Here are my "stats"

[Bugsy1234]

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Hey guys,


I suppose this is just another one of those, "how do I stack up?" threads, but I really am curious.

I'm a sophomore physics major/pre-med pursuing minors in chemistry and math. I have a 3.87 GPA and I started doing research the summer after my freshman year. I go to a small state university, but I feel extremely comfortable talking about the research I participate in. I also shadow the MD that we collaborate most with in the lab I'm a part of

I'm curious how much course load plays into effect. Will taking classes like Partial Differential Equations, Physical Chemistry, or a grad-level quantum mechanics class matter?

I would really like to be accepted into an elite MD/PhD program (as would all applicants), I'm an extremely strong test taker, so I expect to do well on the MCAT. So, how do I stack up?

 

[StoicJosher]

There is too little information to go by. Your GPA, as of now, is good. Keep it up and get a 36+ on you MCAT and you should do very well.

I am not part of any adcom or even an MD/PhD student (yet) so take the rest with a grain of salt. I don't think the course load matters - the GPA is more important. A heavy course load that results in a bad GPA would indicate that a candidate is unable to plan, manage time, take on realistic goals etc. But if your GPA is good, I don't see anything negative going on there. But I can't imagine adcoms sifting through each and every course you took every semester and figuring out your course load (there are too many essays to read anyways).

Like I said earlier, there is too little to go by right now. Are you only doing research in the summers between your years? How productive has your research been - abstracts, posters, conferences, presentations, paper etc?

Also, did you check out this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=539268

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

Hey guys,


I suppose this is just another one of those, "how do I stack up?" threads, but I really am curious.

I'm a sophomore physics major/pre-med pursuing minors in chemistry and math. I have a 3.87 GPA and I started doing research the summer after my freshman year. I go to a small state university, but I feel extremely comfortable talking about the research I participate in. I also shadow the MD that we collaborate most with in the lab I'm a part of

I'm curious how much course load plays into effect. Will taking classes like Partial Differential Equations, Physical Chemistry, or a grad-level quantum mechanics class matter?

I would really like to be accepted into an elite MD/PhD program (as would all applicants), I'm an extremely strong test taker, so I expect to do well on the MCAT. So, how do I stack up?

There's a whiff of arrogance here which you would do well to expunge from your vocabulary prior to writing application essays and interviewing.

Regarding your questions, your GPA is excellent and I see no reason to assume your MCAT will not be. Supposedly the verbal section is the hardest to prepare for. I thought there was some randomness in what the test-takers thought was the logical best answer. Perhaps there were some wording issues...

Regarding course load, it doesn't matter one bit. I too pretty much all of the classes you list (graduate level statistical mechanics, physical chem, differential equations, etc.) and since my GPA was only mediocre it did nothing to compensate. Will your 3.87 look better than a music major 3.87? Absolutely. But the 4.0 biology major will probably do better. Still, your GPA is great and it won't be what holds you back from the top programs. At this point your best bet is to work on your research.

 

[Neuronix]

I think from GPA 3.8 - 4.0 it really doesn't make much difference. That said, most adomcs don't look closely into things like majors and course loads. It's not fair to physics/engineering majors, but it is what it is.

 

[Choculitis]

Supposedly the verbal section is the hardest to prepare for.

Seconded. Definitely give yourself ample time to prep for this, no matter how well you did on the SAT verbals (the MCAT is wayyyy trickier).

 

[Raziela]

Right come back with your MCAT score and we'll tell you what we think 🙂
One note: courses do not matter as long as you cover the basics. However, some programs require additional classes in addition to the typical pre-med reqs. The Harvard HST program requires calculus-based physics and some additional chem/math courses if I recall correctly, so if you think you can ACE these classes, you should look them up on their website and consider taking them (but only if you're dead set on HST)

 

[Fencer]

Sustained research interest and high MCAT is necessary for your goal. The quality of your UG institution and of your coursework is assessed if your GPA falls in the 3.5 - 3.8 range.

The only one thing that I will advise you is to consider that the 2015 MCAT will include a heavy dose of psychology/sociology. You might want to take some courses. The written MCAT will no longer be reported starting in 2012.