Currently 3.54 cGPA, 3.41 sGPA, upcoming 3rd year taking MCAT in 1 month

[boxasaurus]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Currently I'm a 3.54 cGPA and a 3.41 sGPA (3.5 with research units) California student hoping to get into medical school in Socal (Keck is my dream school).

I'm aiming to raise my Science GPA to a 3.62 and my cumulative GPA to a 3.68 by the time I apply in June.

As for my activities:
Community Service Club:

• 2012-2013 Secretary
• 2013-2014 Vice President
• (Possibly?) 2014-2015 President
• Summer camp small group leader (worked with group of 10 participants)
• 125.5 Hours of community service (Will be close to 150-170 by the time of application

2 years of Research

• Honorary mention on a paper
• Directly manage a research team of 10-15 people and assign them grades.
• Presented at a UROP Symposium.

Will have 100 Hours of Clinical volunteer from the campus medical center.
Will be a secretary in another club.

As for recs I'll be asking the following:

• Research Mentor (signed by professor) (Hoping he talks about my work ethics and how I manage a group of students for research)
• Humanities TA/PhD Candidate who determined my grade for one class. (Wanting him to talk more about how well-rounded I am)
• Community service club advisor (Wanting her to talk about my dedication and work-ethics)
• Medical Center coordinator
• 1 Science teacher in the upcoming 2 quarters... (Hoping it works out)

I'm applying to mainly southern california schools (UCLA, USC, UCI, UCR, and maybe Loma Linda) and schools on the west coast. I'll be applying to other schools in the country, but hope to stay in southern california

However, I got a C+ in a Physics class and a C in my molecular biology class. The C+ I can't explain, but for my molecular bio class, I'm going to state that it was due to how I overworked myself and attended club events every week and had numerous all nighters to prepare my research for a symposium.

So my questions are as follow:

1. How well would I have to do on the MCAT to make myself look more competitive when applying, and should I look for SMP/Post-bacc programs?

2. How do the 2 C's affect my entrance, given that I sharpen up my explanations and do well on the MCAT (say, 34 or so)?

3. What's my chance of staying in Southern California? Be honest, I'm fine with any form of criticism.

4. Should I just do a gap year in hopes of boosting my gpa even more?

 

[Goro]

I'd say if you canmaintain your rising trend, that these schools will be your best best in CA. throw in UCD too.


I'm applying to mainly southern california schools (UCLA, USC, UCI, UCR, and maybe Loma Linda) and schools on the west coast. I'll be applying to other schools in the country, but hope to stay in southern california


For CA schools? 36 You don't need a post-bac/SMP unless you don't have any safety schools and you get shut outhis app cycle. Western and TUCOM-CA would take you easily.


1. How well would I have to do on the MCAT to make myself look more competitive when applying, and should I look for SMP/Post-bacc programs?

Don't fuss about them. Maybe Stanford will sneer at you for getting Cs..

2. How do the 2 C's affect my entrance, given that I sharpen up my explanations and do well on the MCAT (say, 34 or so)?

See above.
3. What's my chance of staying in Southern California? Be honest, I'm fine with any form of criticism.

Wait and see how you do once you're finished with school. But really, apply more broadly and you're sure to get in, unless MCAT is problematic.


4. Should I just do a gap year in hopes of boosting my gpa even more?[/QUOTE]

 

[calimdluv]

1. To stay in Ca, you will need a high MCAT, like 34, 35 at least. But then again, it really is a crab shoot. Do you best.

2. the 2 C's shouldn't affect too much, but some schools like UCs might use it to screen out applicants just bc they can. I had 3 C's, retook the important ones, got 6 OOS MD interviews and 4 acceptances.

3. see #1

4. It depends what your goal is. My GPA was essentially the same as yours and I had a great cycle. You can take a year or two off to pursue your other interests, which may be a great selling point in your application and conversation starter during interviews. Increasing # of people take gap years, my class avg age is 25.

 

[boxasaurus]

I'd say if you canmaintain your rising trend, that these schools will be your best best in CA. throw in UCD too.


I'm applying to mainly southern california schools (UCLA, USC, UCI, UCR, and maybe Loma Linda) and schools on the west coast. I'll be applying to other schools in the country, but hope to stay in southern california


For CA schools? 36 You don't need a post-bac/SMP unless you don't have any safety schools and you get shut outhis app cycle. Western and TUCOM-CA would take you easily.


1. How well would I have to do on the MCAT to make myself look more competitive when applying, and should I look for SMP/Post-bacc programs?

Don't fuss about them. Maybe Stanford will sneer at you for getting Cs..

2. How do the 2 C's affect my entrance, given that I sharpen up my explanations and do well on the MCAT (say, 34 or so)?

See above.
3. What's my chance of staying in Southern California? Be honest, I'm fine with any form of criticism.

Wait and see how you do once you're finished with school. But really, apply more broadly and you're sure to get in, unless MCAT is problematic.


4. Should I just do a gap year in hopes of boosting my gpa even more?

[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the advice, but do you think it would better then for me to do gap year? I honestly feel overly anxious and worried due to my two C's...

1. To stay in Ca, you will need a high MCAT, like 34, 35 at least. But then again, it really is a crab shoot. Do you best.

2. the 2 C's shouldn't affect too much, but some schools like UCs might use it to screen out applicants just bc they can. I had 3 C's, retook the important ones, got 6 OOS MD interviews and 4 acceptances.

3. see #1

4. It depends what your goal is. My GPA was essentially the same as yours and I had a great cycle. You can take a year or two off to pursue your other interests, which may be a great selling point in your application and conversation starter during interviews. Increasing # of people take gap years, my class avg age is 25.

Do you think it would be better for me to persuade my counselors to let me retake the classes I got C's in despite not reaching the requirement for taking classes (C- or lower)?