Please help/advise

[DarkLordofSith]

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Hey guys,

I really had to confer with someone outside of my normal social circle about my situation so I would really appreciate it if you guys could give me some straightforward advice. I really don't need to be coddled so please be as direct as you want.

I just finished my undergrad degree in Bio with a GPA of 3.25 and a BCM GPA of ~3.4. I'm really not as ******ed as that makes me sound. I did exceptionally well in high school, but due to my circumstances, I've had to work over 40 hours a week all through college. My problem isn't that I can't understand the material, it's just that I was always on the wrong end of the high B / low A. I don't think I've ever made an 80-86. All my B's have been like 88's and 89's. I'm taking the MCAT this August and am realistically aiming for a 36.....based on my practice perfomance I believe this is totally attainable. I've had solid extracurriculars, ie, been in leadership roles in 4 to 5 different student organizations and have volunteered and shadowed throughout college. I have applied and been accepted to a Master's program in Public Health (Epidemiology) at my college, and I begin this fall. My question for you guys was whether or not you think I should apply for Fall 2006. I wouldn't even start my application until after I recieve my August MCAT scores, so that's a negative. I know it would be good for me to show med schools that I can make A's in a graduate program, but my line of thinking is that by the time I get my interview, my first semester in MPH will be over and I can exhibit those grades to them. I don't want to apply if I have no chance of acceptance, b/c I'm easily discouraged. I would really appreciate it if you guys could offer me some advice me on a good course of action. Thanks a lot.

 

[mustangsally65]

From my experience, I would say wait and apply next year. I took the MCAT in August of 2004, and applied for the incoming class of 2005. I'm reapplying this year, because my applications weren't complete until MCAT scores were released at the end of October, and I only had one interview.

This time, I took the April MCAT and am going to be submitting my application in June, after the MCAT scores come out. I would recommend not applying the same year you take the August MCAT, because your apps will be very late, and more than likely you will just be spending a lot of money for nothing. Save your money until the next application year, when you can apply early.

 

[imrep1972]

Hey guys,

I really had to confer with someone outside of my normal social circle about my situation so I would really appreciate it if you guys could give me some straightforward advice. I really don't need to be coddled so please be as direct as you want.

I just finished my undergrad degree in Bio with a GPA of 3.25 and a BCM GPA of ~3.4. I'm really not as ******ed as that makes me sound. I did exceptionally well in high school, but due to my circumstances, I've had to work over 40 hours a week all through college. My problem isn't that I can't understand the material, it's just that I was always on the wrong end of the high B / low A. I don't think I've ever made an 80-86. All my B's have been like 88's and 89's. I'm taking the MCAT this August and am realistically aiming for a 36.....based on my practice perfomance I believe this is totally attainable. I've had solid extracurriculars, ie, been in leadership roles in 4 to 5 different student organizations and have volunteered and shadowed throughout college. I have applied and been accepted to a Master's program in Public Health (Epidemiology) at my college, and I begin this fall. My question for you guys was whether or not you think I should apply for Fall 2006. I wouldn't even start my application until after I recieve my August MCAT scores, so that's a negative. I know it would be good for me to show med schools that I can make A's in a graduate program, but my line of thinking is that by the time I get my interview, my first semester in MPH will be over and I can exhibit those grades to them. I don't want to apply if I have no chance of acceptance, b/c I'm easily discouraged. I would really appreciate it if you guys could offer me some advice me on a good course of action. Thanks a lot.

DL, I'm not an expert, but I will raise one issue and see what everyone else says:

I have heard that Med Schools generally frown on someone starting a program (your MpH) and leaving it in the middle to enter med school. If I am correct about that, I would think that could be your biggest strike.

Other than that, with a 36 MCAT, and a 3.4 BCMP, I would say why not apply to a few schools? You will spend a little money, but you might be able to get in. To me, you would have little to lose by trying maybe 5 or 6 schools.

 

[DarkLordofSith]

DL, I'm not an expert, but I will raise one issue and see what everyone else says:

I have heard that Med Schools generally frown on someone starting a program (your MpH) and leaving it in the middle to enter med school. If I am correct about that, I would think that could be your biggest strike.

Other than that, with a 36 MCAT, and a 3.4 BCMP, I would say why not apply to a few schools? You will spend a little money, but you might be able to get in. To me, you would have little to lose by trying maybe 5 or 6 schools.

Thanks for your response Imrep......my MPH program actually lets students continue to Med School and finish their MPH after they get out of med school, so I don't think that part is a problem.....my main concern is the timing and my GPA......I would really appreciate it if a few more people could chime in with their thoughts.

 

[busthwt]

Wait till next year. good luck getting that 36, that exam is really tough. but if you wait until you get your august scores, you might have to wait even longer to get an appointment for your committe letter--thats if you go that route, so you might even have your file delayed a bit longer. But if you do get a 36 in the august just apply in next cycle, if you play your cards right and apply to the right schools you have a good shot with strong letters, good extra's. again if your file is iffy, such as a so so mcat or a so so GPA your better off applying as early as possible. because in order to stand out if you apply that late is if you have stellar numbers, and if you have exceptional extra's. The road just gets harder if you apply later. Thats my two cents. Good luck and never get discouraged

Hey guys,

I really had to confer with someone outside of my normal social circle about my situation so I would really appreciate it if you guys could give me some straightforward advice. I really don't need to be coddled so please be as direct as you want.

I just finished my undergrad degree in Bio with a GPA of 3.25 and a BCM GPA of ~3.4. I'm really not as ******ed as that makes me sound. I did exceptionally well in high school, but due to my circumstances, I've had to work over 40 hours a week all through college. My problem isn't that I can't understand the material, it's just that I was always on the wrong end of the high B / low A. I don't think I've ever made an 80-86. All my B's have been like 88's and 89's. I'm taking the MCAT this August and am realistically aiming for a 36.....based on my practice perfomance I believe this is totally attainable. I've had solid extracurriculars, ie, been in leadership roles in 4 to 5 different student organizations and have volunteered and shadowed throughout college. I have applied and been accepted to a Master's program in Public Health (Epidemiology) at my college, and I begin this fall. My question for you guys was whether or not you think I should apply for Fall 2006. I wouldn't even start my application until after I recieve my August MCAT scores, so that's a negative. I know it would be good for me to show med schools that I can make A's in a graduate program, but my line of thinking is that by the time I get my interview, my first semester in MPH will be over and I can exhibit those grades to them. I don't want to apply if I have no chance of acceptance, b/c I'm easily discouraged. I would really appreciate it if you guys could offer me some advice me on a good course of action. Thanks a lot.

 

[DarkLordofSith]

Thanks a lot busthwt. I think that the wait and apply line of thinking really might be the way to go........I'm just under pressure to get in ASAP for personal reasons, so I that's why I'm bothering you guys with the question.

 

[LT2]

Hi-

i just wanted to throw in my $0.02 (from a person with a gpa around the same as yours). honestly, i'd wait a year, do the master's and supplement your classes with post-bacc work to raise your ug gpa. i am extremely frustrated (i vented earlier on another thread regarding master's degrees) with applications, as the graduate degree holds hardly any weight with the adcoms. i was told i should have done post-bacc work (taking the same classes i was taking as a grad student) instead of the master's to be looked at positively by the adcom. if you do pull a 36, it may ease the gpa issue, but if you can raise your gpa just a few .1's it'll help you immensely from what i have heard. again, this is my opinion, take it or leave it. either way, good luck!

 

[DarkLordofSith]

Hi-

i just wanted to throw in my $0.02 (from a person with a gpa around the same as yours). honestly, i'd wait a year, do the master's and supplement your classes with post-bacc work to raise your ug gpa. i am extremely frustrated (i vented earlier on another thread regarding master's degrees) with applications, as the graduate degree holds hardly any weight with the adcoms. i was told i should have done post-bacc work (taking the same classes i was taking as a grad student) instead of the master's to be looked at positively by the adcom. if you do pull a 36, it may ease the gpa issue, but if you can raise your gpa just a few .1's it'll help you immensely from what i have heard. again, this is my opinion, take it or leave it. either way, good luck!

Thanks LT2, that sounds really nice, but I don't see how it works when you've graduated. I mean, I have more than 150 credit hours, so I'd have to take SOOOO many classes to even dent the GPA. Arrgh, it's so frustrating.

 

[bioteacher]

What do you have to lose in applying? If you have the cash, it might well be a worthwhile investment. A 3.4 BCPM is not the best but isn't by far the worst. A 36 MCAT is very good, but it's not good to plan on a specific score. All it takes to drop a point on the MCAT is to miss one question, a few to drop two.

 

[LT2]

i know how you feel, i am trying to raise my ug gpa just for the adcoms... some of them will look at you after you've reached a certain quota of post-bacc units, this might be something you want to look into. i know it's hard to raise the gpa even a few points, not to mention it costs a lot of money. i wish they would understand that some of us had problems, are career changers, etc and that it is hard to bring up grades from long ago. however, i think making it past the first cut, the master's might hold a bit more weight by demonstrating the maturity of the candidate and their dedication to furthering their education.