Need a reality check

[TabletopJoe]

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Just finished my miracle year, but am unsure where it will get me. Since June 2009 I have been working as a postbac student on prereqs and studying for the mcat. I got straight A's in all my courses and have a 3.9 sGPA and a 31Q--My overall GPA is a 3.19 because I was a not so serious business student several years ago.

For medical experience I have spent about 50 hrs shadowing and 100 hours in a free clinic.

Should I be applying to my dream schools or should I play it safe? Any school suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[barcoderider]

I would mostly play it safe, applying early and broadly to as many schools as possible. Throw one or two dream schools in...you might get lucky!

 

[PennFranklin]

Depends on what your dream schools are. If they are some of the top schools like Penn, Columbia, Duke etc. It's going to be pretty hard to gain an acceptance with no research experience.

 

[Dartmouth2005]

Just finished my miracle year, but am unsure where it will get me. Since June 2009 I have been working as a postbac student on prereqs and studying for the mcat. I got straight A's in all my courses and have a 3.9 sGPA and a 31Q--My overall GPA is a 3.19 because I was a not so serious business student several years ago.

For medical experience I have spent about 50 hrs shadowing and 100 hours in a free clinic.

Should I be applying to my dream schools or should I play it safe? Any school suggestions?

Thanks!

I would look at your state school. Best shot for MD admission.

 

[Catalystik]

I'd be surprised if a single year of full-time postbac work with excellent grades would redeem such a low undergrad GPA in the eyes of an adcomm.

Besides applying to your less-selective state schools, you might consider applying to SMPs (Special Masters Programs-see the Postbaccalaureate Programs forum for details) as a backup plan, and/or doing an additional year of postbac in upper-level science classes, and/or consider adding some DO schools onto your application list.

Your shadowing is about average, but your clinical experience is still on the light side. To strengthen your application you might consider some regular nonmedical community service, teaching, leadership, and/or research if not already acquired.

 

[VikingLegacy]

baleeted