hopkins with a 3.4?

[whattodowithmys]

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i was just curious, has anyone ever heard of someone getting into hopkins w a 3.4 straight from ugrad? what types of things would an applicant have to do to make up for that gpa at hopkins?
thanks

 

[Medikit]

i was just curious, has anyone ever heard of someone getting into hopkins w a 3.4 straight from ugrad? what types of things would an applicant have to do to make up for that gpa at hopkins?
thanks

Kicking ass on the mcat should do it along with having the necessary ECs.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Kicking ass on the mcat should do it along with having the necessary ECs.

The ECs, of course, being something more than tutoring inter-city children and volunteering in an ER. I have to laugh when someone claims to have "great ECs", and they turn out to only have done the two mentioned along with something like secretary of the pre-med society at their school.

 

[fotolilith]

The ECs, of course, being something more than tutoring inter-city children and volunteering in an ER. I have to laugh when someone claims to have "great ECs", and they turn out to only have done the two mentioned along with something like secretary of the pre-med society at their school.

Don't forget working in a hospital gift shop - that's always a classic. 🙂

 

[Siggy]

The ECs, of course, being something more than tutoring inter-city children and volunteering in an ER. I have to laugh when someone claims to have "great ECs", and they turn out to only have done the two mentioned along with something like secretary of the pre-med society at their school.

What about all those EMTs out there?

 

[45408]

What about all those EMTs out there?

That depends on what they did. Some posters here have just gotten their EMT certification and never done anything with it, which is no help. If you've worked as one, that's probably a good boost to your application.

 

[Siggy]

wonderful. At least the hospital volunteering will generate good LORs for med school. Charge nurse>agency (laughs at CCE program in OC, CA).

 

[sidewalkman]

Don't forget about research up the wazoo

 

[PublicEnemy]

The ECs, of course, being something more than tutoring inter-city children and volunteering in an ER. I have to laugh when someone claims to have "great ECs", and they turn out to only have done the two mentioned along with something like secretary of the pre-med society at their school.

the funny thing is, those are great EC's, as long as you have at least a 3.9 and didn't do a point below 36 on the MCAT.

for me on the other hand, because of my gpa, my EC's really suck, since i've only co-authored 2 grants, only have 2 publications, only potentially cured 1 type of cancer, was only executive vice-president of the student government, etc. etc.

 

[erin682]

i was just curious, has anyone ever heard of someone getting into hopkins w a 3.4 straight from ugrad? what types of things would an applicant have to do to make up for that gpa at hopkins?
thanks

I had a 3.8/33 with plenty of EC's and didn't get an interview last year. It doesn't mean you have no shot but........

 

[opinionkitten]

yeah a 3.4 isnt anything a couple covers of cell and nature wouldnt make up for.

 

[patzan]

Nobel Peace Prize, survived esophageal cancer, Rhodes Scholarship, dad's the Dean...

 

[bbaek]

wonderful. At least the hospital volunteering will generate good LORs for med school. Charge nurse>agency (laughs at CCE program in OC, CA).

are you talking about the HOAG program over at Newport?? Is it not worth getting into?? because I heard they did some great things and gave great opportunities for students.

 

[Siggy]

Yep, Hoag in Newport Beach, CA. The CCE program is worth it for the expierence and the contact. I'm laughing at the LOR, though. With over 300 people in the program, I do wonder about how well they would be able to write a unique LOR (grant it, the program director for Hoag, Jennifer, is a goddess with names. I honestly don't know how she does it). On the other hand, you are working with the nurses and can ask them for a LOR.

 

[jennie 21]

I had a 3.4 from an Ivy league school, a 38-40 MCAT, and pretty good EC's (three years' work experience as an EMT and several years immunology research). Got rejected from Hopkins without an interview. Really, unless you publish a first-author paper in Nature or Science or something or your daddy's a professor there, it just ain't gonna happen with a 3.4. I'm fine with that. It's Hopkins---why shouldn't they be selective? I'm now an MS2 at NYU and very happy with my school and education. You don't have to go to Harvard or Hopkins to be a good doctor, you know.

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

When you're applying to the very top schools one must understand that their primary goal is to accept the 100-200 finest prospective physicians in the entire world. How they judge who those people are is up to them.

I don't believe they have a single spot reserved for anyone but the literal best of the best. Even those on their waitlist are among the finest in the world.

I'm not trying to rain on anyones parade, but one must appreciate the gravity of the situation at Hopkins, Harvard, etc...

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Hopkins is probably more forgiving of a 3.4 than the numbers ***** schools.

 

[airadface]

wonderful. At least the hospital volunteering will generate good LORs for med school. Charge nurse>agency (laughs at CCE program in OC, CA).

siggy

bags on cce and you're in it

 

[Siggy]

Well, its not really bagging on it. The program is great, but its like asking a teacher that doesn't know you to write a LOR. Sure the teacher can write a letter that'll go something like, "Siggy got a __ in my class, blah blah blah." Compared to a volunteer group with a lot of members and almost no direct oversight (since your helping out the CNA, nurses, and techs, and they, not the administraion of the program, provide the oversight), the LOR would come out as, "Sure, he volunteered for ____ hours and blah blah blah. I'm sure adcoms have seen enough of these letters before to know that the letter themselves means nothing special.

 

[tank you]

Well, its not really bagging on it. The program is great, but its like asking a teacher that doesn't know you to write a LOR. Sure the teacher can write a letter that'll go something like, "Siggy got a __ in my class, blah blah blah." Compared to a volunteer group with a lot of members and almost no direct oversight (since your helping out the CNA, nurses, and techs, and they, not the administraion of the program, provide the oversight), the LOR would come out as, "Sure, he volunteered for ____ hours and blah blah blah. I'm sure adcoms have seen enough of these letters before to know that the letter themselves means nothing special.

I was gonna volunteer at Hoag, but there were so many people there that I decided to volunteer at St. Joseph. There are much less volunteers here and I have easier access to the volunteer coordinator as well as the nurses.

 

[45408]

Nobel Peace Prize, survived esophageal cancer, Rhodes Scholarship, dad's the Dean...

now that would probably do the trick....

 

[bbaek]

I was gonna volunteer at Hoag, but there were so many people there that I decided to volunteer at St. Joseph. There are much less volunteers here and I have easier access to the volunteer coordinator as well as the nurses.

really??? i am a student over at UCI and I was needing to go apply for some volunteering areas around here. got rejected from hoag due to an influx of many applicants, and so I was wondering if st. joseph's is any good?

 

[airadface]

really??? i am a student over at UCI and I was needing to go apply for some volunteering areas around here. got rejected from hoag due to an influx of many applicants, and so I was wondering if st. joseph's is any good?

🙁 i thought Hoag never rejected anybody. when did you apply?

 

[ElKapitan]

When you're applying to the very top schools one must understand that their primary goal is to accept the 100-200 finest prospective physicians in the entire world. How they judge who those people are is up to them.

I don't believe they have a single spot reserved for anyone but the literal best of the best. Even those on their waitlist are among the finest in the world.

I'm not trying to rain on anyones parade, but one must appreciate the gravity of the situation at Hopkins, Harvard, etc...

What about when you have connections, like your parent is faculty, or your grandpa gave them lots of money. Does that somehow immediately make you the best of the best. I feel that there is alot of tradition and buddy buddy systems at these schools.

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

ElKapitan

I think you may be right to an extent, but most evidence I've heard regarding this practice only applies to their undergraduate institutions. Sure, being a legacy applicant for medical school can help - they say that outright. But as far as any real foul play is concerned I've heard only anecdotal rumors.

I stand by the statement that they only take the best of the best. Knowing the right people may help for two otherwise equal prime calibre applicants.

Just because a statement is widely believed doesn't make it true...

 

[Dr. Donkey]

Back to the OP. How 'bout "Hopkins with a 3.8/36"?...no 🙁 . I've been complete for ~ 3 months and the secretary just told me that basically the sun has set on my turd/application (the turd was a supplementary update). EMT/research for 2 years didn't help either. I just hope my turdish application lives on in the hold lists at other schools.

 

[bbaek]

🙁 i thought Hoag never rejected anybody. when did you apply?

i applied this fall quarter... appears that i might have to apply again this december. there were 200 applicants for 120 spots.

 

[bbaek]

what did you say in the interview? i could've sworn that they take everyone, if you need tips just ask 😀

i need tips, cause i thought the group interview went well 🙄

 

[trying]

Yep, Hoag in Newport Beach, CA. The CCE program is worth it for the expierence and the contact. I'm laughing at the LOR, though. With over 300 people in the program, I do wonder about how well they would be able to write a unique LOR (grant it, the program director for Hoag, Jennifer, is a goddess with names. I honestly don't know how she does it). On the other hand, you are working with the nurses and can ask them for a LOR.

I would not rec the CCE Hoag program. I think you get a lot more out of the experience if you go to a place that serves the needy. The Dr's are better at places like that, in terms of talking about why they got into medicine and the whole atmosphere is more altruistic. I reccomend Share Our Selves Free Medical Clinic, which is just down the street from Hoag. Actually, it is a division of Hoag.

 

[JohnHolmes]

i was just curious, has anyone ever heard of someone getting into hopkins w a 3.4 straight from ugrad? what types of things would an applicant have to do to make up for that gpa at hopkins?
thanks

People have done more with less. However, 3.4 doesn't "help you" with the Blue Jays.

 

[trying]

can you give more info on this one? any applications etc? thanks😀

Share Our Selves Free Medical and Dental Clinic
http://www.shareourselves.org/
1550 Superior Avenue,
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
949-650-0640
Ask to speak with the Volunteer coordinator.

 

[airadface]

Share Our Selves Free Medical and Dental Clinic
http://www.shareourselves.org/
1550 Superior Avenue,
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
949-650-0640
Ask to speak with the Volunteer coordinator.

thank you 😀 , was the interview easy?
how many hours do you work there weekly?

 

[davidus]

Back to the OP. How 'bout "Hopkins with a 3.8/36"?...no 🙁 . I've been complete for ~ 3 months and the secretary just told me that basically the sun has set on my turd/application (the turd was a supplementary update). EMT/research for 2 years didn't help either. I just hope my turdish application lives on in the hold lists at other schools.

Doc Donkey, how did the secretary tell you that? Did she say how long it takes for your application to be reviewed? Wondering about my turd...

 

[jhugti]

What about when you have connections, like your parent is faculty, or your grandpa gave them lots of money. Does that somehow immediately make you the best of the best. I feel that there is alot of tradition and buddy buddy systems at these schools.

have to disagree with this one...

the amount of money we'd be talking about for a top notch institution to care AT ALL is on the order of hundreds of thousands of dollars. That is, if dad donates a few thousand bucks, Hopkins will send you a nice letter, possible a picture of President Brody, and a hearty thank you. That's it. So, if someone in your class truly got in because of money, you'd know it based on on their last name appearing on the library, cacncer research building, etc.

Connections are a different story all together. If dad is faculty or alum, I believe a word or two here and there can push you over the top IF you're already competitive...

In either case though, we're talking about a few (maybe 5-10 total?) kids each year- really doubt that its playing any significant role in the class composition. And, I don't think that the backdoor admissions practices happen any less at less 'elite' schools.