Need some advice

[WarrenH]

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I'm looking for some advice on how to proceed on getting into medical school. I'd really like to get into the University of Colorado at Denver. Here is my current situation:

1) I'm 27 years old, have an overall undergrad GPA: 3.37 (159 CH), Science GPA is 3.12 (92 CH), I have not taken the MCATs yet, but am studying hard and hopefully will perform solidly.

2) Active Duty in the Air Force for one more year. I have to work a lot of hours, but am unlikely to get deployed prior to getting out. My financial situation is pretty stable.

3) Married with a very supportive wife.

4) This is where I could use some help: I received my BA in Biology from a pretty good engineering school (RPI). Unfortunately I started out in engineering, took an EMT class and decided I really liked medicine, and switched majors to Biology. I didn't really know how to study for the life sciences and did not do well in biology my sophomore year getting a B and a C, and bombing Organic Chemistry, getting a C and an F. I was also taking an advanced EMT class at the time and doing hospital rotations and ride-alongs on the weekends. I retook those classes the following year, doing better. My grades continued to improve through my (2nd) Senior year where I had a 3.9 for the year. I took many more science classes during my undergrad than other classes, but only pulled the science gpa up to a 3.0 (w/o grade replacement). After graduating, I enlisted in the Air Force and am now on a specialized, quick reaction force (QRF)/ Emergency Services Team (SWAT Team). I have 1 year left to go on my enlistment and I would really like to be able to go to UC Denver when I get out. I took 14 credit hours this past semester (Anatomy w/ Lab, Statistics and an EMT Class) and aced all of them with a 4.0. I'm taking a Paramedic Class (worth 16 CH of non-science credit a semester for the spring, summer and fall semesters in 2012) and studying to take the MCAT in April. I'm looking pretty good on everything except my GPA, specifically my science gpa. Should I try and cram another science class into the summer semester (after the MCAT) to try and raise my GPA, and hold off on submitting my application until the grade comes in (it will only raise my science gpa 0.04 because I have taken so many science classes) or should I just submit my application early (UC Denver has rolling admissions). I really wish I could have figured things out earlier, but I didn't. I'm willing to do whatever I need to do to get into a good medical school and be a good doctor. If anybody has any advice, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Warren

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

The average acceptance GPA at UC-D is much higher than what you have. I am not sure if you're in-state or out of state, I'll assume in...

Either way, the average acceptance there is like a 3.7 and MCAT ~36.

That said, I think you need considerable GPA work to pull your grades up if you are serious about UC-D.
Early applications are a MUST, rolling admissions will not help you unless your stuff is in on day 1.
Have you considered DO schools? They accept grade replacement and that could boost your GPA much more quickly than you can do with the MD programs. That said, RVU is in Parker, so it's at least in the area you want to be in, and is DO so you can get your grades replaced... My feeling is that the first two letters are more important than the last two Dr. vs DO/MD

Best of luck

 

[LingoLaine]

It's going to be tough. Last year I applied to UC Denver with the following stats:

cum GPA: 3.59
sci GPA: 3.79
post-bacc GPA: 3.99
MCAT: 29

I had a 4.0 in the eight science prereqs, applied early, and never heard a peep from them until my official rejection at the end of March.

This year I reapplied with similar stats (except that I'd raised my MCAT to a 31). I got a fairly early interview and was accepted just two days later!

The lesson here is that, even if you've got great post-bacc grades, extracurriculars, a compelling story, etc., it doesn't help at all if you can't get past their initial screen. My theory (totally unconfirmed) is that CU doesn't even read your application unless your LizzyM score (GPA*10 + MCAT) is at least a 65. (Mine was 64.9 last year.)

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I would say your MCAT did it for sure Lingo, because the 29 isn't close enough to their stats... The 31 is better...

Sorry OP, without serious GPA repair, I think you might be relegated to down south with me 😉 hehe... or maybe a different state school, but I think really, unless you have a VERY high MCAT score, you are really out of the running for most MD schools...

 

[LingoLaine]

I would say your MCAT did it for sure Lingo, because the 29 isn't close enough to their stats... The 31 is better...

Yep, but just to update on some stats from last year's entering class... This is direct from the Dean of Admissions during the most recent intereview day. The average MCAT of their interviewed applicants is 34, average MCAT of the accepted applicants is 32.