Getting in Somewhere?!?

[sobro]

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About to finish masters in public health at at Emory University
Numbers are very low.
3.5 overall GPA science GPA is probably closer to 3.0 from Stanford.
GPA at grad school is a 3.98
Lots of extracurriculars:
published 3 research papers in peer review journals in undergrad
Volunteered in Free clinic
started and worked on health campaigns in grad school
taking the MCAT soon and will probably score in the low 30's.
I am CA resident.
Don't care where, need to get in somewhere. Can it happen?

 

[lightofmylife]

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to get in somewhere 🙂

 

[teenmachinery1]

MD will be a reach

 

[Catalystik]

For MD only applications: The lowish cGPA can be moderated by a higher (32-33+) MCAT score, but the low BCPM can only be addressed with recent As in upper-level science classes if there is not a steep upward grade trend already established. The excellent MPH performance won't help much due to not requiring hard science.

The research and initiatives regarding public health are excellent. Any teaching? Any nonmedical community service? How many years and hours have you been involved in the free clinic? Any formal physician shadowing?

 

[sobro]

I wonder whether classes like biostatistics and epidemiology in MPH will be considered science.. And I'm really not interested in taking undergrad science classes, i don't even know if i would do much better. I worked in the free clinical for 2 years, about 10 hours a week. I have not done teaching other than short term tutoring of refugees during mph - i will have done it for 2 years, once a week by the time im done. Most of my community service is medically related. I have not formerly shadowed physicians because i honestly dont think it helps anybody else but yourself. I would rather spend the time serving others.

All in all, I'm much more of a community worker and activist interested in medicine than a hardcore student. But i want to get an MD so i won't be limited in credibility and knowledge.

I hope that shows through in my essays and the extracurricular activities which i think are stronger than most right out of undergrad.

remember, i just want to get in somewhere, i dont care if it is the lowest ranked school in the nation. I've heard there are new schools that are easier to get into, some that are even offering reduced tuition?

My greatest fear is that schools wont even look at everything else because my numbers are so low... Is that true?

 

[Catalystik]

You'd probably be fine listing Biostats under BCPM, regardless of the course prefix.

It sounds like the teaching was possibly a community service, too. You have enough clinical experience. Be aware that some schools require shadowing and some expect it without putting it on their website. A few are known to not care about it.

You might look in a recent copy of the MSAR and guide your in-range school choices by those that have a bottom tenth percentile for BCPM of 3.0 or lower. There are a number that take a decent number of OOS applicants that are not targeted toward special populations (like those known to be traditionally black or or for fluent Spanish speakers). Then add some slightly more selective reach schools. And the new schools without a previous standard.

BTW, if you took some grad-level science courses that are not required to earn the masters degree, you could legitimately list them as postbac and have them raise the undergrad BCPM GPA.

 

[sobro]

Hey Catalystik,
thanks a lot for you responses, you seem to take the time to offer an honest thorough opinion for everyone here on these forums. I was wondering whether you'd be able to answer some more in depth questions.

I am studying hard for the Mcat now and am aiming for a 32, 33 but maybe if i keep studying hard i can get near 35. I dont plan on taking it until january. I am also wondering about the shadowing, should i try to get some in in between january and when i apply in the summer?- thats the earliest u can apply right? I could take some more sciencey classes these next few semesters but honestly i dont know how well i would do in them. I'm really much more of a lab and projects guy than a study guy. My brainchild thesis project is the launching of a city wide hepatitis B campaign aimed at educating, vacinating and screening asian american and african american - it is a major disparity and i am asian american. It may end up being quite successful. I wonder how much that will help? do lots of applicants have those sort of qualifications?

I know this is a lot, but one more thing. I am currently enrolled in a non binding peace corps prep program and i have already been nominated to go this next summer. Im interested, but my idea was to take the mcat and if i get a good enough score, elect not to go. But if PC can get me into a much better school, perhaps its worth considering. Any feedback would be great.

Don't worry if u dont have time, im kinda throwing this all at you 😀... thanks anyway, keep up the great work for all of us!

 

[Catalystik]

I am studying hard for the Mcat now and am aiming for a 32, 33 but maybe if i keep studying hard i can get near 35. I dont plan on taking it until january.

1) I am also wondering about the shadowing, should i try to get some in in between january and when i apply in the summer?- thats the earliest u can apply right?

2) I could take some more sciencey classes these next few semesters but honestly i dont know how well i would do in them.

3) I'm really much more of a lab and projects guy than a study guy. My brainchild thesis project is the launching of a city wide hepatitis B campaign aimed at educating, vacinating and screening asian american and african american - it is a major disparity and i am asian american. It may end up being quite successful. I wonder how much that will help? do lots of applicants have those sort of qualifications?

4) I am currently enrolled in a non binding peace corps prep program and i have already been nominated to go this next summer. Im interested, but my idea was to take the mcat and if i get a good enough score, elect not to go. But if PC can get me into a much better school, perhaps its worth considering. Any feedback would be great.

1) First week of June is the earliest you can submit to AMCAS. Shadowing can be done anytime, up to the last minute. Many will do this with more intense numbers of hours over breaks rather than regularly each week.

2) As terrific as your activities might be, adcomms don't want to take a chance on someone who will have difficulty completing their curriculum in an efficient manner. If you have a tough time getting good science grades now taking 1-2 classes, how overwhelmed will you be when 100% of a 21 semester-hour-equivalent courseload is upper-level science for two years? Maybe you need to prove to yourself that you belong in med school, and won't be a crash and burn victim, by taking the coursework over the next year that can help refine your study habits and test-taking strategies. You'd also have the advantage of easing your way in med school if you master some of the material before starting. Biochem, Physiology, Genetics, and Cell Bio would be good classes to contemplate. maybe even Anatomy the last semester. The payoff is r3assuring adcomms. The risk is that you'd make Bs and Cs and sabotage your career plan.

3) A major leadership activity that helps lots of people would be viewed very positively.

4) Peace Corps is viewed very postively also, as a community service and highly altruistic endeavor. It would also win you major points.

What I sense you're asking is whether all these wonderful things will overwhelm an adcomms good sense and cause them to accept someone who may be a borderline student to their med school. What do you think? My feeling is that as much as they may love you, they'd prefer to give that seat to someone with a high probablitity of completing their program. It's my opinion that you need to provide that proof.