Engineer applying to MD schools

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alphacat92

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Hi everyone,
I am an engineering junior at a small school in NY. I wanted your help to see what I can do between now and when I apply to MD schools to improve my chances. I plan on applying this summer to matriculate in 2014.
Overall GPA: 3.42
sGPA: 3.35 (C's in calc III and principles of physical chemistry). I'm planning on including fluid mechanics and engineering mechanics in my sGPA.
I had a bad semester my freshman year (2.7 GPA, including a W in physics. I definitely learned from my mistakes and there is an upward trend thereafter).
This past semester, I had 22 credits and my toughest courseload so far. I ended up getting a D in organic chem I but A's in everything else (still waiting for one more grade)

Clinical volunteer experience: I've been going to a hospital for 2 hours a week and going around to different clinics to give presentations on health literacy. I plan on doing more patient-care-oriented volunteering this summer (and doing way more hours)
No real nonclinical volunteer experience

Physician shadowing: Shadowed a cardiologist for 7 hours, will hopefully shadow an orthopedic surgeon soon

Research: About 250 hours over the past few months doing research on airflow in airways of patients with sleep apnea. Developed an experimental technique to be used at the facilities at my school. Did an independent research study this past summer. Worked very closely with the professor (and had him for 3 courses) and plan on asking him for a recommendation.

Not sure if this helps, but there has definitely been an upward trend in my grades. Can I rebound from the D in orgo or is too late at this point?
Thanks for your help!
 
A few things:

(1) Mechanics probably won't be considered a BCPM class.
(2) You're going to have to retake the D in organic I. Most medical schools want to see at least a 'C' in the prereqs.
(2) You should apply to DO schools as well.
 
Thanks for your reply. I also forgot to mention that my school doesn't allow retakes unless you get an F.
 
Thanks for your reply. I also forgot to mention that my school doesn't allow retakes unless you get an F.

If that's the case then you need to retake Orgo at your local community college. Fluid mechanics will count as an upper level Physics Course in BCPM if it originally wasn't supposed to be taken Freshmen year. However, you got a W in physics? If that's engineering physics then you need to have taken those two courses in order to graduate --> Mechanics & Electricity/Magnetism.
 
I originally got a W my freshman year but then retook it later (and I took E&M the following semester).
 
Upward trend is nice, but I think your numbers are a tad on the uncompetetive side. You might have some luck with the low-tier schools like Rosy Franklin or NYMC. You're fine for any DO program. Aceing the MCAT will help, but not that much. I'd re-take the Orgo to atone for that D too.

Hi everyone,
I am an engineering junior at a small school in NY. I wanted your help to see what I can do between now and when I apply to MD schools to improve my chances. I plan on applying this summer to matriculate in 2014.
Overall GPA: 3.42
sGPA: 3.35 (C's in calc III and principles of physical chemistry). I'm planning on including fluid mechanics and engineering mechanics in my sGPA.
I had a bad semester my freshman year (2.7 GPA, including a W in physics. I definitely learned from my mistakes and there is an upward trend thereafter).
This past semester, I had 22 credits and my toughest courseload so far. I ended up getting a D in organic chem I but A's in everything else (still waiting for one more grade)

Clinical volunteer experience: I've been going to a hospital for 2 hours a week and going around to different clinics to give presentations on health literacy. I plan on doing more patient-care-oriented volunteering this summer (and doing way more hours)
No real nonclinical volunteer experience

Physician shadowing: Shadowed a cardiologist for 7 hours, will hopefully shadow an orthopedic surgeon soon

Research: About 250 hours over the past few months doing research on airflow in airways of patients with sleep apnea. Developed an experimental technique to be used at the facilities at my school. Did an independent research study this past summer. Worked very closely with the professor (and had him for 3 courses) and plan on asking him for a recommendation.

Not sure if this helps, but there has definitely been an upward trend in my grades. Can I rebound from the D in orgo or is too late at this point?
Thanks for your help!
 
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