Go for 2009 or wait?

[MIGLdr]

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Hi, another nontrad here, have not posted in a while. Recently finished an informal post-bacc at a local 4 year university. As the critical hour approaches, I just feel that my app is a bit inadequate.

Took:
General Chemistry I
General Chemistry II
Biology I
Biology II
Physics (tri-based) I
Physics II
Organic Chemistry I
Organic Chemistry II
Organic Laboratory

Except for some of the more elite schools, I think this covers the basic minimum application requirement for most MD & DO programs (to my knowledge at least). Using the scale on AMCAS website, my GPA's will be:
UG: 3.5
Overall grades were good, lowest grades in my 4 years were 2 C+, my grades were on an upward trend and finished strong.

Science: 3.7
I took Calculus 1 & 2 when I did my undergrad so I added these grades to my postbacc grades

Post-Bacc: 3.8
Got A's in all those basic science courses except Orgo II where I pulled a B+

I'm currently planning on taking the MCAT on June 13. My first two practice exams were somewhat abysmal but I'll try my best to hit the 30 (kinda not close to that now 🙁)... but I'll see how that turns out.

As for EC's, I think it's my weakest spot. It was really hard for some reason to convince a hospital to let me volunteer, they all had waiting lists for some reason. I finally found one, and logged about 30 hours, but stopped attending because of a bad shoulder injury which kept me away from physically intensive tasks for the past few months. I'm planning to pick up again on volunteering in July. I have also not been able to secure a shadowing gig... was going to ask my primary care, but he he was layed off recently.

Not sure if this counts as an EC, but while doing my post-bacc, worked part time setting up laboratories for my school's biology department.

In my previous career, I worked in IT consulting, got some good team-level leadership roles before I left and left on a good note with good reviews, was hoping to leverage this "maturity" factor, but not counting on it too much as it's not healthcare related.

I'm not certain at this point if I should postpone my app one more year and strengthen my EC's and perhaps strengthen my MCAT scores if things go badly in June. It would also give me a chance to take some more advanced science courses... though it's just theoretical as I'm pretty close to exhausting my funds (payed for post-bacc out of pocket), and will have to find some sort of full-time employment until I get admitted someplace anyways. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks ahead of time. 🙂

 

[PunkmedGirl]

Hi, another nontrad here, have not posted in a while. Recently finished an informal post-bacc at a local 4 year university. As the critical hour approaches, I just feel that my app is a bit inadequate.

Took:
General Chemistry I
General Chemistry II
Biology I
Biology II
Physics (tri-based) I
Physics II
Organic Chemistry I
Organic Chemistry II
Organic Laboratory

Except for some of the more elite schools, I think this covers the basic minimum application requirement for most MD & DO programs (to my knowledge at least). Using the scale on AMCAS website, my GPA's will be:
UG: 3.5
Overall grades were good, lowest grades in my 4 years were 2 C+, my grades were on an upward trend and finished strong.

Science: 3.7
I took Calculus 1 & 2 when I did my undergrad so I added these grades to my postbacc grades

Post-Bacc: 3.8
Got A's in all those basic science courses except Orgo II where I pulled a B+

I'm currently planning on taking the MCAT on June 13. My first two practice exams were somewhat abysmal but I'll try my best to hit the 30 (kinda not close to that now 🙁)... but I'll see how that turns out.

As for EC's, I think it's my weakest spot. It was really hard for some reason to convince a hospital to let me volunteer, they all had waiting lists for some reason. I finally found one, and logged about 30 hours, but stopped attending because of a bad shoulder injury which kept me away from physically intensive tasks for the past few months. I'm planning to pick up again on volunteering in July. I have also not been able to secure a shadowing gig... was going to ask my primary care, but he he was layed off recently.

Not sure if this counts as an EC, but while doing my post-bacc, worked part time setting up laboratories for my school's biology department.

In my previous career, I worked in IT consulting, got some good team-level leadership roles before I left and left on a good note with good reviews, was hoping to leverage this "maturity" factor, but not counting on it too much as it's not healthcare related.

I'm not certain at this point if I should postpone my app one more year and strengthen my EC's and perhaps strengthen my MCAT scores if things go badly in June. It would also give me a chance to take some more advanced science courses... though it's just theoretical as I'm pretty close to exhausting my funds (payed for post-bacc out of pocket), and will have to find some sort of full-time employment until I get admitted someplace anyways. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks ahead of time. 🙂

Well everything looks good, IMO. Its really up to you, Do you feel that you are the best applicant with your current stats or do you believe you can stand to improve a little more?? That's what I ultimately decided myself, to push back applying a year because I know I can be a better applicant. I wish you the best with your decision.🙂🙂

 

[Empi]

I think you look good to go!

If I were you, I would concentrate on rocking out good MCAT scores and stop worrying about the rest.

 

[gman33]

Your biggest concern right now is the MCAT.
If you are consistently scoring below 30, I'd push the date back to July.
This should give you time to significantly improve. I strongly recommend against taking the exam until you are ready. You can still apply plenty early this year, as long as you get your app done by about the same time you take the MCAT. You need to allow 4-6 weeks for AMCAS to process your transcripts etc.

You are really low in the clinical experience dept, but I wouldn't let this stop you from applying this year. The worst thing that can happen is that you don't get in this time. Try to start up volunteering again and mention that you are getting more hands on patient contact in your PS or secondaries.

If you don't get in this time and have a good MCAT score, just keep volunteering and try again next year. As long as you apply broadly to an appropriate mix of schools you should get some interviews this time.



Focus on the MCAT for now.

 

[tbo]

Another vote for focusing on the MCAT and delaying it if you're not scoring well on practices. Check out the 30+ MCAT study habit thread for some good ideas. My advice is to go through every single wrong question on practice tests that you've taken, figure out what conceptually went wrong and fix them. Then go through the RIGHT answers and make sure your thinking was sound. This is excruciating work, but very helpful. Without this, I felt like I just wasn't progressing. This helped me make significant strides in my test scores - from sub-30 to 35-36 in practice tests, with my real score falling slightly below my highest practice tests. Best of luck. The rest of your app sounds fine.

 

[appleplshr]

I agree with the previous posters who recommend delaying the MCAT (slightly) to work on getting your score above 30. Is one section bringing the score down, because w/ your GPA it looks like you should be good to go? As a slightly unrelated question...do you have any idea why your primary physician was laid off? I've never heard of this before! Anyway, good luck, your application looks very strong.