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SDN,
Before I start I want to apologize for the long post. I am going to applying to medical schools this June. I am going to submit primaries June 1st, but I am not taking my MCAT till August 16th, so medical school won't have my complete applications till around mid-September. Here are my stats and story:
Started at a community college in 2006. My first two years at community college, I didn't want to be there. The only reason I was there is because my parents MADE me. I got an "F" in a government class my first semester, then when I retook the next semester, I got a "D". I also received several "C" in classes like "Elementary English" and a business class. Obviously I wasn't trying to be a doctor.
In the fall of 2008, I decided I wanted to become a physician and I started working towards that. Since setting my goals straight, I received nothing less than a B in my remaining 3 years at community college.
I then transferred to UCLA and am a neuroscience major here graduating in June of this year! I have been doing research, shadowing, volunteering, and studying. Here are my stats I will have when applying to medical schools.
GPA:
D.O. sGPA- 3.39
D.O. cGPA- 3.40
M.D. sGPA- 3.43 (as long as they include a math class labeled "pre-calc")
M.D. cGPA- 3.33
My UCLA GPA is around 3.4. (4.0 the last two semesters hopefully)
MCAT:
Scheduled to take in August. I started studying last summer a little bit, but had to delay to this year because of something that came up. When studying, I was scoring between 9-11 on sciences and ranging from 6-8 on verbal. Like I said, I only studied for a month or so, so there is definitely room for improvement.
Extracurriculars:
1.5 years of research in an Alzheimer's lab performing immunohistochemistry staining on brain slides for neuropathologists.
1 year volunteering at a program called "Fresh Start" that offers reconstructive surgery to underprivileged children
2 years volunteering at a surgery center doing bed turnovers, bringing patients into the rooms, cleaning, stocking.
3 months volunteer in hospital helping x-ray techs.
Shadowing of several surgeons (MD)
Shadowing of several anesthesiologists (MD)
Shadowing of one family practitioner (MD)
Shadowing of one family practitioner (DO)
LORs:
I should be able to get at least 3 great letters and 2 good letters.
1. Research P.I. who is chief of neuropathology at Ronald Reagin hospital at UCLA.
2. neural stem cell professor at UCLA (A grade in class)
3. administrator at surgery center I volunteered at.
4. Organic Chemistry professor at community college (A grade in class)
5. African Geography professor at UCLA (A grade in class)
Knowing all this, I am debating on wether or not it is worth it to apply to MD schools. I will be applying "late" (since delay in MCAT, schools will receive scores around mid-September) so with my lower GPA, I feel I will not have a chance at MD. What is everyone's opinion? With my first two years at CC bringing down my GPA, will schools understand this and take this into account? Or should I just ONLY apply to D.O. medical schools? Please let me know. I am sorry for the long post. I greatly appreciate anyone's input! 🙂
Before I start I want to apologize for the long post. I am going to applying to medical schools this June. I am going to submit primaries June 1st, but I am not taking my MCAT till August 16th, so medical school won't have my complete applications till around mid-September. Here are my stats and story:
Started at a community college in 2006. My first two years at community college, I didn't want to be there. The only reason I was there is because my parents MADE me. I got an "F" in a government class my first semester, then when I retook the next semester, I got a "D". I also received several "C" in classes like "Elementary English" and a business class. Obviously I wasn't trying to be a doctor.
In the fall of 2008, I decided I wanted to become a physician and I started working towards that. Since setting my goals straight, I received nothing less than a B in my remaining 3 years at community college.
I then transferred to UCLA and am a neuroscience major here graduating in June of this year! I have been doing research, shadowing, volunteering, and studying. Here are my stats I will have when applying to medical schools.
GPA:
D.O. sGPA- 3.39
D.O. cGPA- 3.40
M.D. sGPA- 3.43 (as long as they include a math class labeled "pre-calc")
M.D. cGPA- 3.33
My UCLA GPA is around 3.4. (4.0 the last two semesters hopefully)
MCAT:
Scheduled to take in August. I started studying last summer a little bit, but had to delay to this year because of something that came up. When studying, I was scoring between 9-11 on sciences and ranging from 6-8 on verbal. Like I said, I only studied for a month or so, so there is definitely room for improvement.
Extracurriculars:
1.5 years of research in an Alzheimer's lab performing immunohistochemistry staining on brain slides for neuropathologists.
1 year volunteering at a program called "Fresh Start" that offers reconstructive surgery to underprivileged children
2 years volunteering at a surgery center doing bed turnovers, bringing patients into the rooms, cleaning, stocking.
3 months volunteer in hospital helping x-ray techs.
Shadowing of several surgeons (MD)
Shadowing of several anesthesiologists (MD)
Shadowing of one family practitioner (MD)
Shadowing of one family practitioner (DO)
LORs:
I should be able to get at least 3 great letters and 2 good letters.
1. Research P.I. who is chief of neuropathology at Ronald Reagin hospital at UCLA.
2. neural stem cell professor at UCLA (A grade in class)
3. administrator at surgery center I volunteered at.
4. Organic Chemistry professor at community college (A grade in class)
5. African Geography professor at UCLA (A grade in class)
Knowing all this, I am debating on wether or not it is worth it to apply to MD schools. I will be applying "late" (since delay in MCAT, schools will receive scores around mid-September) so with my lower GPA, I feel I will not have a chance at MD. What is everyone's opinion? With my first two years at CC bringing down my GPA, will schools understand this and take this into account? Or should I just ONLY apply to D.O. medical schools? Please let me know. I am sorry for the long post. I greatly appreciate anyone's input! 🙂