Do you think I should apply for med school? Please voice your opinions

[crieka]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi, Unlike many of you. I'm a transfer student from a Junior College (JC) to UCLA. So I did most of my undergrad at a JC got a 3.90. However, when I transferred to UCLA, I didn't do as well. My GPA at UCLA is 3.2 (it sucks to see my GPA went down the drain). It's because I have a low GPA at UCLA that I really hesitate to take on the MCAT, and I have not taken it. I'll be done with everything in December, so I really want to take the MCAt in April. What score should I really aiming for? and does my JC GPA helps or anything? or should I do post bac? Do I still have a shot at getting accepted?

Additional stuff: I have some research background, clinical experience, TA for a chem lab, community services, leadership stuff, honors, awards, publication, extracurricular acitivities, teaching.

Please voice your opinions and give me some advice, I would really appreciate it.

 

[gaf]

What score should I really aiming for?
and does my JC GPA helps or anything?
or should I do post bac?
Do I still have a shot at getting accepted?

Take a practice test and try to set a realistic goal. An MCAT score >34 should put you in a fair position if your BCPM GPA is ~3.4.

Your JC GPA helps as much as it contributes to your cum and science GPAs.

A post-bac wouldn't hurt your chances, but if you did well in the prerequisite sciences, then a few As in upper level science classes would probably be sufficient.

Yes.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

The JC GPA will not help much if adcoms see that you are unable to maintain such performance at UCLA.

 

[smokeycat]

Four points to make...
1) About getting accepted...it really depends upon where you want to go to school. Some schools may not accept credits from a junior college.

2) GPA and MCAT score are not related, so don't worry about that. Some people have bad GPAs and good MCAT scores and others have bad MCAT scores and good GPAs. Try to aim for 30+. Find a good study strategy/method for the MCAT (check out the MCAT forums for some ideas).

3) If the MCAT score, ECs and LORs are strong, then that should even things out with the GPA.

4) Most importantly, contact the schools that you are interested in and find out their cut offs for MCAT scores, GPA, and junior college classes.

 

[captain hazel]

if you decide not to try to take the MCAT vs. you take it & bomb it, you'll be in the same position: not able to apply to med school. same thing with applying; not trying vs. trying & getting rejected puts you in about the same boat, minus a lot of money & an extra year of pursuing this path.

if all that's worth it to you to give a medicine a shot, I'd say go ahead. at the very least see where you are on a practice MCAT before you throw in the towel completely.

 

[fullefect1]

Four points to make...
1) About getting accepted...it really depends upon where you want to go to school. Some schools may not accept credits from a junior college.

Isn't Wake Forest about the only school who doesn't accept pre-req's from 2 years schools? Anyone else now any othe schools.