Here is my scenario?

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Crystal Meth

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I originally posted this in the post-bacc area.

I graduated from Stanford last year with a 3.1gpa in physics and a minor in biology. I took the aug 03 mcat and scored a 11v/10b/10p - S. I have done 4 years of research in physics and biology off and on, though I have no publications. I have shadowed, volunteered, etc.

I had several interviews last year, all late in the cycle, and I was not accepted (waitlisted, rejected).

I am post baccing in August, and I feel that I can move my gpa up by .2overall and .25 in the sciences.

I want to go to medical school this application cycle. Will medical schools see that I'm doing a post-bacc and give me a chance (especially post January when they get my new grades)? 1 medical school I really don't want to go to (and so I aks them all my dumb questions) said they would most likely not accept me this applicatoin cycle b/c by the time I'm a proven academic candidate, their class will most likely be full.

My gpa come January would be a 3.22 and come June it'd be a 3.31 if I got straight A's.
 
Mr Reddly said:
I just 😍 their comment... 3.1 from S and a 31 to boot != proven academic candidate? WTF?


Academics are great and may be a cutoff with a lot of schools, however, with a 31 and a 3.1 from Stanford, you have to look at other things. Do you have quality interpersonal skills? There is a lot more to being a doctor or getting into medical school than just what your GPA and MCAT show. Keep that in mind. Try to do more to become a better person and build some character. The best doctor is not necessarily the one with the best MCAT.
 
Allygator beat me to my post -- you need to look at other things on your app - with a 3.1 (did you have an upward trend? is there a bad term in there responsible for the drop that you could explain in your PS?) and a 31, a couple things come to mind. What kind of schools did you apply to last cycle? If you applied to top schools, or mostly Cali schools, a 3.1 may not be academically competetive. If you try applying to a wider variety you might have better luck. Also, have you had other people read and critique your PS? I think the PS can make or break you if you have 1 borderline part of your app.

Don't give up though, when your postbac grades come out, send them out immediately with a letter of update to your schools. Good luck!
 
when you say you are "post-baccing in august", what do you mean? you will complete your post-bac by august or start it?

I think 3.1 is very marginal. 3.5 is the average of matriculants, right. But if you have some post-bac grades posted in your app this cycle, that will help a great deal, hence my question above. If you are only starting your post-bac I advise you wait til the 2006 cycle, otherwise you will be wasting your time and $$.

Also you mentioned late interviews and an august 2003 mcat. That means you applied late. That definitely hurts marginal applicants. Whenever you apply, do it early!

peace and good luck 🙂
~sunflower
 
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