MD low cgpa high postbac

[polyploidy516]

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hi all,

so I'm currently finalizing my application and will be applying next June.

my stats are a 3.42 bcpm and cumulative ( my undergrad was a 3.1x and my postbac was a 3.71 with 120 credits). I received a 40 on my mcat as well.

I would like to know what range of schools I should apply to? I graduated from my undergrad in 2011 and just finished the postbac. Will medical schools view me as a 3.42 GPA applicant or a 3.71 since that was my most recent coursework ( I took upper division sciences and got A's).

Also, I would be grateful for the tiers of schools I should apply to..would it be reasonable to apply to schools like Harvard and Columbia with my stats ( given my recent 120 credits are a 3.71 which is in their 10-90%) or will my lower overall gpa doom me at those schools? I will also be applying as disadvantaged ( grew up homeless and low income, etc).

Your help and thoughts on how my application will be viewed will be gratefully appreciated.

@LizzyM @Goro @gyngyn @Catalystik

 

[Goro]

There are MD schools that reward reinvention (and ALL DO schools). A 40 MCAT is nothing to sneeze at either.

I recommend (assuming you have the right ECs):

Columbia
Duke
Pitt
Case
Vandy
UCSF (you saw right)
Your state school(s)
BU
U Miami
Tulane
Dartmouth
Gtown
Rosy Franklin
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Tufts
Albany
NYMC

hi all,

so I'm currently finalizing my application and will be applying next June.

my stats are a 3.42 bcpm and cumulative ( my undergrad was a 3.1x and my postbac was a 3.71 with 120 credits). I received a 40 on my mcat as well.

I would like to know what range of schools I should apply to? I graduated from my undergrad in 2011 and just finished the postbac. Will medical schools view me as a 3.42 GPA applicant or a 3.71 since that was my most recent coursework ( I took upper division sciences and got A's).

Also, I would be grateful for the tiers of schools I should apply to..would it be reasonable to apply to schools like Harvard and Columbia with my stats ( given my recent 120 credits are a 3.71 which is in their 10-90%) or will my lower overall gpa doom me at those schools? I will also be applying as disadvantaged ( grew up homeless and low income, etc).

Your help and thoughts on how my application will be viewed will be gratefully appreciated.

@LizzyM @Goro @gyngyn @Catalystik

 

[polyploidy516]

@Goro :
I'm grateful for your clarification. would you classify 2 years lab research, 1000 hours at a health clinic, 100 hour homeless shelter volunteer, and 150 hours clinical research with the underserved the right ecs?

I also am going to be doing a masters in bioethics ( I have a strong interest in clinical ethics/philosophy). I will also be doing a public health policy internship soon.

Would this ecs be considered average to above average? I had to work 30-40 hours a week during undergrad to support my parents so I feel as if my ecs are limiting ( applying disadvantaged as well)? I will have 7 recs as well ( 2 from research--one PI is a top faculty member at a top tier, 2 from volunteer, and 3 academic).

There are MD schools that reward reinvention (and ALL DO schools). A 40 MCAT is nothing to sneeze at either.

I recommend (assuming you have the right ECs):

Columbia
Duke
Pitt
Case
Vandy
UCSF (you saw right)
Your state school(s)
BU
U Miami
Tulane
Dartmouth
Gtown
Rosy Franklin
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Tufts
Albany
NYMC

 

[Goro]

Yes, very much so.
1000 hrs in a health clinic is the type of EC I see in SDNers who get into top schools.

@Goro :
I'm grateful for your clarification. would you classify 2 years lab research, 1000 hours at a health clinic, 100 hour homeless shelter volunteer, and 150 hours clinical research with the underserved the right ecs?

I also am going to be doing a masters in bioethics ( I have a strong interest in clinical ethics/philosophy). I will also be doing a public health policy internship soon.

Would this ecs be considered average to above average? I had to work 30-40 hours a week during undergrad to support my parents so I feel as if my ecs are limiting ( applying disadvantaged as well)? I will have 7 recs as well ( 2 from research--one PI is a top faculty member at a top tier, 2 from volunteer, and 3 academic).

 

[polyploidy516]

Yes, very much so.
1000 hrs in a health clinic is the type of EC I see in SDNers who get into top schools.

I am grateful for your help. Do you think applying as disadvantaged will be helpful in my situation (especially given my 130 credit postbac at 3.7 which will put me in the 10-90% for every school). My top choices are ucsf and Columbia so I hope my story will be convincing enough.

Thank you once again!

 

[Goro]

Disadvantaged applies to you before college, not during or after.

I am grateful for your help. Do you think applying as disadvantaged will be helpful in my situation (especially given my 130 credit postbac at 3.7 which will put me in the 10-90% for every school). My top choices are ucsf and Columbia so I hope my story will be convincing enough.

Thank you once again!

 

[starspells]

A lot of schools are requiring the new MCAT. When did you take your MCAT? A lot of schools also have 3 year expiration policies for the MCAT so just make sure your MCAT is valid for the schools you apply to.

Otherwise you look competitive, good luck!

 

[candbgirl]

I was just going to mention your MCAT. How old is it? Many schools are starting to only accept the new MCAT.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[polyploidy516]

I took the MCAT January 2015 and was told that it expires Jan 2018. Should I just take the new MCAT to play it safe?

I will apply disadvantaged as I grew up in low income housing and was on government benefits (welfare, etc). Would this status carry any weight or am I better off not mentioning it?

 

[candbgirl]

I think I remember seeing a list of schools and when they are switching over the MCAT requirement. Maybe try a search .


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[GrapesofRath]

Figure out if there are schools your MCAT expires for before deciding to retake. Don't retake an unexpired 521 otherwise

Generally speaking since there are still a number of schools that will take the old MCAT even next cycle I don't think this will be a big deal but there might be individual schools that want a newer score which is what's worth checking

 

[polyploidy516]

I'm grateful for your clarification. I went to the Aamc site and noticed that for the 2018 entering class (the next application cycle in 2017) basically every school except for Harvard, Columbia , Stanford, penn and several others will require the new MCAT (NYU and Cornell will require the new).

I guess I'll just take the new one as well. Would this be more strategic?