Inconsistent past :(

[TheNeuroGuy]

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So, I'll try and be brief with my story. In general, I just want to know if I even have a chance.

In highschool I didn't do well because I didn't really care about academics. I went to PSU right out of highschool because I was pressured by my family to go to college. I had no desire to be there or any school really and I eventually dropped out because I was doing so poorly (I basically failed every class I took in 3 semesters).

I went to community college and decided I wanted to try to do well. Unfortunately, I had a bit of a rough start. Even though I wanted to get good grades, I had no idea how to study effectively or efficiently. I ended up withdrawing out of a few classes so I wouldn't end up with bad grades.

Here's where things start picking up. I got my act together and started getting A's and I got accepted with full scholarship to Bucknell University. Right now, I'm a neuro major and I'm on track to graduate with honors this spring. Here are a list of my grades and EC's:

Grades:
Community College GPA: 3.74
Bucknell cGPA: 3.70
sGPA: 3.65
MCAT (practice tests): ~35

Inorganic Chemistry I/II: A/B
Organic Chemistry I/II: B+/A
Physics I/II: B+/A-
Biology I/II: A/B

Research:
1 year in an evo bio lab
2 years in dev neurobio lab (completing honors thesis)

EC'S & Awards (spread out at cc and bucknell):
Jack Kent Cooke Scholar (provided scholarship to Bucknell)
Honor's Program President
Brain Club President
Phi Theta Kappa (international honor society) VP
Recognized Senator for SGA
Mortar Board Member (national honor society)

Volunteering:
~100 hrs fundraising for family services
~40 hours volunteering at hospital


I'm mostly worried about my inconsistencies and my A/B grades in my core sciences. I've worked my butt off to get where I am and I'm just afraid that it's not enough.

At this point, there's not much else I can do to improve my chances. My GPA is pretty set apart from it going up a few .01 points my last semester. I have to still take my MCAT but I hope to get 33+ on it.

I've just been down the past couple weeks because I don't feel that I have a chance. Any insight would be very appreciated.

 

[Geneticist]

I'm a PSU student and will be taking classes at Bucknell this summer! Good luck with the application process!

 

[Catalystik]

Have you spoken with a premed counselor at your school? Do they know about the three semesters of F grades at PSU?

 

[TheNeuroGuy]

I'm a PSU student and will be taking classes at Bucknell this summer! Good luck with the application process!

Thanks! I'll be at Bucknell this summer too doing research. Good luck!

Have you spoken with a premed counselor at your school? Do they know about the three semesters of F grades at PSU?

I have told my premed counselor about it and, although she thinks it looks good to have an upward progression, I don't quite believe her in this drastic of a case.

 

[Catalystik]

Have you calculated your GPAs using all the grades you earned at all institutions? I ask because that is the way that AMCAS, the primary MD application service, will figure it.

Have you retaken any of the classes you got an F in? If so, then AACOMAS, the DO med school application service, will only include the most recent grade (removing the F from the calculation), provided the credit hours were the same or greater.

 

[TheNeuroGuy]

Have you calculated your GPAs using all the grades you earned at all institutions? I ask because that is the way that AMCAS, the primary MD application service, will figure it.

Have you retaken any of the classes you got an F in? If so, then AACOMAS, the DO med school application service, will only include the most recent grade (removing the F from the calculation), provided the credit hours were the same or greater.

I only just barely make it above a 3.0 including my PSU grades.

 

[TheNeuroGuy]

Have you calculated your GPAs using all the grades you earned at all institutions? I ask because that is the way that AMCAS, the primary MD application service, will figure it.

Have you retaken any of the classes you got an F in? If so, then AACOMAS, the DO med school application service, will only include the most recent grade (removing the F from the calculation), provided the credit hours were the same or greater.

I only just barely make it above a 3.0 including my PSU grades. I understand that DO schools are an option and I'm considering it.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I only just barely make it above a 3.0 including my PSU grades. I understand that DO schools are an option and I'm considering it.

I would do a healthy mix of MD/DO applications, but I do think you'll need to put most of your eggs on the DO basket.

 

[Catalystik]

DO GPA calculation spreadsheet: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=450050

Now figure out your DO application GPA, using the spreadsheet above. Also figure out your AACOMAS science GPA (no math) and your BCPM GPA (with the math for AMCAS).