Chances for 3.2 GPA w/ 512?

[boondock]

1. cGPA and sGPA: 3.2, double major in engineering science and chemistry (four year breakdown: 3.433, 2.54, 2.412, 3.22, 3.588, 3.175, 3.60; I am planning to achieve a 3.7 in my last semester to continue the upward trend and hit the 3.2 cGPA. The drop off in my second and third semesters is due to family passing away during/right around finals weeks. The upward trend has occurred in upper level science courses.)
   
2. MCAT score(s): practice MCAT score of 512, evenly distributed
   
3. State of residence: Illinois
   
4. Ethnicity: White
   
5. Undergraduate institution: "Public Ivy"
   
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer) ~55 hours volunteering this year at a hospital; none before
   
7. Research experience and productivity: I've had 3 experiences: 1) lab shadow for 50 hours as a Sophomore in a cell signaling lab, 2) 500 hours working as a physical chemist for the FDA, here I developed a novel pharmacological method and presented at the FDA and an international conference on nanomedicine. Unfortunately, my mentor decided we did not have enough data to try and publish, but I was first author on a draft and both posters. My school has a science publication, so if it really matters I could try and just publish it in that, but I think it was really because my mentor was hoping I would go back and continue to work there. 3) 100 hours designing imaging system for breast cancer surgery for senior project. If all goes well I plan to enter a biomedical device competition at the end of the school year, which may look good.
   
8. Shadowing experience: ~50 hours this year spread between cardiothoracic and maybe one other specialty all this semester
9. Non-clinical volunteering: organized 3 philanthropies fundraising over $9000 for local mental health groups, ~25 hours of tutoring middle school students, Habitat for Humanity ~ 50 hours over a Spring Break
10. Letters: strong letter from a nanoscience professor (I received a near perfect score in the class as much of my work was on stuff we were exploring in the class), strong letter from an engineering English professor, strong letter from Senior Staff Fellow at the FDA labs

As a whole this semester will be busy for me in that I will be gaining almost all of my shadowing and clinical volunteering, while still working on my senior project and trying to crush the last semester of classes. I had hoped to get more volunteering in last semester (when I decided this was really what I wanted to do) but I injured myself and needed surgery. I know I am not by any means the strongest applicant as a result of several things but am hoping that I might fit the bill at some medical schools, and I am even more hoping that the extra effort this year will be worth it as I do not plan to do an SMP or post-bacc.

I don't really know what schools I should be looking at, so any help is appreciated.

Thanks

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[Faha]

Which schools you apply to will depend on your MCAT score. Post it here when available and we can then give you a school list.

 

[boondock]

Thanks Faha;
I suppose one question is provided I score a 512, will all of this be enough? A yes is motivating for my current MCAT studying haha

 

[Faha]

The GPA-MCAT grid shows that you would have a 1/3 chance for a MD acceptance with your stats if you score 512 on the MCAT. Given those odds you should apply to DO schools also.

 

[Goro]

Your uneven performance semester by semester, plus the overall poor cGPA, has me doubt any MD chances. Applying broadly to DO schools might be best. If you're boning for the MD, then another year's worth of aceing classes is in order.

 

[statlin98]

Current applicant -
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