One year in. When to apply?

[LMac]

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I am working on narrowing down my target schools and would love some advice on when I should apply. I’m looking for med schools that emphasize research and from what I can gather it’s mainly the top 20. If that’s the case, I obviously need to make myself a very competitive applicant. So my main question is, would it even be worth it to apply next year or should I wait until 2014? I know this is highly dependent on my (TBD) MCAT score, but I can’t predict that. I will say I’ve been studying the Exam Krackers books as I take the pre-reqs but will obviously need much more studying . I’ll list my expected stats at both times and would welcome any opinions.

I should add, I’m a non-trad student (age 34) taking pre-reqs and working on GPA repair. One year down and started with a 2.8 cGPA (now up to 3.0) and a BS in Psychology from 2002. Husband, no kids and no plans to have any (aside from the kitties and pups)

2 Options:


Apply Summer 2013
Post-bac GPA: 4.0
cGPA: 3.2
sGPA: 3.77
150 hours hospital volunteer
25 hours shadowing
165 hours girls camp coach volunteer
Summer internship in behavioral neuroscience
2.5 years research including honors thesis and several poster presentations

CONS
Less time to prepare for MCAT
Will be finishing Physics 2 around the same time as taking the MCAT

Apply Summer 2014
Post-bac GPA: 4.0 (hopefully!)
cGPA: 3.4ish
sGPA: 3.9ish
300 hours hospital volunteer
35 hours shadowing
More camp volunteer hours
Same summer internship, hopefully one more in 2013 (infectious disease?)
3.5 years research including honors thesis and several poster presentations
A full year of fewer classes to focus on MCAT prep

CONS
Yet another year older
Another year of debt of tuition and living expenses (hopefully offset with work)

 

[MedPR]

I am working on narrowing down my target schools and would love some advice on when I should apply. I’m looking for med schools that emphasize research and from what I can gather it’s mainly the top 20. If that’s the case, I obviously need to make myself a very competitive applicant. So my main question is, would it even be worth it to apply next year or should I wait until 2014? I know this is highly dependent on my (TBD) MCAT score, but I can’t predict that. I will say I’ve been studying the Exam Krackers books as I take the pre-reqs but will obviously need much more studying . I’ll list my expected stats at both times and would welcome any opinions.

I should add, I’m a non-trad student (age 34) taking pre-reqs and working on GPA repair. One year down and started with a 2.8 cGPA (now up to 3.0) and a BS in Psychology from 2002. Husband, no kids and no plans to have any (aside from the kitties and pups)

2 Options:


Apply Summer 2013
Post-bac GPA: 4.0
cGPA: 3.2
sGPA: 3.77
150 hours hospital volunteer
25 hours shadowing
165 hours girls camp coach volunteer
Summer internship in behavioral neuroscience
2.5 years research including honors thesis and several poster presentations

CONS
Less time to prepare for MCAT
Will be finishing Physics 2 around the same time as taking the MCAT

Apply Summer 2014
Post-bac GPA: 4.0 (hopefully!)
cGPA: 3.4ish
sGPA: 3.9ish
300 hours hospital volunteer
35 hours shadowing
More camp volunteer hours
Same summer internship, hopefully one more in 2013 (infectious disease?)
3.5 years research including honors thesis and several poster presentations
A full year of fewer classes to focus on MCAT prep

CONS
Yet another year older
Another year of debt of tuition and living expenses (hopefully offset with work)

You're not going top 20 with a 3.4cGPA unless you're a URM.

 

[LMac]

I was afraid of that. Even with 3 years of post-bac 4.0?

 

[thlaxer]

I was afraid of that. Even with 3 years of post-bac 4.0?

It might be possible if you get a very high MCAT score and continue with your upward trend, but realistically the odds are going to be tough (I don't have a MSAR handy, but you might want to look at the schools' bottom 10th percentile GPA). Also, you don't need to go to a top 20 school in order to perform good research. Research opportunities are available at almost all schools (though higher ranked schools usually have more generous funding and support for their students).

 

[rguil15]

Also, you don't need to go to a top 20 school in order to perform good research.

Agreed, it's not the end of the world if you don't get into a top medical school (whatever that means, to whoever) now. Work hard in any med school you can get into then land a great residency with research and you'll still be set up well to do whatever you want. YMMV.

 

[LMac]

Thanks for the replies. Do you think there is a minimum MCAT score that would make applying to any MD program next year worth a shot?

 

[rguil15]

Thanks for the replies. Do you think there is a minimum MCAT score that would make applying to any MD program next year worth a shot?

I was told, at my state school, by the Chair of Admissions to shoot for a 30. I have no intentions of shooting for a 30, but I do now consider this my personal "minimum".

 

[NightGod]

I was told, at my state school, by the Chair of Admissions to shoot for a 30. I have no intentions of shooting for a 30, but I do now consider this my personal "minimum".

30 is a pretty solid baseline for MD