Chances...Advice?

[MPHpremed]

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Hey guys. So I don't know if this is the correct place to post this so I apologize if it's not!

I am re-applicant with the following stats:

-undergrad GPA: 3.15 (boo)
-graduate** GPA: 3.8
-MCAT: 30O (taken back in January of 2008)
-Worked for 2 years in cell biology research lab after college & was published on 2 papers
-Have been working for past 8 months (~15h/week) as a research assistant in a children's clinic (I spend 1/2 the time essentially shadowing the MD)
~200h volunteering in hospitals
-Team in training (I don't know if this counts as community service), but I raised $5000 over 6 months by running a marathon for the LLS
-I am about to get started on a clinical research project (on CHF-there will be patient interaction) & another research project (on diabetes, dealing with mostly data) (both of these will result in publications, 1 of them a report for the WHO) (both volunteer/for thesis)
-this summer...?

**I am a first year MPH student at a top 10 public health school with a combination degree in global health & epidemiology

So I guess my question is: How high of a MCAT do I need? Should I shoot for at least 33 or do I need to go higher? Also, do you see anything I am severely lacking (besides my horrible undergrad GPA) or just have any advice in general?

I applied to my state schools this past year & was interviewed at both but not waitlisted. I am planning on applying to my state schools again & prob. a wide array of other MD schools.

Thank you so much!!

 

[dragonfly99]

You have enough research.
The MCAT score is O.K. In your position might be a good idea to retake...perhaps with a Princeton Review or other review course. I did that back in the day (before there was so much review stuff on the internet). I found that the enforced practice exams and class time really helped...but one also has to do the work...I did all the assigned homework, etc.
You should be able to do better than that on the writing sample...just memorize the structure of how they want the essay to be written, and give them what they want. A lot of the physics equations, etc. can also be memorized. You have to get the timing down.

Not sure what others think, but I'm thinking that you need to do something also to try and show that you can hack it academically taking hard science courses, like upper level biology and/or chemistry. But I'm not seeing that you have time to take more classes with your MPH. Perhaps if you are finishing this semester, you could take one course next summer and one this fall, 400 level bio or something. I know burnout is probably setting in, but you need to convince the adcom you can do the science course work.

What was the MCAT breakdown, by the way?

 

[dragonfly99]

I think you need to apply to a lot of schools, too, like 30 or so. If you're going to make an omelet, you gotta break some eggs...
pick a good number of schools that don't have a super high average GPA or you might get screened out.

 

[MPHpremed]

thanks for the advice! I am retaking the MCAT in June/July so hopefully that will improve a good bit. I am also semi considering retaking biochem or one of the organics this summer for an A but I don't know if that will be possible with work...

Also my MCAt breakdown was: 10VR, 9PS, 11BS

thanks again!

 

[dragonfly99]

You really need to retake some classes because your undergrad GPA sucked. What grades did you get in organic chem and upper level biology courses? If these were not A, A- or B+ grades, you really, really need to retake some classes. The graduate GPA doesn't necessarily make up for the undergrad GPA. Your low GPA is also likely to get you screened out at a lot of medical schools, so anything you can do to drag it up, even by 0.2 points or something, would help.