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Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
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ElipseArrow

ElipseArrow

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Thank you so much to those that answered!
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Members don't see this ad :)
What I'm seeing as someone who reviews applications:
- Low GPA with no MCAT to back up that you have the requisite knowledge in medical school (and no idea what your MCAT will be, have you taken a practice test?
- Volunteering so low as to be negligible
- Zero in person clinical experience - the certifications don't matter unless you use them
- Zero research, if you're applying to schools that care about that
- No other activities (eg D1 athlete, caring for a sick relative, working to support yourself/family) to explain your relatively low GPA and ECs. And to be clear, even if you did, the ECs are not adequate to suggest you have done the work to make sure medicine is the right fit for you.
- The language experience is nice, the college classes in high school are common and not helpful to your application, and anticipated future hours are not taken seriously.

I am not trying to be rude here, but I just want to be clear about how your application will be perceived if you apply now. I am not saying you're a bad person or student, or that you'll never get into medical school. But you need a year, probably two, of hard work on these weaker areas to get there - not only for the purpose of getting in, but to make sure you are making the right decision for yourself and learn the things you need to learn to be a good medical student.
 
cj_cregg said:
What I'm seeing as someone who reviews applications:
- Low GPA with no MCAT to back up that you have the requisite knowledge in medical school (and no idea what your MCAT will be, have you taken a practice test?
- Volunteering so low as to be negligible
- Zero in person clinical experience - the certifications don't matter unless you use them
- Zero research, if you're applying to schools that care about that
- No other activities (eg D1 athlete, caring for a sick relative, working to support yourself/family) to explain your relatively low GPA and ECs. And to be clear, even if you did, the ECs are not adequate to suggest you have done the work to make sure medicine is the right fit for you.
- The language experience is nice, the college classes in high school are common and not helpful to your application, and anticipated future hours are not taken seriously.

I am not trying to be rude here, but I just want to be clear about how your application will be perceived if you apply now. I am not saying you're a bad person or student, or that you'll never get into medical school. But you need a year, probably two, of hard work on these weaker areas to get there - not only for the purpose of getting in, but to make sure you are making the right decision for yourself and learn the things you need to learn to be a good medical student.
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I don't find it rude and I greatly appreciate the bluntness. I come from a family with a lot of trade school and one associates, so they just told me to do what I think I should do. Not great as a fresh high school grad. I haven't been able to find a practice MCAT, but i have been studying for it. Would it be worth taking the MCAT this cycle, even if i applied in the next cycle?
 
Mr.Smile12 said:
Welcome to the forums.
Why do you feel you are ready to apply?
Click to expand...
I dont, but I also know even if i got a 3.8 gpa, 4000 hours in each EC and had a perfect mcat score, I wouldn't feel ready. Im just hoping to get insight from people who arent telling I'll have my BS degree in four years or to do what I want cuz "im smarter than them."
 
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My mom said I didnt due to my dad making too much, and that I couldn't claim i had to work in high school to help them with things. Although I will have to pay for the MCAT myself. If I wait one more year, would you suggest taking the MCAT this spring anyways?
 
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ElipseArrow said:
My mom said I didnt due to my dad making too much, and that I couldn't claim i had to work in high school to help them with things. Although I will have to pay for the MCAT myself. If I wait one more year, would you suggest taking the MCAT this spring anyways?
Click to expand...
I'll have to trust that you read the eligibility requirements. Is your family paying for access to all the AAMC study materials such as the question banks?

Most applicants will take the MCAT before the AMCAS window opens, so whether you take it in January or March, the most important is when you have maximally prepared for the exam.
 
ElipseArrow said:
I've been nervous lately so I figured I'd ask it here. As for the details I do have, here's the list:
  • 20 hours of nonclinical volunteer (will increase)
  • 3.0 gpa when I apply (3.3 if I wait one year) science GPA isn't much different, most my classes are science
  • ASL certification when I graduate (working on the classes)
  • Have not taken MCAT, unsure if I should take it this cycle if I dont apply to med school this go
  • 2 hours of teleshadowing (will increase) although I know its not as good as in person shadowing
Click to expand...
you have to wait forsure
 
ElipseArrow said:
I don't find it rude and I greatly appreciate the bluntness. I come from a family with a lot of trade school and one associates, so they just told me to do what I think I should do. Not great as a fresh high school grad. I haven't been able to find a practice MCAT, but i have been studying for it. Would it be worth taking the MCAT this cycle, even if i applied in the next cycle?
Click to expand...
It's worth taking the MCAT when you are ready and getting good scores on practice tests. With your GPA you should make sure you have a (hopefully strong!) MCAT score back before you apply to show that you have the academic chops you need to succeed in medical school.

If you're still in school, does your school have a pre med advisor or club you can get connected with? They might be helpful to give you some insight into the process, connect you with extracurricular opportunities, and support for MCAT studying as well.
 
cj_cregg said:
It's worth taking the MCAT when you are ready and getting good scores on practice tests. With your GPA you should make sure you have a (hopefully strong!) MCAT score back before you apply to show that you have the academic chops you need to succeed in medical school.

If you're still in school, does your school have a pre med advisor or club you can get connected with? They might be helpful to give you some insight into the process, connect you with extracurricular opportunities, and support for MCAT studying as well.
Click to expand...
I do have a premed advisor, however, she keeps telling me I have 4 years. As for the process and EC opportunities, Ive done a lot of research on my own and I doubt she would be able to help much given this area only has one hospital and a few clinics. I haven't really found any practice tests to use, do you mind suggesting any I may have missed?
 
You are not ready to apply this cycle. In the coming year this is what need for your application a year from now.
A higher GPA
50 hours of in person physician shadowing (including primary care)
200+ hours of clinical volunteering/employment with patient contact.
200+ hours of non clinical volunteering such as food bank or homeless shelter.
Do not take the MCAT until your practice scores are consistently 505 or higher.
Come back here in May 2026 for further advice
 
Faha said:
You are not ready to apply this cycle. In the coming year this is what need for your application a year from now.
A higher GPA
50 hours of in person physician shadowing (including primary care)
200+ hours of clinical volunteering/employment with patient contact.
200+ hours of non clinical volunteering such as food bank or homeless shelter.
Do not take the MCAT until your practice scores are consistently 505 or higher.
Come back here in May 2026 for further advice
Click to expand...
Would it look badly if I managed to get those hours in the span of a single year?
 
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ElipseArrow said:
I do have a premed advisor, however, she keeps telling me I have 4 years. As for the process and EC opportunities, Ive done a lot of research on my own and I doubt she would be able to help much given this area only has one hospital and a few clinics. I haven't really found any practice tests to use, do you mind suggesting any I may have missed?
Click to expand...
I just ask because it seems to me that you are missing a lot of key info on what it takes to build a strong application. SDN can help but networking with other pre med students who might be aware of these opportunities can go a long way. Most hospitals and clinics are hurting for CNAs and MAs these days so that's a great place to start, as well as finding some non clinical volunteering you are passionate about!

It has been 10-15 years since I took the MCAT so I really couldn't tell you these days where to find practice tests and study resources unfortunately!
 
I do appreciate the input. Im working on getting my cna certification switched to my current state but that's a waiting game.
 
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