Ivy League Schools

[blueperson]

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Has anyone ever heard of the Ivy League Schools considering students who did badly in science (a couple of Ds) and then years later did the Pre-Med and did well? I don't care about the "Ivy League" part, but one of the schools that would be a good fit for me (structure of the curriculum, etc.) happens to be an Ivy League school. I feel it is hopeless to apply though because I hear Ivy League only takes 4.0/42.

 

[ajt2003]

Has anyone ever heard of the Ivy League Schools considering students who did badly in science (a couple of Ds) and then years later did the Pre-Med and did well? I don't care about the "Ivy League" part, but one of the schools that would be a good fit for me (structure of the curriculum, etc.) happens to be an Ivy League school. I feel it is hopeless to apply though because I hear Ivy League only takes 4.0/42.

I think it really depends on which Ivy you're talking about. IMHO, some Ivies (like Columbia, Cornell) look a bit more closely at GPA/MCAT, while others (like Yale, Harvard - to an extent) look a bit more closely at the applicant's story. Still, D's are pushing it a bit - but if your GPA's still relatively high and your MCAT's top notch then you probably have a shot. Truth is, you just never really know.

Oh, and it's definitely NOT true that Ivy Leagues only take 4.0/42. True, the average MCATs are a bit higher (Columbia - 35ish, Cornell - 34ish), but nothing THAT selective.

Lastly, if you went to an Ivy undergrad or are a URM, or have done amazing clinical/volunteer work, it might help you to get your application looked at more closely - and then hook an interview.

Apply! It's a minor investment, and you never know!

Happy Holidays and g'luck.

 

[liverotcod]

I understand that Dartmouth is more open to lower numbers, too. I have an interview at 2.95 GPA, many Fs.

 

[calstudent]

i think it's also important to remember that upward trends are looked at positively. if you got bad grades as a freshman, but straight A's as a senior, your in good shape. And, remember those averages of 3.8 and 35 are just that-averages. For every person with a 4.0, someone with a 3.5 or 3.6 is getting in (my guess, of course), so don't sell yourself short. But, you may want to reconsider applying to "Ivy" medical schools--apply more broadly.

 

[fullefect1]

Ivy's are for undergrad.... That doesn't mean that all of the IVY's are super power houses for med school. Dartmouth and Brown are not on the top like the others.

 

[Nittany Lion]

I definitely wouldn't agree with the whole 4.0/42 thing... I interviewed at U.Penn with a 29 MCAT (and a 23 on the first try, might I add)!! I still say it's all just a crapshoot really, definitely not all a numbers game.

 

[blueperson]

Penn was the only one I was looking at... I like how the curriculum is done, etc - more systems based and incorporates interaction with patients earlier. I would also do schools like Wisconsin, North Dakota, Eastern Virginia, etc.