Gap Year question (please help)

[StupidCal]

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I am currently a senior Biology major at CalTech. My GPA is a 3.2 out of 4.0 (sci gpa is lower!) and MCAT is 41Q. The current issue I'm grappling with is what to do during my gap year. I recently got accepted into an Americorps program called City Year in Boston and I need to decide whether to accept the offer this week. It is a full-time tutoring/mentoring program for inner-city kids. I think this will add to my volunteer EC which may be on the weak side.

I'm conflicted about whether I should get a Masters or MPH instead (to boost my GPA/sci GPA), in which case I could still do volunteer work. Or if I should take this offer and also take night classes and/or other medically-related volunteer activities during my gap year. I've asked a couple doctors and my premed advisor, who seem to give me conflicting advice, so I having trouble deciding. Thanks a lot to whoever replies!

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

If you want to go to top tier schools you'll probably have to get that GPA up, but maybe not since your sci gpa and MCAT are outstanding. Personally, I'd go with the Americorps program because I feel like that would stand out more than an MPH. An MPH is just like a nice EC anyway.

 

[SBK]

Um, you went to Cal-Tech. Im pretty sure most schools are not gonna hold a 3.2 against you, especially with that insane 41.

 

[StupidCal]

thanks for replying, guys. yea, i'm thinking that the Americorps City Year program will help me stand out more among the vast multitudes of qualified asian males...sorry about the confusion, i meant 3.2 out of 4.0, i wish 4.0 were my sci GPA, then i'd have no problem at all. my sci gpa is actually lower than my total GPA =( and my premed advisor says that schools will only forgive my low gpa a little bit, only a tad lenient on my gpa/ sci gpa cuz i'm from caltech

 

[Bryson17]

From what I've gathered, I think med schools just want you to keep busy during a gap year. Any activity can be added to ECs. Volunteering is especially good, and if you can use the time to boost your GPA, then that's a plus.

 

[Tensyle]

I'd do the MPH or Masters, make sure you get really good grades. Volunteering more in the meantime will surely help 👍

 

[gatoradedrinker]

the general SDN consensus will be that you should continue taking undergraduate classes in a formal (or informal) postbaccalaureate program. you need to increase that 3.2. solid performance in a graduate program will not make up for a low undergraduate record.

 

[spyderefs]

If it's a gap year, then you're applying this summer, correct? By that time, grades will have been submitted for your primaries so how much will grad schools actually affect your AMCAS GPA? none I assume, but could be some boost if you update schools once you get the grades.

 

[SDN2013]

maybe you can delay graduation for a year and get a second major?

I believe at Cal-tech if you are #1 of the course you took you can get a GPA of 4.5 instead of a 4.0, so if you get say like a 4.25 both semesters that should raise your GPA quite a bit. 5 years isn't that uncommon anyways.

 

[StupidCal]

cool
it seems like most ppl here at sdn say that getting a masters or mph is not going to help my gpa much because it's much easier to get a high gpa in grad school, so you say its just like a good EC.

for these post-bacc programs, i've heard ppl mention SMPs a lot here, what are those? sorry, i'm a noob here.

i could stay at CalTech for another year, though i'm not sure if that would really help much. another year would be 3 more terms (quarter system), but only some classes give A+'s some of the time. AND i understand that the AMCAS will calculate A+'s as just 4.0s, not 4.25 regardless of how my school calculates it. Furthermore, if it were possible for me to be near the #1 of any course here, i'd have a non-abysmal gpa. Instead, I end up getting random B's thrown at me when I expected an A, making it really hard to pull up the C's i got in my first two years or so. =(

Thanks for the feedback though.

 

[copingmethods]

maybe you can delay graduation for a year and get a second major?

I believe at Cal-tech if you are #1 of the course you took you can get a GPA of 4.5 instead of a 4.0, so if you get say like a 4.25 both semesters that should raise your GPA quite a bit. 5 years isn't that uncommon anyways.

AMCAS would count a 4.25 or 4.5 as a 4.0.

 

[pietachok]

You are fine with your 3.2 because (1) it is from non BCPM courses and (2) you went to CalTech.

Use MDApplicants to look at low overall GPA applicants who got interviews and acceptances (and were not URM), and you will see that those who went to MIT and got ~3.3 still did really well. CalTech will get you the same, especially with your BCPM GPA and that MCAT score.

I am assuming, of course, that your 3.2 overall isn't weighed down by a whole bunch of C's...and that those aren't all in English, since you got a Q. If you have shown some ridiculous inability to communicate and/or do something just b/c you don't like it, that's not good.

 

[mtnman12]

I think you're totally fine and have thought this through really well. I was somewhat in your position, deciding to do a masters or AmeriCorps (without that amazing MCAT). I ended up choosing AmeriCorps along with a class each semester, and have been pretty happy with it. It has been somewhat hard to stay focused on classes compared to undergrad because its not my main priority and the classes are sort of for no purpose, but at least you'll be working for your GPA so thats a good motivater.

With your posts and stats though I guarentee you will get many acceptances. At my interviews I was usually asked about/brought up AmeriCorps, and it's kind of cool because it gives you an adult experience to talk about post-college and I really haven't been out that long. I think one of my acceptances was mostly based off me seeming like I've done other things though really.... So you'll have some more stories to tell and it sounds like you're interested in the program, Boston would be awesome! Just make sure you enjoy your time and do fun things!! AmeriCorps doesn't pay the greatest so I wish I would have made more money last summer and got to travel, etc. But either way you choose you'll be fine.

Good luck!!

 

[StupidCal]

ah yes taking a class or two during americorps sounds like a good idea, i'm also interested in volunteering at a hospital or something healthcare related during americorps city year program.

I'd like to reiterate that my gpa is 3.2 and my science GPA is NOT a 4.0, i just meant 3.2 out of 4.0, i edited it so ppl stop being confused. my science GPA is actually lower than a 3.2 maybe like a 2.9, i'm hoping to bring it up above a 3.0. =( so my C's r in my BCPM courses, not in english