Hey I'm a junior with a 3.7 cumgpa, and a 3.4 BCPM gpa, 33 MCAT, i am the president of my schools Cancer Awareness Team, and I have done two research projects, one within my major and another in cell biology. I have volunteered (200+hrs at this one location), Shadowed and physiatrist, cardiologist, and an ER doc. I am working on getting my EMT-B this summer so I can work at a volunteer rescue squad my senior year to get some hands on experience. How competitive do you think my stats, are? For some reason, I feel like i might be missing something or im not well rounded. Any help? Thanks
Is a 3.7 good enough?
- Thread starter Mr Rehab
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Look pretty good except for the 3.4.
I would like to know what others think about the OP's situation. I feel like I will end up in a similar situation next year. I also feel that it is not enough for medical school, since the BCPM GPA is lower than mean acceptance BCPM GPA. What is the relative weight admissions put between overall and science GPAs?
I am not sure if I am correct but I have always felt that for medical school admissions, science GPA is the only GPA.
I am not sure if I am correct but I have always felt that for medical school admissions, science GPA is the only GPA.
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bah...I had a 3.4 overall and BCPM, lower MCAT than the OP and still managed a few invites. There is more to one's application than numbers.
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Not to be demeaning, but do you understand the concept of an average? In order for there to even be an average, there have to be people who are above and people who are below it, unless of course every single applicant has the exact same BCPM. Of course, we know this isn't the case. All too often, pre-meds associate "average" with "minimum" which by the very definition of average would be absurd.
How could you preface you comment with "Not to be demeaning" when your comment could not be taken any other way? If you bothered to read my comment carefully you would see that I was asking for opinions because I was not sure about the situation.
It is true that many times mean is taken for minimum, but 3.4 isn't very close to the (what I understand to be) 3.6 mean. Don't take offense because you didn't have high statistics. I don't have high statistics either but I just want to get people's opinions about how admissions view science versus overall GPA.
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I didnt say the OP would not have a shot...simply that the 3.4 is the only thing I see that could be a problem.
Still should get some bites....🙂
Still should get some bites....🙂
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Ok, I'm sorry about that but seriously go get an MSAR. You'll see a HUGE range of 10th percentile to 90th percentile GPAs and MCAT scores. Picking one at random...UIC: 10th percentile cGPA: 3.2, 90th: 3.9...10th percentile sGPA: 2.9, 90th: 3.9...GPA...median at UIC: 3.6 overall, 3.5 BCPM. To say that the people with the 2.9s don't have a chance at this school because they're "below average" is just inaccurate. This just goes to show that the stats of one's application don't tell the whole story. As far as what GPA is more important will depend on the school. There is no absolute answer that fits every school. I think it's best to get them as close to each other as possible. By that I mean that someone with a 3.8 overall, but a 3.1 sGPA is probably not going to do as well as someone with 3.5s on both. Also, upward trends can help to mitigate a lower GPA and that is what I have heard from at least 3 adcom members of different schools...not just SDN BS.
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Thanks, this was definitely a lot more helpful. I think I should get a hold of an MSAR instead of depending more on anecdotal advice.
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Will your BCPM GPA go up this semester. It would look good to finish with an upward trend before you submit.
You have good leadership and shadowing with variety. Was your research two semesters long? If the volunteering you refer to is clinical experience, you're fine there.
If you're applying this summer, the EMT certification probably won't help you much , if at all, on the application, but the experience you gain once you volunteer or work as an EMT, will be good fodder for update letters and interview conversations.
To look "well-rounded" and interesting, you'll also list hobbies, sports, artistic endeavors, any teaching/coaching/mentoring you did. And any other nonmedical community service aside from your leadership activity.
I definitely second the "get an MSAR" recommendation. You'll do a much better job of picking schools that fit your stats so your application dollars are well spent.
