Final, What are my chances?

[Messiah91]

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Long story short, Texas resident, grew up in poverty. Went to community college for 2.5 year with a GPA of 2.602. (I was working about 38 hours a week while taking about 13-15 credit hours) Transferred to a university in Texas my junior year, planning on taking the MCAT and applying this summer.

Major: Biology
Minor: Neuroscience

Community College (relevant classes)

Biology 1 - A
Biology 2 - B
General Chemistry 1 - B
General Chemistry 2 - B

University

Organic Chemistry 1 - B+
Organic Chemistry 2 - A+
University Physics 1 - B+
University Physics 2 - A
Biochemistry 1 - A+
Biochemistry 2 - B+
Genetics - A
Cell Biology - A

At this point I am standing at a 3.79 cum. gpa and 3.7 science gpa.

Volunteering

120 hours at hospital (lots of patient interactions)
25 hours at homeless clinic

Shadowing

65 hours of shadowing neurosurgeon

Taken about 3 practice MCATs with scores of 25, 28, 30.

Is there anything else I should be looking to add to my application before applying this summer? Also, how bad will my CC gpa look when applying? I have shown a very strong upward trend since I have been at the university.

Any advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance.

 

[mcloaf]

Any chance you could squeeze in some research and/or leadership?

 

[MedSprinter]

Keep in mind your cGPA and sGPA on AMCAS consists of both your GPA at the CC and at the university. Recalculate your GPA to get a better idea of how your application looks. The upward trend should be looked upon favorably, especially since you didn't take all that many pre-reqs at the CC.

You should try to shadow a primary care physician as well. Shadowing a neurosurgeon is fine, but it shouldn't be your only shadowing experience.

Do you have any more EC's or any plans for more? Although what you take from your experiences is what is most important, your EC's are lacking compared to other applicants. Oh, and certainly add anything you have done besides volunteering, e.g. your work experience.

 

[Messiah91]

I will actually begin shadowing a primary care physician in the spring. Research is actually a problem, my school is saturated with pre-meds and the room is very limited but I will try again in the spring. Well, I haven't calculated my overall gpa yet but from what I have heard from advisers is that the upward trend will say more to the admissions board than the grades from CC itself.

As far as work experience, I have worked for the same retailer for about 3 years and gained a lot of people skills. Is that some thing that I should add to my application?

 

[Messiah91]

Research is something I'm definitely getting into the spring semester if possible. Does the quality of the research matter? I have heard from other students that you usually end up going "grunt" work...

 

[mcloaf]

Research is something I'm definitely getting into the spring semester if possible. Does the quality of the research matter? I have heard from other students that you usually end up going "grunt" work...

Heh, as you will learn in the lab, basically everyone in research below the rank of PI does what could be called "grunt work" 99% of the time; and the PI's would be doing grunt work if they weren't so busy trying to write grants. This doesn't make the research low or high quality, it's just the nature of the beast.

Also, if there's room on your application your retail experience could be great to include. I'm sure you have some interesting stories of trying to work with difficult people, which is a common interview question.

 

[Goro]

Have an MCAT >30 and you're fine.

Long story short, Texas resident, grew up in poverty. Went to community college for 2.5 year with a GPA of 2.602. (I was working about 38 hours a week while taking about 13-15 credit hours) Transferred to a university in Texas my junior year, planning on taking the MCAT and applying this summer.

Major: Biology
Minor: Neuroscience

Community College (relevant classes)

Biology 1 - A
Biology 2 - B
General Chemistry 1 - B
General Chemistry 2 - B

University

Organic Chemistry 1 - B+
Organic Chemistry 2 - A+
University Physics 1 - B+
University Physics 2 - A
Biochemistry 1 - A+
Biochemistry 2 - B+
Genetics - A
Cell Biology - A

At this point I am standing at a 3.79 cum. gpa and 3.7 science gpa.

Volunteering

120 hours at hospital (lots of patient interactions)
25 hours at homeless clinic

Shadowing

65 hours of shadowing neurosurgeon

Taken about 3 practice MCATs with scores of 25, 28, 30.

Is there anything else I should be looking to add to my application before applying this summer? Also, how bad will my CC gpa look when applying? I have shown a very strong upward trend since I have been at the university.

Any advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance.

 

[ValentineLissar]

If you have time, maybe get some tutoring experience and other community service to help disadvantaged individuals to go along with your work at the homeless clinic? I don't know if you listed all of your EC's, but it sounds like you have some stories to share since I'm sure you had to deal with adversity.

Anyways, good luck!

 

[Messiah91]

Using the AMCAS gpa calculator, including my CC crappy grades. This is where I stand.

Overall gpa - 3.15
BCMP gpa - 3.38

Should I still bother to take the MCAT this summer?