Need Advice/ Application

[LALAKERS24]

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I plan on taking the MCAT late August. My GPA is around a 3.1 to 3.2ish and I plan in graduating with my Masters (dual program with my BS) this December. Is this too late to apply and what are my chances if I hopefully get a 35 plus score? Thank you for ur advice, it is greatly appreciated!!

 

[ksmi117]

It's not too late to apply. You're late MCAT score will put your application later than people, but as long as you are really timely about the rest of the stuff, you should be ok.

As for the chances part, I'll move this thread to the What Are My Chances? forum.

 

[Mobius1985]

Of those applying through AMCAS in the last three years with your current GPA and an MCAT score of 35, 38.% received an acceptance, which includes those with significant modifying factors, so your chance is possibly less.

AMCAS will take out the grades for classes that were required by your graduate degree and will recalculate your GPA for application purposes. They will also give you a BCPM GPA (all Biology, Chem, Physics, and math classes). Perhaps you can tell us what these numbers would be using this spreadsheet:
http://medschool.ucsf.edu/postbac/pdf/AMCAS%20GPA_Calculator%20Version%204%20Final.xls so we can better assist you.

If you take the MCAT in August, your score won't come back for a month. September would generally be considered a late application. That is not a good time to apply if your application stats are subpar as your statistical chances of success will drop due to poor timing.

You also need to have all the usual ECs lined up before applying. Do you have community service, leadership, research, physician shadowing, and clinical experience?

 

[buccsmf1]

why does everyone with a bad gpa assume they'll get absurd scores like a 35? The average mcat of someone getting into STANFORD is a 35.... Apply DO

 

[LALAKERS24]

Of those applying through AMCAS in the last three years with your current GPA and an MCAT score of 35, 38.% received an acceptance, which includes those with significant modifying factors, so your chance is possibly less.

AMCAS will take out the grades for classes that were required by your graduate degree and will recalculate your GPA for application purposes. They will also give you a BCPM GPA (all Biology, Chem, Physics, and math classes). Perhaps you can tell us what these numbers would be using this spreadsheet:
http://medschool.ucsf.edu/postbac/pdf/AMCAS%20GPA_Calculator%20Version%204%20Final.xls so we can better assist you.

If you take the MCAT in August, your score won't come back for a month. September would generally be considered a late application. That is not a good time to apply if your application stats are subpar as your statistical chances of success will drop due to poor timing.

You also need to have all the usual ECs lined up before applying. Do you have community service, leadership, research, physician shadowing, and clinical experience?

Thank you for all your help! my current undergrad cumulative bcpm gpa is 2.82. while my cumulative undergrad amcas gpa is 3.1.

my cumulative bcpm gpa including postbac is 3.09. while my overall cum. amcas including postbac is 3.25.

I have about 100 hours of volunteering and leadership experience. As far as shadowing I probabaly only have 75 hours here in the US but about 6 months worth of abroad shadowing in clinics. I also have a research publication and a lot of research experience due to my Masters.

If you need any more info, please let me know. Thank you all for your advice and help!!

 

[Stratego]

By "post-bac", I assume you mean the coursework that goes toward your masters degree?

If so, an application cGPA of 3.1 and BCPM of 2.82 are going to be problematic for getting an allo med school admission. You'd need a MUCH higher BCPM, even if you got a spectacular MCAT score. You could consider an SMP (Special Masters Program) if you get a good MCAT score, which is another (expensive) path to salvaging a low GPA where you essentially take classes alongside medical students, and if you get a good GPA you are guaranteed an interview to the med school they're linked to.

It would be more time/money efficient for you to repeat the classes where you got low grades and apply to DO schools. Their application service will calculate your cGPA and sGPA (s=science, ie, not including math) using only the most recent retake. This would allow you to repair your low GPA most rapidly, as AMCAS will average in a retake instead.

Your ECs look fine.

 

[LALAKERS24]

By "post-bac", I assume you mean the coursework that goes toward your masters degree?

If so, an application cGPA of 3.1 and BCPM of 2.82 are going to be problematic for getting an allo med school admission. You'd need a MUCH higher BCPM, even if you got a spectacular MCAT score. You could consider an SMP (Special Masters Program) if you get a good MCAT score, which is another (expensive) path to salvaging a low GPA where you essentially take classes alongside medical students, and if you get a good GPA you are guaranteed an interview to the med school they're linked to.

It would be more time/money efficient for you to repeat the classes where you got low grades and apply to DO schools. Their application service will calculate your cGPA and sGPA (s=science, ie, not including math) using only the most recent retake. This would allow you to repair your low GPA most rapidly, as AMCAS will average in a retake instead.

Your ECs look fine.

Yes, by "post-bac" I mean coursework towards my Masters degree... I really want to apply MD only. So in essence, should I apply this year (submit AMCAS in june and then mcat score when received in Sept, or should I wait another year?)

 

[Stratego]

I don't think you should apply this fall. To improve your chances, consider taking additional undergrad upper-level science coursework (after graduating) next spring to raise your BCPM and cGPA before you apply in June 2010.

 

[LALAKERS24]

any other ideas/advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Mobius1985]

If you check the School Selection spreadsheet stickied at the top of this forum, looking at the bottom 10th%tile for science GPA, you'll see that only five of them are below 2.8: Morehouse, Meharry, Howard, UMissouri, and San Juan Bautista. To have more application options, even if your MCAT is amazing, you need to raise your BCPM GPA.

 

[JJMrK]

Yes, by "post-bac" I mean coursework towards my Masters degree... I really want to apply MD only. So in essence, should I apply this year (submit AMCAS in june and then mcat score when received in Sept, or should I wait another year?)

To be honest, you don't have a strong enough GPA and your application is going to be very late. With worse than average numbers, you should have everything ready to go June 2nd.

If I were in your position, I would:
1) Start studying right now for the MCAT and plan to study all summer. OR Reschedule your MCAT for a later date.
2) Don't worry about applying this cycle, there are too many factors stacked against you.
3) Find some way to address the BCPM GPA issue. If you decide to apply DO, this might only take you 1 year or so. If you want to pursue an allo school, this might take several years.

BTW, Go Lakers!

 

[stayclassy]

Yes, by "post-bac" I mean coursework towards my Masters degree... I really want to apply MD only. So in essence, should I apply this year (submit AMCAS in june and then mcat score when received in Sept, or should I wait another year?)

Apply Caribbean and save yourself time and money. If you really are determined to specialize, and if you really do get a 35 on the MCAT, you should not have a tough time doing well on the Step either