Do I have a chance with my GPA?

[whitenoise2]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am a senior chemical engineering at University of Illinois and I've decided I may want to go to med school. I have extracurricular activities and volunteering hours what I am wondering is if I have the GPA for it.

My overall GPA is 3.28 as of now, with it likely jumping to 3.37 at the end of this semester.

My BCMP GPA is 3.33

However my grades have been improving over the years, rather drastically especially for BCMP.

Overall:
Fresh:3.07 with 35 hours
Soph:3.26 with 34 hours
Junior:3.27 with 31 hours
Senior:3.8 with 14 hours (first semester only) poised to end with 3.82 with 34 hours
Also Dean's list first semester of Senior year with likely repeat this semester.

BCMP:
Fresh: 3.02 with 29 hours
Soph:3.16 with 18 hours
Junior:3.6 with 12 hours
Seniors: 4.0 with 13 hours

Will I be able to get to the interviews at least to explain my poor first two years? I have not yet taken the MCATs. I plan to do so in the summer but I have high hopes for it. Or is my GPA just gonna kill my application right off the bat?

 

[gmcguitar4]

For MD, it is going to depend heavily on your MCAT at this point.

 

[whitenoise2]

what would be the minimum to shoot for at this point then?

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Good upward trend. The problem is that you have a way below average gpa, so to balance it, you need a way above average mcat for MD. Average for md is 31, so a 36 is a good goal. Much less is is DO competitive. A 30 would make you solid for DO.

 

[whitenoise2]

I plan to apply next year since I am currently taking 20 credit hours and completely swamped with classes and activities to study well for the MCAT. So, I am planning on taking the MCAT late in the summer so that I have a few months after graduation to study properly for the MCAT to try to get mid to high 30s, a tough goal I know but organic chem and bio are the science classes that I aced along with physics. Also, by now I have a very solid understanding of general chemistry, though 3 years ago that was not the case.

During this time I also plan to bolster my EC's via more clinical volunteer work and getting some shadowing done as I wait until next year's applications come around as most of my volunteer work is non clinical (mentoring, engineering exhibitions for children, hospital receptionist, and blood drive receptionist). Is this a bad plan? Should I just try to squeeze the MCAT in earlier to be eligible for applying during this round of applications?

I had also thought about doing Peace Corps. I had wanted to do this after high school but my parents forbade it until after college. Would it be a bad idea to try to do PC before applying to med schools since it might set me back 4 years taking into account PC applications, 27 month commitment, and the year of med school applications once I am stateside?

 

[Catalystik]

I am a senior chemical engineering at University of Illinois and I've decided I may want to go to med school. I have extracurricular activities and volunteering hours what I am wondering is if I have the GPA for it.

My overall GPA is 3.28 as of now, with it likely jumping to 3.37 at the end of this semester.

My BCMP GPA is 3.33

However my grades have been improving over the years, rather drastically especially for BCMP.

Overall:
Fresh:3.07 with 35 hours
Soph:3.26 with 34 hours
Junior:3.27 with 31 hours
Senior:3.8 with 14 hours (first semester only) poised to end with 3.82 with 34 hours
Also Dean's list first semester of Senior year with likely repeat this semester.

BCMP:
Fresh: 3.02 with 29 hours
Soph:3.16 with 18 hours
Junior:3.6 with 12 hours
Seniors: 4.0 with 13 hours

Will I be able to get to the interviews at least to explain my poor first two years? I have not yet taken the MCATs. I plan to do so in the summer but I have high hopes for it. Or is my GPA just gonna kill my application right off the bat?

Is it possible you could delay graduation for a year and take upper-level Bio to raise your BCPM GPA further?

How much clinical experience interacting with sick people do you have now? Have you done some physician shadowing as well?

Peace Corps involvement is never a bad idea, but it is a personal decision. It is generally a good application booster. Shorter term commitments can be found in Teach for America (2 years) and Americorps (9-12 months). But with any of these you'd be too busy to engage in GPA repair at the same time.

I would not try to squeeze in the MCAT early as a sterling score is critically important to you and your ECs need to be buffed up besides.

 

[whitenoise2]

Delaying graduation is not an option as I have already completed my major and declared my intent to graduate. I also very much doubt that the school would let me stick around with my major completed just to take additional science courses to boost my GPA.

My hospital volunteering experience dealt with delivering news papers and magazines early in the day as well as any gifts that may be delivered to them throughout the day. Not sure how much that counts as patient interaction. I have not done any shadowing yet but I plan on doing with my sister's pediatrician that she regularly takes my niece and nephew to.

What are my options for boosting my GPA at this point? I've heard some mentions of SMP/post bacc but I've heard some people say that these counts as graduate work and will have very little effect on my GPA for consideration for med schools. Will these even be worth the tens of thousands of dollars?

 

[Catalystik]

1) Delaying graduation is not an option as I have already completed my major and declared my intent to graduate. I also very much doubt that the school would let me stick around with my major completed just to take additional science courses to boost my GPA.

2) My hospital volunteering experience dealt with delivering news papers and magazines early in the day as well as any gifts that may be delivered to them throughout the day. Not sure how much that counts as patient interaction. I have not done any shadowing yet but I plan on doing with my sister's pediatrician that she regularly takes my niece and nephew to.

3) What are my options for boosting my GPA at this point? I've heard some mentions of SMP/post bacc but I've heard some people say that these counts as graduate work and will have very little effect on my GPA for consideration for med schools. Will these even be worth the tens of thousands of dollars?

1) You could declare a minor. But if you've already paid for the cap and gown, I can understand your reluctance. At the least you might consider adding a summer term, as August grads 'walk" in May also.

2) If you were talking to the patients and not just attending to your assigned task, it would be a fine source of clinical experience.

3) Postbacs can be informal where you take classes after graduating at your own pace. Or a formal program, where they have a set curriculum (costs more, two types: you want the GPA booster type). The GPAs for either of these are incorporated into your undergrad GPA. Or an SMP, which is typically considered grad work, is most expensive, provides no usable degree, is also a rigid, set curriculum, where you must get a 3.7+ to get your moneys worth, but most important, the GPA can override your undergrad GPA at schools that consider them and they only take a year. If you can afford it, this is your best bet. Only you can decide if it's worth it.

I think there are 3-4 programs in Illinois that help you get into med schools.