Do I have a chance

[waterlily85]

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26 yr old URM female (Jamaican/Cuban-Panamanian)

MCAT 38s

cgpa 3.1

BCPM gpa 3.3

ECs:1 yr of shadowing and volunteer work at a hospital and a women's health clinic. No research.

I haven't told any yet about my desire to go to med school since it's such a big decision (emotionally, financially, educationally, etc) I wanted to get some feedback first to see if my MCAT score may be competitive enough to compensate for my low gpa.

If any of you think I have a shot are there any schools in particular you would recommend I apply to?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Lijia4]

Your EC's initially appear to be kind of lacking....how many hours total or how consistent was your shadowing and volunteer work?

Your MCAT is solid, and will definitely help out with your gpa. Have you met with a med school advisor?

Here's a link that's been shared before on sdn : http://www.studentdoc.com/medfind.html you can enter your stats and your region and see where you are competitive. There are so many schools and I have no idea where you live so it's hard to make suggestions. You're really just going to have to do some initial research yourself and see what is important to you when it comes to schools, etc. Be open to both MD and DO schools. Good luck!

 

[waterlily85]

I have about 75-80 shadowing hours. And about 130 volunteering hours from the hospital and clinic combined.

Oh and I'm in Atlanta right now but I'm from NY and pay taxes for both if that matters.

 

[DoctaJay]

Your MCAT is great but if your application came across my desk prior to me interviewing I would plan on grilling you hard as to why your GPA is so low. Now if you had a rough first 2 years then had great years after that then I would be less concerned. Or if you were an engineering major which is notorious for having graduates with lower GPAs then I would be less concerned. But if you were barely able to get an A in your science classes I would have some questions for you. With that said you will get interviews, maybe at a nice amount of the top medical schools however I would advise you to diversify your portfolio. Apply to top, middle, and lower tier medical schools. Go to all of your interviews and then wait for acceptances. If I interviewed you and you spoke eloquently, were likeable, and helped me to learn more about you your GPA would fade to the background. So work on getting the interviews and rock your interviews and you should do quite well.


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[Lincoln Brown]

26 yr old URM female (Jamaican/Cuban-Panamanian)

MCAT 38s

cgpa 3.1

BCPM gpa 3.3

ECs:1 yr of shadowing and volunteer work at a hospital and a women's health clinic. No research.

I haven't told any yet about my desire to go to med school since it's such a big decision (emotionally, financially, educationally, etc) I wanted to get some feedback first to see if my MCAT score may be competitive enough to compensate for my low GPA.

If any of you think I have a shot are there any schools in particular you would recommend I apply to?

Thanks in advance!

Well , your MCAT is too good but your lower GPA may not allow you to get into a med school . Don't worry you can still work on medical sector. There are many areas to work, you can choose any one and can go for specialization on that field . And for you I can suggest it would be better if you do a course on Sonography Technician ,as this profession is on great demand and after completion you will definitely earn a good salary. While searching for some details about Sonography Technician I got the following sites :http://www.sonographytechnician.org/salary-information-for-sonography-technicians/ and http://www.sonographytechnician.org/financial-aid-and-scholarships-for-sonography-technicians/ , which may give you some ideas about the universities , scholarships , scopes and salary.

 

[Espadaleader]

Are you international? If you are a citizen you have a great chance. Apply post-bac.

 

[approx]

Well , your MCAT is too good but your lower GPA may not allow you to get into a med school . Don't worry you can still work on medical sector. There are many areas to work, you can choose any one and can go for specialization on that field . And for you I can suggest it would be better if you do a course on Sonography Technician ,as this profession is on great demand and after completion you will definitely earn a good salary. While searching for some details about Sonography Technician I got the following sites :http://www.sonographytechnician.org/salary-information-for-sonography-technicians/ and http://www.sonographytechnician.org/financial-aid-and-scholarships-for-sonography-technicians/ , which may give you some ideas about the universities , scholarships , scopes and salary.

I don't think she wants to be a Sonography Technician.

Waterlily85, do you already have a bachelor's degree? If so, may I suggest browsing the Postbaccalaureate forums? You might find helpful leads and encouraging stories in there.

In a nutshell, I think you would work on boosting your GPA. If you have a BS degree, consider applying to an SMP -- Special Master's Program. Although this won't affect your undergrad GPA, it will allow you to demonstrate that you've improved your study habits while in a rigorous program. If you have a BA degree and have completed your basic sciences, consider applying to a post-bacc "academic enhancer" program (as opposed to a "career-changer" program), where you take upper division science courses to boost your undergrad GPA.

 

[waterlily85]

Does it matter at all that my gpa is upwardly trending? For the past yr and a half my gpa has been a 4.0 (just went back to school after life interfered). All of my pre med requirements have been completed except organic chem 2 in the fall and possibly bio chem. Oh and with the exception of physics 1 and calc 2 I got A's in them all. I'm finishing up a BS in psychology degree and will have some psychology research (starts in the fall) and probably about 150-200 hrs more volunteer work by the end of next spring.

It sounds like most of you think I'm not a hopeless case which is nice. Well with the exception of the Sonography Technician guy. :-/ I'll check out SMP programs though if I'm honest I'm not thrilled about that option. Thanks approx and everyone who offered advice here and in PMs.

And no I'm not an international student just a 1st gen immigrant with identity issues. Lol

 

[dragonfly99]

I think you have a shot. Just keep doing what you are doing. Do you already have a BS degree?

I think you could even apply now, but you would need to get your application in very, soon, like within the next few weeks. If you do this, I think you should apply only to all of your state schools, consider osteopathic schools too, and to some other private schools that have a lower average GPA. Your MCAT can make up for a lower GPA a little, and an upward trend in your GPA will matter to admissions committees.

If you don't feel ready to apply now, you may have a better application next year. You would have more volunteer hours, and hopefully a bit higher GPA, and would have time to gather recommendation letters.

Your MCAT score is quite good, and you are to be congratulated on that.

Medical school and being a physician is more like a marathon than a sprint. Some people just cannot clear that MCAT hurdle, which you already did. The GPA is fixable. Concentrate on good grades and some clinical volunteer hours. Talk to a premed advisor as soon as possible.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Don't listen to people trying to tell you that you need to go into a technician position. Your MCAT is beyond impressive. You are definitely in the game. You will be questioned about your GPA, but if you have a reason, they will give you the benefit of the doubt.

Best of luck.

 

[Sailor Senshi Dermystify]

Don't listen to people trying to tell you that you need to go into a technician position. Your MCAT is beyond impressive. You are definitely in the game. You will be questioned about your GPA, but if you have a reason, they will give you the benefit of the doubt.

Best of luck.

👍 I agree with his statement above 🙂. Your MCAT score is extremely high and best of luck to you this cycle 😀