35S, 3.58GPA, MD/ PhD?

[FlyLab]

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Hi!

So I'm applying for MD / PhD programs and I'm having trouble judging if I will be able to get in to any of them and which ones. If anyone has any advice or help, that would be great!

35S MCAT: 10PS, 13BS, 12VR
Undergrad GPA: 3.58 overall, around 3.6 for Science, Top 40 US News school (not Ivy level though) - Some B's in Chemistry, Physics, but all A's in upper level Biology courses
NH resident

Division 1 Varsity athlete 4 years (I don't know if this will help, but it will hopefully at least explain my lack of other extra curriculars)

One year undergraduate research experience, currently working at a NCI designated cancer center as a tech (one year) - I have an independent project in this lab, which I have presented on and will be able to discuss

NO clincial experience

One publication (second author) will be submitted by the time I submit (but not accepted)

I only recently really decided to go for the MD, so that's why I have no clinical experience. I'm really looking to apply to schools in Philly, NYC, Boston, and the East Coast. Suggestions? Is my GPA just too low to be taken seriously? Where will I be able to get in?

Thanks so much!

 

[harvman11]

I also didn't decide to pick up the MD until my junior year, and I had just started my clinical experience when I submitted my AMCAS. You're going to need clinical experience, but you don't need much... start volunteering now (even if it's just an hour or 2 a week) so you can list it and at least they can take your desire for the MD seriously. Seriously, I would secure a volunteering position before you submit, just so you can have it on there. you're GPA is going to hurt you, and I doubt you'll be competitive for top programs, unless they give you lots of leeway for D1 sports. Additionally, your research (in terms of time in the lab) is a bit on the low side.

However... given all of that: your MCAT is solid, not great for MD/PhD but solid. Your publication will definitely help, and in my opinion at least D1 athletics is a huge commitment, so I think adcoms would understand that. think you would probably be somewhat competitive for non-MSTP MD/PhDs. If you want more information on this type of thing, you should look in the physician scientist forum, lots of MD/PhD students and applicants post there: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=32

 

[Catalystik]

Here is some excellent information originally posted by Neuronix in a sticky in the above mentioned Physician Scientist Forum:'

1) What is considered a good GPA and MCAT for MSTP admissions?

Doctor&Geek posted this link:

http://www.aamc.org/members/great/md...sonhandout.pdf

To summarize:
Applicants who did not receive an offer: GPA 3.68 (SD .24)/MCAT 32.7 (3.7)
Applicants who received one offer: GPA 3.74 (SD .21)/MCAT 34 (3.7)
Applicants who received more than one offer: GPA 3.82 (SD .15)/MCAT 35.7 (2.5)

As you can see the difference between these groups is not much. This leads to the second consideration:

2) What is considered good research experience for MD/PhD students?

This is a hard thing to define. The one thing you need most is strong letters of recommendation from the labs you have worked in. The other thing you will need is a good knowledge of your research in your interview. We generally speak in terms of years of research experience, so I'll make the general recommendation:

>2 years of experience is recommended for everyone who applies. The more in-depth and independent it is, of course the better off you'll be. The more time you spend at it, the better off you'll be. Start doing research as early as possible in undergrad and do it often.

3) Do I need to publish to get into a program or into a top program?

NO. For the one millionth time. NO. It may help, but it is certainly not required. We know that a lot of factors go into publishing and many times these factors are completely out of an undergrad's control. I had nothing published when I applied and that is true for at least half of the people in my year (including the international student).

4) So what about my MDApplicants profile?

What are the general guidelines for success that we moderators are thinking about?

GPA -- Excellent 3.8+, Ok 3.6+
MCAT -- Excellent 36+, Ok 34+
Research Experience -- Excellent 4+ years, Ok 2+

If you fulfill all the ok categories but no excellent categories you are a borderline applicant in general. If you have all the excellent categories, you will likely get in, again as a rule of thumb. So if you have two oks and an excellent in one category? You're looking better.

Can you be below the ok level in one of these and still get in? It depends on just how far off you are. It will help tremendously if you have excellents in the others.