Low GPA, high MCAT score.. what do I do?

[myst]

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Ive got little research under my belt, every summer I had to help my parents in the store, or volunteer..

My GPA first year was 7.2 (9 point system), then 2.9 and 3.1 (4 point system) 2nd and 3rd year respectively.

For the MCAT, i think i scored ~33-34. Ive been scoring that on most practice tests I did and the MCAT seemed to be the same level as those tests.

What kind of choices do I have for universities? Im from Canada btw, and money isnt that big an issue (although the cheaper the better of course 🙂 )

 

[myst]

anyone?

 

[red dot]

Ive got little research under my belt, every summer I had to help my parents in the store, or volunteer..

My GPA first year was 7.2 (9 point system), then 2.9 and 3.1 2nd and 3rd year respectively.

For the MCAT, i think i scored ~33-34. Ive been scoring that on most practice tests I did and the MCAT seemed to be the same level as those tests.

What kind of choices do I have for universities? Im from Canada btw, and money isnt that big an issue (although the cheaper the better of course 🙂 )

i don't mean to be mean, but just to clarify, you earned a 2.9 and a 3.1 out of a 9 point system?

 

[myst]

i don't mean to be mean, but just to clarify, you earned a 2.9 and a 3.1 out of a 9 point system?

i should have clarified
no, those were on the 4 point system 🙂

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

Ive got little research under my belt, every summer I had to help my parents in the store, or volunteer..

My GPA first year was 7.2 (9 point system), then 2.9 and 3.1 2nd and 3rd year respectively.

For the MCAT, i think i scored ~33-34. Ive been scoring that on most practice tests I did and the MCAT seemed to be the same level as those tests.

What kind of choices do I have for universities? Im from Canada btw, and money isnt that big an issue (although the cheaper the better of course 🙂 )

3.1 out of 9 is atrocious. Also, a 33 is not that high. The standard "low GPA, high MCAT" situation is 2.8-3.5 out of 4.0 and 39+ or so.

 

[myst]

3.1 out of 9 is atrocious. Also, a 33 is not that high. The standard "low GPA, high MCAT" situation is 2.8-3.5 out of 4.0 and 39+ or so.

I see.. but its out of 4 =)
I dont want to get into the best univeristy, but do I stand a chance at all of getting into med school?

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

I see.. but its out of 4 =)
I dont want to get into the best univeristy, but do I stand a chance at all of getting into med school?

I'm sure you do. I'm sorry if I was discouraging. A 33/34 is not bad, and, who knows, maybe you did even better that. Barring URM status or some stellar ECs and recs, I don't think you would get into top 10, but certainly top 30. But I could be wrong. I really don't know what will happen. You just need to apply and do your best.

 

[myst]

I dont have URM status (in fact, i dont even know what that is 😛 ) or stellar ECs and recs, Ive got like 300 hours total voluntary service (old folks home, salvation army, food bank), I plan to do a lot of shadowing and hospital work this coming year.

Im really quite below average when I see the credentials others have here..

 

[tank you]

are you talking about applying to u.s. med schools? i think its harder for canadians to get accepted into u.s. schools, not sure though. i would apply to a lot of schools if i were you.

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

I dont have URM status (in fact, i dont even know what that is 😛 ) or stellar ECs and recs, Ive got like 300 hours total voluntary service (old folks home, salvation army, food bank), I plan to do a lot of shadowing and hospital work this coming year.

Im really quite below average when I see the credentials others have here..

Don't put yourself down. I feel really bad for discouraging you, I'm sorry. URM is under-represented minority. Don't ask or this forum will go up in flames. You'll do fine. I think you would have a stab at top schools if you did a post-bac or graduate school, raised the GPA to ~3.7, got a 35 on the MCAT and had super ECs. That's within your grasp, I think, it'll just take a lot of effort.

 

[jon stewart]

someone explain to me the 9 point system 🙂

 

[silas2642]

Ive got little research under my belt, every summer I had to help my parents in the store, or volunteer..

My GPA first year was 7.2 (9 point system), then 2.9 and 3.1 (4 point system) 2nd and 3rd year respectively.

For the MCAT, i think i scored ~33-34. Ive been scoring that on most practice tests I did and the MCAT seemed to be the same level as those tests.

What kind of choices do I have for universities? Im from Canada btw, and money isnt that big an issue (although the cheaper the better of course 🙂 )

Well, don't count your chickens before they're hatched. I scored a 37 on a practice mcat and a 36 before that but did way worse on the actual test. You might need to do post-bac work, but if you did do really well on the mcats (and a 34 is really good), then I'd apply this year to Canadian schools and see where I got in.

 

[morgan]

Ive got little research under my belt, every summer I had to help my parents in the store, or volunteer..

My GPA first year was 7.2 (9 point system), then 2.9 and 3.1 (4 point system) 2nd and 3rd year respectively.

For the MCAT, i think i scored ~33-34. Ive been scoring that on most practice tests I did and the MCAT seemed to be the same level as those tests.

What kind of choices do I have for universities? Im from Canada btw, and money isnt that big an issue (although the cheaper the better of course 🙂 )

You should buy a copy of the latest MSAR (Medical School Admissions Requirements). I don't think you'll have a problem getting into a medical school, as long as you apply to a good amount of schools within your reach. 🙂 Good luck, and try not to be bummed out at the stats of people on SDN!

 

[Jbienven]

3.1 out of 9 is atrocious. Also, a 33 is not that high. The standard "low GPA, high MCAT" situation is 2.8-3.5 out of 4.0 and 39+ or so.

Jesus Christ...I thought I qualified w/ a 3.3 and a 34. 92-94% isn't high enough? I'm ashamed of being so proud of how hard I worked. Now really, how many people out of the tens of thousands that take the MCAT make 39+?

I better just withdraw my application. 😉

 

[Labslave]

Jesus Christ...I thought I qualified w/ a 3.3 and a 34. 92-94% isn't high enough? I'm ashamed of being so proud of how hard I worked. Now really, how many people out of the tens of thousands that take the MCAT make 39+?

I better just withdraw my application. 😉

Hate to say it, but a 33-34 just isn't "high" on SDN.

 

[hippocampus]

no counting chickens before they hatch

 

[Jbienven]

Hate to say it, but a 33-34 just isn't "high" on SDN.

Who cares? SDN is NOT representative of average matriculants....at all.

 

[Labslave]

SDN is NOT representative of average matriculants....at all.

Exactly my point.

 

[glp]

to answer your question .7 percent of people taking the 4/05 MCAT scored a 39+... that means about 200 people did that well... a 34 puts you in the 2,300 of the 29,000 that took the MCAT last april... condiering there are approx 15,000 spots in US med schools, a 34 is good... but it just makes you barely competitive at the top schools...

 

[myst]

but what about my low gpa and low extra curricular activities?

 

[Off2Oz]

Hate to say it, but a 33-34 just isn't "high" on SDN.

Yeah, apparently all the people here are within the top 1 percent of students. 🙄

In any case, I'm also Canadian, and I wouldn't bother applying to schools with that low of a GPA. Mine's a little higher, and I don't reach any of the cutoffs. Of course, I'm from Ontario. =)

As for US schools, there are loads of'em that us Canadians can infiltrate! Also, consider other places like Australia and the UK. There are loads of options, and I'm sure you can dig one up that jives with your plan!

I'm applying to Australian and US schools myself. Thinking about a few Canadian ones too, but they left a sour taste in my mouth from the other 3 times I've applied. 😱

Good Luck!

 

[Jbienven]

but it just makes you barely competitive at the top schools...

Good thing I don't want to go to a top 10 school, or top 30 for that matter.

😎

 

[myst]

does anyone have info on UK, Hungary or Australia schools?

 

[myst]

does anyone have info on UK, Hungary or Australia schools?

 

[Phil Anthropist]

does anyone have info on UK, Hungary or Australia schools?

You may wish to visit SDN's International Forums if you are interested in foreign medical education.

Another good website for foreign med schools is ValueMD.com (it's not associated with SDN)

 

[Camillekc]

You probably have a much better chance at the US schools because of the canadian cutoffs. Also they emphasize the MCATs way more in the states, which is why I'm applying there too. Lots of schools in the states accept canadians, many with no penalty (in the same pool as americans). Look on their websites as it's usually not in MSAR to see which are which. You (and I) probably have the best chance in those schools. They are, of course, the more expensive ones, and as a canadian, you're unlikely to get financial aid. Some to look at that take canadians in the same pool as americans are Albert Einstein and George Washington. There are many more, just start researching. You can't do much about everything else now but to apply, so go for it.

 

[markboonya]

so my overall is 3.34 and bcpm is 3.15. i dont think my mcat of 32 is high enough to make up for the gpa. apart from going to post bac, if i dont get accepted this cycle, will taking the mcat over be worth it? based on my performance, i think i can bring it up to at least a 35. post bac is 50 k u know....

 

[red dot]

for those of you with low gpa's, are you talking about college gpa's or the amcas gpa's? because, as i have discovered... my gpa was lower on amcas than on my college transcript -- i'm just putting it out there.

 

[myst]

for those of you with low gpa's, are you talking about college gpa's or the amcas gpa's? because, as i have discovered... my gpa was lower on amcas than on my college transcript -- i'm just putting it out there.

whats amca gpa??

also, anyone happen to know good websites that list the universities and their approximate requirements?

 

[myst]

whats amca gpa??

also, anyone happen to know good websites that list the universities and their approximate requirements?

 

[red dot]

whats amca gpa??

also, anyone happen to know good websites that list the universities and their approximate requirements?

i'm not sure how it is at your school, but at mine if you retake the class, the old grade still exists on the transcript but is not calculated into the gpa. the new one is. on amcas, everything is calculated together.

 

[Phil Anthropist]

The AMCAS is the American Medical College Application Service. It's the med application used by most of the US MD schools. There are a few exceptions though. For example, the Texas public schools have their own application system.

AMCAS standardizes your GPA and calculates averages based on your grades in all colleges you've attended.

For example, in your school, an A- might be a 3.67. At another school, it might be a 3.7.

Because of these differences, AMCAS standardizes grades based on your school's grading system (plus/minus system, half-step system, etc.).

This info is available here: http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/amcas2006.htm

 

[myst]

The AMCAS is the American Medical College Application Service. It's the med application used by most of the US MD schools. There are a few exceptions though. For example, the Texas public schools have their own application system.

AMCAS standardizes your GPA and calculates averages based on your grades in all colleges you've attended.

For example, in your school, an A- might be a 3.67. At another school, it might be a 3.7.

Because of these differences, AMCAS standardizes grades based on your school's grading system (plus/minus system, half-step system, etc.).

This info is available here: http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/amcas2006.htm

i see
but since im canadian this doesnt affect me?

 

[Phil Anthropist]

i see
but since im canadian this doesnt affect me?

It still affects you. On the link I mentioned above, click on the Grade Conversion Guide link. The conversions for the Canadian system are on the last page.

 

[riceman04]

Don't put yourself down. I feel really bad for discouraging you, I'm sorry. URM is under-represented minority. Don't ask or this forum will go up in flames. You'll do fine. I think you would have a stab at top schools if you did a post-bac or graduate school, raised the GPA to ~3.7, got a 35 on the MCAT and had super ECs. That's within your grasp, I think, it'll just take a lot of effort.

URM is under-represented minority. Don't ask or this forum will go up in flames.
Too late! 😡 😡 😡 😡 😡 😡 😡 😡

 

[myst]

thanks =)
anyone happen to know good websites that list the universities and their approximate requirements?

 

[Chinorlz]

thanks =)
anyone happen to know good websites that list the universities and their approximate requirements?

MSAR is what you need to get your hands on

 

[myst]

msar?

 

[Phil Anthropist]

msar?

The Medical School Admission Requirements book.

Your pre-med advisor or school library might have one. Otherwise, you can buy it from the aamc.org website or stores like Amazon.

 

[myst]

anyone know anything about schools in ireland, uk, hungary or carribean?

 

[myst]

anyone know anything about schools in ireland, uk, hungary or carribean?

anyone know anything about schools in ireland, uk, hungary or carribean?

 

[Phil Anthropist]

Did you look into this? http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=2902847&postcount=25

The Pre-Allopathic forum is directed at US and Canadian accredited MD schools (i.e., AAMC member, LCME-accredited schools).

SDN's International Forums are an excellent resource for your other questions. I believe our international forum moderator, leorl, could tell you quite a bit about the Ireland and UK schools. stephew, our radiation oncology moderator, visits the Caribbean forum pretty frequently. She's also on ValueMD a lot (separate from SDN). Check the sites out. There is a wealth of info out there.

 

[jwnduke]

anyone know anything about schools in ireland, uk, hungary or carribean?

There are four Irish schools that accept North American students. You can apply to all four in one application, which is administered by the Atlantic Bridge Program. Check out www.atlanticbridge.com Incidentally, I think that the applications for Fall '06 are available soon.

 

[myst]

thanks all 🙂
one more bump in case the new people to the board have any idea

 

[jnyg008]

Don't get caught up in what most premeds do...they think its all GPA and MCAT. I know many med students, and a MD on admissions...basically the GPA and MCAT is to check if you can pass the Boards. Your MCAT score falls in the good range of what schools want. If your GPA trend if from low to high, then you have No problem..even at top 20 schools. I know a group of students at top 10 schools with 3.1-3.5 w/ 30-35 MCAT.

Good luck!

You may wish to visit SDN's International Forums if you are interested in foreign medical education.

Another good website for foreign med schools is ValueMD.com (it's not associated with SDN)

 

[myst]

thanks =)
anyone know how long it takes aamc to send mcar to canadians?