c3.3 GPA, strong ECs?

[solecism]

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Currently a junior, contemplating whether to take a year off, or to apply this cycle. My primary concern is my GPA.

Major: Sceince and humanities double, at a top private university
GPA: Will be about 3.3 at the end of the spring semester. BCPM is about the same.
MCAT: Will be taking soon, aiming high!

Research since freshman year, published.
Clinical rehab work since freshman year (several hours weekly).
More than a thousand hours of volunteering as an EMT (I run as a crew leader).
Captain of a club sport.
LOCs will be good.

I know my GPA is nauseating, but I'm really hoping to apply this summer/fall. Do you think I have a chance, if my MCAT is good? I'm aware that I could be a competitive applicant if I take a year off and boost my GPA. I'm also, however, absolutely itching to go to med school. Advice, please? 😳

 

[Green Grass]

Study hard for the MCAT and do well. What do you have to lose by applying? I would recommend that you apply, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. You lose nothing by at least giving this application cycle a shot.

 

[411309]

Currently a junior, contemplating whether to take a year off, or to apply this cycle. My primary concern is my GPA.

Major: Sceince and humanities double, at a top private university
GPA: Will be about 3.3 at the end of the spring semester. BCPM is about the same.
MCAT: Will be taking soon, aiming high!

Research since freshman year, published.
Clinical rehab work since freshman year (several hours weekly).
More than a thousand hours of volunteering as an EMT (I run as a crew leader).
Captain of a club sport.
LOCs will be good.

I know my GPA is nauseating, but I'm really hoping to apply this summer/fall. Do you think I have a chance, if my MCAT is good? I'm aware that I could be a competitive applicant if I take a year off and boost my GPA. I'm also, however, absolutely itching to go to med school. Advice, please? 😳

Go DO, I think it will be rough getting MD with a 3.3 gpa unless your mcat was pretty awesome.

 

[Green Grass]

If you don't want to become a DO, why immediately apply for it? Test the MD waters first.

 

[411309]

Well he never said he was against DO anyways. And DO is still medical school. If your chances are better for DO then why not apply there over MD? You could apply to some MD schools of course, but still id put more effort into applying DO schools..

 

[HotandCold]

Currently a junior, contemplating whether to take a year off, or to apply this cycle. My primary concern is my GPA.

Major: Sceince and humanities double, at a top private university
GPA: Will be about 3.3 at the end of the spring semester. BCPM is about the same.
MCAT: Will be taking soon, aiming high!

Research since freshman year, published.
Clinical rehab work since freshman year (several hours weekly).
More than a thousand hours of volunteering as an EMT (I run as a crew leader).
Captain of a club sport.
LOCs will be good.

I know my GPA is nauseating, but I'm really hoping to apply this summer/fall. Do you think I have a chance, if my MCAT is good? I'm aware that I could be a competitive applicant if I take a year off and boost my GPA. I'm also, however, absolutely itching to go to med school. Advice, please? 😳

3.3.... bad. And a 3.3 in your sciences? Eh.. And to be fair, it doesn't help that you've gone to a "top" school. "Top" schools are regarded as notorious for grade inflation to begin with.
Hmm... Your MCAT should be phenomenal. Very, very phenomenal. Study for it like your life depends on it.

If you don't get above a 34, I suggest you apply to DO schools as well. The average for MD schools is like 3.7, and they're stringent. For DO schools, it's 3.5, but they're lenient. Your EMT volunteer experience as an EMT will push you over.

 

[solecism]

Thank you so much for your advice, everyone. 🙂

I go to a top (non-ivy league) school with notorious grade deflation, although I'm sure admissions doesn't really take that into consideration. Or do they?

If my MCAT is really good, do you think I would still have a shot at MD schools? I'm sure it wouldn't mitigate my GPA completely, but is GPA weighed more heavily than the MCAT?

 

[Catalystik]

Thank you so much for your advice, everyone. 🙂

I go to a top (non-ivy league) school with notorious grade deflation, although I'm sure admissions doesn't really take that into consideration. Or do they?

If my MCAT is really good, do you think I would still have a shot at MD schools? I'm sure it wouldn't mitigate my GPA completely, but is GPA weighed more heavily than the MCAT?

You can get an idea of the chances past applicants had with your GPA and various MCAT scenarios here: 2011 sector9 graphs with explanations: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=888650

You might also figure what your best-case scenario for GPA will be in summer 2013, and see how that number changed chances as well.