FL Resident, 3.4 Undergrad GPA and havent taken MCAT

[LCHERNOF]

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I am supposed to take my MCAT this May and I am concerned that even if I study that I will only get between a 24 - 28 on it.

My GPA is just BARELY hitting a 3.4 at Arizona State University and I graduate in May 2010. Even getting a lot of A's in classes the next 2 semesters only moves my GPA slightly because I have SO many credits now.

Unfortunately it was the dumb classes at the beginning of freshman year like psych and art history that I got B's in which is pulling me closer to that 3.0! (ugh!) I have ALL A's in sciences courses I have taken (except ONE which is a C).

I am not aiming for ridiculously good schools, I am a Florida resident and I will be applying to all MD schools in Florida. I have NO preference of where I get accepted just as long as SOMEWHERE accepts me

I have a killer personal statement (according to my premed advisor) and I have been volunteering for 2+ years, I have worked on 2 research projects, shadowed doctors, and I work in a doctors office. I am also a national member of Alpha Epsilon Delta and regularly participate in community service with them. I am a Peer Mentor on campus in the residence halls (for leadership). My mother had a brain aneurysm where I had to get a W in physics last fall to take care of my younger brothers across the country and assist my mother in FL while still having FULL TIME credits at Arizona State (although I got all B+'s that semester) because my teachers were able to give me alternate assignments.

I have never had a summer off, I always take summer courses and keep myself busy.

Assuming I apply to medical school with a 3.4 and a 26 MCAT, what are my chances of getting accepted SOMEWHERE in FL? I have the MSAR, I read it daily but I want to hear some REALITY .

I am concerned that I should just wait until I graduate and then take a year off and throughly study for the MCAT and then apply May 2010 for the 2011 class. Is that my better option or should I give applying this year a shot?

What do you think?

 

[WhitJord85]

In my opinion, you should try to get your MCAT over 30. Like you'll see in a lot of posts on here, if you are below average in one area of the application you really need to be above average in the other areas. If you end up applying with your current application, make wise choices about where you apply.

It's not impossible to get accepted with that application, but definitely more difficult.

You might consider an SMP or some other Master's program...although they will not help your undergrad GPA, doing well in a science heavy program would help show adcoms that you can handle med school. It would also give you more time to study for the MCAT.

Also you might give some thought to DO schools.

 

[NotAndrew]

Why do you think you will only get a 26? You should start studying now and take the MCAT in May. You may be very surprised by the results.

 

[LCHERNOF]

Why do you think you will only get a 26? You should start studying now and take the MCAT in May. You may be very surprised by the results.

I took the practice MCAT through kaplan with out studying just to see what i should focus on and i got a 14, i was really deterred by it. I got a 7 in verbal, 5 physical, 2 biological. I also have never taken OCHEM, PHY or BIOCHEM.

I guess considering ive not studied or taken those classes ever, that i did fairly well under those circumstances. I just cannot imagine that even if I studied that my score would be doubled or more? Thats all.

I have started studying now though, I am going to take it in may and see how things work out.

 

[iheartsharks]

You are going to honestly have a very difficult time with a 3.4 and less than a 30 although nothing is impossible. I had 3.35 Cum and 3.4 BPCM and a 29P and I got two interviews from FSU and FIU but put on post-interview holds. I had a ton a work and volunteer experience like worked 20 hours a week while in college and almost a 1000 hours volunteer work directly with patients so you never know. But I have no problem going to an Osteopathic school so I applied to LECOM and NOVA and am going to be a doctor in 4 years either way so you need to do what you think is best but be honest with your probabilities and apply broadly.

 

[sling787]

I took the practice MCAT through kaplan with out studying just to see what i should focus on and i got a 14, i was really deterred by it. I got a 7 in verbal, 5 physical, 2 biological. I also have never taken OCHEM, PHY or BIOCHEM.

I guess considering ive not studied or taken those classes ever, that i did fairly well under those circumstances. I just cannot imagine that even if I studied that my score would be doubled or more? Thats all.

I have started studying now though, I am going to take it in may and see how things work out.

If you haven't taken at least Organic Chem and Physics, I wouldn't recommend taking the MCAT until you do.

I'm a bit confused, are you planning on applying before you take Organic Chem and Physics? That would be a bad idea, as they are requirements at schools.

Sorry if I misunderstood something, other wise I recommend finishing Organic and Physics, maybe even Biochem.

 

[3pin3phrine]

I think you should hold off on the MCATs. You don't want to take it with a diagnostic score like that.... it won't look good at all especially when medical school admissions is getting more competitive as we speak. Plus, it's pretty hard to find time to study for the exam during the school year. Don't let the diagnostic bring your hopes down, it doesn't mean squat. You should def. take those courses first before deciding to take the MCATs and taking your practice scores seriously. Don't worry, many people, including myself, did bad on the diagnostic. (Think I got a 17 on mine). Good luck!

 

[Mobius1985]

Don't waste your time and money taking the MCAT until you've completed the prerequisites and are consistently scoring on practice tests in your target range. Your target, to compensate for the low GPA, should be 33-34, unless there are additional moderating factors you haven't mentioned.

I think that waiting a year, as you suggested, is a great idea. You need every other part of your application to be the best it can be to have a chance with a low GPA.

 

[LCHERNOF]

If you haven't taken at least Organic Chem and Physics, I wouldn't recommend taking the MCAT until you do.

I'm a bit confused, are you planning on applying before you take Organic Chem and Physics? That would be a bad idea, as they are requirements at schools.

Sorry if I misunderstood something, other wise I recommend finishing Organic and Physics, maybe even Biochem.

I am in OCHEM and PHY right now, so I would be done with them before the May MCAT that im sched for

 

[pianola]

I feel like this is always useful in assessing WAMC posts:

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2008/mcatgpa-grid-3yrs-app-accpt.htm

The table predicts a ~~26% chance of acceptance at at least ONE school with a 26 and a 3.4.

It's not the whole story, though.

Someone earlier posted how he had gotten no acceptances (to Florida schools) with a 3.4/38 MCAT. This doesn't mean you'll have the same luck (or lack thereof) that he had.

TRY to pull that GPA up. And IMO, you should definitely not apply with less than a 27-28 (and for your very best chances >30 would be really helpful given your GPA).

You also want to make sure you have a good distribution.

That said, the fact that you go to school in Arizona will probably work in your favor since it will lend diversity to the class (Florida schools are required to take a certain percentage of Florida residents and most Florida residents choose to go to school in Florida).

Anyway, good luck

 

[CanHasNaps]

You need a 30 MCAT to be in the competitive range for FL schools. You really don't want anything less than a 28. Your GPA should be OK, especially since your science GPA looks good.

Many of the FL schools put a lot of emphasis on ECs - so how you write them up will really affect your interview prospects.