nontraditional applicant, 3.6 cGPA, 33..M

[bectstar05]

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Hi all - would love some input. I graduated from Dartmouth in '05, Bio Major, Psych Minor 3.56 GPA. Since then I've worked at the University of Miami Med School as a research associate, published a bunch (4 book chapters, 5 articles, 4 abstracts), volunteered a bunch (6 hours a week at a school for kids with hearing impairment), and worked in the pedi heme/onc clinic. I took physics and orgo post-bac at UM and gen chem at Harvard extension school. The M sucks as I am a much better writer than that. So yeah - I am all over the place. Any thoughts? And how much does the M hurt?

Thanks!

 

[Phoenix.]

You're fine. Don't stress about the M. If your personal statement and secondary essays are well written it shouldn't pose a problem. And as a FL applicant with great ECs/research/MCAT, I think you've got excellent chances. Even better yet if your recent pre-req grades were good.

Moreover, you've got quite a broad number of schools. You're over applying, but if you've got the cash and the desire, have at it.

 

[fauscharvard]

Where are you planning on applying? I would say that for a top-tier Ivy (since you do have Harvard experience and are perhaps interested in them) an overall higher score would do you some good since your GPA and MCAT right now are below their average. However if you are shooting for a top 20-30 school, I think you are competitive as far as a well-rounded applicant goes, since your extracurriculars and so forth are stellar.

 

[Phoenix.]

Where are you planning on applying? I would say that for a top-tier Ivy (since you do have Harvard experience and are perhaps interested in them) an overall higher score would do you some good since your GPA and MCAT right now are below their average. However if you are shooting for a top 20-30 school, I think you are competitive as far as a well-rounded applicant goes, since your extracurriculars and so forth are stellar.

You can click on the OP's mdapps and see where she's applying. I agree that her gpa is on the low side for top tier schools, but I think it's good she's going for some reaches with her ECs. And while her MCAT isn't stellar, it'll get her through the door (i.e., no school is going to screen her or toss her app in the bin at a 33). And she's got a very large broad list, so she'll be fine overall.