Applying to UVA ?

[nvdaydream]

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Hi,

I just wanted to get some advice on applying to med schools. Here is my info:

MCAT: 29M (11PS, 11BS, 7VS - I know VS is horrible and I took my MCAT on 4/29/11 so I don't know if I should retake it for this year's application cycle)
GPA: 3.806

Volunteered at my local hospital's family medicine departement, shadowed a doctor etc.

As you can see my GPA isn't that bad but my MCAT score is below average. The school I really want to get into is University of Virginia - School of medicine. I got my undergrad degree from UVA and want to go to the medical school here as well. I am also a Virginia resident.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Doc of the Walk]

You will probably get a better response in the WAMC (What Are My Chances) forum

 

[Doc of the Walk]

Also, on that note, your GPA is good but MCAT is a little low

 

[nvdaydream]

Thanks for the quick reply. I don't know how I skipped looking at that section.

I don't want to make multiple threads. Is it possible for a Moderator to move this thread ?

 

[Myuu]

Moving to WAMC.

...well, moved, actually.

 

[dabombers]

Small word I actually scored a 29M (12-7-10) on the 4/29/11 mcat. I am scared s***less about my 7 on VR but I hope we are alright! Good luck!

 

[Catalystik]

Hi,

I just wanted to get some advice on applying to med schools. Here is my info:

MCAT: 29M (11PS, 11BS, 7VS - I know VS is horrible and I took my MCAT on 4/29/11 so I don't know if I should retake it for this year's application cycle)
GPA: 3.806

Volunteered at my local hospital's family medicine departement, shadowed a doctor etc.

As you can see my GPA isn't that bad but my MCAT score is below average. The school I really want to get into is University of Virginia - School of medicine. I got my undergrad degree from UVA and want to go to the medical school here as well. I am also a Virginia resident.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

With an MCAT score 3 points below the bottom tenth percentile for those accepted to UVa (and 9 is their bottom 10th %tile for VS), I doubt you will get much love there without improvements on a retake. Your GPA is right on target, but you don't describe your ECs as being particularly substantive. What about research, leadership, teaching, and nonmedical community service?

 

[nvdaydream]

I have been working in a Microbiology research lab for about a year. We do research on understanding the structure of the Herpes Virus. I am also a member of AMSA and have been involved with several local change drives (for the flood in haiti, Japan earthquake). I have volunteered in a local park (making flower beds etc)

I think you are right about getting into UVA. I talked to my UVA prehealth advisor today and she said the same thing. My VS is too low. Here is what I am thinking:

I can either take the MCAT again this year and try to get an application in, but then I might be too late for the current application cycle.

OR

Should I just apply to 5-6 Virginia medical schools and see what happens. If I get rejected, retake MCAT and reapply next year

OR

Just retake the MCAT and apply next year. But since I got my undergrad degree in fall of 2010, that would put a 2 year gap between getting my BA in biology and starting medical school.

I am really confused right now 🙁

 

[Catalystik]

Considering the number of 30- to 40+ year olds applying to med school, I don't think that a delay of two years at your age is much of an issue. You could use the time to make your ECs so strong that they can't turn you away. An extra year of research would serve you well, by which time you might have a publication or poster/presentation. You might attain a leadership position, perhaps through AMSA. You could add some nonmedical community service to the poor, possibly some teaching, and be sure your clinical experience and shadowing are above average in duration.

I would suggest you go with B or C, and if B, keep making your ECs stronger for a possible reapplication.