Is this hopeless?

[yellowcocopuffs]

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I currently attend UC Berkeley and will be senior and applying to med school 2011. However, I have a 3.79 GPA and according to MSAR, avg GPA of those accepted to California med schools is much higher. Does this mean I have very low chance of gaining acceptance to a California med school? I haven't done any spectacular ECs, and I have not yet taken the MCAT. And how can I come up with a list of med schools to apply to?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[mspeedwagon]

Without an MCAT score no one can answer your question. With a 3.79/32 or 33 you should have a decent shot at a few of the UCs.

I currently attend UC Berkeley and will be senior and applying to med school 2011. However, I have a 3.79 GPA and according to MSAR, avg GPA of those accepted to California med schools is much higher. Does this mean I have very low chance of gaining acceptance to a California med school? I haven't done any spectacular ECs, and I have not yet taken the MCAT.

 

[NotAsking4Much]

I currently attend UC Berkeley and will be senior and applying to med school 2011. However, I have a 3.79 GPA and according to MSAR, avg GPA of those accepted to California med schools is much higher. Does this mean I have very low chance of gaining acceptance to a California med school? I haven't done any spectacular ECs, and I have not yet taken the MCAT. And how can I come up with a list of med schools to apply to?

Take the MCAT first. The MSAR GPA's are skewed up hence if you compare those stats with those on a school's website, the one on the website is usually lower. a 3.8 is by all means fine.

They are never going to be like "well this guy had a 3.9 and this had a 3.8, we're taking the 3.9." Do well on the MCAT and especially if you want a top 20 school / many Cali schools, do some cool ECs that stand out and are impressive.

 

[yellowcocopuffs]

Thanks for the input. I have done some ECs, such as laboratory research and hospital volunteering, but nothing out of the ordinary. What do you mean by "some cool ECs that stand out"?

 

[searun]

If you do reasonably well on the MCAT and apply broadly, you should be in good shape. Just don't limit yourself to California. There are plenty of great med schools that are not located in California. Sometimes getting a change of scenery can be invigorating. I grew up on the West Coast and I attend med school on the East Coast. It has been a fantastic experience. Open your eyes, and see what is out there in the big wide world.

 

[Geekchick921]

Moving to WAMC.

 

[klmnop]

If you do reasonably well on the MCAT and apply broadly, you should be in good shape. Just don't limit yourself to California. There are plenty of great med schools that are not located in California. Sometimes getting a change of scenery can be invigorating. I grew up on the West Coast and I attend med school on the East Coast. It has been a fantastic experience. Open your eyes, and see what is out there in the big wide world.

i agree 100%, but cali tuition subsidization is unbeatable