In Need of Advice

[Premed9000]

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Hi everyone, sorry for the extremely long post, but I would really appreciate some feedback and advice. Thanks in advance!

Although I’ve never been great at studying, it really caught up with me in undergrad. I sought help during the second semester of my junior year at the counseling and psychological services, and according to the diagnostic tests, it seemed that I met the symptoms for ADHD. I then saw a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with ADHD. The medication I was prescribed helped me for a period of time, but then I hit my tolerance and did not want to increase the dosage because of the side effects. I discontinued my medication after a few months and attempted to further improve my studying habits by working on my time management skills so I could study and keep up with my classes.

I know I performed poorly in undergrad, but I would like to know if my Master’s GPA will help me at all and how it will factor into my application. Do I have a chance at MD or should I only apply DO? What else can I do to improve my chances? Assuming my MCAT studying goes well and I am able to get a 32-33, will I have any luck with my application?

Planning to apply June 2014
Male, Asian, Michigan Resident
Graduated from University of Michigan in 2012
Majored in Neuroscience, Minored in Spanish and Medical Anthropology
Undergrad cGPA: 3.262
Undergrad sGPA: 2.825
MCAT TBD (will not take until consistently scoring 30+ on practices)

Activities from Undergrad:
Programmer for 1.5 years
Lab Assistant for 8 months
ICU Volunteer for 2.5 years
Pre-Med Club for 1 year (fundraising, volunteering at senior living home and others)
Research Assistant for 2.5 years (poster presented at American Association for Cancer Research)
Shadowed a Psychiatrist at a large hospital for about 25 hours

Physiology Master’s GPA: Currently 3.56, should be 3.67 upon completion of Master’s (2 B’s, rest are A’s)
Have been working in a lab this past year, completing research thesis this summer
Will be volunteering at free clinic and another hospital starting next month
Planning to shadow more (primary care and a few other specialties)

Hobbies:
Chess (competed in state-level and national competitions during high school, few awards)
Black belt in Choi Kwang Do
Trilingual

 

[Premed9000]

bump

 

[Cuongoff]

If you get a 30+ I think you should apply MD as well. Undergrad GPA is really low but I think the Masters GPA kind of makes up for it. Apply broadly.

 

[Premed9000]

If you get a 30+ I think you should apply MD as well. Undergrad GPA is really low but I think the Masters GPA kind of makes up for it. Apply broadly.

Thank you very much for your feedback. Am I right in thinking low-tier MD schools only or could I add in some mid-tier?

Also, anyone else, feel free to chime in.

 

[Cuongoff]

Np. The thing is, I am not sure how adcoms will look at the two gpas (whether they will only look at masters or take both into consideration). Apply to as many DO schools as you can to insure that you get an acceptance. With a 30, if you have the money or FAP, you could probably do both low and mid tier (I would focus more on the low tiers to try and increase the chances of getting an acceptance).

Thank you very much for your feedback. Am I right in thinking low-tier MD schools only or could I add in some mid-tier?

Also, anyone else, feel free to chime in.

 

[Alejandro]

I think you're doing all the right things. Not to put additional stress onto you, but a 34-35 would make your application probably a lot more compelling, in the sense of making a better onsetting effect on your gpa. of course, easier said than done. But you do have the right mindset goin on-don't take it unless you're ready to take it. Keep up with your current commitments as well. The ECs, given that you give good introspective reflection on your experience, will buttress your application well.

 

[Premed9000]

I think you're doing all the right things. Not to put additional stress onto you, but a 34-35 would make your application probably a lot more compelling, in the sense of making a better onsetting effect on your gpa. of course, easier said than done. But you do have the right mindset goin on-don't take it unless you're ready to take it. Keep up with your current commitments as well. The ECs, given that you give good introspective reflection on your experience, will buttress your application well.

Thank you for your response. A 34-35 would be ideal and I'm trying to aim as high as I can. Do you know how much weight a Master's GPA holds or does this vary from school to school? Based on what I've read on this forum, it seems like the undergrad GPA is still more important. Would the 2.8 undergrad sGPA get me screened out anywhere?

 

[Goro]

The MS WILL help your cGPAs an that's the first thing we look at. If the coursework is rigorous (and Physiology is) then the more, the better. But stuff like "Recombinant DNA Techniques" or "Research I" won't help as much.

Do you know how much weight a Master's GPA holds or does this vary from school to school?


Wrong. It's important not to put too much stock in the word of some hyperventilating, over-anxious pre-meds.

Based on what I've read on this forum, it seems like the undergrad GPA is still more important.


It will raise eyebrows. A rocking high MCAT will do a lot of good, however.

Would the 2.8 undergrad sGPA get me screened out anywhere?[/QUOTE]

 

[gyngyn]

Each of your gpa's is an independent data point considered in your application. The science gpa will carry more weight in the screening process than Master's degree grades. It is generally assumed that everyone gets A's in postgrad classes.

If you make it past screening it is possible that some interpretation of the rigor of your Master's degree courses and the reasons for your weak UG performance will occur. Naturally, a strong MCAT will go a long way toward getting you that second look!

 

[Premed9000]

The MS WILL help your cGPAs an that's the first thing we look at. If the coursework is rigorous (and Physiology is) then the more, the better. But stuff like "Recombinant DNA Techniques" or "Research I" won't help as much.

Wrong. It's important not to put too much stock in the word of some hyperventilating, over-anxious pre-meds.

It will raise eyebrows. A rocking high MCAT will do a lot of good, however.

Thank you very much for dispelling those myths for me. I will focus my efforts on the MCAT and continuing my activities.

 

[Premed9000]

Each of your gpa's is an independent data point considered in your application. The science gpa will carry more weight in the screening process than Master's degree grades. It is generally assumed that everyone gets A's in postgrad classes.

If you make it past screening it is possible that some interpretation of the rigor of your Master's degree courses and the reasons for your weak UG performance will occur. Naturally, a strong MCAT will go a long way toward getting you that second look!

Thank you for your input. Do you know if there are strict cutoffs for the screening process? Based on Goro's post, I'm thinking the process is more subjective. What do you think?