Do I have good chance at UC schools?

[JC385]

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hey guys,

Firstly, good luck to those who are applying this year. I will be applying next year, and I am concerned about my first year grades. I totally screwed up my first year, ending up with a 3.0 GPA (three C's and two W's) Last two years, I worked my butt off, maintaning 3.9 GPA with an average of 23 units course work per quarter. In addition, I did some research and volunteering at the hospital. My current overall GPA is around 3.7(3.5 science) and I scored 33(8V, 13B, 12P) on MCAT. BTW, I go to UCLA for undergrad and my major is physiological science. Do you think I have good chance at UC med schools, especially UCSD? Is there anyone who got into UC schools with similar stats as mine? Also, I will be getting my B.S. this summer and what do you recommend me doing while applying to medical schools? I would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

 

[Alexander99]

Numerically (GPA and MCATs), you should be fine (although 11's all around would have been better than a lopsided score.)

Now the question for admissions committees becomes, "OK. This person has the academic skills to succeed. Is he going to make a good doctor?" That's where your UNIQUE experiences (those beyond regular volunteering and research that most applicants have) and the interview (what you're like in person, your motivation) come into play.

I'm sure getting interviews at the UCs (with the exception of UCSF and Davis--they're somewhat strange in what they look for) shouldn't be a problem but getting in is the ultimate goal so that's what you should concentrate on.

Try getting some experiences in the meantime that will make you stand out. More importantly do something that interests you as a person, not something just to make you look good as an applicant. Good luck, I'm sure things will work out for you.

BTW, I'm glad you appreciate UCSD for the Maxim school that it is. 😀

 

[viking]

you have a chance. no guaruntee. it's a crap shoot.

 

[Goober]

Of course you have a chance. Your numbers are good enough for UCSD but there have been plenty of people who have had better numbers than you and not get in and there are also plenty of people with much worse numbers who did get in.

Apply to all the UCs/Cali schools and make sure you have plenty of back up schools out of state.


This year I would definitely spend sometime doing something medically related jobwise and ECwise. If all you have are academics and shadowing/volunteering you are no going to impress that many people on the adcoms. Adcoms love unique things that set you apart. I honestly don't know if it will make you a better doctor but it will help your application.

 

[rgporter]

hey guys,

Firstly, good luck to those who are applying this year. I will be applying next year, and I am concerned about my first year grades. I totally screwed up my first year, ending up with a 3.0 GPA (three C's and two W's) Last two years, I worked my butt off, maintaning 3.9 GPA with an average of 23 units course work per quarter. In addition, I did some research and volunteering at the hospital. My current overall GPA is around 3.7(3.5 science) and I scored 33(8V, 13B, 12P) on MCAT. BTW, I go to UCLA for undergrad and my major is physiological science. Do you think I have good chance at UC med schools, especially UCSD? Is there anyone who got into UC schools with similar stats as mine? Also, I will be getting my B.S. this summer and what do you recommend me doing while applying to medical schools? I would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

Nobody has a good chance at UC's, not even the proverbial 4.0/43er. Spread your application around. I'm not saying you shouldn't apply to UC's, but if you only apply to schools in cali you will most likely regret it.

 

[BaseballFan]

I think you have a chance, but not a good chance.

 

[dentate_gyrus]

UCSD seems to really expect research experience in their applicants. I know people have gotten in without any, but I have yet to actually meet one of them.

 

[meanderson]

I'd guess a 65-70% chance to get into one of the UC's if you apply to all 5. You can either say to yourself that you would rather apply again next year with an improved application to all the UC's again or put a ton of out of state schools on your primary if you just want to make sure you get in somewhere.

 

[derf]

hey guys,

Firstly, good luck to those who are applying this year. I will be applying next year, and I am concerned about my first year grades. I totally screwed up my first year, ending up with a 3.0 GPA (three C's and two W's) Last two years, I worked my butt off, maintaning 3.9 GPA with an average of 23 units course work per quarter. In addition, I did some research and volunteering at the hospital. My current overall GPA is around 3.7(3.5 science) and I scored 33(8V, 13B, 12P) on MCAT. BTW, I go to UCLA for undergrad and my major is physiological science. Do you think I have good chance at UC med schools, especially UCSD? Is there anyone who got into UC schools with similar stats as mine? Also, I will be getting my B.S. this summer and what do you recommend me doing while applying to medical schools? I would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

Depending on your personality, genuine interest in medicine, and your ability to convey this is writing and in person, you should be a lock for some UC's. Your stats are very good and should not hinder you at all.

 

[SaltySqueegee]

To the OP,

I just applied last round with very similar numbers 3.72 GPA (Overall/Science/Non-Sci) 32P (8V, 13P, 11B), and with the same major in Systems Physiology. I also did a chem minor and religious studies minor for the humanities focus. I ended up interviewing at 2 of the UC's UCLA and UCI. However, I also interviewed at 7 out of state schools. (I will not list my EC's; lets just say I covered my bases and some.)

I ended up finding that the UC system is truly a crap shoot. In the words of my friend who went to the second week look at UCSF, the director said in so many words that there are so many overqualified people with 4.0's and 40+ that the only option is to take a fishnet and scoop some from the pool, interview them, and accept the non-socio/psychopaths.

The UC system is crazy. Like some of the posters on this thread, if your primary goal is to get the MD, you will get an excellent education anywhere. You make the ultimate deciding variable in the quality of your medical education, not necessarily the institution. Keep an open mind.

$.02

 

[jlee9531]

Nobody has a good chance at UC's, not even the proverbial 4.0/43er. Spread your application around. I'm not saying you shouldn't apply to UC's, but if you only apply to schools in cali you will most likely regret it.

this is the advice id follow.
you may get interviews, but on getting the actual acceptance...you never know.
sure people with your numbers have gotten in, but people with much better numbers havent. its all about the adcoms seeing something they like in you.

 

[BigBopper]

My brother had very similar stats 3.72 gpa, 33 MCAT, biochem major from UCSD. Good ECs and LORs. He ended up interviewing at UCSF and UCLA while UCI,UCSD and UCD didn't even offer him interviews (go figure that!). He was on waitlists at UCSF/UCLA and never got off them. He ended up going to a top 25 school out of state.

 

[acidbreeze]

you have a chance. no guaruntee. it's a crap shoot.

word to that