Do I even have a shot for top 10 school?

[Doo]

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Hi guys, I'm very pessimistic about my chance (if any) at getting into a top 10 school. In fact I'm not even sure if I should apply to them at all.

I have three major concerns:
1. GPA is not that hight, 3.6 total, 3.7for science. Also, I have a C on my transcript for organic 2nd semester chemistry, which really bothers me.
2. I never shadowed.
3. I haven't taken my mcat. Have done a few practice exams. The score is really unbalanced. I have been consistently getting 13-14 on PS, 11-12 on BS, but only 9-10 on VR. I fear that my VR is really going to hurt.

Other than that, I go to an ivy school (don't even knownibit helps), econ major, have hospital volunteering (1 winter break, 1 summer break), have solid letters, taking 2 gap yrs doing biol research at school, going to publish as a second author soon.

I just wonder if i have a chance at top 10 at all. If not, what range should be appropriate for me to have a fair chance to get in? Much thanks and good luck to everyone who is applying!

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Your average GPA combined with sparse ECs means your chances at top ten schools are not good. Why are you so interested in those schools? You need to do something to get your app noticed, like an outstanding or unique leadership experience. A few months of volunteering and no shadowing isn't going to cut it at top tens, even with research and a good MCAT.

Basically, why should adcoms choose you over hundreds of other students with the same stats and better experiences?

 

[AvidAvatar]

Let us speculate that you do your best on the MCAT - 14/10/12.

That is a 'low' 3.6 GPA with an 'average' MCAT and no standout activities. To be honest, unless you have some sort of ace - your research is totally awesome, crazily disadvantaged URM, amazing experience in the medical field....I personally think you would be wasting your money applying to top schools. I think it would be even tough for you to get an interview at any of these places.

Also, I feel like you are counting your chickens before they hatch here. Work hard and get your MCAT done before anything else. If you get anything below your bottom range (33) you are going to have a tough bad time applying. 3.6/31 comes a dime a dozen these days, and if you don't have that ace I was speaking about you are going to get lost in the swarm.

I know this post sounds harsh, but your profile looks somewhat like mine when I failed at my first cycle. I'm trying to help you not repeat this mistake. Go get that MCAT going, post a great score, and you will be fine! Also, get some shadowing experience if your volunteer work did not put you in direct contact with patients...you don't need much...just something in the double digits hour wise.

Good luck man!

Edit: Honestly I think she said what I was trying to say better than I did. ^^^

 

[Doo]

Your average GPA combined with sparse ECs means your chances at top ten schools are not good. Why are you so interested in those schools? You need to do something to get your app noticed, like an outstanding or unique leadership experience. A few months of volunteering and no shadowing isn't going to cut it at top tens, even with research and a good MCAT.

Basically, why should adcoms choose you over hundreds of other students with the same stats and better experiences?

Can you give me an idea what kind of experience will get their attention? Really what I meant is what's the "the threshold experience" then?

I do have some other experience, but they might not be considered "outstanding".

1. I was Econ major and decided to switch profession after my hedge fund internship experience. This is in my PS, don't no if it is even tiny bit interesting
2. Have been TA for two biol classes, tutor for chem, calc, physics for 4 years. I guess this is leadership but nothing outstanding?
3. My volunteering is in ER which does put me in direct contact with the patients. Though not shadow specific doctors, was observing doctors/nurses all the time.

Thank you for being critical nd I think inshould be more realistic. Then what schools should be "fair chance" for me and what schools should be safety? Assuming ibget mt mcat in 35-36 range. I really don't know how competitive I am for MD now with my poor EC. Thanks again?

 

[Doo]

Let us speculate that you do your best on the MCAT - 14/10/12.

That is a 'low' 3.6 GPA with an 'average' MCAT and no standout activities. To be honest, unless you have some sort of ace - your research is totally awesome, crazily disadvantaged URM, amazing experience in the medical field....I personally think you would be wasting your money applying to top schools. I think it would be even tough for you to get an interview at any of these places.

Also, I feel like you are counting your chickens before they hatch here. Work hard and get your MCAT done before anything else. If you get anything below your bottom range (33) you are going to have a tough bad time applying. 3.6/31 comes a dime a dozen these days, and if you don't have that ace I was speaking about you are going to get lost in the swarm.

I know this post sounds harsh, but your profile looks somewhat like mine when I failed at my first cycle. I'm trying to help you not repeat this mistake. Go get that MCAT going, post a great score, and you will be fine! Also, get some shadowing experience if your volunteer work did not put you in direct contact with patients...you don't need much...just something in the double digits hour wise.

Good luck man!

Edit: Honestly I think she said what I was trying to say better than I did. ^^^

Thanks for your advice and I guess I was still over optimistic. Can you please refer to my reply to the mighty smiter? Then what schools are more realistic to me? Let's play safe, assuming 35 on mcat? I still have time to improve my mcat, so shouldn't get below 33 unless I really screw up.
Another question, how awesome is the research going to be considered awesome? Will a publication in Nature or Science do?

Thank you for your "harsh" comment, overall i do need to be realistic!

 

[Catalystik]

1. Can you give me an idea what kind of experience will get their attention? Really what I meant is what's the "the threshold experience" then?
2. Have been TA for two biol classes, tutor for chem, calc, physics for 4 years. I guess this is leadership but nothing outstanding?

1) Top schools would like to see outstanding performance in some field of endeavor, and Leadership, as they aim to train the future leaders in medicine.

2) Most would list those experiences under Teaching, rather than Leadership.

 

[Doo]

1) Top schools would like to see outstanding performance in some field of endeavor, and Leadership, as they aim to train the future leaders in medicine.

2) Most would list those experiences under Teaching, rather than Leadership.

Thank you for clarifying that. Though it's a little discouraging to hear that, I think it helps for me to get realistic. Is leadership very crucial in general for medical school? I think I really don't have relevant experience on this part. I mean, do I even have a shot for top 30? Thanks for the help.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

it isn't completely necessary, but it helps. if that is all your clinical/volunteering, you need to drastically increase that or you may not have a chance at all. Before you start worrying about where you can get in, take the mcat and get your score. Than come and list all of your stats and we can have a better idea. Right now it is all speculation at best and I am not sure you listed all your ECs. If you get a 24, no sense in talking about MD at all. If you get a 41, we can entertain some better possibilities based on your ECs.

 

[Catalystik]

Is leadership very crucial in general for medical school?

For general purposes, it isn't required, but if present, always strengthens an application. And so does teaching.

 

[AvidAvatar]

Awesome research is research that you care about. It progresses with you as a main part or driving force. Being novel and having some success is also good. Publications are awesome. I don't really know beyond that...my bench top research was pretty cookie cutter. I don't think I squandered my time, but it was certainly not a passion of mine. Ask someone who knows more than me.

I'm not even going to bother posting schools that would fit you until you take that MCAT! 🙂 You will have plenty of people to help you make those decisions...Catalystik often posts information like that. Good luck on the test!

 

[Doo]

it isn't completely necessary, but it helps. if that is all your clinical/volunteering, you need to drastically increase that or you may not have a chance at all. Before you start worrying about where you can get in, take the mcat and get your score. Than come and list all of your stats and we can have a better idea. Right now it is all speculation at best and I am not sure you listed all your ECs. If you get a 24, no sense in talking about MD at all. If you get a 41, we can entertain some better possibilities based on your ECs.

i think you are right. for now i'll just focus on my mcat which is on may 12, and worry about this when i have a score to look at. thanks!

 

[Doo]

For general purposes, it isn't required, but if present, always strengthens an application. And so does teaching.

thanks for the clarification! i got freaked out a little because i'm pretty much absolute blank in the leadership field...

 

[Doo]

Awesome research is research that you care about. It progresses with you as a main part or driving force. Being novel and having some success is also good. Publications are awesome. I don't really know beyond that...my bench top research was pretty cookie cutter. I don't think I squandered my time, but it was certainly not a passion of mine. Ask someone who knows more than me.

I'm not even going to bother posting schools that would fit you until you take that MCAT! 🙂 You will have plenty of people to help you make those decisions...Catalystik often posts information like that. Good luck on the test!

i guess my research has a small chance to be considered awesome then. i spent much time in it, and pretty much drove the project from beginning to end and really know the bottom of the project. but still, you are right, it's too early to talk about all of this until i have my MCAT score. Thanks!

 

[Acceptable User]

Thank you for clarifying that. Though it's a little discouraging to hear that, I think it helps for me to get realistic. Is leadership very crucial in general for medical school? I think I really don't have relevant experience on this part. I mean, do I even have a shot for top 30? Thanks for the help.

Unfortunately, you won't even have a shot at the top 73 schools unless you get some shadowing under your belt. I also assume (perhaps incorrectly) that you won't have a good answer to "why medicine?" If this is the case, you should probably hold off on applying until you have a good answer.