Canadian Student Aiming for Hopkins!

[Caracci]

Can anyone offer some advice for a not-so-high GPA applicant with their hopes on Johns Hopkins?


Stats:

- From British Columbia
- UG GPA - 3.46
- MCAT - 31S
- Great extracurriculars, lots of work experience
- Graduated with Masters of Science from Hopkins Medical School (GPA 4.0)
- Great LORs

I know my GPA is quite low and I know it is definitely NOT my full potential as I focused a lot on my social sciences instead of science courses during undergrad.. I'm currently taking a bunch additional science courses to prove that I can handle a full course-load of sciences, as well as fulfill the prereqs at American schools.

I'm considering waiting a year and improving my GPA even more... but have been told to "apply this year anyways" by colleagues..

Thanks so much in advance!! 🙂

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[saveourpens]

To be blunt, with your GPA, MCAT, and international status, you don't have much of a chance at Hopkins.

 

[druggeek]

Sorry GPA too low.

 

[Caracci]

Can anyone offer some advice for a not-so-high GPA applicant with their hopes on Johns Hopkins?


Stats:

- From British Columbia
- UG GPA - 3.46
- MCAT - 31S
- Great extracurriculars, lots of work experience
- Graduated with Masters of Science from Hopkins Medical School (GPA 4.0)
- Great LORs

I know my GPA is quite low and I know it is definitely NOT my full potential as I focused a lot on my social sciences instead of science courses during undergrad.. I'm currently taking a bunch additional science courses to prove that I can handle a full course-load of sciences, as well as fulfill the prereqs at American schools.

I'm considering waiting a year and improving my GPA even more... but have been told to "apply this year anyways" by colleagues..

Thanks so much in advance!! 🙂

 

[Caracci]

sorry, correctly posted in "what are my chances" forum... sorry new to this blogging stuff..

if someone knows how to delete this post please advise!

thanks again

 

[TheMightySmiter]

If you apply this cycle with those stats, I think your chances of acceptance at ANY American school are small, without even considering Hopkins. Canadian applicants are sometimes viewed separately from other international applicants, but even so, there are a lot of Canadian applicants and very few spots. Most of your competitors have nearly flawless applications. What is the maximum you could raise your GPA with an extra year of science classes? And could you expand on your extracurriculars?

 

[Goro]

Foolish advice. Johns Hopkins is one of the best medical schools in the USA. You'll need to ace your remaining courses and do better on the MCAT (>34) if you wish to be taken seriously by them.

but have been told to "apply this year anyways" by colleagues..

Thanks so much in advance!! 🙂

 

[Missamoora]

Really? You are Canadian? I am too lol..from Montreal. 😀 I love Montreal..Anyways I think you have a shot. On the Johns Hopkins Medical School website, although it says there are only 160 spots for international applicants...your gpa is just under the average GPA and MCAT score. The website says to aim for a 3.5 or better with a 30/31 MCAT. It depends on what your extracurricular activities were. If you have participated in extensive clinical and non-clinical volunteer/employment activities..and you say that they were great..so that would also play a big factor. I think its definitely worth applying. I am pretty sure Hopkins does not just care about your GPA and MCAT. Someone with a 40 MCAT and 4.0 GPA may not get in if they haven`t participated in extracurrricular activities that demonstrate their commitment to medicine. and personality.

The Johns Hopkins website specifically states:
" First-time applicants with higher GPAs have stronger outcomes. From 2003-2008, first-time Hopkins applicants with a 3.3 cumulative GPA or greater had more than an 88% chance of being accepted to at least one U.S. allopathic (M.D.) medical school.

• Even applicants with low GPA also experience considerable success. From 2003-2008, first-time Hopkins applicants with a cumulative GPA below a 3.3 had just under a 50% chance of being accepted to at least one U.S. allopathic medical school."


Also,

"• Medical schools value quality and commitment over quantity when it comes to volunteer, clinical, and research experiences. All students applying to medical school, especially those who heavily focus in the sciences, should engage in at least two substantial (e.g., longer-term; beyond “shadowing”) clinical exposures and/or volunteer opportunities. Students should choose experiences that they are committed to and not just do what they think is expected."



I think its a very smart idea that you are taking more Science classes. It will help you in any Medical School you get into in the future. As long as you bring your GPA just little a bit higher..like 3.5 or greater..I think you are good to go. Have you had any volunteer experience? clinical experience..Research? shadowing doctors? EMT programs?

I am sure you have a good shot..because your right in the average!

GOOD LUCK! 😀


Johns Hopkins is my dream school to! 🙂

 

[Missamoora]

I don`t think that`s foolish at all. What about "Masters of Science from Hopkins Medical School (GPA 4.0)" ..Doesn`t that count for anything? Even the Johns Hopkins website says that students need to stop being obsessed over a perfect GPA.

Foolish advice. Johns Hopkins is one of the best medical schools in the USA. You'll need to ace your remaining courses and do better on the MCAT (>34) if you wish to be taken seriously by them.

 

[Sephiroth]

your gpa is just under the average GPA and MCAT score. The website says to aim for a 3.5 or better with a 30/31 MCAT.

Where did you get those numbers? I don't know about mean, but the median GPA at JHU is 3.89 and MCAT is 36. In fact, their 10th percentile GPA is higher than 3.65

I think those "aim for" numbers are just to have your application looked at. But if you can afford the time and money, go ahead and apply if you want.

 

[Brachyury]

Really? You are Canadian? I am too lol..from Montreal. 😀 I love Montreal..Anyways I think you have a shot. On the Johns Hopkins Medical School website, although it says there are only 160 spots for international applicants...your gpa is just under the average GPA and MCAT score. The website says to aim for a 3.5 or better with a 30/31 MCAT. It depends on what your extracurricular activities were. If you have participated in extensive clinical and non-clinical volunteer/employment activities..and you say that they were great..so that would also play a big factor. I think its definitely worth applying. I am pretty sure Hopkins does not just care about your GPA and MCAT. Someone with a 40 MCAT and 4.0 GPA may not get in if they haven`t participated in extracurrricular activities that demonstrate their commitment to medicine. and personality.

The Johns Hopkins website specifically states:
" First-time applicants with higher GPAs have stronger outcomes. From 2003-2008, first-time Hopkins applicants with a 3.3 cumulative GPA or greater had more than an 88% chance of being accepted to at least one U.S. allopathic (M.D.) medical school.

• Even applicants with low GPA also experience considerable success. From 2003-2008, first-time Hopkins applicants with a cumulative GPA below a 3.3 had just under a 50% chance of being accepted to at least one U.S. allopathic medical school."


Also,

"• Medical schools value quality and commitment over quantity when it comes to volunteer, clinical, and research experiences. All students applying to medical school, especially those who heavily focus in the sciences, should engage in at least two substantial (e.g., longer-term; beyond “shadowing”) clinical exposures and/or volunteer opportunities. Students should choose experiences that they are committed to and not just do what they think is expected."



I think its a very smart idea that you are taking more Science classes. It will help you in any Medical School you get into in the future. As long as you bring your GPA just little a bit higher..like 3.5 or greater..I think you are good to go. Have you had any volunteer experience? clinical experience..Research? shadowing doctors? EMT programs?

I am sure you have a good shot..because your right in the average!

GOOD LUCK! 😀


Johns Hopkins is my dream school to! 🙂

That information relates to JHU undergrads applying to med school, not applicants interested in apply to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Yeah, if you get a 3.3 at Hopkins (or Vassar or Washu or Rice etc) you probably will be able to get in somewhere, but it probably won't be JHSOM

 

[Missamoora]

Oh okay..You are correct. I guess I didn`t pay attention to that. Apparently 120 people are accepted out of like 4,000 + applicants and 700-800+ interviews. That is so competitive. A higher GPA and MCAT is actually necessary. But what if her GPA was like 3.5 and her MCAT was like 40 and her extra-curriculars were really good? Wouldn`t the high MCAT score help at all?

 

[sector9]

Merged identical threads

 

[FrkyBgStok]

OP, you have no chance at JHU. The fact is canadian/international applicants are expected to be above and beyond if they are qualified to take american spots at american schools. What I mean is that a school may have an average of 3.5 gpa and 30 mcat, and to be a competitive canadian applicant, they should be rolling with a 3.7, 33 mcat. There isn't any actual statistics that I know of, but you are an international applicant. You can't expect to get the exact same consideration as a citizen, can you?

You are also shooting for hopkins. Probably in the top 5 most competitive med schools. You don't have the scores to get in there as an american applicant. if you really want hopkins, you are probably going to need a good three years of gpa repair as their median is so high, and you need to raise your mcat almost 10 points to be considered competitive as an international applicant.

honestly, as a canadian, you are competitive for DO schools in america. You can still gun for hopkins, but it is going to take more than a year. the masters is nice, but you are in the <10th percentile. Not going to make up for it, Good luck.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Instant lawl when you see an American with a GPA under 3.7 and MCAT < 36 applying to Hopkins. Imagine how bad I laughed when I saw you I saw your scores and the fact that you were Canadian.

 

[Caracci]

I know I've got a lot of work to do... I really messed up my first year of UG...

I really appreciate everyone's feedback, though. I just absolutely love the school!

thanks again

 

[Missamoora]

If you have an upward trend in your GPA I think that would show them that you have worked really hard and you didn`t just give up..that`s good. I still think it is worth applying.

What are your extracurricular activities though?

I don`t think its fair that international applicants have to have higher statistics just because they are international applicants and there are only a limited number of spots.
I think it`s still worth a try!

Do you speak french? Just wondering?

 

[Caracci]

Hmm... i can get by in French.. I do speak 2 other languages besides English though.

I have an upward trend in UG grades.. I also have a lot of hospital and OR shadowing experience, and working at a med tech firm. I also took medical school anatomy and ranked within the top 5% with Hopkins med students, while taking regular MSc courses. I know that doesnt mean much since my GPA is pretty pathetic but I think I may still try to apply anyway... I know it's a super long shot but I may regret it if I dont... 🙁

 

[BetrayingChopin]

Hmm... i can get by in French.. I do speak 2 other languages besides English though.

I have an upward trend in UG grades.. I also have a lot of hospital and OR shadowing experience, and working at a med tech firm. I also took medical school anatomy and ranked within the top 5% with Hopkins med students, while taking regular MSc courses. I know that doesnt mean much since my GPA is pretty pathetic but I think I may still try to apply anyway... I know it's a super long shot but I may regret it if I dont... 🙁

For comparison, I'm Canadian too. Applied to JHU med with 3.8 cGPA, 37 MCAT and decent ECs. Wasn't so surprised when they rejected me pre-interview.

I think it's totally fair to raise the bar for international students. To be realistic, it might be helpful to take off 0.1 from your GPA and 2 marks from your MCAT, and reconsider your choices. Good luck!

 

[Stumpyman]

To be blunt, your aren't really too competitive at any US MD school, let alone JHU. Undergrad gpa is too low, MCAT needs to be 34+ to say the least, I don't know what you mean by "great ECs." You posted on here or chances, let us be the judge of the ECs. I think you should broaden your school list by a lot, it really isn't going to make the largest difference if you have to settle for a mid-low tier MD school.

 

[gumbyj]

I know I've got a lot of work to do... I really messed up my first year of UG...

I really appreciate everyone's feedback, though. I just absolutely love the school!

thanks again

Yeah I really love the school as well - obviously - it's Hopkins. But I have a 3.4 GPA and even with a 40 MCAT (which is possible based on my recent practice scores) and publications in top journals I probably have a better chance of being struck by lightening. And I am not Canadian.

Just trying to put this in perspective. You do not have a chance at Hopkins.

 

[music2doc]

Can anyone offer some advice for a not-so-high GPA applicant with their hopes on Johns Hopkins?


Stats:

- From British Columbia
- UG GPA - 3.46
- MCAT - 31S
- Great extracurriculars, lots of work experience
- Graduated with Masters of Science from Hopkins Medical School (GPA 4.0)
- Great LORs

I know my GPA is quite low and I know it is definitely NOT my full potential as I focused a lot on my social sciences instead of science courses during undergrad.. I'm currently taking a bunch additional science courses to prove that I can handle a full course-load of sciences, as well as fulfill the prereqs at American schools.

I'm considering waiting a year and improving my GPA even more... but have been told to "apply this year anyways" by colleagues..

Thanks so much in advance!! 🙂

Honestly, even if you were a US applicant, not a chance. If you were URM and a US citizen, maybe. With those stats, your best shot is your own province. Some low to mid tier US MD programs would give you consideration as well. Best to apply to some DO programs as well due to the internat'l status. Your numbers are very much "meh" (MCAT is decent, GPA is mediocre/poor for MD). ECs are really only important after you have a strong MCAT & GPA, so "great ECs" (which honestly makes me skeptical anyway) won't do you much (if any) good with your current GPA unless said ECs included truly impressive and unique accomplishments (regularly sing at Carnegie Hall/Elphaba on the Wicked National Tour, Founder/President of Children's Hope Chest, member of the 2012 US Olympic Team, etc.).