Need advise on how to improve my app.

[confuse]

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I am feeling very depressed right now. Can you guys please advise me on how I can improve on my application next year?

Profile:
Stanford Undergrad (currently a senior)
Overall: 3.1 BCPM: 3.1 (Biological Science Major)
MCAT 29Q
1 summer teaching oversea
1 year working as a health intern
1 year volunteer as a medical interpreter
summer research
work 20hrs/week
clubs/organizations etc.
nothing spectacular

When I entered college, I lacked a direction and was homesick. I didn't do well on my premed-req classes, getting Bs and Cs; however, I continue to take tons of classes, average about 4 science classes per quarter, because I didn't know what else to do. I did slightly better on the upper level science classes, getting As and Bs, but my GPA still hovers around a B average. I took the Aug. MCAT so that delays my application a great deal. I have a few rejections, 1 interview coming up with UNC (my state school), and haven't heard from the others. I'm losing hope by the day. 🙁 I have 2 quarters left and I'm trying hard to pull up my GPA but I doubt if it will change much (I have around 120 BCPM quarter units already) I am planning to retake the April MCAT and pick up on my summer research again. However, assuming that I might pull my GPA up to a 3.2 and improve my MCAT by a few points, I still don't see myself getting in anywhere. Any suggestions? I have a direction now; I really want to go to med school.

 

[ygreenst]

Hi
i have really similar stats to you (29 MCAT and 3.16 BCPM) and graduated from Stanford in '01. So far I've had 2 interviews and am in the BU Special Masters program. I also took classes at SFSU to bring up my science GPA, which has helped me get interviews. My best advice is for you not to give up -- it may take an extra year or two but you can get in (I had a friend with your #s who got in to med schools and is currently a 2nd year). I'd recommend taking classes as a post-bacc at State for a year and to keep up with volunteer work. Just show that you're committed to medicine. As for retaking the MCAT, make sure that you can get a better score. A 29 isn't bad. Good luck and PM me if you'd like!

Y

I am feeling very depressed right now. Can you guys please advise me on how I can improve on my application next year?

Profile:
Stanford Undergrad (currently a senior)
Overall: 3.1 BCPM: 3.1 (Biological Science Major)
MCAT 29Q
1 summer teaching oversea
1 year working as a health intern
1 year volunteer as a medical interpreter
summer research
work 20hrs/week
clubs/organizations etc.
nothing spectacular

When I entered college, I lacked a direction and was homesick. I didn't do well on my premed-req classes, getting Bs and Cs; however, I continue to take tons of classes, average about 4 science classes per quarter, because I didn't know what else to do. I did slightly better on the upper level science classes, getting As and Bs, but my GPA still hovers around a B average. I took the Aug. MCAT so that delays my application a great deal. I have a few rejections, 1 interview coming up with UNC (my state school), and haven't heard from the others. I'm losing hope by the day. 🙁 I have 2 quarters left and I'm trying hard to pull up my GPA but I doubt if it will change much (I have around 120 BCPM quarter units already) I am planning to retake the April MCAT and pick up on my summer research again. However, assuming that I might pull my GPA up to a 3.2 and improve my MCAT by a few points, I still don't see myself getting in anywhere. Any suggestions? I have a direction now; I really want to go to med school.

 

[jiy76]

don't worry you are a lot closer to an acceptance than you think. You should do a special masters program like BU or georgetown or drexel those are very good for situations like yours. If you can do well there you will get in somewhere. Your mcat score is solid i wouldnt take it again unless you know you didnt do as well on test day as you had when you were practicing. You run the risk of doing worse which would hurt you application. I think a solid performance in these programs along with the upward trend in the gpa will help you gain an acceptance. So cheer up you are not in a bad situation at all 🙂

 

[doc05]

coming from Stanford you should be able to get a high-paying job in the real world. go for it! med school isn't that much fun, nor is a career in medicine.

 

[fateema368]

I'm not familiar with Stanfords system, but?
Do you have the possibility, of staying at Stanford for another year/year and a half, and retaking the lowest graded classes, could you delay applying for graduation with any real benefit. Post bac. is an option, but since you haven't actually graduated couldn't you stay and repair some of the damage?

 

[dca_55]

Keep your fingers crossed, and do well on your UNC interview! If that doesn't work out, I think you should put off the April MCAT and take the Aug MCAT. This will give you more time to focus on your last two quarters of school to improve your gpa, and will give you more time over the summer to improve your MCAT. A 29 isn't a bad score, but if your trying to show improvement from your earlier academic work, a higher MCAT couldn't hurt. If you don't get in this time around, you should probably take a year off to improve your record. If you reapply right away, there's not much new information on your record, and you risk not getting in again. A special masters/postbacc is probably a good way to go.

I'm in a similar position to you, I had a BCPM of 3.18 when I graduated from a top school. After graduating and figuring out I wanted to go into medicine, I finished my premed reqs and took a couple extra upper level classes to bring up my gpa, as well as taking the MCAT and doing well. I was a little shocked and dissapointed when my premed advisor recommended to put off applications another year, but I think I'm going to go with his advice and do a special masters or postbacc so that I'll have a more solid application next year. Don't lose hope, looking around at these boards youre not alone, and there are many success stories from people that were in positions like ours.

 

[EPA7X1]

29 is a competitive score. Your research and work experience also look very good. You come from a competitive undergraduate school. I would apply more widely, to more schools next year. Get your app in the first day they will accept it. From now until then work on raising the GPA, taking more advanced science classes rather than retaking the ones you did poorly on. My advice is that you do not retake the MCAT.