need help with my case

[nancy0223]

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Hi,

I am a 1st-semester senior in engineering applying to the current 09 cycle but have not received many interviews as of date because of my late appl. and low stats. Because it looks like there's a good chance that I won't get an acceptance this yr, I'm planning on stay in school for another yr, by doubling in relatively easier a 2nd major (which can actually be done in one extra year), retake the MCAT, and hopefully get better grades in my current year.

One major thing that has consistently given me trouble for med school appl. is my current major, which is notoriously known for giving out low median grades and its heavy workload. My poor performance in one of my major classes not only has resulted in a C on my transcript, but just the entire curriculum itself has greatly distracted me from concentrating on the med school stuffs. I feel like I've been more or less coerced into becoming an engineer rather than a doctor, which is my actual goal of life.

Could someone please comment on my plan of doing an extra year? Or should I try to find a job instead? Your help is highly appreciated.

 

[gman33]

Put up all your relevant stats and ECs if you want directed advice.

 

[dragonfly99]

Yes we need to see your stats...if you mean a 3.2 by a "poor" GPA then that would be different than if it was a 2.5. Ditto for an MCAT score of 20 vs. a 27 or something.

Getting a 2nd major isn't a bad idea, particularly if it's biology or something else relevant to med school, AND if you do well (I mean get A and A- grades).

 

[nancy0223]

I currently have ~3.5 GPA, w/ one C and a bunch of B's in engineering courses. However, I earned that C and lots of B in my junior yr so my grades shows a downward trend, which looks bad to med schools. As for the MCAT, I got a 28, which is pretty bad too considering I spent two months of hardcore studying for it.
One thing that my parents are afraid of is my delaying of graduation from my current major since I've decided not to take one of the major courses until next spring when I'm almost done w/ both majors. The reason for my decision to delay this major course is simply that I might get another C because I'm in no shape of taking that class right now, and med schools will see this grade on my transcript when I apply for the '10 cycle if I do decide to take it next semester.
I feel like this current major of mine has significantly messed up my whole academic career and my plan for med school. Because my grades for junior yr semester one did not come out too good (but no C), I got major depression, lost confidence in myself (sort of gave up), and winded up getting worse grades the next semester. I believe getting away from this major for one semester, by taking all courses in my 2nd major, could potentially get me back on track. And that is what I need the most at this pt.
Sorry for the long post, but I'm really feeling terrible at the moment. Again, your opinion is highly appreciated.

 

[dragonfly99]

I think your plan of doing an extra year of undergrad is OK.
I guess you can't just self-design a "bridge major" or something? Perhaps one that avoids this class you don't want to take...especially if you don't plan to actually BE an engineer. I guess that's just wishful thinking, but some colleges do allow self-designed majors, etc.

I'm curious as to what the 2nd major would be. Biology? Psych? Just curious. Whatever it is, if you are going to take an entire extra year to get it, make sure that you do well (I don't mean you need a 4.0, I'm just saying you need good grades, def. 3.5 or better, and the higher the better).

If you're depressed you should go to the student health services and get someone to talk to. They deal with this stuff all the time and it might be helpful 🙂

I wouldn't stress to the max. Remember, you are still and undergrad and you have plenty of time to still do this med school thing if you want. I know it seems like everyone applies and gets in as a jr. in college but that's not true...average age of med students at a lot of schools is like 25...and that's just the AVERAGE. Your MCAT score really is not terrible, and neither is your overall GPA. Your GPA in core biology, general chem, basic/1st year physics, and organic chem. will become important. I feel like a lot of schools look specifically at the organic chem. grade a lot...hopefully you got at least a B or better in that.

Even with the stats you have, you could probably get yourself a spot in med school...probably a DO school would take you with the stats you have, and definitely Caribbean med schools would take you (but I personally wouldn't go that route until trying twice to get in in the USA). You'd have a shot at some state allopathic med schools also, depending on what state you live in and perhaps what undergrad school you go to (i.e. they might cut you a minor amount of slack if you attend MIT, etc.).

But I think you have time to raise both your GPA and your MCAT. You need to talk to the premed advising or health professions advising office at your school. You could consider taking an MCAT prep course like Princeton REview...I think the structure, teaching and the practice tests really helped my score. Don't feel pushed to retake the MCAT right away...the most important thing is to get a little bit better score, not to be in a hurry to retake it.

You also need a plan for what you would do if you didn't immediately get in to med school on the first try... i.e. what job would you be willing to work in for a year or two? Many people have to try twice to get in to med school...

 

[ChairmanMao]

I currently have ~3.5 GPA, w/ one C and a bunch of B's in engineering courses. However, I earned that C and lots of B in my junior yr so my grades shows a downward trend, which looks bad to med schools. As for the MCAT, I got a 28, which is pretty bad too considering I spent two months of hardcore studying for it.
One thing that my parents are afraid of is my delaying of graduation from my current major since I've decided not to take one of the major courses until next spring when I'm almost done w/ both majors. The reason for my decision to delay this major course is simply that I might get another C because I'm in no shape of taking that class right now, and med schools will see this grade on my transcript when I apply for the '10 cycle if I do decide to take it next semester.
I feel like this current major of mine has significantly messed up my whole academic career and my plan for med school. Because my grades for junior yr semester one did not come out too good (but no C), I got major depression, lost confidence in myself (sort of gave up), and winded up getting worse grades the next semester. I believe getting away from this major for one semester, by taking all courses in my 2nd major, could potentially get me back on track. And that is what I need the most at this pt.
Sorry for the long post, but I'm really feeling terrible at the moment. Again, your opinion is highly appreciated.

I think you're overreacting. A 3.5, depending on your school, is a very very good grade for an engineering major. Granted, it is below average for medical school, but the medical school admissions understands this and usually, in the case where they're dealing with a difficult or unusual major, may place more emphasis on your BCMP GPA than on your overall GPA. This makes sense in the case where they're comparing someone with a liberal arts major against someone who is hard science major.

That being said, your MCAT is below average for the medical school student body. I think you may want to take a year off and retake it - or if you really don't want to do that, then apply more broadly during the next application cycle. In general, I don't think it matters whether or not you take an additional year of undergrad simply because at this point, it becomes very difficult to make any substantial changes to your overall GPA. Even if you get a 4.0 for the rest of the year, your GPA is only going to budge by +0.1 If I was in your situation, I would try to get a job for a year or find time to get more clinical/shadowing experience. You'd be surprised by how much emphasis the admissions committee places on clinical experience - especially since as engineering majors, we don't have time to go do all of these during the school year.

 

[Mobius1985]

I agree that your GPA isn't that bad, but your plan to stay an extra year has merit because of your recent downward grade trend. A string of As right before you apply would put adcomm's minds at ease about your potential for doing well academically in their program. Delaying that class you're fairly sure to get a C in, is another reasonable strategy. For you, your best other effort, would be to raise your MCAT score. With a slightly low GPA, you really need a slightly higher MCAT of 32+. Consider a formal prep class or a personal tutor to assist this effort. An extra year off will also give you time to make your ECs really solid in regards to clinical exposure, humanitarian work, leadership, and research. This can also help trump somewhat low stats.

 

[nancy0223]

my planned 2nd major is actually environmental eng., which can actually be done in one yr given that I'm able to sub. many courses with the ones I took for my current major. Because environ. eng. involves a lot more science rather than eng., and I'm a strong sci. person, I have confidence that I will do a whole lot better in this 2nd major.
Thanks so much for all your input 👍. I feel I've got some ideas on what I need to work on to get in the next appl. cycle: a solid MCAT score, more clinical experience (which I have ~200 hr hosp. volunteer + 200 hr of shadowing as of now), and hopefully a higher GPA.
Something I neglected to mention in my previous posts, I actually have substantial amt of resrch experience (~4yrs) given that I go to an Ivy. Another small reason for my wanting to do a 5th yr is my on-going project in BME, which requires tremendous amt of time and attention. I have a strong attachment to my project and sincerely hope that I could produce something nice by the end of my 4th yr. Which'd be impossible if I do decide to take that last req. course in my current major.

 

[atomi]

Hi,

I am a 1st-semester senior in engineering applying to the current 09 cycle but have not received many interviews as of date because of my late appl. and low stats. Because it looks like there's a good chance that I won't get an acceptance this yr, I'm planning on stay in school for another yr, by doubling in relatively easier a 2nd major (which can actually be done in one extra year), retake the MCAT, and hopefully get better grades in my current year.

One major thing that has consistently given me trouble for med school appl. is my current major, which is notoriously known for giving out low median grades and its heavy workload. My poor performance in one of my major classes not only has resulted in a C on my transcript, but just the entire curriculum itself has greatly distracted me from concentrating on the med school stuffs. I feel like I've been more or less coerced into becoming an engineer rather than a doctor, which is my actual goal of life.

Could someone please comment on my plan of doing an extra year? Or should I try to find a job instead? Your help is highly appreciated.

find a job. finish med school stuff at night. you can make good money as an engineer and the experience will be invaluable.

 

[dragonfly99]

ivy school...
some adcoms will take that into account r.e. your GPA.
Just be sure to do well from now on. One extra year in undergrad is not unreasonable if you make sure to do well, and you get something out of it. Don't stay in just because you fear that one class, though.

Try to get an MCAT score in the 30's if you can swing it. I recommend the Princeton Review class, if it's anything like it was years ago...it really helped me.

 

[Terpskins99]

my planned 2nd major is actually environmental eng., which can actually be done in one yr given that I'm able to sub. many courses with the ones I took for my current major. Because environ. eng. involves a lot more science rather than eng., and I'm a strong sci. person, I have confidence that I will do a whole lot better in this 2nd major.
Thanks so much for all your input 👍. I feel I've got some ideas on what I need to work on to get in the next appl. cycle: a solid MCAT score, more clinical experience (which I have ~200 hr hosp. volunteer + 200 hr of shadowing as of now), and hopefully a higher GPA.
Something I neglected to mention in my previous posts, I actually have substantial amt of resrch experience (~4yrs) given that I go to an Ivy. Another small reason for my wanting to do a 5th yr is my on-going project in BME, which requires tremendous amt of time and attention. I have a strong attachment to my project and sincerely hope that I could produce something nice by the end of my 4th yr. Which'd be impossible if I do decide to take that last req. course in my current major.

You could also consider a post-bacc program. You sound like the ideal candidate for this route. I suggest Georgetown's Special Masters. Do well here and get a strong score on a 2nd MCAT and you should be in extremely solid shape for medical school.

Anyhow, like others mentioned: I suspect that your record is strong enough for consideration at a number of medical schools right now... even with your MCAT.