advice greatly appreciated

[mickeymouse]

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Dear SDNers,
I had previously posted a request for help. Thanks for some of the responses that you gave me. However, I need more advice. This is my situation. I am graduating as a neuroscience major from a competitive university. My science gpa is 3.18 and over all gpa is 3.3. I have taken two mcats: August 2000: 6v, 9p,Q,10b and 9v,12p,K,10b. I don't understand the huge discrepancies in my verbal scores. I wanted to know whether I should retake the mcat and what should I do to improve the science gpa. Are taking extra upper division sciences classes better or going to graduate school. I had applied this year very very late (December); and my application was rushed and poorly done. I wanted to obtain advice whether it would be wise to wait a year before applying or apply this year. Do all schools have a formula factor before granting an interview or a secondary. For example, do the uc schools look at the whole package before giving secondaries or do they just look at the numbers before giving a secondary. I am very confused and distressed over what I need to do to get accepted. Therefore, I will greatly appreciate any feedback you can offer me.

Thanks once again! 😕 <img border="0" alt="[Pity]" title="" src="graemlins/pity.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

 

[efex101]

Your mcat scores seem fine (the last one) but your gpa could use some improvement. Why did you apply so late? I don't get it why people, specially those with borderline stats apply so late. Anyways, apply again this year early meaning submit as soon as they take them. If you have good ec's, lor's, etc. you should get some interviews. Make sure you apply to 20 schools broad range and you should be fine.

 

[ellerose]

Your MCAT seems fine (I wonder if the K will hurt you in any way, though) overall. I wouldn't take it again unless you feel really compelled to. The grades, however, need a little help. Do you have an overall upward trend in the last year or two? If not, then I would consider taking an extra year's worth of classes (upper division sciences) and kick ass in them to show you can hold your own in such coursework. Make sure your app is well put together (work extra hard on that personal statement), and apply early. I have no idea if all schools go strictly by numbers to hand out secondaries, etc. My premed advisor said that some schools do (she mentioned Harvard and Baylor, although I don't know if that is totally true or not), but I got the feeling that there are some basic guidelines for adcomms, but most might give you a fair chance if you have a great overall app (killer ECs, a very good (legitimate) reason why your grades are low, etc.). Good luck. Maybe look into post-bacc programs?

 

[efex101]

Ellerose I sent you a PM.

 

[mickeymouse]

Hi SDNers,
Thanks again for the encouraging responese you gave me. I would really appreciate it if I can obtain more feed back from you. 🙂 😕

 

[ramkijai]

mickey,
Retaking the MCAT and improving will give you a marginal bump that will be offset by its timing (scores won't be recieved till october). If your scores slip then it gets nasty. so is it worth it? my vote is no. I would try to raise that GPA (especially science, if possible).

As far as the UCs go they are run by chimpanzees that fling dung onto applications to mark the ones that get secondaries, interviews, etc. Pure crapshoot. Apply to a lot of schools (include Albany, NYMC, Finch, Drexel (nee MCP)) and look at some post-bacc progs to see if any grab your fancy. Good luck!

 

[Michelys]

Mickeymouse,

Include PSU and Tulane in addition to Albany. Your MCAT is great--it's just your GPA. The biggest thing is to have FAITH in yourself. Apply this year, but apply with your HEAD UP. Get out there fighting! Make sure your application, of course, IS IN EARLY (as in mid-June/early July) and I really don't see anything wrong with your latest MCAT score. Make sure your personal statement is right on key right along with your EC's and you should do great! I think the timing gotcha last year--get everything out by early July and keep your hopes up. Best of luck :wink:

 

[colorado_1]

you really want to do this? i wish i had an answer for you that required less work . . . but here goes. i'm a ms2 now so i've heard a million stories about what people did to get in. well, prob. about 50 or so. anyway, the g.p.a. is low. it will make med schools 1) wonder if you could handle the workload in med school or 2) use it as a way to narrow down the 2000 applications they get so i think unless you're an older applicant interviews may be hard to come by, and even then, it's an uproad battle to have an interview "so stellar" that they won't care about your g.p.a.
so how did my friends get around their low g.p.a.'s? well, raising a g.p.a. takes like forever. by the end of 4 years your grades are so buffered that you'd have to do 4 more years at 3.8 something just to have a 3.5 . . . okay, so you do one of three things . . . 1) many med schools have a graduate program for people like you where you basically get a masters in general science but you go in and take med school classes with med students and if you do well with that program they will let you in. call the adcoms and ask. 2) make your extra currics stand out . . . do 5 times the work the rest of us did before we got in or 3) look into d.o. programs where your numbers are well within acceptance range. you will still be dr. soandso . . . it's up to you. good luck!