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Hi everyone!
I am hoping to get some advice about how to deal with my reapplication.
I applied this cycle and only got one late interview. My stats are 3.39 total (3.35 BCPM) GPA and 35 MCAT.
A bit of background: I graduated with B.S. Biomedical Engineering (minor in Neuroscience) in 2012 and have worked since then as a high school math and physics teacher and tutor. Volunteered in an ED in college for 2.5 years, did undergrad biotech research, spent the past year doing ophthalmology research at Hopkins while I applied this cycle, have tons of other volunteer experience. By last November, when I didn't have any interviews, I freaked out, took the GRE (scored in the 95th percentile with no studying), and applied to BME masters programs. I'm now holding acceptances to every school to which I applied, including some of the top BME programs in the country (and places that I'd really like to live-- CA, CO, VA). At one of the schools, I could work on this awesome project modeling the ciliary muscle of the eye. I like engineering, and I'm a great engineer, but my heart is set on medicine. I just can't see myself being happy in any other career. I guess the plan here would be to do the masters, then re-apply to med school (possibly do MD/PhD if I find that I love engineering research). Maybe if I can make some med school connections in grad school, it could help with acceptance? That means that I would have to retake the MCAT (which is fine by me).
I'm also currently applying to some SMPs, but I've been asking around and have heard some horror stories about SMPs inflating their success stats online. I'm afraid that I'm going to spend 60k or more on an SMP only to have it not actually help me get into medical school. However, I know that if I go, I can ace those classes. I'm not sure that acing the classes is enough though...
I guess the other option is to continue what I'm doing and possibly take more undergraduate courses to boost my meager uGPA. But, I already have 186 undergraduate credits. If I take a full course load for an entire extra year, I can only boost my AMCAS GPA to 3.4 or 3.5. I've already taken so many courses that I think I'm running out of undergraduate science courses to take...
I really have no idea what the best path is; I only know that I want to be a doctor. My advisor thinks that some type of masters program is the way to go. I'm having a hard time realizing which is the right choice. Any advice would be appreciated. Sorry for the long post.
I am hoping to get some advice about how to deal with my reapplication.
I applied this cycle and only got one late interview. My stats are 3.39 total (3.35 BCPM) GPA and 35 MCAT.
A bit of background: I graduated with B.S. Biomedical Engineering (minor in Neuroscience) in 2012 and have worked since then as a high school math and physics teacher and tutor. Volunteered in an ED in college for 2.5 years, did undergrad biotech research, spent the past year doing ophthalmology research at Hopkins while I applied this cycle, have tons of other volunteer experience. By last November, when I didn't have any interviews, I freaked out, took the GRE (scored in the 95th percentile with no studying), and applied to BME masters programs. I'm now holding acceptances to every school to which I applied, including some of the top BME programs in the country (and places that I'd really like to live-- CA, CO, VA). At one of the schools, I could work on this awesome project modeling the ciliary muscle of the eye. I like engineering, and I'm a great engineer, but my heart is set on medicine. I just can't see myself being happy in any other career. I guess the plan here would be to do the masters, then re-apply to med school (possibly do MD/PhD if I find that I love engineering research). Maybe if I can make some med school connections in grad school, it could help with acceptance? That means that I would have to retake the MCAT (which is fine by me).
I'm also currently applying to some SMPs, but I've been asking around and have heard some horror stories about SMPs inflating their success stats online. I'm afraid that I'm going to spend 60k or more on an SMP only to have it not actually help me get into medical school. However, I know that if I go, I can ace those classes. I'm not sure that acing the classes is enough though...
I guess the other option is to continue what I'm doing and possibly take more undergraduate courses to boost my meager uGPA. But, I already have 186 undergraduate credits. If I take a full course load for an entire extra year, I can only boost my AMCAS GPA to 3.4 or 3.5. I've already taken so many courses that I think I'm running out of undergraduate science courses to take...
I really have no idea what the best path is; I only know that I want to be a doctor. My advisor thinks that some type of masters program is the way to go. I'm having a hard time realizing which is the right choice. Any advice would be appreciated. Sorry for the long post.
