erm chances with 3.45bcpm

[hopefulpremedz]

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Hello, looking for a little insight into my situation...

3.45 bcpm
3.41 cgpa

bachelors of biology @ West Virginia University

transferred after 2nd year to WVU...taking 5 years to get bachelors.

I bombed first year, since then 2nd year = 3.7gpa, 3rd and 4th year 4.0 all the way through (mostly science courses). Graduating WVU with a 4.0 university gpa.

Fall semester of 4th year included intro to biochem, advanced cell/molecular biology, calculus I, and biometry

extras:
-40 hrs (over 3 months) emergency room volunteer (some patient contact)
-about 200 hrs (over 12 months) children's hospital volunteer (direct patient contact, except for the occasional toy cleaning)
-2 trips to Honduras with Global Medical Brigades for 1 week each (2 wks total) helped the underprivileged, spent most of the time shadowing/working with MDs
-shadowed oncologist/hematologist for 40 hrs, and general practice MD 40 hrs
-captain of inter-mural basketball team

One thing I'm kind of holding on to is my strong upward trend, from like a ~1.6gpa after freshman yr to 4.0's for 2 straight years with difficult courses.

One more thing: After graduation, I will have about a 3.51 bcpm and cum GPA's, worth taking a year off for to apply after graduation?

I'm new york resident if that helps, any ideas on schools? I'm really nervous, mostly because I bombed my first year but still hoping they see I got my stuff together and am seriously ready for med school...

Thanks a lot!

 

[Catalystik]

I think you've done a great job of "getting your stuff together." I think your chances at your state's schools would be better with the additional year of GPA repair, but it would be easier to make a definitive recommendation if you had an MCAT score to report as well.

Would you consider that you have significant state ties so that you'd be considered if you apply to W Virginia schools (which might tend to be more lenient about lower stats)?

Are you considering getting in a research experience to strengthen the appeal of your application? You look good for clinical experience and shadowing, and have some leadership. Nonmedical community service done on a weekly or twice monthly basis for a cause you care about would also be good to see. Teaching/coaching/mentoring/TAing/or tutoring would be helpful if you can work it in, too. These factors are all things that could be fairly substantive positives were you to spend an extra year beefing up your application.

What is erm?

 

[hopefulpremedz]

Thanks for replying, you seem to know what you're talking about!

Haha wow all that information and I forgot my MCAT? It was a long day...

my MCAT is 34
physical = 11
verbal = 11
bio = 12

As far as significant state ties go, In order to become a resident of the state, you must live here for 2 years, with education NOT being the main reason you're here. I have lived in an apartment here for 2 years, staying over the summer both times (maybe going home for a week or 2). The children's hospital volunteer hours were done at the university hospital, and I have a part time job. I'm not sure exactly qualifies as "strong state ties" but I would say probably so.

Also yes, I forgot to mention I did some biology and physics tutoring last year on the side. Nonmedical volunteering never really crossed my mind but it would certainly be doable.

Research wow, well basically I tried last spring/summer, emailing teachers who had interesting research topics, but most of them said they didn't need anyone, it wasn't active research, and 2 of them didn't even reply... :/
Maybe I was going about this the wrong way? I could try again, if I waited 1 more year, if so some suggestions about how to get my foot in the door would be awesome!

I think that covers everything...waiting another year wouldn't be ideal for me just because I've already took an extra year to my bachelors and am anxious to take this next step. If it doesn't work out, there's always next year I guess, I've been told by some people it's not a race...it's tough to be patient at this stage of the game though.

EDIT: erm, in this case I guess it's just an expression meaning I'm unsure/uneasy

 

[Catalystik]

A 3.45/34 stat combo gave past year's applicants a 50ish% chance of an acceptance if one extrapolates from the AAMC data from the last three years. This would rise about 5% with a GPA increase to 3.51.

At my university, if one wants a summer research position, it is necessary to start emailing professors around February to ask for a spot. You could also look for a paid summer research opportunity. Google 'summer research program' for a list.