Can I do this...

[maleficent350]

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Basically, I've been looking at my credentials and I'm not sure if I can get in. I have a 3.29 GPA with C's in organic chemistry, physiology of microorganisms, and physics. No D's or anything bad like that. I know that this will hurt me. I have not taken my MCAT.

The good news is that I have been working in a research lab since freshman year, and will continue working in it until I graduate in '08. My research is quite advanced, and it's looking like I might be published a few times. I want to get some clinical experience, and am planning on going into phlebotomy this summer.

I'm planning on applying to the University of Oklahoma med school. I may apply to some others, but it would be my first choice to go to OU.

Yesterday I had a conversation with my PI (boss in the lab) about admissions, and his feeling was that I cannot get in. However, he is usually very rigid when it comes to GPA and hasn't been at the school long enough to have anything but anecdotal opinion. He himself admits this.

What I'd like is some honest second opinions about whether or not I can get in. Please be frank with me as the rosy picture helps freshmen but doesn't help me too much.

 

[MadHopsMD]

Basically, I've been looking at my credentials and I'm not sure if I can get in. I have a 3.29 GPA with C's in organic chemistry, physiology of microorganisms, and physics. No D's or anything bad like that. I know that this will hurt me. I have not taken my MCAT.

The good news is that I have been working in a research lab since freshman year, and will continue working in it until I graduate in '08. My research is quite advanced, and it's looking like I might be published a few times. I want to get some clinical experience, and am planning on going into phlebotomy this summer.

I'm planning on applying to the University of Oklahoma med school. I may apply to some others, but it would be my first choice to go to OU.

Yesterday I had a conversation with my PI (boss in the lab) about admissions, and his feeling was that I cannot get in. However, he is usually very rigid when it comes to GPA and hasn't been at the school long enough to have anything but anecdotal opinion. He himself admits this.

What I'd like is some honest second opinions about whether or not I can get in. Please be frank with me as the rosy picture helps freshmen but doesn't help me too much.

Take the MCAT. 3.3 GPA isnt bad (backing it up with research and post bacc will help). But take the MCAT. A 35+ (95%tile) will make up for your less than average GPA.

ANd dont listen to your PI. Most likely he wants you to do a Masters so he can get free labour from a talented kid like you....

 

[jash0624]

never say never. rock the mcat, maybe do a postbac or some grad school. if you want it enough, you'll be willing to work your ass off for it.

 

[modelslashactor]

if you know even a little spanish, consider studying abroad in a latin american country. the classes are easy as hell, you'll become fluent in an important language, and you can also take some time to do some volunteer work in a relatively underserved area (depending on where you go).

 

[dr_90210]

Basically, I've been looking at my credentials and I'm not sure if I can get in. I have a 3.29 GPA with C's in organic chemistry, physiology of microorganisms, and physics. No D's or anything bad like that. I know that this will hurt me. I have not taken my MCAT.

The good news is that I have been working in a research lab since freshman year, and will continue working in it until I graduate in '08. My research is quite advanced, and it's looking like I might be published a few times. I want to get some clinical experience, and am planning on going into phlebotomy this summer.

I'm planning on applying to the University of Oklahoma med school. I may apply to some others, but it would be my first choice to go to OU.

Yesterday I had a conversation with my PI (boss in the lab) about admissions, and his feeling was that I cannot get in. However, he is usually very rigid when it comes to GPA and hasn't been at the school long enough to have anything but anecdotal opinion. He himself admits this.

What I'd like is some honest second opinions about whether or not I can get in. Please be frank with me as the rosy picture helps freshmen but doesn't help me too much.

sry, the probability of a 3.3 with Cs in orgo, physics, and other science classes getting 35+ on the mcat is very low.

 

[tdd340]

You also have this whole year to raise that GPA too. Don't count yourself out, you have a decent chance.

 

[MedStudentWanna]

You need to bust your ass for the MCAT. Study as hard as you possibly can. Also, how important is an MD to you? I ask because if you want to be a physician, the DO route is open and you may be competitive there.

If you have your heart set on MD, I'd take the MCAT. If you get anything less than a 33-35, consider doing a post-bacc, either formally or informally. Take some upper division sciences and get all A's. On your application, it'll have each year divided, so you'll get a GPA for freshman year, sophomore year, junior year, senior year, and post-bacc. Make sure the post-bacc is a 4.0 (with around 30 credits) or as close to it as humanely possible. Whatever you do, don't do a graduate degree unless it's an SMP where you take first-year med school classes. Grad degrees in anything else mean virtually nothing as far as making up for a lackluster undergrad record in the basic sciences.

 

[jash0624]

sry, the probability of a 3.3 with Cs in orgo, physics, and other science classes getting 35+ on the mcat is very low.

I disagree. Some people (like me) are just good at taking standardized tests and not so good at taking other tests. Which is a huge weakness, but it can result in a high MCAT score without great grades.

 

[MadHopsMD]

I disagree. Some people (like me) are just good at taking standardized tests and not so good at taking other tests. Which is a huge weakness, but it can result in a high MCAT score without great grades.

Ya i agree, studying for standardize tests is quite different from school tests. Nonetheless, getting a C in physics should cause some worry if the physics course was introductory AND the student tried really really hard. 🙂

 

[HumbleMD]

Basically, I've been looking at my credentials and I'm not sure if I can get in. I have a 3.29 GPA with C's in organic chemistry, physiology of microorganisms, and physics. No D's or anything bad like that. I know that this will hurt me. I have not taken my MCAT.

The good news is that I have been working in a research lab since freshman year, and will continue working in it until I graduate in '08. My research is quite advanced, and it's looking like I might be published a few times. I want to get some clinical experience, and am planning on going into phlebotomy this summer.

I'm planning on applying to the University of Oklahoma med school. I may apply to some others, but it would be my first choice to go to OU.

Yesterday I had a conversation with my PI (boss in the lab) about admissions, and his feeling was that I cannot get in. However, he is usually very rigid when it comes to GPA and hasn't been at the school long enough to have anything but anecdotal opinion. He himself admits this.

What I'd like is some honest second opinions about whether or not I can get in. Please be frank with me as the rosy picture helps freshmen but doesn't help me too much.

There are a million posts on topics like these. I'll help with some advice, some anecdotal, some more general. Yes, your GPA will be a problem, especially in the first round. Schools often use strict numbers cut-offs in the screening process. Thi bigger problem is that if you have C's in your science classes, then your science GPA (calculated seperately and considered seperately), will be more in the 2.0-2.9 range, is many schools won't even consider you.

Can you take more science classes to up that GPA? Are you in your sophomore year? There's still time to buckle down and up those numbers. Have you considered changing your study habits? If you sincerely want to enter medicine as an M.D., take the MCAT before you start considering a go/no-go. That can be the real deal breaker with your GPA.

 

[jash0624]

Ya i agree, studying for standardize tests is quite different from school tests. Nonetheless, getting a C in physics should cause some worry if the physics course was introductory AND the student tried really really hard. 🙂

That might be true. I'm a physics major and I taught SATs and MCATs for the Princeton Review and I figured out that physics is something that you get..or don't get. You can't fake it. 🙂

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

Basically, I've been looking at my credentials and I'm not sure if I can get in. I have a 3.29 GPA with C's in organic chemistry, physiology of microorganisms, and physics. No D's or anything bad like that. I know that this will hurt me. I have not taken my MCAT.

The good news is that I have been working in a research lab since freshman year, and will continue working in it until I graduate in '08. My research is quite advanced, and it's looking like I might be published a few times. I want to get some clinical experience, and am planning on going into phlebotomy this summer.

I'm planning on applying to the University of Oklahoma med school. I may apply to some others, but it would be my first choice to go to OU.

Yesterday I had a conversation with my PI (boss in the lab) about admissions, and his feeling was that I cannot get in. However, he is usually very rigid when it comes to GPA and hasn't been at the school long enough to have anything but anecdotal opinion. He himself admits this.

What I'd like is some honest second opinions about whether or not I can get in. Please be frank with me as the rosy picture helps freshmen but doesn't help me too much.

PI is wrong. 3.2 here with 5 interviews and counting. It can be done. Takes an SMP/PB, clinical volunteering, research, lots of extracurriculars, and strong LORs, but you should have most of those by now.

 

[Schaden Freud]

As many people have already said, the MCAT will either make you or break you. Do what you can do score at least in the low 30's, and you will get interviews (although not even close to as many as you would have with a higher GPA).

Basically, I've been looking at my credentials and I'm not sure if I can get in. I have a 3.29 GPA with C's in organic chemistry, physiology of microorganisms, and physics. No D's or anything bad like that. I know that this will hurt me. I have not taken my MCAT.

The good news is that I have been working in a research lab since freshman year, and will continue working in it until I graduate in '08. My research is quite advanced, and it's looking like I might be published a few times. I want to get some clinical experience, and am planning on going into phlebotomy this summer.

I'm planning on applying to the University of Oklahoma med school. I may apply to some others, but it would be my first choice to go to OU.

Yesterday I had a conversation with my PI (boss in the lab) about admissions, and his feeling was that I cannot get in. However, he is usually very rigid when it comes to GPA and hasn't been at the school long enough to have anything but anecdotal opinion. He himself admits this.

What I'd like is some honest second opinions about whether or not I can get in. Please be frank with me as the rosy picture helps freshmen but doesn't help me too much.

 

[desout777]

if you do a postbac, SMP or MA/MS program it'll help. From what I've seen, people who do well in those programs typically do fine regardless of undergrad GPA. BTW your undergrad GPA isn't bad... it's only bad for going to med school.

Also, do well this year... an upward trend can't hurt!

If you want to do medicine, there's no reason to switch your career goals. You just have to work harder now.

 

[maleficent350]

Thanks guys for all of your help. I'll be back on later to give/get more details.

 

[Law2Doc]

I have a 3.29 GPA with C's in organic chemistry, physiology of microorganisms, and physics.

With the C's all in sciences, what is you BCPM? If it is a lot lower than your GPA, you may want to take more science classes, to try and pump it up a bit before you get to the MCAT stage. The MCAT will be a big factor for whether you get looked at, so you don't want to take it until you are scoring really well on full length practice tests.
There are people who have gotten into med school with low B averages, although the average matriculant has higher. However you never want to put all your hopes in a single school.

 

[MDstudent101]

Ehh forget your PI!!! A 3.3 isn't that bad, get good Mcat score preferibly in the mid or high 30's and then get clinical experience with recom. letters. And I believe you should be fine, oh and you can also consider a post bac. program before med school... Just my 2 centz...😉

 

[maleficent350]

I am a 4th year student, but have already made the decision to stick around for 5 so that I can finish up my research and also up my GPA. This may be impossible, but I'm considering a dbl. major in zoology and microbiology. I'm a micro major right now, and it seems that there are many coreqs, plus the extra sciences would up my science GPA. Also I have zoology credit hours in the lab, which both up my science GPA and count for some upper division zoo electives. Thoughts?

As far as upping my general GPA, I'm thinking of taking some intersession classes - couple of weeks and not tons and tons of money to give me three more A hours if I do it right.

What kinds of extracurriculars should I have other than the lab? I've devoted so much time to it that I don't have much else, but realize that it's time to get in on other things. I'm looking at maybe a summer internship somewhere else and taking a break from the lab, and also cutting back on my lab hours so that I can fit in other extracurriculars alongside all of that. I think the lab is worth sticking with because I will be published if I do, but it's time to integrate other things I think.

I kind of loafed with no direction for my first three years, but then realized what my calling is and that I really, really want this. I'm willing to work my tail off and not take no for an answer. I understand that I might not get in the first time around but amd going to try my absolute hardest.

 

[Lanced]

See my MDapps for some hope!

 

[Justins]

If your mcat is mid 30s+, it will make up for it. otherwise, apply after one year. spend the year taking classes to fluff up your gpa. good luck!

 

[parafilm]

bumping a 3 year old thread, eh?

 

[nick_carraway]

bumping a 3 year old thread, eh?

I didn't even see how old this was until I saw EternalRage's avatar and did a double-take since I haven't seen him around.