Need some advice....

[dajshah]

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I am a third year engineering student at tough engineering school in California. My current overall GPA is 3.15 and my end goal is to go in the field of medicine. I am yet to take the MCAT.

Here are some questions I can use advise on...

1. When should I take MCAT? I have completed most of my pre-med requirements except Physics-2 and BioChemistry

2. My GPA is going to be a problem...I am going to try my best to bring it up to 3.3...Do I have any chances with 3.3 and reasonably good (aiming for 30+) MCAT in any tier 2 or tier 3 medical schools in US?

3. Other than taking SMPs - are there any other methods to boost crappy undergrad GPA?

4. Which SMPs should I start looking in to?

And advise will be greatly appreciated...

Thanks

 

[deleted407021]

You are coming awful close to having to take the new MCAT, which begins after Jan. 2015 and adds intro psych and sociology as well as biochem I (got it covered). Maybe this will help:

Yes, your GPA is a problem. If you can get it >3.2-3.3, you have a good shot at DO and some MD schools with a decent MCAT, but who know's what that's going to be like with the new grading scheme? You could do a post-bacc program instead of a SMP. Perhaps finish a biology minor or get a second degree in a hard science if you have enough credits towards one as it is. Med school "tiers" are based on research grants. If you aren't interested in research, you have no real reason to try and get into "top tier" schools and, besides, your GPA would be a major limiting factor.

I'll let some of my more knowledgeable colleagues weigh in on the SMP stuff. Take my word with a grain of salt.

 

[Dr. Retractor]

You will likely take the new MCAT, so you should plan on taking introductory sociology and psychology as well as some research methods/stats course. It's best to study for the MCAT when you don't have any other commitments so you can devote ~3 months of studying to do really well.

A 3.3 will get you into a low tier (maybe a mid tier although it's a stretch) MD school with really amazing ECs and MCAT.

A master's is better than a post-bac if you already took the prereqs, unless you did poorly in the prereqs. If that's the case, do a post bac and use DO grade replacement.

The AAMC has a database of a bunch of post-bac/SMPs you can look at.

You don't mention your ECs, but do you have research, clinical experience, volunteering, shadowing, or other ECs? You can't get into med school without them.

 

[Goro]

Concur.

You will likely take the new MCAT, so you should plan on taking introductory sociology and psychology as well as some research methods/stats course. It's best to study for the MCAT when you don't have any other commitments so you can devote ~3 months of studying to do really well.

A 3.3 will get you into a low tier (maybe a mid tier although it's a stretch) MD school with really amazing ECs and MCAT.

A master's is better than a post-bac if you already took the prereqs, unless you did poorly in the prereqs. If that's the case, do a post bac and use DO grade replacement.

The AAMC has a database of a bunch of post-bac/SMPs you can look at.

You don't mention your ECs, but do you have research, clinical experience, volunteering, shadowing, or other ECs? You can't get into med school without them.

 

[mysdnhandle]

Do the SMP. Don't let a low GPA weaken your application. Get you application to where you want it and apply once.

SMP--there are threads about that. Look at the price and qualifications.

 

[moisne]

I am a third year engineering student at tough engineering school in California. My current overall GPA is 3.15 and my end goal is to go in the field of medicine. I am yet to take the MCAT.

Here are some questions I can use advise on...

1. When should I take MCAT? I have completed most of my pre-med requirements except Physics-2 and BioChemistry

2. My GPA is going to be a problem...I am going to try my best to bring it up to 3.3...Do I have any chances with 3.3 and reasonably good (aiming for 30+) MCAT in any tier 2 or tier 3 medical schools in US?

3. Other than taking SMPs - are there any other methods to boost crappy undergrad GPA?

4. Which SMPs should I start looking in to?

And advise will be greatly appreciated...

Thanks

1. How on earth would a junior in engineering not have taken physics? That's typically a mandatory underclassman course - I assume as you said it was a rigorous school so Berkeley typically puts calc based physics for freshman or sophomores.

3.3 is pretty low - maybe consider DO?