ECs, California, and uncertainty...oh, my!

[BeachBlondie]

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Originally, I had sent this in a PM to one of our beloved SDN advisors. But I know she must be swamped. So, to ease some of her burden of answering me personally, I suppose I'll ask you guys.

I'm a non-traditional student from California who made the decision to go to medical school quite late in my college career. So, I ventured to Boston and am now part of the Harvard Health Careers program. I'm working for the Harris Orthopaedic Biomechanics and Biomaterials Lab at MGH, full-time, and taking two classes per semester. I work and study incredibly hard, but seem to be stagnating my GPA. I came into the program with about a 3.4, and seem to be making the same mix of As and Bs thus far. So, I can fairly accurately predict that my GPA will be about the same whence I leave the HCP.

I suppose, if anything, my application's standout would be my personal evolution. I was originally sportscasting, had the medical epiphany, and am now doing some pretty big things for a pre-med. I am in the OR every month, am a coordinator and manager for an international study, analyze x-rays, set-up and shoot patient RSA films post-op, will be published and on posters several times over by the time I apply, travel to Europe to represent the lab, and have recently been offered to ASSIST in surgery in Denmark whence I visit.

I can't tell you how incredibly thankful I am (and lucky I feel) to be doing all of these amazing things. And, I think the only reason I am given these opportunities is because I am so vocal about my willingness to learn, and because I work extremely hard.

My question to you is whether or not you think these things I am doing (which will span 3 years by my target matriculation...plus some miscellaneous volunteer, leadership, and shadowing), will be enough to give me a shot to go back to California for medical school (I've heard the rumors) considering my below average GPA.

My reason for wanting to go back is not so much for the sun and surf, but for my family. My father has been battling a very aggressive cancer for the past couple of years (so aggressive, that he lost his left arm to it), and my little sister has been chronically ill since birth. For obvious reasons, I need to get back to them.

Would I even have the chance if I apply?

 

[rHinO1]

I agree that your experience sounds great, and it is an amazing opportunity. However, what stands out to me is that you still have the opportunity to raise your GPA. I think your question should really be, should I continue this EC or get my grades up? If you really don't want to pass up this opportunity, and it is really important you go to CA for med school, then maybe you should finish up the EC before you take more classes to raise your GPA. If you do apply with a 3.4, then hopefully you kill your MCAT.

 

[gravitywave]

you sound too busy. grades must come first.

 

[BeachBlondie]

I agree ENTIRELY that grades come first.

Would it freak you out to learn that my grades are actually HIGHER since I started working for the lab? That's how I function. I was an athlete, volunteer, and worked part time in college while taking about 17-18 units per semester. It makes me prioritize.

 

[gravitywave]

I agree ENTIRELY that grades come first.

Would it freak you out to learn that my grades are actually HIGHER since I started working for the lab? That's how I function. I was an athlete, volunteer, and worked part time in college while taking about 17-18 units per semester. It makes me prioritize.

i totally get that, but i guess it depends. you have a hole to climb out of, GPA-wise, and you need to show the highest grades as the most recent, generally speaking. if you are working this schedule and rocking 3.8+ then yeah, it sounds good. but if you're still bouncing around 3.5 and not showing improvement, then past a certain point the only solution is more time with your *** in the chair at your desk. if your current schedule isn't allowing that, then it's time to reexamine your priorities.

also, given that you're living in MA, what's your plan regarding CA residency?

 

[BeachBlondie]

I feel you. And trust me, no one is as more of a proponent for me trying to kick ass in class as...well...me! This thread is in no way asking if doing this EC will be a band-aid for allowing grades to be mediocre. I'm just not THAT familiar with California applications except for hearing that it's damn near impossible to get in.

And as far as residency, I'll still have a California driver's license when I apply, was raised and will have lived there my entire life (excluding this jaunt to study in MA), and will still have some mail being funneled into my folks' house. I'm not sure if that qualifies, but I had intended to call the prospective schools and ask about the residency situation when the time came.

 

[NickNaylor]

I feel you. And trust me, no one is as more of a proponent for me trying to kick ass in class as...well...me! This thread is in no way asking if doing this EC will be a band-aid for allowing grades to be mediocre. I'm just not THAT familiar with California applications except for hearing that it's damn near impossible to get in.

And as far as residency, I'll still have a California driver's license when I apply, was raised and will have lived there my entire life (excluding this jaunt to study in MA), and will still have some mail being funneled into my folks' house. I'm not sure if that qualifies, but I had intended to call the prospective schools and ask about the residency situation when the time came.

Definitely something you should look at ASAP. Some states can be finnicky about determining residency, and especially in CA where the schools are extremely competitive, that'll be a huge part of where you should ultimately apply.

 

[BeachBlondie]

Definitely something you should look at ASAP. Some states can be finnicky about determining residency, and especially in CA where the schools are extremely competitive, that'll be a huge part of where you should ultimately apply.

Ok. Maybe I'll do that. I just didn't want to be THAT premed like, "Hey, uhh...I don't apply for a while...but can you tell me about residency?" I think you're right though...

And, as a post-script, a fellow SDNer and I used to surf together and quote Lil Weezy while in the water. Constantly. I mean, it was usually the extent of our conversations out there.

 

[muhali3]

Nail the MCAT and try to show an upward trend with the time that you have left.

A 3.4 with bad grades initially but then a major upward trend looks better than a consistent 3.4 throughout all semesters.

I think you have a pretty good shot though, the GPA seems to be the only deficit in your application.

 

[rHinO1]

CA residency will have nothing to do with drivers licenses and mail, and everything to do with whether or not you are a dependant and where you and your parents have lived during the year before matriculation. Better look into it well before you apply.


Also, Cole/Nick, the new name really threw me off, haha. I guess no more colethetroll jokes, huh?

 

[BeachBlondie]

@ The Artist Formerly Known As ColeTheTroll:

Thank You For Smoking is the BUSINESS!

 

[NickNaylor]

CA residency will have nothing to do with drivers licenses and mail, and everything to do with whether or not you are a dependant and where you and your parents have lived during the year before matriculation. Better look into it well before you apply.


Also, Cole/Nick, the new name really threw me off, haha. I guess no more colethetroll jokes, huh?

Haha, nah. Changed the name because I was a little tired of being identified by random people at med school (this happens more than you would expect). I think I might leave the Lil Wayne avatar up as my identifying mark though.

Wasn't expecting the name to switch while I was actually using SDN though... 😱