Feeling Super Grim, Please Advise?

[YesWeCanMakeIt]

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Hi everyone, so I was always premed from the beginning - but I ended up doing Engineering as my undergrad from a well-known university (that's known for being a tough engineering institution) because I wanted to have an engineering background before entering medicine. Anyway, I'm really disappointed in myself because right now I'm a recent grad with the following situation:

Overall gpa: 3.48 Science Gpa: 3.31. with an engineering degree. My current Mcat is a 25 (I messed up my timing and it was just a bad situation), so I'm currently studying again to take it in january.

If I were to apply with just that, what would be my chances?
Also, even if I were to do good on the mcat, should I still take classes next semester to boost up my science gpa (it'll be known as a post-bac gpa but still) or could I just apply with a new mcat score and those grades? . My volunteering/etc/allthe other stuff is pretty decent. I'm just praying that my mcat in january turns out well. I'm so frustrated and sometimes I feel so devastated 🙁

 

[Catalystik]

Hi everyone, so I was always premed from the beginning - but I ended up doing Engineering as my undergrad from a well-known university (that's known for being a tough engineering institution) because I wanted to have an engineering background before entering medicine. Anyway, I'm really disappointed in myself because right now I'm a recent grad with the following situation:

Overall gpa: 3.48 Science Gpa: 3.31. with an engineering degree. My current Mcat is a 25 (I messed up my timing and it was just a bad situation), so I'm currently studying again to take it in january.

1) If I were to apply with just that, what would be my chances?

2) Also, even if I were to do good on the mcat, should I still take classes next semester to boost up my science gpa (it'll be known as a post-bac gpa but still) or could I just apply with a new mcat score and those grades? .

My volunteering/etc/allthe other stuff is pretty decent. I'm just praying that my mcat in january turns out well. I'm so frustrated and sometimes I feel so devastated 🙁

1) Chances with MD schools with a 3.48/25 were 22% for all applicants. Chances for DO schools would be good.

2) What upper-level Bio have you taken and what grades were earned?
What were your GPAs the last four semesters?
What class(es) brought your BCPM GPA down?

 

[YesWeCanMakeIt]

1) Chances with MD schools with a 3.48/25 were 22% for all applicants. Chances for DO schools would be good.

2) What upper-level Bio have you taken and what grades were earned?
3.)What were your GPAs the last four semesters?
4.)What class(es) brought your BCPM GPA down?

Sorry, I mean what chances would I have with a 3.48 & 3.31 with a new MCAT score of say 30 or 30+. I forgot to add that. Would that gpa be sufficient since it was in conjunction with an engineering curriculum? I know a 25 is no way good for MD programs,so that's why I'm restudying and have my fingers crossed.

2.) I took Animal Physio - got an A- (plus lab B+) That was the only upper level bio I took, the rest was regular bio classes (got some form of A) and the general MD requirements

3.) The last four semester overall gpas were (in order from oldest to newest): 3.38, 3.36, 3.36, 3.41 (which on amcas rounded to a 3.48 overall). I know med schools also look for trends, but for some reason I dont have a trend either way, it always went up down up down.

4.) Physical Chemistry (Gen Chem 2) and Physics 2 were my worst classes (got C+ and C). The thing is, it's not the content that was hard for me, they just made the exams extremely difficult. I feel bad saying it but if I were to be at a different univ. I know I would have gotten A's in them. But of course, it won't say that anywhere on the application 🙁. An advisor from a med school told me not to repeat any classes but to take upper level bio classes to kind of balance out the gpa. She said it will be a post-bac gpa but they'll be able to see my science competence.


Thank you so much for this, by the way. I truly appreciate the advice!

 

[Moosepig]

With a retaken MCAT above 30, your chances would be decent.

 

[Catalystik]

Also, even if I were to do good on the mcat, should I still take classes next semester to boost up my science gpa (it'll be known as a post-bac gpa but still) or could I just apply with a new mcat score and those grades? .

1a) Sorry, I mean what chances would I have with a 3.48 & 3.31 with a new MCAT score of say 30 or 30+.
1b) I forgot to add that. Would that gpa be sufficient since it was in conjunction with an engineering curriculum? I know a 25 is no way good for MD programs,so that's why I'm restudying and have my fingers crossed.

2.) I took Animal Physio - got an A- (plus lab B+) That was the only upper level bio I took, the rest was regular bio classes (got some form of A) and the general MD requirements

3.) The last four semester overall gpas were (in order from oldest to newest): 3.38, 3.36, 3.36, 3.41 (which on amcas rounded to a 3.48 overall). I know med schools also look for trends, but for some reason I dont have a trend either way, it always went up down up down.

4.) Physical Chemistry (Gen Chem 2) and Physics 2 were my worst classes (got C+ and C). The thing is, it's not the content that was hard for me, they just made the exams extremely difficult. I feel bad saying it but if I were to be at a different univ. I know I would have gotten A's in them. But of course, it won't say that anywhere on the application 🙁. An advisor from a med school told me not to repeat any classes but to take upper level bio classes to kind of balance out the gpa. She said it will be a post-bac gpa but they'll be able to see my science competence.

1a) Chances with cGPA 3.48/MCAT 30 rose to 48% across the entire applicant pool. No stats exist that take low vs high BCPM GPA into account, but intuitively, your chances are likely lower than those stated.

1b) Analysis of acceptee data for various majors shows that there is no statistically significant accommodation across the entire population for the (widely assumed to be more difficult) Engineering curriculum. Anecdotally, MIT and CalTech might be acceptions from feedback I've read in this forum.

2, 3, 4) In light of this information, and to answer your original question, reposted at the top, I think you would be well-advised to take postbacc coursework in upper-level Bio and Biochem to establish an upward trend, raise your BCPM GPA, and to show your capability in relevant coursework. Your Physio grade was a very nice start. That these grades will be in the Postbacc category is a plus because they will be highlighted on their own line of the application, though still factored into all your other college grades.

Further, I'm not sure that one semester's worth of science As will be enough to be convincing. Maybe plan on summer and fall 2013 coursework, too, for the sake of update letters and/or the potential need for reapplication. Consistent excellence is your goal.

Thinking strategically, are you sure you included every possible A candidate for BCPM in your sGPA. For example, engineering math (if math represents > 50% of the coursework) can be included in this calculation legitimately. Engineering stats would be included for sure. Astronomy is included (but not Geology).

 

[Goro]

Chances are non-existent at MD schools, but fine at DO schools.

Hi everyone, so I was always premed from the beginning - but I ended up doing Engineering as my undergrad from a well-known university (that's known for being a tough engineering institution) because I wanted to have an engineering background before entering medicine. Anyway, I'm really disappointed in myself because right now I'm a recent grad with the following situation:

Overall gpa: 3.48 Science Gpa: 3.31. with an engineering degree. My current Mcat is a 25 (I messed up my timing and it was just a bad situation), so I'm currently studying again to take it in january.

If I were to apply with just that, what would be my chances?
Also, even if I were to do good on the mcat, should I still take classes next semester to boost up my science gpa (it'll be known as a post-bac gpa but still) or could I just apply with a new mcat score and those grades? . My volunteering/etc/allthe other stuff is pretty decent. I'm just praying that my mcat in january turns out well. I'm so frustrated and sometimes I feel so devastated 🙁