.

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
None. It's up to you whether you apply to those schools since your undergrad GPA is lower than the mean/median of their accepted students (see each school's profile in MSAR for more details). Depending on how adcoms view your extracurriculars and personal statement, you may still be a viable candidate, though I'm not sure how stringent their filter is for reading apps with GPAs below a certain threshold.
 
Assuming you're white, a person with your stats has about a 44% chance of getting into A medical school, let alone an elite one (https://www.aamc.org/download/157958/data/table25-w-mcatgpa-grid-white-0810.pdf.pdf).
Your GPA is about 0.6 from even being considered for most of the elite schools.

Honestly if I could have gone back in time I would have told you to do a post-bacc since that adds on to your undergrad-GPA which is far more important than your grad-GPA (Masters, PhD)

Also getting into elite schools is a crapshoot. They reject people with 3.8/36 all the time so given your circumstances I would aim for just getting into med school and if you do get an elite one be very grateful. This assumes of course that there's something important you're not telling us (ie - you're a URM, you have an amazing hook like being an Olympic athlete, you're the child of a celebrity, etc.) because elite schools more so than others target these kinds of applicants.

Not trying to be a Debbie Downer just giving you the facts.
 
VaporTrail010 said:
Coursework
So I majored in Physics, am a few courses away from a major in biology, one course away from a minor in math and a minor in chemistry.

I just graduated in May, and I'm starting a Biology MS program this Fall.

Research
I've got great research experiences with the Air Force, University of Dayton Research Institute, and UNC's med school with the Biophysical Society.

My master's work will be multi-disciplinary, and it will focus on biosensors. I don't have any publications, but this will hopefully change soon.

MCAT
13 in both sciences, 8 on the verbal :[

EC's
Nothing too impressive from undergrad. Member of the society of physics students, and the Biophysical Society, played club rugby a few years. No leadership positions.

I'm currently trying to start a freethought organization at my institution (which is a Catholic organization). I've got passion for it, and I think there is something to be said about being able to found and lead a minority group.

I've got 24 hours of clinical shadowing under my belt and two years to up that number.

Anyways, I know I need to destroy this master's program. I'll be aiming for a 4.0, and since I'll only be taking Bio courses, I definitely think this is a realistic goal. So, what's the ballpark graduate GPA that will get me into a program such as Harvard, Case, or Duke?
Click to expand...

Honestly, I'm not sure a master's program can help you fully recover from a 3.09 uGPA. I had a close friend in college that was able to get into a state school with a 3.1 GPA and 41 MCAT, but this is extremely rare.

Top programs like the ones you've mentioned have their pick at hundreds of 3.8+ GPA and 35+ MCAT applicants. Even with such competitive numbers applicants must distinguish themselves in their EC's, research (with publications), and other unique endeavors.

With two majors it sounds like you probably have a lot of credit hours. Even so, would it be possible to re-take some of your courses to get A's? Perhaps consider a formal post-bacc instead? Graduate GPA is not weighted as heavily has uGPA in the admissions process unfortunately.
 
Hi VaporTrail010,

As the other posters have said, a 3.09 GPA won't get you anywhere. You may have been under the impression that multiple degrees and/or a degree in physics are huge benefits -- they're not. I graduated with three majors and a 3.69 GPA and I while I'm attending Yale, I'll be paying out of pocket. Its tough for me to say that I'd give up a major in exchange for a higher GPA, but the idea of a scholarship does sound appealing when juxtaposed next to a mountain of debt.
 
I'd have to agree with everyone else here. Your chances of getting into ANY med school seems slim. That GPA is killer low. I would say if you even apply to those schools, you'd really be wasting your money. Aim for mid-tiers and low-tiers/safety schools, though in actuality, there is no such thing as a safety med school for the majority of applicants. This process is such a crap shoot. Good luck, but I think you'd be wasting your time and money on those schools.
 
I disagree with everyone above. I can't speak for the other programs, but nothing strikes me as a complete "non-starter" for Case. Do your best, write excellent, honest, and thoughtful essays. Apply very early. Be introspective. Keep your expectations in check. Get your foot in the door for an interview. Go hat-in-hand, and make sure they know how much you want this.

Best of luck. :luck:

P.S. - Is your Air Force experience as a civilian? Do you want to pursue an academic career?
 
vc7777 said:
I disagree with everyone above. I can't speak for the other programs, but nothing strikes me as a complete "non-starter" for Case.
Click to expand...
I see nothing either except for the facts that his MCAT is below their median and his GPA is far below their 10th percentile.

Do you want him to just burn his money applying?

I am sure if he does some post bacc work he could get in somewhere eventually.
 
V5RED said:
I see nothing either except for the facts that his MCAT is below their median and his GPA is far below their 10th percentile.

Do you want him to just burn his money applying?

I am sure if he does some post bacc work he could get in somewhere eventually.
Click to expand...

Hmmm...

:shrug: What do I know?

Here are some more facts to look at: I'm a second year at Case (don't let my graduation date fool you I'm in a 5-year MD/MS program), a "bent arrow" who brought his GPA UP to a paltry 2.87 with my post-bacc. I was accepted to both programs a couple of cycles ago. Since they are independent admissions processes, I was literally accepted to Case medical school twice. Twice. Oh yeah, I'm a rocket scientist too (see my badge). Granted I have a higher MCAT, but I am not saying you and I are alike. I am just saying I know a thing or two about Case. So, give me a little more credit than maybe a premed looking at a copy of the MSAR?

You guys are being way too negative here about his Case chances. I don't know if it makes you feel better looking up stats and percentiles and declaring with such certainty, but it is doing him a disservice and any other interesting candidates to my program or to Myuu's program across the street. Those numbers are at best guidelines. Not hard and fast. I am very well aware what goes on right here in Cleveland. Heck, I met almost every student who interviewed here for lunch last year at CCLCM, I think I know what we are looking for here.

Now, I didn't say he is a shoe-in. But he isn't ruled out by any means. He certainly won't be throwing his money away. There are no guarantees in life, and I am sure he knows that. If I were him, and interested in Case, I think that is money well spent.

OP, finish your masters. Crush it. If you do this, I think you may be surprised. Talk to our admissions office a little closer to applying. Like I said, I speak only for Case and I am not going to be so concrete. But I do know this:
we love our nontrads, we love our engineers, and we love our researchers. Heck, we coined the term "bent arrow" decades ago - the students who DON'T take a straight path to medicine. You sound interesting, and I think if you show a good upward trend, then there is nothing that is a red flag IMHO.

EDIT: PS - think about some more shadowing (perhaps), and also thought you would like to know one of my good classmates is a member of the Cleveland Free Thinkers.

PPS - I also always default to male gender (including the use of "guys") - I have four brothers and no sisters - this is a default for me, and in no way is an attempt to assume the OP is male. Sorry, but typing flows much better without the used of s/he him/her typing. Mea cupla.
 
Last edited:
Nothing about your experience is remotely close to his.

Nobody said he cannot redeem himself, but to say that he currently stands a chance is ridiculous.

I do not care that you are a student at that school.

vc7777 said:
Hmmm...

:shrug: What do I know?

Here are some more facts to look at: I'm a second year at Case (don't let my graduation date fool you I'm in a 5-year MD/MS program), a "bent arrow" who brought his GPA UP to a paltry 2.87 with my post-bacc. I was accepted to both programs a couple of cycles ago. Since they are independent admissions processes, I was literally accepted to Case medical school twice. Twice. Oh yeah, I'm a rocket scientist too (see my badge). Granted I have a higher MCAT, but I am not saying you and I are alike. I am just saying I know a thing or two about Case. So, give me a little more credit than maybe a premed looking at a copy of the MSAR?

You guys are being way too negative here about his Case chances. I don't know if it makes you feel better looking up stats and percentiles and declaring with such certainty, but it is doing him a disservice and any other interesting candidates to my program or to Myuu's program across the street. Those numbers are at best guidelines. Not hard and fast. I am very well aware what goes on right here in Cleveland. Heck, I met almost every student who interviewed here for lunch last year at CCLCM, I think I know what we are looking for here.

Now, I didn't say he is a shoe-in. But he isn't ruled out by any means. He certainly won't be throwing his money away. There are no guarantees in life, and I am sure he knows that. If I were him, and interested in Case, I think that is money well spent.

OP, finish your masters. Crush it. If you do this, I think you may be surprised. Talk to our admissions office a little closer to applying. Like I said, I speak only for Case and I am not going to be so concrete. But I do know this:
we love our nontrads, we love our engineers, and we love our researchers. Heck, we coined the term "bent arrow" decades ago - the students who DON'T take a straight path to medicine. You sound interesting, and I think if you show a good upward trend, then there is nothing that is a red flag IMHO.

EDIT: PS - think about some more shadowing (perhaps), and also thought you would like to know one of my good classmates is a member of the Cleveland Free Thinkers.

PPS - I also always default to male gender (including the use of "guys") - I have four brothers and no sisters - this is a default for me, and in no way is an attempt to assume the OP is male. Sorry, but typing flows much better without the used of s/he him/her typing. Mea cupla.
Click to expand...
 
VaporTrail, you should take the advice you get from random people on SDN with a whole shaker of salt. Posting this question is a waste of precious electrons, because no one responding to this thread is in any position to say how much of a shot you have of getting into any particular school. If you're interested in Case and/or CCLCM, then you need to do your own research and contact their admissions offices to find out what THEY think your chances are. Ask them what they would like to see you do this year to improve your app, and do it. Same with the other schools you want to apply to.
 
CCLCMer said:
VaporTrail, you should take the advice you get from random people on SDN with a whole shaker of salt. Posting this question is a waste of precious electrons, because no one responding to this thread is in any position to say how much of a shot you have of getting into any particular school. If you're interested in Case and/or CCLCM, then you need to do your own research and contact their admissions offices to find out what THEY think your chances are. Ask them what they would like to see you do this year to improve your app, and do it. Same with the other schools you want to apply to.
Click to expand...

And because none of the three of us are at Case or met our classmates?😕
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top