Got straight A's... now what?

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Hi all, non-traditional applicant coming from a nasty 3.1 UG GPA. First semester back took 16 units of all science classes, straight A's across the board. Have some questions for y'all about what else I should be doing.
For your info:
-Taking Gen chem II over summer
-Starting a volunteering program (hopefully 1 yr long) this summer
-Doing some research this summer
-Over the semester got friendly with professors and probably could use them for some great LORs.
-Joined a pre-medical fraternity


Besides all that, I had a few questions. How important is it that I work in the medical field? It seems like the only available jobs are EMT and I don't have the time/money to get my license right now. Should I focus on school? Can volunteering and shadowing take care of my medical field experience?

Also curious about what to do as far as MCAT and applying go. I can apply to med school next summer (after organic chem II) when all the classes will still be fresh in my mind or I can wait another year to take the MCAT and apply. The reason to wait would be I'd have more time to improve my overall GPA (if I apply next summer my overall will only be around a 3.39, but if I wait another year, it should be around a 3.45, 3.47). I'm not sure how huge the difference is between 3.39 and 3.45 to wait a whole year, perhaps someone can shed some light on that--my post bac GPA is 4.0 as is my BCPM GPA, will those help to erase my less than stellar overall GPA?

I was considering letting my MCAT progress dictate whether to wait another year or not. If I'm only getting a 28 on practice tests near test time next summer, it might be smart to wait another year, bring up that practice MCAT score and my overall GPA. But if I'm getting a stellar practice MCAT score, it might not make much of a difference to wait a whole year for that slight boost in GPA. Let me know what you guys think!

 

[BennieBlanco]

Can volunteering and shadowing take care of my medical field experience?

Yes.

Also curious about what to do as far as MCAT and applying go. I can apply to med school next summer (after organic chem II) when all the classes will still be fresh in my mind or I can wait another year to take the MCAT and apply. The reason to wait would be I'd have more time to improve my overall GPA (if I apply next summer my overall will only be around a 3.39, but if I wait another year, it should be around a 3.45, 3.47). I'm not sure how huge the difference is between 3.39 and 3.45 to wait a whole year, perhaps someone can shed some light on that--my post bac GPA is 4.0 as is my BCPM GPA, will those help to erase my less than stellar overall GPA?

That would mean all your old science classes including math were A's?

I wouldn't wait, I would apply both years personally. You won't get into a school by bumping a 3.39 to 3.47. Do well on the MCAT.

I was considering letting my MCAT progress dictate whether to wait another year or not. If I'm only getting a 28 on practice tests near test time next summer, it might be smart to wait another year, bring up that practice MCAT score and my overall GPA.

Definitely get better than a 28. Unless you want to do a DO it will be tough. Aim for extraordinary MCAT since GPA is on the lower end. 35-40+ Find a way.

 

[engineeredout]

Get some Bs for diversity now.

 

[Barfalamule]

BennieBlanco is right on target. I had a 3.1 gpa and did a post-bacc with a 3.99 and got my gpa up to a ~3.4. It was the MCAT that ultimately got me in. 30 the first round and 33 the next. You've demonstrated your ability to do the academics now kill the MCAT.

 

[medicsb]

Besides all that, I had a few questions. How important is it that I work in the medical field? It seems like the only available jobs are EMT and I don't have the time/money to get my license right now. Should I focus on school? Can volunteering and shadowing take care of my medical field experience?

Nix the idea of becoming an EMT, focus on school, volunteer when you have time, and shadow.

If the area you live in is anything like Philadelphia, the only jobs you'll be able to get right out of EMT school is working for a private ambulance doing nursing home and dialysis runs - generally an all around crap-sandwich. If you were to start off doing 911, then I'd suggest you look into it more, but most prehospital/911 ambulance services don't hire new EMTs.