Could I get into NYU? NYMC? BU? Temple?

Continue to do volunteer work for the next year, score above a 30 on the MCAT, maybe get some research experience, get a 4.0 during your post-bac. Your grades and other EC's are great. I think you have a legit shot if this is really what you want to do.

 

What are you worried about?
You'll get into a top school that is probably considered better than NYU or any of the other schools.

Oh, but leave this out of your application "-Listed in Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities" ....no one really cares about that..

HOw did you get a 3.97 if you bombed your freshman year at another school for undergrad? Schools won't care as long as you have an upward trend. You are unique cuz you are theater / english major or just english with work in theater...

You didn't really mention why you wanted to do medicine....you need to figure that out...a calling? or family member involved in it? I would say boost your clinical exposure rather than worry about classes right now....

 

Well you have a lot going for you. Now you just need to refine your clinical exposure and show that you know what you are getting into. Physics at community college won't matter if you do well on the MCAT. Get above 30 on the mcat and then your community college and other stuff won't matter. Before applying you need to get some more clinical such as that volunteer...try to think of a personal experience when you were young or a while back that has solidified yoru dream to become a doctor...a loved one's battle with a disease..or maybe when you broke your leg from trying to do the splits all the way to the ground but your body just wasn't ready yet....who knows...
You can want to do something all you want, but they are looking for a little experience in addition to everything else.
What you have other than that, is magnificent. They will love the fact that you have acted and can talk to people and have shown leadership and done a slightly non-trad route with English major.

Here's what you need to do: You say:

"I love medicine."
PROVE IT ....how? with volunteer work...how have you seen medicine in action?

"I love the science."
PROVE IT....if you love science so much, why were you an English major? Why did you take physics at community college? Why not double major?

"I love the humanism."
PROVE IT....Many say medicine these days lacks any sort of personal humanistic connection to the patients. Patients now are just a number to send to the insurance company. Why not get involved in nursing?

"I love the technology."
PROVE IT...When have you worked with technology? I don't see CS major written on your application. Most the English majors I know smoke weed all day and then at night bust a paper out on a microsoft word program. No technology there unless you count figuring out fun things that can be made into a bong. How can you like technology and advancement if you don't even do research?

"I love the intellectual challenge."
PROVE IT....That 2.8 you got there....Was that challenge just a little too rough for you? Couldn't handle it could ya? How will you be able to handle a dying patient?

Hope you realized I am just playing a super tough interviewer for ya!! I think you have a really good chance if you get some clinical exposure and can really justify each of those reasons as to why you want to go into medicine. You must substantiate everything...(you know, you are an English major) Oh yea, Do SOME research...even if it is for 6 months....YOU SHOULD DO IT! Then that way you can say, I tried it but I didn't like it...if you don't do it b/c you think it will not appeal to you..then you never tried...also, look for a clinical research position...those would be more fun...
GOOD LUCK!

 

First of all, IMHO, the best thing to do for NYU or any other medical school is to get meaningful clinical exposure. This is hugely important. It is very rare for people to be accepted to med school without having at least some experience with medicine. I am at NYU currently and I can tell you that they do look highly on students that are interested in clinical medicine. The residency program is very inbred, and they take a lot of medical students so the medical students should be able to show that they wanna get there hands dirty working at Bellevue hospital.

That being said, there is a large number students who have done research and the school is on a big research kick, so that could definitely help.

As far as you're concerned otherwise though, I would say that the great equalizer of all the grades and academic stuff is the MCAT. NYU tends to favor students with higher numbers, compared to other comparable schools in terms of reputation. I think it is very important to get above a thirty, and getting a 33 or above would put you in a great position. Also, come in and schedule an appointment with Dean Brienza in the admissions office. He is a great man, who is very reasonable. He won't overlook numbers though, they should be competitive with other students who are applying.

Also make sure you're gpa would truly be a 3.97 when all the amcas type calculations are done. In general, community college grades are frowned upon, but I don't think they'll keep you out.

Also letters are very important, try to get good letters from science and non-science faculy members before they forget you. If you have a premed advisor, talk to them about a committee letter.

So overall, my advice to you is that you seem to have some nice little extracurricular things going, but those aren't nearly as important as letters of rec, clinical experience, and especially MCATS. A low MCAT will pretty much drop you out of the running immediately.

Best of luck to you, and don't sell yourself short, you have a very legitimate chance.