Medical Problems? <snap!>

[peterockduke]

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I was wondering if admissions people bother to look over your applications if you don't have a high gpa and a decent mcat (the prac tests are saying 31-33 at this point).

I broke a bone in my foot and ankle my soph year and was in a cast for the entire semester (11.5 weeks). Honestly it interefered with my class attendance and sleep... not to mention quality of life. My junior year I was in a car wreck and broke a whole bunch of different bones in my face (nose, jaw socket, orbital plate, zygomatic arch, etc etc). No biggie, it's not like my face was really doing me any good before the hit. Anyway the recovery time was ~4 months but it basically covered the end of one semester and the beginning of the next. I did not drop out of either semester, which I think is fairly commendable, but my gpa took a dive (~2.9) from my 3.3 science ave. The messed up foot/ankle semester I got the exact same gpa. (Ave science gpa of our accepted studnets is a 3.45).

I'm already a disadvantaged applicant (economic), and I'm just trying to figure out if I even have a shot at any med school. My EC's are strong compared to an ave. applicants (lab 3 years, fellowship, and publication in medical synthesis), and quite a bit of other stuff, and I think my recs will be quite strong. The face thing is in the personal statement, but I don't bring up anything about grades, NOR will I.

 

[gonakillmcat]

first of all despite what most people on SDN might say i think you are a very strong applicant for the following reasons:
1. you have a good reason for why your grades dropped
2. I think anything over 30 is a GREAT score for most colleges. It might not get you into Harvard (not saying it won't) but it will be good for the middle of the road medical school. I don't know why people on SDN think that only 35+ is a good score since at most colleges in the country average score is 29-30.
3. The research you did sounds great. If you have great recs from them you're in good shape.

Do'nt be afraid to apply. Work hard in the future and i am positive atleast one med school will give you a shot based on all of the good things you've done.