Advice Please!?

[SarahMn]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey Everyone! I'm new to the forum 🙂

I'm a psychology major with a 3.12 GPA. I'm currently in my last year of college. I have 21 credits left after this semester, and then I'll graduate in June 2010.

I haven't taken any of the pre-med prerequisites. So with that being said...
If I do well in a post bacc program and if I can score a 30 on my MCAT, do I have a chance at getting into a few decent med schools??

Suggestions? Advice? Critique?
Thank you!

-Sarah

 

[cabinbuilder]

All medical schools in the US are "decent", you get the education you want and work as a doctor anywhere. Take your prereq's see what your grades are, take the MCAT (you don't have to have a 30), I had a 24, have an overall good package. Apply to both MD and DO and see what happens. You don't know until you start going through the classes and taking the exams. No one can tell you if you will get in. Everyone has a shot, it's up to you to make it happen.

 

[seelee]

All medical schools in the US are "decent", you get the education you want and work as a doctor anywhere. Take your prereq's see what your grades are, take the MCAT (you don't have to have a 30), I had a 24, have an overall good package. Apply to both MD and DO and see what happens. You don't know until you start going through the classes and taking the exams. No one can tell you if you will get in. Everyone has a shot, it's up to you to make it happen.

No offense intended but if you are an attending then it has been at least 7 years since you applied. 30 is not really considered a high grade anymore. 31 is the national average for matriculants in 2008 and it continues to climb.

To the OP:

Here are the facts, your GPA is not very competitive for med school. That does not mean you could never get in, but that you will have to work hard and be patient.

1. You need to to a post bacc or a second undergrad degree and get mostly, if not all As in your classes.

2. You need to try and get at least the national average on the MCAT. Yes people have gotten in with less but it would be a mistake to spend this much time and money on a half-assed chance.

3. You need to get some serious clinical experience under your belt. Medical missions, free clinics, EMT, hospice care are all great. Shadowing is beneficial for you to get some exposure to what medicine is like, but it is not that impressive as far as clinical experience goes.

4. Volunteer and leadership experience.

5. A stellar personal statement. check out Panda Bear MD's blog for good advice.

6. Apply broadly. DO schools, state schools, apply to as many as you can. I would avoid international schools though.

Good luck.

 

[cabinbuilder]

In the world of huge negativity I was just trying to be positive. The avg MCAT for DO school is not 30, for MD yes. My point is that its not just about the MCAT, its about the overall application.

 

[J ROD]

For example, if you get the GPA up to 3.3, you need a 34-35 MCAT to be competitive in general...each school and situation is a little different.

Plus, you need to have the ECs competitive as well...

clinical experience, volunteering, and shadowing

followed by research, leadership, non-med volunteering, etc...

 

[sindadel]

Definitely take the time to do really well in your classes this year. You really do need to improve your GPA in order to have a good chance of admission. Good luck. 🙂