How bad am I screwed

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baratheonfire

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I just got my grades for this semester. My cGPA is a 3.33, sGPA is a 3.28. 4.0 Non science. I go to one of the most heavily grade deflating schools on the east coast, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. My major is really hard and unstructured as well, Bioinformatics.
I carefully selected 21 credits for the next semester that I'm sure I can get an A in (all are legit science classes, but easy electives). With this, my gpa will get up to a 3.51 or 3.53, and my sGPA will be a 3.5 or 3.52.

I'm expecting above 520 on my MCAT. This is what I'm getting on practice tests, and on my SAT I got a 2320.

1st semester:3.28 (took Data Structures, hardest CS class at RPI, along with Orgo 1)
2nd semester: 3.73
3rd semester: 3.0 (Took a class in my major that really screwed me over)
4th semester: Expecting a 4.0, will really try to get it


Red Flags:
Used AP credits for all freshman year classes
Will be graduating in 3 years, so I'll only have 4 semesters of grades when I apply.
2 C+'s on my transcript, one in Orgo 1 during my 1st semester, one in Molec Bio II
However, I improved in Orgo II to a B+ and got an A in Biochemistry

Extra Curriculars: Decent in my opinion
400 Hours of volunteering at a hospital
100 Hours of shadowing
Non-clinical volunteering -2000 Hours. I volunteered twice a month at my local soup kitchen since I was 6 years old. It's a huge part of my life.
Clubs: Founded a club focused on improving Social and Health conditions in Rural India. I'll be coordinating an international trip as well, and will stay in a village in India for 2 weeks before returning to the US to implement solutions. This isn't standard voluntourism, the majority of the work is done in the US and the trip is for observation. We work in the same village over years, for long term sustainability.
TA for a Cell Biology class

Research: 4 semesters of working in a lab focused on observing self-healing capabilities of human bone
Presented a poster at my own university, no paper

I'm also Indian, so I'm an ORM. I'll try to apply to 30 or 40 schools. I just want to get into a US MD school, hopefully SUNY Stonybrook, since I'm a New York resident.
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Last edited:
J Senpai said:
You're fine. Keep doing well and establish a good upward trend.
Click to expand...
That's part of the problem. Even if I do well next semester, it won't look like an upward trend. I'll just be flopping up and down.
 
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baratheonfire said:
That's part of the problem. Even if I do well next semester, it won't look like an upward trend. I'll just be flopping up and down.
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If you perform as well on the MCAT as your practice scores are predicting, there should be no question regarding your abilities. I see what you mean, but 4.0 semesters are only going to be helpful.
 
given your post history, you really don't want to just take an "extra" year (it's not even extra given it will be normal four years).
so without that, assuming you can pull out a 520, just do well (>3.7) on your next semester.
however, as someone who has taken 21+ credit hours, I would not bet on a 4.0 even if they are "easy".
 
What makes you so confident you'll get a 4.0 next semester? Especially when 1) you haven't gotten one before, 2) you got a 3.4 last semester, and 3) you will be taking 21 credits.

EDIT: 4) your school deflates grades
 
Come back when your GPA goes up and you have your MCAT. You have too many hypotheticals right now.

baratheonfire said:
I just got my grades for this semester. My cGPA is a 3.47, sGPA is a 3.28. 4.0 Non science. I go to one of the most heavily grade deflating schools on the east coast, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. My major is really hard and unstructured as well, Bioinformatics.
I carefully selected 21 credits for the next semester that I'm sure I can get an A in (all are legit science classes, but easy electives). With this, my gpa will get up to a 3.61 or 3.63, and my sGPA will be a 3.5 or 3.52.

I'm expecting above 520 on my MCAT. This is what I'm getting on practice tests, and on my SAT I got a 2320.

1st semester:3.28 (took Data Structures, hardest CS class at RPI, along with Orgo 1)
2nd semester: 3.73
3rd semester: 3.4 (Took a class in my major that really screwed me over)
4th semester: Expecting a 4.0, will really try to get it


Red Flags:
Used AP credits for all freshman year classes
Will be graduating in 3 years, so I'll only have 4 semesters of grades when I apply.
2 C+'s on my transcript, one in Orgo 1 during my 1st semester, one in Molec Bio II
However, I improved in Orgo II to a B+ and got an A in Biochemistry

Extra Curriculars: Decent in my opinion
400 Hours of volunteering at a hospital
100 Hours of shadowing
Non-clinical volunteering -2000 Hours. I volunteered twice a month at my local soup kitchen since I was 6 years old. It's a huge part of my life.
Clubs: Founded a club focused on improving Social and Health conditions in Rural India. I'll be coordinating an international trip as well, and will stay in a village in India for 2 weeks before returning to the US to implement solutions. This isn't standard voluntourism, the majority of the work is done in the US and the trip is for observation. We work in the same village over years, for long term sustainability.
TA for a Cell Biology class

Research: 4 semesters of working in a lab focused on observing self-healing capabilities of human bone
Presented a poster at my own university, no paper

I'm also Indian, so I'm an ORM. I'll try to apply to 30 or 40 schools. I just want to get into a US MD school, hopefully SUNY Stonybrook, since I'm a New York resident.
Click to expand...
 
1) This post should really be in WAMC.

2) med schools don't care about difficulty or major or "schools with grade deflation." so don't expect that to help you and just focus on getting the best grades you can
 
Glandzburg said:
What makes you so confident you'll get a 4.0 next semester? Especially when 1) you haven't gotten one before, 2) you got a 3.4 last semester, and 3) you will be taking 21 credits.

EDIT: 4) your school deflates grades
Click to expand...
2 credits are TA'ing which is listed as a science class, and 3 credits are research which are a guaranteed A.
I'm pretty confident since the rest of the classes are all structured extremely similarly to other classes in which I've gotten A's, and that's what I've heard from my friends. But you're right, it's possible I won't get a 4.0, but I'll seriously try.
 
BluMist said:
given your post history, you really don't want to just take an "extra" year (it's not even extra given it will be normal four years).
so without that, assuming you can pull out a 520, just do well (>3.7) on your next semester.
however, as someone who has taken 21+ credit hours, I would not bet on a 4.0 even if they are "easy".
Click to expand...
Yeah, I just don't want to take a gap year, because it will be a gap
 
BluMist said:
it's only a gap year if you graduate and exit the school; you can always stay for a (normal) 4th year.
Click to expand...
What would I do? It's literally impossible for me to not fulfill my graduation requirements by 2017. I'd be paying for an extra year just to sit around and take electives.
 
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Tired said:
I find it hard to believe that a place with such an awkward name actually exists.

-20 points for attending a community college with a poorly-conceived name.
Click to expand...


LOL. Well, of course you know..."Rensselaer is America's oldest technological research university, offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in engineering, the sciences, information ..."
http://rpi.edu

And do take care to type in rpi rather than rip edu. 😛
 
baratheonfire said:
What would I do? It's literally impossible for me to not fulfill my graduation requirements by 2017. I'd be paying for an extra year just to sit around and take electives.
Click to expand...

Take upper level science courses then. Ones that would boost your sGPA (in other words, counted as science under AMCAS).
 
Tired said:
I find it hard to believe that a place with such an awkward name actually exists.

-20 points for attending a community college with a poorly-conceived name.
Click to expand...

How have you not heard of RPI? It's one of the best engineering schools in the country that isn't MIT/Caltech/Ivy.

Plus, their Mens D1 NCAA ice hockey team isn't too bad.

Work on knowing more about the rest of the country so you're not a 7-minute interview 1-dimensional applicant.
 
jl lin said:
LOL. Well, of course you know..."Rensselaer is America's oldest technological research university, offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in engineering, the sciences, information ..."
http://rpi.edu
Click to expand...
I'm so sad that no one knows about us. We're a top 50 US News ranked school.
 
Lost in Translation said:
Take upper level science courses then. Ones that would boost your sGPA (in other words, counted as science under AMCAS).
Click to expand...
But I'll still be paying for an extra year to take electives, going further than my graduation requirements. If I don't get in next year I would rather just research for a year than continue being at school
 
Too soon. You're on the right track for now though. Keep over 3.5, bare minimum, and you should be fine. Just keep up on the ECs.
 
You need to realize that not everything in your life can be planned out 100%

If you need another year of school then you need another year of school. It's not what you want but it may be what it takes for you to become a doctor now.

Ask yourself, is it more important for you to finish college in 3 years or to be a doctor one day?
 
piii said:
1) This post should really be in WAMC.

2) med schools don't care about difficulty or major or "schools with grade deflation." so don't expect that to help you and just focus on getting the best grades you can
Click to expand...


Yes, but how can you do a WAMC w/o all the relevant metrics?
 
Pagan FutureDoc said:
You need to realize that not everything in your life can be planned out 100%

If you need another year of school then you need another year of school. It's not what you want but it may be what it takes for you to become a doctor now.

Ask yourself, is it more important for you to finish college in 3 years or to be a doctor one day?
Click to expand...
I mean I'm not actively trying to finish college in 3 years. I just AP'ed out of all my freshman classes. Can't change that now.
 
baratheonfire said:
I'm so sad that no one knows about us. We're a top 50 US News ranked school.
Click to expand...


No. I have heard of it. Seems like a nice school.

Just thought the addy can easily be taken as RIP.EDU. LOL
 
baratheonfire said:
I mean I'm not actively trying to finish college in 3 years. I just AP'ed out of all my freshman classes. Can't change that now.
Click to expand...


IDK, I would think it would be a rare student (definitely non-pre-med) that would really benefit from testing out by AP.
So, as suggested by LIT ^, take other science courses like genetics, biochem, microbiology. (I don't care what anyone says, microb is an awesome course.)

Even if there are some smelly mishaps from time to time in lab.
 
jl lin said:
IDK, I would think it would be a rare student (definitely non-pre-med) that would really benefit from testing out by AP.
So, as suggested by LIT ^, take other science courses like genetics, biochem, microbiology. (I don't care what anyone says, microb is an awesome course.)
Click to expand...
But I can't reverse having AP'ed out of those classes. I already received credit for them. I don't see how staying at college for an extra year, to accumulate credits when I've technically already graduated, can help me. There really isn't much I can take either.
 
baratheonfire said:
But I can't reverse having AP'ed out of those classes. I already received credit for them. I don't see how staying at college for an extra year, to accumulate credits when I've technically already graduated, can help me.
Click to expand...

So you can accumulate dem dank grade points. Think of it like a cheaper, easier post-bacc. After a certain amount of credits, chances are your GPA won't go up or down very much. You can just take courses in another discipline - get a minor or another major if it is feasible/manageable. However, if you feel that you like your chances after those 3 years then go ahead and apply, it's your decision. People just want you to be aware of the risks.
 
baratheonfire said:
But I can't reverse having AP'ed out of those classes. I already received credit for them. I don't see how staying at college for an extra year, to accumulate credits when I've technically already graduated, can help me.
Click to expand...

Well the help is in getting your science GPA up. Also, certain courses like biochem should help with the MCAT. Bottom line is that your sGPA could be stronger.
You could hunker down and prep for MCAT and hope for best w/ that metric, but, as I said. Your sGPA isn't strong. Don't think that is not going to glare on your app.
 
baratheonfire said:
But I can't reverse having AP'ed out of those classes. I already received credit for them. I don't see how staying at college for an extra year, to accumulate credits when I've technically already graduated, can help me. There really isn't much I can take either.
Click to expand...
This is exactly what everyone who does a postbacc does
 
Lost in Translation said:
How have you not heard of RPI? It's one of the best engineering schools in the country that isn't MIT/Caltech/Ivy.

Plus, their Mens D1 NCAA ice hockey team isn't too bad.

Work on knowing more about the rest of the country so you're not a 7-minute interview 1-dimensional applicant.
Click to expand...
...Yeah I've never heard of it either. Name power is a real thing and our lack of knowing it probably has to do more with them and not us.
 
OK, w/o checking, name the most expensive liberal arts school in the country. You have five seconds.
 
Times up. Sarah Lawrence. I know cuz my mother always wished she had attended there.
 
Is pulling rank supposed to intimidate me or something? Because it makes you look like more of a buffoon. Please don't be a Carson and know nothing outside of your field.
 
baratheonfire said:
what's the minimum sgpa people need
Click to expand...

I don't know about absolute minimums but you should really stay above 3.5 and do everything you can to get into that 3.65 area. The higher the better. Just do your very best every semester, not sure what else to say about that.
 
I'm confused. People get loads of AP credit all the time and still take four years. You don't "technically graduate" at most schools, you put in your degree application at some point after fulfilling the requirements. If that's after some semesters of extra elective upper level courses, so be it. I understand not wanting to pay a year of tuition but you act like you're being forced to leave school. If your goal is truly med school it doesn't make sense to put yourself at a disadvantage just because you think you have to leave school "because AP!!"
 
22031 Alum said:
I'm confused. People get loads of AP credit all the time and still take four years. You don't "technically graduate" at most schools, you put in your degree application at some point after fulfilling the requirements. If that's after some semesters of extra elective upper level courses, so be it. I understand not wanting to pay a year of tuition but you act like you're being forced to leave school. If your goal is truly med school it doesn't make sense to put yourself at a disadvantage just because you think you have to leave school "because AP!!"
Click to expand...
I'm confused what you mean. I will have completed all of my degree requirements within three years, so I'd literally be staying at college only to improve my GPA to apply to med school. None of the classes that I would take would be relevant to my major, since I'll have finished all of them. Would you tell someone to take a fifth year of college for that reason, or would you recommend taking an SMP or working on EC's in a gap year?
 
22031 Alum said:
I'm confused. People get loads of AP credit all the time and still take four years. You don't "technically graduate" at most schools, you put in your degree application at some point after fulfilling the requirements. If that's after some semesters of extra elective upper level courses, so be it. I understand not wanting to pay a year of tuition but you act like you're being forced to leave school. If your goal is truly med school it doesn't make sense to put yourself at a disadvantage just because you think you have to leave school "because AP!!"
Click to expand...
I also am not following Op's reasoning for this. If you have to stay in school another year to make medical school a reality, why is that so terrible?

If you are "screwed," it's because of your own foolish reasoning.
 
baratheonfire said:
I'm confused what you mean. I will have completed all of my degree requirements within three years, so I'd literally be staying at college only to improve my GPA to apply to med school. None of the classes that I would take would be relevant to my major, since I'll have finished all of them. Would you tell someone to take a fifth year of college for that reason, or would you recommend taking an SMP or working on EC's in a gap year?
Click to expand...
If your undergrad GPA is low, the answer is definitely to not graduate yet and improve it.....

A single solid undergrad GPA looks better than a lower undergrad GPA plus better SMP GPA.
 
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