Low GPA High MCAT school list

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AngelOfAvarice

AngelOfAvarice

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My gpa is somewhat low due to a number of things, mostly due to financial instability during community college. At one point I became homeless, and my social worker helped get me into a university at which I have had a 4.0 average and completed about 110 credits.

My cGPA is about 3.3-3.35 and my sGPA is a 3.8-3.85 . My MCAT is between 37-38 and all sections are above 11.

My EC are average. 1 year of research, 2 poster presentations, won an undergraduate grant writing competition, and my PI is trying to get us published. 300 hours volunteer tutoring, 150 hours volunteering at my school. Couple of leadership positions in EC clubs, including one that I helped start. Started a chess club that turned into an weird MCAT study group/chess club hybrid, it was fun.

80 hours volunteering at a clinic for the undeserved. 100 hours working as a care taker one summer. About 100 hours shadowing. 75 hours volunteering at a hospital. Doing clinically related work currently that I just started.

Anyways, my GPA makes me nervous. I don't think it accurately represents me as a student, and I just feel kind of embarrassed about it. This makes it difficult for me to decide which schools to apply to.

So could you guys please give me some advice on which schools to apply to? I've applied to all of my state schools (TX), and I'm finishing up my out of state applications right now. I'd like to stay in Texas, but they love their high GPAs so I want to have some back up.
 
Also please don't quote my post, I'm trying to maintain anonymity, and I'd like to clear the original post after I've received advice. Thank you.
 
A couple of schools that accept OOS applicants have their 10th percentile GPAs in your range: Albany, Drexel, New York Medical College, Jefferson. I'm sure there are several others where your GPA falls in the lower end of their range. However, with that kind of MCAT score, and an explanation of your situation, I'm sure you stand a much better chance than someone who simply earned a 3.3. Your GPA definitely hurts you, but it's not lethal by any means, especially if your sGPA is 3.7+
 
AngelOfAvarice said:
My gpa is somewhat low due to a number of things, mostly due to financial instability during community college. At one point I became homeless, and my social worker helped get me into a university at which I have had a 4.0 average and completed about 110 credits.

My cGPA is about 3.3-3.35 and my sGPA is a 3.8-3.85 . My MCAT is between 37-38 and all sections are above 11.

My EC are average. 1 year of research, 2 poster presentations, won an undergraduate grant writing competition, and my PI is trying to get us published. 300 hours volunteer tutoring, 150 hours volunteering at my school. Couple of leadership positions in EC clubs, including one that I helped start. Started a chess club that turned into an weird MCAT study group/chess club hybrid, it was fun.

80 hours volunteering at a clinic for the undeserved. 100 hours working as a care taker one summer. About 100 hours shadowing. 75 hours volunteering at a hospital. Doing clinically related work currently that I just started.

Anyways, my GPA makes me nervous. I don't think it accurately represents me as a student, and I just feel kind of embarrassed about it. This makes it difficult for me to decide which schools to apply to.

So could you guys please give me some advice on which schools to apply to? I've applied to all of my state schools (TX), and I'm finishing up my out of state applications right now. I'd like to stay in Texas, but they love their high GPAs so I want to have some back up.
Click to expand...
doesn't really work that way
 
Is that a strong upward trend? If so you'll be fine for any schools that don't auto screen your cgpa. A strong upward trend and great mcat will get you reviewed at many schools.
 
Don't sweat things like that. I don't think medical schools are going to spend hours finding every post on SDN for every single applicant they get.

Your GPA is your limiting factor. However, your MCAT score will be a very strong card in your hand for the schools you end up applying to. Spend some quality time with the MSAR.
 
AngelOfAvarice said:
No I was trying to be anonymous, but that didn't really work, so oh well I got a 37.
Click to expand...

If it is at all a comfort to you, I'm just about the opposite of anonymous on this website, and I was never contacted by anyone from any school. I guess it helps that I don't think I have written anything on this website that I wouldn't say in person...
 
ahstern said:
If it is at all a comfort to you, I'm just about the opposite of anonymous on this website, and I was never contacted by anyone from any school. I guess it helps that I don't think I have written anything on this website that I wouldn't say in person...
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I'm not that paranoid, I just prefer not to attract unnecessary attention. In retrospect, I probably went a bit overboard, and as you said I'm sure it won't be a problem even if I were to say something s0mewhat unprofessional.

Still, there was that one kid that had his acceptance rescinded due to making a possibly racist comment on facebook.
 
AngelOfAvarice said:
I'm not that paranoid, I just prefer not to attract unnecessary attention. In retrospect, I probably went a bit overboard, and as you said I'm sure it won't be a problem even if I were to say something s0mewhat unprofessional.

Still, there was that one kid that had his acceptance rescinded due to making a possibly racist comment on facebook.
Click to expand...

In that case, don't make racist comments on SDN and you should be all set!
 
AngelOfAvarice said:
I don't understand what you mean. What doesn't work that way?
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The forum benefits from people being able to read past threads where someone in a similar situation asked for advice. When people go through their threads and try to delete all the information, they are hurting the forum.
Hrdrock said:
He was just being a troll and quoting your post, solely because you asked not to.
Click to expand...
Not really, I do the same thing with people who have a history of deleting their posts because it isn't fair to the forum for them to come in, get their advice, and then delete all the information they posted. They are taking away the value of the advice they get that could be used to help future posters.
 
V5RED said:
The forum benefits from people being able to read past threads where someone in a similar situation asked for advice. When people go through their threads and try to delete all the information, they are hurting the forum.
Not really, I do the same thing with people who have a history of deleting their posts because it isn't fair to the forum for them to come in, get their advice, and then delete all the information they posted. They are taking away the value of the advice they get that could be used to help future posters.
Click to expand...
Fair enough I guess. I wasn't intentionally trying to deprive anyone of anything, as I said I just don't like unwanted attention.
 
So from some of the previous posts in the thread, I'm starting to wonder whether I should bother applying outside of Texas this cycle? The whole thing feels like a subjective crap shoot, and everyone always says apply to twenty schools. If it would be counterproductive to do so I'd rather not and save the money.
 
AngelOfAvarice said:
So from some of the previous posts in the thread, I'm starting to wonder whether I should bother applying outside of Texas this cycle? The whole thing feels like a subjective crap shoot, and everyone always says apply to twenty schools. If it would be counterproductive to do so I'd rather not and save the money.
Click to expand...

It's especially tricky since TX has such a strong in-state bias; While you want to have an expansive school list, it's a Catch-22 since most OOS schools are aware that you would likely choose attending a TX MD program vs. their program. IMO, I would apply to all of the TX programs (as you intended to do) and at least 4-5 MD programs (probably private schools) in the chance you don't match to a TX program.
 
chemguy79 said:
It's especially tricky since TX has such a strong in-state bias; While you want to have an expansive school list, it's a Catch-22 since most OOS schools are aware that you would likely choose attending a TX MD program vs. their program. IMO, I would apply to all of the TX programs (as you intended to do) and at least 4-5 MD programs (probably private schools) in the chance you don't match to a TX program.
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Should I only apply to lower-mid tier schools? I know my stats aren't that impressive, but I do have an interesting story having had childhood cancer and homelessness and I interview well.

So far I have Baylor, University of Miami, Tulane, University of Cincinnati, and NYMC.
 
AngelOfAvarice said:
Should I only apply to lower-mid tier schools? I know my stats aren't that impressive, but I do have an interesting story having had childhood cancer and homelessness and I interview well.

So far I have Baylor, University of Miami, Tulane, University of Cincinnati, and NYMC.
Click to expand...
The TX applicants that should apply OOS are high stats high achievement, high aspirational students who think they can get a scholarship to a school better than UTSW or Baylor. The other group is low stats but otherwise good applicants who are ok with OOS DO schools that match their stats. If you fall into either of these categories, you should apply OOS. Otherwise, be aware that those of us who review applications from TX are going to assume that you will choose a cheaper IS school over us every time (unless we can offer a monetary inducement). If you are so special that you believe scholarship is likely at any OOS school, go right ahead and apply there.
 
gyngyn said:
The TX applicants that should apply OOS are high stats high achievement, high aspirational students who think they can get a scholarship to a school better than UTSW or Baylor. The other group is low stats but otherwise good applicants who are ok with OOS DO schools that match their stats. If you fall into either of these categories, you should apply OOS. Otherwise, be aware that those of us who review applications from TX are going to assume that you will choose a cheaper IS school over us every time (unless we can offer a monetary inducement). If you are so special that you believe scholarship is likely at any OOS school, go right ahead and apply there.
Click to expand...
Fair enough. I don't think I'm so special, I just feel that an expensive OOS acceptance is better than no IS acceptances. Thank you for your advice.
 
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AngelOfAvarice said:
Fair enough. I don't think I'm so special, I just feel that an expensive OSS acceptance is better than no IS acceptances. Thank you for your advice.
Click to expand...
TX has set up their admissions system to avoid the loss of applicants like you. They have been quite successful. After so many years of interviewing TX applicants who always stay IS most of us have given up interviewing them.
 
Given what precious little I know about the TX system, you would need to all but urinate on the interviewers to not get accepted somewhere. I do understand your concern though.
 
jonnythan said:
Given what precious little I know about the TX system, you would need to all but urinate on the interviewers to not get accepted somewhere. I do understand your concern though.
Click to expand...
That's very reassuring thank you, I'll make sure to used the bathroom before all of my interviews so as to avoid any temptation.
 
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