Advices Please

[confuse]

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I'm desperately in need of your advices. I just submitted my 22nd secondaries, but I felt so depressed about my chances this cycle that I could not sleep. 🙁 Here is my situation: I'm a bio major with an overall GPA of 3.2 and science GPA of 3.1 MCAT: 31N (with an 8 in VR 🙁 , English is my second language) I have an upward GPA trend: 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, 3.5. Couple of Cs in the early pre-med classes pulled my grades down. I had a tough courseload with 100 science credits from a top 10 university. This is my second year applying. I'm preparing for the worse but don't know where to start. I'm planning to retake the MCAT next April or August. I feel that I can pull it up a few more points. However, I really need to raise that GPA. I"m thinking of doing open university starting next semester and maybe take 2 classes for the spring and summer semesters because I'm working full-time. Then maybe I will quit my job to do postbacc or smp for a year? What programs do you think I could apply to with my stats? I don't understand how smp different from getting a master. Sincere thanks for your help. Good luck to all.

 

[Law2Doc]

I'm desperately in need of your advices. I just submitted my 22nd secondaries, but I felt so depressed about my chances this cycle that I could not sleep. 🙁 Here is my situation: I'm a bio major with an overall GPA of 3.2 and science GPA of 3.1 MCAT: 31N (with an 8 in VR 🙁 , English is my second language) I have an upward GPA trend: 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, 3.5. Couple of Cs in the early pre-med classes pulled my grades down. I had a tough courseload with 100 science credits from a top 10 university. This is my second year applying. I'm preparing for the worse but don't know where to start. I'm planning to retake the MCAT next April or August. I feel that I can pull it up a few more points. However, I really need to raise that GPA. I"m thinking of doing open university starting next semester and maybe take 2 classes for the spring and summer semesters because I'm working full-time. Then maybe I will quit my job to do postbacc or smp for a year? What programs do you think I could apply to with my stats? I don't understand how smp different from getting a master. Sincere thanks for your help. Good luck to all.

Your MCAT is fine, your GPA a little low. What are your ECs and do you have decent LORs? Did you have someone proofread your PS and secondaries (your grammar is a bit troubling)?. If you don't get in this round, I would think an SMP probably will work for you with your stats -- it is a one year masters geared toward getting into med school (it basically differs from other masters programs in that it focuses on medical related stuff, is not an otherwise useful credential toward a science career, and has premed advisors and sponsorship and sometimes linkages). Good luck.

 

[confuse]

Thanks Law2Doc. I have tons of ECs, research and work experiences but nothing extraordinary. I am told by ADCOM that I have very supportive recs. I got one my friend to go through my PS with me so I felt satisfied with the result. My secondaries could be better but given the timeline, I couldn't afford to lose more time. I am giving it my best shot but I also try to be realistic. Do you think 1 year would be enough and does the GPA from SMP included w/ the undergrad or remained separately on AMCAS? Thanks alot.

 

[tacrum43]

Thanks Law2Doc. I have tons of ECs, research and work experiences but nothing extraordinary. I am told by ADCOM that I have very supportive recs. I got one my friend to go through my PS with me so I felt satisfied with the result. My secondaries could be better but given the timeline, I couldn't afford to lose more time. I am giving it my best shot but I also try to be realistic. Do you think 1 year would be enough and does the GPA from SMP included w/ the undergrad or remained separately on AMCAS? Thanks alot.

The GPA from any graduate program is shown separately on AMCAS.

Georgetown's and Rosalind Franklin's SMPs are both one year, and have very good rates of admission to medical school. There are two year programs too, like Loyola's and Boston's, but then you have an "glide" year. You would certainly get into these programs with your GPA, MCAT and experiences.

Who knows though, it's still early. Maybe you'll get in this year, and you won't have to worry about it. 👍

 

[confuse]

Thanks tacrum43. That was really helpful. I noticed from your profile that you are also reapplying this year just like me. Good luck in the process. I am applying to almost the same list of schools as you did but 1 month later. Maybe we will hear some good news from the same schools. 😀
"Who knows though, it's still early. Maybe you'll get in this year, and you won't have to worry about it." I really hope so.