go for it or wait?

[venus0206]

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Hey guys-
here's the deal:

undergrad GPA (@ state school)-2.75-major family issues where I had to leave school weeks at a time to take care of my mother

grad GPA (M.S in Biomedical Siences @ osteopathic school )-3.7

MCAT- 40

other stuff:
research publication
volunteering in Ghana, Africa at a free clinic for 2 months
literacy tutor
abuse counselor
fundraising for Leukemia patients (7000+ dollars)
Tutor/mentor for incoming master's students
founder of various clubs at the grad school

Question: APPLY? I am interested in only Allopathic schools- I went to an osteopathic school for my master's because it was the cheapest compared to other programs I got into.
OR
WAIT? would it be better for me to go to school for longer? Do a post-bacc?

Oh, and would applying early make THAT much of a difference in my case?

I know you guys probably get these questions alot 🙄 but i havent found a thread that was similar to my situation. Thanks!

 

[sacrament]

Your 2.75 undergrad GPA will raise some eyebrows (what was your major?) so I'd definitely explain it in your personal statement. The huge improvement you showed in your grad program will help a lot, as will your fantastic MCAT scores. I think your chances are very decent. Apply to at least 10 schools.

 

[ASDIC]

i would suggest u wait to take a few courses to raise ur GPA. u have excellent ECs and will make u stand out. however, the adcoms will want u to present them with a higher GPA. plus u have a high mcat, so u dont have to worry about it.
Good luck!

 

[Mike59]

venus,

You have some great EC's, and I can't even descibe the MCAT score. Obviously you have what it takes to get in.

Just be careful about that undergrad GPA. Some schools can be picky about performance in the pre-med classes. IMHO, a post-bacc would be a good idea, but you should contact some med schools directly to find out for certain.

Good Luck!😉

 

[tBw]

I think you unfortunately just entered the 'twilight zone' of med school admissions. Some *very* strong aspects to your app and some (sorry to be blunt) poor areas by comparison to other apps.

I think with candidates like this it depends on two things - how you spin it, and who looks at it.

The latter is out of your control - it just depends who on the adcom at any particular school looks at your file and what they focus on. This can make or break you but can be overcome by applying to a larger number of schools and counting on statistics to help you out...

The former - the 'spin' - is within your control. Spin is not a dirty word but I think how you present your app will critically affect your success. With most people I think its a bad idea to spend the PS making up excuses for poor past performance but with the radical changes between your past and present you clearly have a story to tell and one that could be critical to how you are evaluated. Remember to talk about it in terms of overcoming adveristy, learning from mistakes, then dedicating yourself to a goal despite the 'odds', and above all *focus on the positive* - don't use it to make on long whine about how life has been unfair to you. As long as you do this I think you should fair well in the admission process. I don't think waiting will really do much good - your past will always be bad and you're not going to make tomorrow look much better than you have already made today look! I say, go for it - good luck 🙂

 

[Lara]

Definitely go for it, but have everything as much as possible in your favor to make up for that GPA. Write an excellent PS with the situation explained, emphasize those great EC's, and yes APPLY AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE to a wide range of schools. This means getting your LORs lined up right now, submitting your AMCAS next month and returning secondaries by August. It's really impossible to say what schools will make of your app (so again apply to as many as possible of all tiers), but if you do all this and interview well I'd say you have a very decent shot. Good luck! 🙂

 

[JZZZZZZZs]

venus,
I have to echo everyone else's encouragement and tell you to go for it! Last year, I was in the same dilemma that you're in now and asked myself if I should apply or improve my undergrad GPA. Ultimately, I applied and am currently waitlisted with a good chance of getting in.
However, definitely apply early and get all your secondaries and LOR in as early as possible. Listen to all the other posters, they have experience that should be taken to heart!
If you're still insecure about your undergrad GPA, take a couple of undergrad level classes as an informal post-bacc. student at a state university this year. Do well and it will boost your GPA but your ECs and MCAT are very impressive also so do what boy wonder says and try and emphasize those aspects of your application!
Anyway, good luck with everything and definitely go for it!!!