreciate it. I graduated from UC Berkeley with a Molecular and Cell Biology - Neurobiology Emphasis BA. I am taking a year off, working as a research associate in the industry.

My GPA has been fairly stable at 3.3/3.4, except my last few upper division biology classes, which lowered my sGPA considerably.

I took the MCAT last summer and got a 33M (11V, 12B, 10P).

I have no research experience and doing research has never interested me.

I have been volunteering at a homeless shelter/clinic and talk to patients there on a 1 on 1 basis for most of the time, acting as a caseworker to medical, dental, optometry services, etc. I have volunteered so far for about 400 hours and sat in when doctors have come to clinic to see patients. I was also a coordinator for the past 2 years, directing volunteers, created and maintained health information/seminars/programs (needle exchange and smoking cessation), and handling patients while in a position of authority.

I also worked my sophomore year for 15 hours/week for my school's calling center, where I called alumni to get more involved with Cal by donating. I am now working full time as a research associate.

Miscellaneous info/activities:
certified personal trainer (only unofficial clients who were friends)
studied under a massage therapist for about a year (shiatsu)
professional gamer (sponsored and contracted, represented a gaming company and traveled to Paris for a tournament, represented USA and won the international tournament)
IM basketball captain, rock climber, club badminton player

Future goals include: MPH (most likely MD/MPH if I get in), clinic director, overseas medicine, nutrition policy/child nutrition/population nutrition

Planning to apply to:
UCSF
UCLA
UCI
UCD
UCSD
Stanford
Harvard
Yale
Creighton
Drexel
Dartmouth
Tufts
Columbia
Johns Hopkins
Northwestern
Emory
NYMC

Thanks for your time.

 

[aSagacious]

I apologize in advance if I come off as blunt, but I just want to be honest.

- Your ECs are great so far
- Your MCAT is very good
- Your cGPA is bad, but passable at lower tier MD schools and most DO schools
- Your sGPA is very bad, even worse you have a downward grade trend

I would advise you to hold off on applying to any MD schools (much less the top heavy list that you provided) until you can bring your sGPA up a bit. Though it's impossible to come up with a precise goal, I would say that >3.3 should be your target before applying.

 

[Alejandro]

Maybe shoot for a postbac?

 

[ppappui]

Take off the Ivy's, UC's, Stanford/Northwestern. You probably will have slim to no shot there due to your GPA and lack of research (these are research heavy schools after all).
Think of more middle/lower tiered schools and you'll have much better chance there. Might want to think of DO schools because your numbers are competitive there.

 

[coolguy1441]

I chose those schools because I am very interested in their combined MD/MPH programs. Is there any chance I won't get screened out pre-secondary and be able to show my unique traits and goals as to why I want to be a doctor?

 

[koennen]

I chose those schools because I am very interested in their combined MD/MPH programs. Is there any chance I won't get screened out pre-secondary and be able to show my unique traits and goals as to why I want to be a doctor?

With your sGPA, not a chance. Don't mean to sound overly harsh, but your MCAT score doesn't even begin to compensate for a sub 3.0 sGPA. Without a significant improvement in your GPA, you have no chance at any of the schools on your list ... not even Drexel.

 

[ppappui]

I chose those schools because I am very interested in their combined MD/MPH programs. Is there any chance I won't get screened out pre-secondary and be able to show my unique traits and goals as to why I want to be a doctor?

If you're interested in MD/MPH, why not Tulane? It has the biggest MD/MPH program in all of U.S. and those people I met during interview loved their MPH program. They are more about community service than research or high scores, so you might have a good chance despite the low GPA.
But that low GPA, esp. the sGPA, will hurt you a lot in other schools

 

[shaggybill]

Unfortunately, everyone here is right, imo. Those are some pretty serious schools you have listed, and I hate to say it because it sounds mean, but you don't really stand a chance at any of them currently with that sGPA. I would even doubt you have a chance if it was the same as your cGPA. Your mcat is great, but it's not going to save you here. Bring that sgpa up above a 3.0 before next cycle and then apply broadly to low-low/middle tier schools.

If you're interested in the DO route, you have a much better chance. Especially since you can retake those low grade science classes again and they will replace your original grade for the AACOMAS gpa.

 

[Catalystik]

I apologize in advance if I come off as blunt, but I just want to be honest.

- Your ECs are great so far
- Your MCAT is very good
- Your cGPA is bad, but passable at lower tier MD schools and most DO schools
- Your sGPA is very bad, even worse you have a downward grade trend

I would advise you to hold off on applying to any MD schools (much less the top heavy list that you provided) until you can bring your sGPA up a bit. Though it's impossible to come up with a precise goal, I would say that >3.3 should be your target before applying.

Agree with the above. For DO schools, also, you'll need to prove some facility with upper-level Bio before someone takes a chance on you. Retaking those last classes would eliminate them from the application GPA for AACOMAS (DO) schools due to their grade replacement policy. Your fastest route to MD would be to get some As in upper-level Bio (to prove your capability) and then do an SMP.

 

[Moebius]

Hi, I hope you are still alive. Next application process is still a semester away. Avoid the DO route, you can get into an MD school if you change a few pieces. When it comes to residency, the DO have to bit the hard end of the stick. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of stigma and bias against them. I don't like it, but that is how the wind sails. In 20-30 years, it will certainly change as the medical profession evolves, but we have to play by current rules. If you are close to 26+, I think you shouldn't wait if somehow you can get it close to 3.0. Even for nontrads, medical schools have a bias against them. Why take someone who is 25-8 when you have tons of 22-23 years old who have high MCAT and meaningful clinical/research experience. From my experience, never wait until you are 26s and hope you will get in, without some kind of serious catalyst, you won't succeed because the whole system will be stacked against you. I don't understand what you mean by being a "research associate". I think for most people it still counts even if there is no publication.

Obviously, they want an explanation for the sudden drop. It is not a fatal blow and Berkeley is known for grade deflation. Like most people, I think the science GPA is below a 3.0 is not a good idea. However, people have been accepted with a below 3.0 in science as long as their cum is at reasonable range (3.3 with a balanced 33 is fine). I think its best if you can take 1-2 classes next semester to get it above a 3.0 in science. Taking a 3 credit class when you work at night is fine. It would be good to retake the one you feel you have most control over. Despite this, I suggest you add many lower tier schools that are out of state friendly. Look at the bottom of US World and see which ones is out of state friendly. I hope you get in!

Cat is too pessimistic. A lot of the people she dismiss actually got into MD schools, some didn't. You seem like a good candidate. Keep on trying!