Main Weakness: GPA - Comments?

[TwistinD]

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I want to make this easy to read for everyone, so here's a list of my stats and some brief comments I think are relevant: Thanks so much in advance!

Education:
Undergrad: William and Mary, B.S Neuroscience & Biochemistry, Overall GPA: ~3.2, Science GPA: ~3.2 (estimated)
Grad: Case Western Reserve University - School of Medicine, M.A Bioethics (concentration in clinical ethics & neuroethics), GPA: 3.75
Comments:
1). Undergrad GPA low due to a few hardships including: 4th leg surgery at the end of my freshman year (was an NCAA athlete), deaths of 2 close friends from home during sophomore year (including a suicide), and a chronic problem with migraines as a result from all of the stress. Yearly GPA shows a general upward trend. (ie C in Gen Chem, but A in Adv. Biochem)
2). Completed a unique study abroad program in medical practice in Denmark - 3.6 GPA, and thankfully since the program was affiliated with a US school, I can factor those grades into my AMCAS app. - Considering that our own healthcare system has recently made advances towards universalized healthcare, experiencing socialized medicine was invaluable (and will make great conversations for interviews, haha).
3). Other international experience - helped lead a public health ethics trip to Amsterdam during my grad program

MCAT: To be taken 01/2013, previous practice tests avg 36+
Comment: I am DETERMINED to nail this exam, and am already putting in an immense amount of focus and optimism into doing so.

Research:
1). One year benchwork in a yeast genetics lab during undergrad
2). One year of research assistance on neuroethics grants (re: epilepsy & deep brain stim) with someone prominent in the field at a top tier hospital
3). Currently an RA on projects regarding patient safety and medical device usability at a major private hospital (2 years of employment committed)

Shadowing:: #Hours: Specialty & Location
1). 160+ hours: just about every facet of medicine during grad program at a variety of hospital types (think all ICUs, hospice, hem/onc, neuro, cardio, social work, etc etc)
2). 120+ hours: neurologist from my hometown (Houston, TX) (&field I'm highly interested in)
3). 100+ hours: ED abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark (lived there for an amt of time during and after undergrad)
4). 60+ hours: ED at a level 1 trauma center in Houston, TX

Volunteering:
1). Helped facilitate school's bone marrow drive every year during undergrad
2). 60 hours: Outpatient surgical volunteer during undergrad
3). 75 hours: Sports medicine volunteer during undergrad
4). About to start volunteering at a local free clinic (every Sat, ~ 3hrs) for the next 2 years

Other Info:
- Come from a financially disadvantaged family (hence, why I took another year+ off after my MA so I could save some money)
- Even though I'm sure it would help my GPA, and I want to do everything I can to get accepted to med school, I cannot afford an SMP now or even in the future (too many college loans and fam issues)
- I did the MA in Bioethics because I really love the subject and wanted the unique opportunities Case provided - I find it highly relevant to my future career as a physician. I have received mixed feedback on whether or not it will "help" me in my apps - because it doesn't test scientific achievement or capability, many believe it to be pointless. I have also been told by MD's and those who used to be on admissions comms, that it will help me stand out and will definitely help, despite low undergrad gpa.
- EC's are strong and really show my character: NCAA Gymnastics, theatre, international experience and healthcare differences, Model UN - and yes, I can tie them all into relating my passion for medicine.
- Publications: looking into publishing my MA thesis (recommended to me through my advisors), and will have a couple of publications from my RA job by the time I apply.


Any advice? Any suggestions for ways to improve my application beyond that of taking out private loans to do an SMP (i.e not gonna happen)? My pre-health advisor says a post-bacc isnt necessary since I have completed all of my pre-reqs and did fair. Also, disclaimer - While I value the DO option, I have my sights set on the M.D route.

 

[Goro]

I don't know...the MA is Bioethics seems too "fluff" for me. You have to show that you can handle the crucible of medical school.

What did the Danish coursework entail?

It would be more helpful if you had to cGPA with ALL of the coursework. IF you can get over the 3.5 line, then you should have a chance with a 30+ MCAT for some decent schools.

If you reply, you can leave out the rest of the novella.

I want to make this easy to read for everyone, so here's a list of my stats and some brief comments I think are relevant: Thanks so much in advance!

Education:
Undergrad: William and Mary, B.S Neuroscience & Biochemistry, Overall GPA: ~3.2, Science GPA: ~3.2 (estimated)
Grad: Case Western Reserve University - School of Medicine, M.A Bioethics (concentration in clinical ethics & neuroethics), GPA: 3.75
Comments:
1). Undergrad GPA low due to a few hardships including: 4th leg surgery at the end of my freshman year (was an NCAA athlete), deaths of 2 close friends from home during sophomore year (including a suicide), and a chronic problem with migraines as a result from all of the stress. Yearly GPA shows a general upward trend. (ie C in Gen Chem, but A in Adv. Biochem)
2). Completed a unique study abroad program in medical practice in Denmark - 3.6 GPA, and thankfully since the program was affiliated with a US school, I can factor those grades into my AMCAS app. - Considering that our own healthcare system has recently made advances towards universalized healthcare, experiencing socialized medicine was invaluable (and will make great conversations for interviews, haha).
3). Other international experience - helped lead a public health ethics trip to Amsterdam during my grad program

MCAT: To be taken 01/2013, previous practice tests avg 36+
Comment: I am DETERMINED to nail this exam, and am already putting in an immense amount of focus and optimism into doing so.

Research:
1). One year benchwork in a yeast genetics lab during undergrad
2). One year of research assistance on neuroethics grants (re: epilepsy & deep brain stim) with someone prominent in the field at a top tier hospital
3). Currently an RA on projects regarding patient safety and medical device usability at a major private hospital (2 years of employment committed)

Shadowing:: #Hours: Specialty & Location
1). 160+ hours: just about every facet of medicine during grad program at a variety of hospital types (think all ICUs, hospice, hem/onc, neuro, cardio, social work, etc etc)
2). 120+ hours: neurologist from my hometown (Houston, TX) (&field I'm highly interested in)
3). 100+ hours: ED abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark (lived there for an amt of time during and after undergrad)
4). 60+ hours: ED at a level 1 trauma center in Houston, TX

Volunteering:
1). Helped facilitate school's bone marrow drive every year during undergrad
2). 60 hours: Outpatient surgical volunteer during undergrad
3). 75 hours: Sports medicine volunteer during undergrad
4). About to start volunteering at a local free clinic (every Sat, ~ 3hrs) for the next 2 years

Other Info:
- Come from a financially disadvantaged family (hence, why I took another year+ off after my MA so I could save some money)
- Even though I'm sure it would help my GPA, and I want to do everything I can to get accepted to med school, I cannot afford an SMP now or even in the future (too many college loans and fam issues)
- I did the MA in Bioethics because I really love the subject and wanted the unique opportunities Case provided - I find it highly relevant to my future career as a physician. I have received mixed feedback on whether or not it will "help" me in my apps - because it doesn't test scientific achievement or capability, many believe it to be pointless. I have also been told by MD's and those who used to be on admissions comms, that it will help me stand out and will definitely help, despite low undergrad gpa.
- EC's are strong and really show my character: NCAA Gymnastics, theatre, international experience and healthcare differences, Model UN - and yes, I can tie them all into relating my passion for medicine.
- Publications: looking into publishing my MA thesis (recommended to me through my advisors), and will have a couple of publications from my RA job by the time I apply.


Any advice? Any suggestions for ways to improve my application beyond that of taking out private loans to do an SMP (i.e not gonna happen)? My pre-health advisor says a post-bacc isnt necessary since I have completed all of my pre-reqs and did fair. Also, disclaimer - While I value the DO option, I have my sights set on the M.D route.

 

[TwistinD]

Goro,

Thank you for your comments. I can assure you, however, that Bioethics is not "fluff" (especially coming from within Case Western's medical school) - It is not a "hard science" of course, yet it is just as pertinent to medicine. The degree is of great value for preparation for medical school interviews as well as for the everyday facets of doctoring that get overlooked in the face of such hard sciences. I have known many residents who face clinical situations that they do not know how to appropriately handle them because they did not have adequate exposure to clinical ethics. I have known too many peers get accepted into medical school who will most certainly have very poor bedside manner and a lack of empathy for the patients that they are treating. Many medical schools and hospitals are increasingly incorporating the subject into their curriculum and training due to these realizations and patient complaints, and the degree has been invaluable to creating the type of physician I want to become - both medical specialty, future contributions to research, and my character. Finally, many seasoned physicians, researchers, and those having been on adcoms agree with its value in my medical career.

Since I cannot go back and undo my MA for a more traditional "pre-med" degree (nor would I want to), I was hoping for some constructive criticism on how best to maximize my chances. Thankfully, my Danish courses included upper level biology courses on cancer and one on virology (specifically HIV/AIDS) as well as a human phys course. I can show that I am capable of scientific achievement through a few of the A's I have gotten in upper level science classes relevant to medicine (ie Endocrinology, Adv. Biochem, Physiology), but I do agree that a lower GPA overall still stands out. I do have an upwards trend and solid reasons for having a low GPA in the first place which may help as well. I was considering taking a few more upper-level biology classes during the next year as a non-degree seeking student so that I can show recent science work and improve my GPA, even if only by a little. I work full time, but I can manage one class/semester. What do you think?

Thanks again! I definitely appreciate the feedback.

 

[Goro]

You're going to show AdComs that you can handle the firestorm of a medical education. I fully appreciate all the ethical aspects of your education, but I need to know that you can handle medical school, and the MA is ethics doesn't do it for me.

Goro,

Thankfully, my Danish courses included upper level biology courses on cancer and one on virology (specifically HIV/AIDS) as well as a human phys course. I can show that I am capable of scientific achievement through a few of the A's I have gotten in upper level science classes relevant to medicine (ie Endocrinology, Adv. Biochem, Physiology), but I do agree that a lower GPA overall still stands out.

This is encouraging...can you give us a cGPA for everything that you've taken? This is the number that the autoscreeners will be looking at to throw your application ont he "yay" or "nay" pile.


I do have an upwards trend

This is also encouraging. I always looking stuff like that when I;m looking at files.


and solid reasons for having a low GPA in the first place which may help as well.

No, that won't help at all. it looks like an excuse, actually. This is the type of thing that comes across better at the interview, but on paper, not so good..

I was considering taking a few more upper-level biology classes during the next year as a non-degree seeking student so that I can show recent science work and improve my GPA, even if only by a little. I work full time, but I can manage one class/semester. What do you think?

Sounds like a plan! I'd take an Anatomy course for starters, then perhaps Medical Micro or any type of Neuroscience or Neurology. Good luck!

 

[TwistinD]

Thanks for the encouragement! Being able to handle the scientific rigors of med school is definitely a fair point - and I know I'm more than capable of doing so (and excelling), I just have to show that very clearly to the adcom! 🙂

I was told that my reasons for a low GPA were very useful if I write it in the brief addendum rather than the personal statement. Death and surgery are definitely not 'excuses' in the whiny sense, but they should be noted since they are extraneous circumstances that affected my education.

My cGPA for everything so far is a 3.14 and my science is a 3.18 - a bit lower than I generally thought (I did the calculations today at work). If I can take 3 more upper level science classes by the time I apply and get solid A's, those numbers will increase to a 3.20 and 3.24 respectively - not great, but an improvement (and recent work). I'm avidly looking into this option, and have an advising appointment with a local med school to also get some advice.