CA resident with 2 years left of UG. Advice please!

[radhopeful2021]

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Hi all,

First and foremost, I thank you for taking the time to read this lengthy post and any inputs you have to offer. 😍 After reading some of the threads other CA residents have been asking, I'm worried my statistics are not competitive enough for California schools as I'm attending a state university (compared to University of California applicants). I know I have 2 years left to strengthen my application but not sure if I'm on the right track. This is what I currently have:

3.6GPA
150+ volunteering hours at pharmacy and local clinic (do hours done in high school count as well? I have over 150 hours from high school)
4+ months vertebrate research
Training in mental health aid

[+'s are there because I plan on continuing and having more hours before I really do apply] I have other activities as well, such as playing two sports, gardening, knitting, and reading in my spare time.

If I continue to do well in my last 4 semesters, I will end up somewhere 3.7+GPA . I'm also planning on shadowing a couple doctors in different specialties I'm interested in studying. As for my research, I am working on a new project so publications will be farther down the line, but definitely before I apply.

The thing I'm most worried about is my MCAT score. Though I haven't taken it yet, I'm afraid that it will hinder my chances to a California school. Are there any other MD schools in the US that's welcoming to California residents or with minimal stats similar to mines? I'm willing to consider DO schools as my backup!

Any advice and suggestions are gladly accepted!

p.s. if it makes any difference, I'm Asian 🙁

 

[RT to MD]

Hey SK, don't sweat it- it isn't just your GPA and MCAT that gets you into med school. Really, GPA and MCAT scores only get your primary application noticed more. After that, it's who you are as a person that gets you into med school. As far as CA schools go, well sometimes you can't always get into the schools you want, but each school has their own list of characteristics they look for in a potential med school candidate.

Keep studying hard. Try your best to get A's in all your classes (of course) and continue trying to maintain volunteer hours. However, don't let volunteer hours conflict with the quality of studying you achieve and the grades you obtain. Get that GPA to 3.7+ and do well on your MCAT. If you have 2 years left to strengthen your GPA, that must mean that you're heading into your sophomore year- correct? If so, that's plenty of time to show schools that you're committed when they see your grades. And also, being Asian does help 🙂

Study Hard!

 

[radhopeful2021]

Thanks for your encouraging reply! I feel a bit more at ease now that I know that it isn't really all based on GPA and MCAT scores. I know that getting into my dream is is near impossible so I'm trying to aim within the state, so I can be closer to my family. I'm actually heading into Junior year in the next couple of weeks - 4 semesters left until I graduate. I've been reading the application cycle threads too and the process just seems overwhelming; there's just so many stages an applicant has to pass and the thought of not clearing a stage is quite frightening. How does being Asian and from California help, if I may ask?

 

[Goro]

Well, prepare and take the MCAT, and then proceed. Your numbers are fine right now. It's premature to be worrying about your chances when you haven't taken the MCAT yet!

Hi all,

First and foremost, I thank you for taking the time to read this lengthy post and any inputs you have to offer. 😍 After reading some of the threads other CA residents have been asking, I'm worried my statistics are not competitive enough for California schools as I'm attending a state university (compared to University of California applicants). I know I have 2 years left to strengthen my application but not sure if I'm on the right track. This is what I currently have:

3.6GPA
150+ volunteering hours at pharmacy and local clinic (do hours done in high school count as well? I have over 150 hours from high school)
4+ months vertebrate research
Training in mental health aid

[+'s are there because I plan on continuing and having more hours before I really do apply] I have other activities as well, such as playing two sports, gardening, knitting, and reading in my spare time.

If I continue to do well in my last 4 semesters, I will end up somewhere 3.7+GPA . I'm also planning on shadowing a couple doctors in different specialties I'm interested in studying. As for my research, I am working on a new project so publications will be farther down the line, but definitely before I apply.

The thing I'm most worried about is my MCAT score. Though I haven't taken it yet, I'm afraid that it will hinder my chances to a California school. Are there any other MD schools in the US that's welcoming to California residents or with minimal stats similar to mines? I'm willing to consider DO schools as my backup!

Any advice and suggestions are gladly accepted!

p.s. if it makes any difference, I'm Asian 🙁