Chances...

[Chemstud]

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Hey...I wanted to know what my chances are of med school. I am a junior majoring in medicinal chemistry with a 3.83 at the University of Buffalo. I want to apply to one of the SUNY schools. I have done a good deal of research, but have no volunteer experience. I plan on volunteering next semester and over the summer. I have not taken the MCAT, but from practice tests I would say I will probably score around a 35(I havent started studying for it yet either...so I should do well...even if the practice tests are not perfect predictions). Any thoughts as to what my chances are/what more I should be doing?
PS. I would actually really like to go to the University of Buffalo's medical school, would I be wise to do early decision, I know its putting all the eggs in one basket...but it is definately where I want to go over anything else... Am I a strong enough applicant for early decision and would it increase my chances of being accepted there? Any thoughts or comments appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Tezzie]

If you get a 30+ with your GPA you should be ultra strong for any of the SUNYs (assuming that you are instate).

Yes just go ahead and apply early decision if that's where you want to be.

Good luck!

 

[doc05]

you should talk with someone in admissions at Buffalo Med. EDP may be a good option.

 

[Chemstud]

bump

 

[vugu62]

Just remember that med schools look not only at GPA and MCAT but your extracurricular activities, work experience, if you had a life in college, do you have a personality, etc. I have known many people from my undergraduate school that had great MCAT and GPA scores but couldn't even make it through the interviews at Med schools like Hopkins,Penn, etc., because they weren't very good at interacting with people and lacked social skills. Remember, Med schools accept people with 3.4s and 3.9 gpa's.

 

[Amy B]

You may have good stats but you are really going to need those volunteer experiances, especially in a clinical environment. Without it you couldn't get an early acceptance spot.

 

[umass rower]

Your chances are precisely 78.6948703% for acceptance.

Seriously though dude, just go for it. There's only one way to find out, right? Trust me, nobody on here has a much better idea than you do of what will and won't get you in. Only admissions committees know what it takes.

 

[KarateGirl]

My Magic 8-ball says, "Try again later".




I say, talk to your premed advisor.

 

[ewing]

Originally posted by umass rower
Only admissions committees know what it takes.

dude...AdComs don't know anything...they just make a decision...hopefully, if you apply to enough schools, a few of them will decide to take you...but it's not like anyone knows

 

[Chemstud]

bump

 

[rackd8ball]

My premed advisor, who's been in the business for 20yrs, says that patient-contact volunteer work is an absolute MUST for med school applications. You can't prove to yourself or to adcoms that you want to become a doctor if you haven't been around patients yet.

Everything else sounds great; wish you the best of luck!

 

[umass rower]

Originally posted by ewing
dude...AdComs don't know anything...they just make a decision...hopefully, if you apply to enough schools, a few of them will decide to take you...but it's not like anyone knows

Actually, they do know what it takes because their perception is reality as far as admissions go. If an admission committee says, "This guy has what it takes to enter our school," guess what? They're right!

 

[czarbasch]

Hey,

I am also currently at UB. I am a senior and I am applying right now. I interviewed at all the SUNYs and I got in at Upstate, waitlisted at UB and Downstate and I am waiting to hear from Stony Brook.

So you should have no problem getting into a SUNY school especially if you score very high on your MCATs. In response to Early Decision, if your stats are that good and you apply early you will get in early. You don't need to apply early decision because if they like you they will interview you. I didn't apply Early Decision but I interviewed on the first day they offered interviews. Also the down side about early decision is that if you don't get in or get waitlisted you will be a little behind in applying to the other schools.

Like the other posters already said, clincal experience is very important. If you don't have any it might prevent you form getting in.

Anyways PM if you have any other questions. If you want some clincal experince check out the APMS shadowing program or the Buffalo General Volunteer program. You really need to have clincal experince to see first hand what the career of a Physcian is like and if it is what you truely want.

 

[czarbasch]

BTW it's the University at Buffalo