Hi everyone. I just got my MCAT score so I would like some advice on if I have a chance on getting in. My first predicament is that I went to New College of Florida for my first 2 years, and the system there is pass/fail, so I have 2 years of no grades. I transferred to a school with grades, and for those 2 years I have a 3.82 overall GPA so far, with a 3.74 science GPA. I still have a semester left and I would like to bring the science GPA up. My MCAT score was 35, but it wasn't very well balanced, 13 PS, 9 VR, 13 BS. I have a little over 100 volunteering hours at a local cancer research hospital, and I have 100 hours of shadowing an opthamologist. I've been doing research in a chemistry lab for 2 years, but I'm not on any published paper yet. I would like to go to UF or USF ideally, but I'll be applying to whichever allopathic schools in Florida that I think I have a good shot at, and a local osteopathic school in case I don't get in anywhere. I'm going to be applying as early as possible if that means anything. Thanks for any help.
Florida medical schools
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Your MCAT is terrific; the Verbal of 9 won't stand in your way. Your BCPM GPA and cGPA are excellent as they stand. I don't know what the implications are of applying to Florida schools with two years of pass/fail credit on your transcript, but @QofQuimica applied from a school like that and might be able to advise you.
I suggest you continue to gain active clinical experience for the rest of this term. If you could add hours shadowing a primary care doc, that would be helpful. The research duration is very good. Do you have any nonmedical community service to mention?
QofQuimica
Seriously, dude, I think you're overreacting....
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I didn't just apply from a school "like that"; I'm actually a New College alum (went there for all four years) and was accepted to both UF and USF with no grades. Coming from NC is not a huge hurdle if your goal is to stay in-state; all of the FL schools are very familiar with NC, which used to be part of USF in the 90s when I went there. (It was even called New College of USF at the time.) Just make sure that, if you took any of your prereqs at NC, you get copies of your NEs for all of those classes. You will want to send them to the med schools when you apply, because the NC registrar only sends a list of your classes without the NEs. You have a good MCAT score and a good GPA from your other school, so your stats won't be an issue. Still, make sure you apply to all of the FL med schools, not just those two, unless you're going to apply to one of them ED.
Oh, and I'd suggest broadening out your shadowing experience. Most docs aren't ophthalmologists, and most med students don't become ophthalmologists either, even if they think they're going to as premeds. 😉
Oh, and I'd suggest broadening out your shadowing experience. Most docs aren't ophthalmologists, and most med students don't become ophthalmologists either, even if they think they're going to as premeds. 😉
Thanks for the responses guys! I was a little worried when I saw the 9 on the VR, but it's good to hear that it won't be a hindrance. I was planning on shadowing more when I had the opportunity, but wanted to focus on getting a 4.0 for this semester, so I'll make sure to do that as soon as summer starts. I've volunteered with the botanical garden for my university, but that's really it. I also helped with the set-up of some of the aquariums at the New College marine research lab, but I don't really know if that counts or not.
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About how many hours are you talking about for each activity?
Probably about 30 for the botanical garden and 60 or 70 for the marine research lab.
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They are worth listing, then. You could group them if you like.
QofQuimica
Seriously, dude, I think you're overreacting....
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Yes, definitely include both of those activities. Basically, anything of significance that you've done post-secondary is fair game. So ECs done at NC and ECs at your current school both count. Are you applying this summer? If you want help w/ figuring out how to list your ECs, feel free to PM me.
The NC marine lab wasn't built yet when I was a student, but I've seen pics and it looks awesome. I seem to remember reading that there is even a salt water tank big enough to go scuba diving in. 👍
The NC marine lab wasn't built yet when I was a student, but I've seen pics and it looks awesome. I seem to remember reading that there is even a salt water tank big enough to go scuba diving in. 👍
Okay great! Yeah the marine lab is really nice, and there is an aquarium like that. It's displays the fish that live in the gulf way off shore.
Are other EC activities okay to list if they're not strict volunteering? I was in the German club both at NC and my current school, but we never really did anything except meet and speak German. Also, I've been in the Central Florida palm and cycad society my entire time at college, but I don't know how much either of those matter. It couldn't hurt to list those right?
Are other EC activities okay to list if they're not strict volunteering? I was in the German club both at NC and my current school, but we never really did anything except meet and speak German. Also, I've been in the Central Florida palm and cycad society my entire time at college, but I don't know how much either of those matter. It couldn't hurt to list those right?
Hello, I'm in a similar situation where I attended New College of Florida for 2 years and then transferred to USF. I was wondering if anyone knew of any out of state schools that were accepting of NC grading system? I've tried calling some out of state schools and a few have already stated that previous students from NC didn't have much success with applying to them. I would appreciated any feedback because I would hate to waste my money applying to a school that isn't going to even evaluate my application.
Thanks
Thanks
