Apply this June or Next? what do you think

[HaveHope]

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Hey everyone!
This is my first post on SDN besides my introductory one in the new member's forum. I'm a fourth year undergrad. who only decided to go pre-med last year and as a result I'm struggling to catch up and graduate in a decent amount of time. At the end of this year I will have all the med school pre-requisites knocked out but will have to return to my institution for part of a fifth year to finish off my degree.

I'm stuck right now, though, because I don't know if I should start my applications this June, 07, or wait until the following year. My science GPA is low...I have almost all Bs! Very frustrating... But cumulatively I have just below a 3.5. As far as extracurriculars go, I am an all-conference division 1 athlete, have clinical and volunteer experience abroad (Latin America-I am Caucasian but can speak Span) and in the states, have research experience, and am pretty involved within the athletic dept. I think (hope!) my extracurriculars are okay but I am really worried about my science grades.

I haven't taken the MCATs yet. I don't know if I should study all Spring, take them in April, and apply in June? Or study longer, take them in the summer, and still apply in June? Would a summer MCAT hurt my admissions chances because of later application submission/completion?

If I were to wait until June of 08 to apply then I would take more upper division science classes beyond the basic pre-reqs in that fifth year. (Unless people have better/other suggestions?) If I were to do that, though, should I take the MCATs at the end of this school year when the basics are fresh in my head or wait because the upper divs. might help even more?

Bottom line is that I am getting really excited about med school and would like to apply this June but will do whatever it takes to make a strong and successful application, even if it means waiting.

Sorry this post got so long!! Thanks for any input that people might have!

 

[HaveHope]

Oh no, sorry I posted twice!! I am obviously VERY new at this!

 

[iwilldlvr]

Start prepping for the MCAT and do some of the full-length practice exams. Once you have a good guestimate of what your "real" score may be, go from there. You don't NEED to take more upper level courses but they can always help. Just remember that they will help or hurt your gpa so choose wisely.

If you do well on the practice MCAT exams, then go for it in 2007. Take it early enough that you can still retake in the summer if necessary and apply in 2007. Just make sure you buy the practice test 8 or higher (if using the ones from the AAMC).

Good luck.

 

[MountainEM]

next june

just playing with you 😉
and your other post
dave

 

[iwilldlvr]

next june

just playing with you 😉
and your other post
dave

love the hair!

 

[122206DO]

Good cumulative GPA, B average science GPA isn't bad either. Take the MCAT and apply for class of 08...i'd take it April, and retake it in summer if you don't do well...Honestly, IMO, you only need a couple months of hard studying for this test, anything beyond that will be counterproductive. It's a critical thinking test, not how much you know test(for the most part). Good luck, do well on MCAT and your chances will be good.

 

[DoctorMom78]

Start prepping for the MCAT and do some of the full-length practice exams. Once you have a good guestimate of what your "real" score may be, go from there. You don't NEED to take more upper level courses but they can always help. Just remember that they will help or hurt your gpa so choose wisely.

If you do well on the practice MCAT exams, then go for it in 2007. Take it early enough that you can still retake in the summer if necessary and apply in 2007. Just make sure you buy the practice test 8 or higher (if using the ones from the AAMC).

Good luck.

👍 I agree. Honestly, the basics are more important than the upper level classes. Even though they can help, a better understanding of the basics is better. I took the MCATs a few years after I had finished gen chem and a year after I had finished physics and I was amazed at how little I remembered. Good luck!😀

 

[HaveHope]

Thanks everyone. I guess what I'm most worried about is that I don't have a single A (or A-) in a science class. I managed an A and an A- in the first two levels of calculus, but in the actual science classes...nada! I do, on the other hand, have two C+s in science classes. The rest is Bs and lots of B+s. I don't know if that changes you guys' reactions, but thanks nonetheless, I appreciate it! Looks like I'll be taking the MCAts in a few months and going from there!!