GPA Quandry

[rhettoric]

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Hello,

I'm hoping some other nontrads can help me. I recently finished a post-bacc program at NYU (Chem, Orgo, Bio, Physics), and I just received my MCAT scores this last week. I'm curious what sorts of schools I should be applying to. I've been scouring the MSAR, and I'm not really sure how competitive I am. Here are my stats.

MCAT

VR :10
PS: 11
BS: 12
WR: O

Undergraduate GPA (English Degree in 1999): 3.316
Postbacc Program GPA: 3.929

I also took some classes since I graduated college before deciding to join a post-bacc program. I'm not sure if that should be included in my science GPA or not. Here are the classes.

Intro to Programming: A
Perl Programming: B
Human Development: A
Spanish 1: B
Calculus 1: B+

note, I have not taken Calc 2. Also, I have some research experience (worked in a molecular genetics lab last summer), and I've been volunteering in an Emergency department for the past six months (I plan to continue throughout my application process). I also TA chemistry, and chem lab. I think that's it in a nutshell.

I'm just not sure how to classify myself (I don't even know what to write for the GPA blanks on MDApplicants.com). Do I have a chance with Ivy league, or should I settle for more 2nd tier schools?

-rhett

 

[postbacker]

Unfortunately for you the calculus grade will be included in BCPM, not the others...

 

[Faze2]

Unfortunately for you the calculus grade will be included in BCPM, not the others...

Why is that unfortunate? She got a B+.

 

[rhettoric]

Okay, with the calculus figured in, I have a 3.87.

Do I add those other classes in any GPA stuff or are they just extra?

What about sciences I took as an undergrad? They were kinda goofy, like Astronomy 120 (Moons for Goons), and The Physics of Sound and Music (Physics for Poets), but I did get As in them.

 

[QofQuimica]

Your MCAT score is very good and your post-bacc GPA is excellent. All of your grades will be averaged together by AMCAS (post-bacc + UG) to give two weighted averages (overall and BCPM). If you have grad school grades, those get averaged separately and do not get counted in your BCPM. But medical schools will still see your post-bacc GPA, and you have great evidence for a rising trend.

No one here or anywhere can predict if you will be accepted to an Ivy school. I suggest that you not focus too much on USNWR tiers; look for schools where you are a good match and where you think you will be competitive. In particular:

1) Apply to your state school(s). For most applicants, these will be your best bet. (This is apparently not the case if you're a CA resident.)

2) Rule out all schools in states where you wouldn't be willing to go. But be very parsimonious about this; don't rule out states on a whim unless you really, truly would rather not go to med school at all than go there. For example, I absolutely was not willing to go to the West Coast, so I ruled out all schools in CA.

3) Rule out all schools that do not accept residents of your state. For example, I am a FL resident. I did not waste my time applying to any of the TX state schools, even though TX is a state that I was willing to move to. This is because they take 90+% of in-staters. It is very, very hard to get into TX state schools as a nonresident with no ties to the state.

4) Of the remaining schools, look for the ones that have missions that match your goals. For example, I want to go into research. So I did not apply to schools that emphasize primary care. In addition, look at the average stats (MCAT and GPA) for matriculants at each school. If you are significantly below those, that is a reach school for you. If you're about on par or above average, then that is a reasonable target school. Note that being above the average does NOT guarantee you an acceptance, or even an interview.

5) If you're willing and able to move, consider looking hard at schools in the South and Midwest. Many people want to live in one of the big coastal cities. So there are plenty of mid-tier schools in desirable cities that are extremely competitive because they get ridiculous numbers of applications. On the other hand, there are some excellent, highly-ranked schools in the middle of the country that do not get anywhere near that many apps. I recommend checking them out.

Hope this is helpful in narrowing down your list, and best of luck to you. 🙂

 

[Law2Doc]

Do I have a chance with Ivy league, or should I settle for more 2nd tier schools?

"Ivy league" is not really a good term to use as synonymous for top med schools -- two are not ranked in the top 30, Princeton doesn't even have a med school. And over half of the top 10 schools are not Ivys. With your stats you will probably get looked at at some very good places. But numbers are not the end of the inquiry, and whether a school deems you a "good fit" depends on a lot of nonacademic factors, your interviewing skill, your "why medicine?" essays and the like. Apply to a bunch of top schools, perhaps a couple of what you are describing as "2nd tier" schools, and your state school as a back-up.

 

[rhettoric]

thanks for the advice guys.

I've been so focused on my classes and the MCATs that I really haven't spent much time deciding where I'd like to go. Other than the MSAR I don't have many resources to discriminate between my different options. In truth, I'm not even sure what constitutes a "top"school for me aside from name recognition. If you know of any other resources I'd love to hear about them!

 

[QofQuimica]

thanks for the advice guys.

I've been so focused on my classes and the MCATs that I really haven't spent much time deciding where I'd like to go. Other than the MSAR I don't have many resources to discriminate between my different options. In truth, I'm not even sure what constitutes a "top"school for me aside from name recognition. If you know of any other resources I'd love to hear about them!

The MSAR is a good place to start. Like I said, you can eliminate a lot of schools off the bat because they don't accept residents of your state, you would not be willing to move to that state, or their mission doesn't match your career goals. I think I had about 40 schools left after I did my first run-through. Then I started looking at the individual school websites, and I cut down to 22. That was still a lot of schools, but not unreasonable, I don't think. Probably around 15 schools is a good number to shoot for, assuming you have a good mix of schools.

 

[postbacker]

Why is that unfortunate? She got a B+.

Every non "A" erodes GPA, even a B+...in my book, that is unfortunate, especially since it is not a widely required pre-req...