Please...I need some advice...help

[cyclonebabi]

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Hey everyone,

I have been reading the forums at SDN for quite some time now, and just joined recently. I am really quite unsure about my chances, and would really love to find out what people think about my chances.

cGPA: 3.3, Science GPA: 3.0
MCAT: 28N => 9P, 9VR, 10BS, N

I know these are quite bad stats, however, my first year was extremely horrible, and is really starting to become a huge problem.

Here is my yearly breakdown of GPA:
1st year: 1.9 (all science courses => this is also my BCPM)
---> there was a reason for this, and explained in my PS.
2nd year: 3.5 (BCPM = 3.3)
3rd year: 3.9 (BCPM = 3.8)
4th year: 3.8 (BCPM = 3.7)

Would my upward trend in marks take away any reservations ADCOMS may have about my first year marks?
I am currently doing my MS. Publication expected soon.
Masters GPA: 3.9

During school, I worked as well, but it was mostly working various odd jobs (eg. as a waitress) not worth mentioning, so I did not put anything on the app about it.

I volunteer weekly at the hospital in ER &
I also volunteer/help (weekly too) people suffering from dementia by facilitating them in their conversations and making them more active overall [started both in Oct, 08]

Any suggestions on how I can improve my chances would be appreciated! Does anyone advise me to go back and take undergrad courses to boost my gpa? Do you think I have any chance this application cycle? I applied broadly.

thanks so much for all your help,
babi

 

[236116]

Do you have other ecs? Shadowing? What is your master's in?

Deep breath, hon.🙂

 

[cyclonebabi]

Sorry... Forgot to mention that I have also worked as a TA for 2nd year physiology class for 2 years (approx 250 hours of work)


My masters is in Biology

Besides the research in my gradschool, I also had extensive research experience in undergrad.. . I worked/conducted reasearch in 2 different labs in my last/ senior yr of undergrad. One thesis came out of the work I did at one of the labs.

Thanks for the help!

 

[236116]

the gpa is a bad thing. but with the trend/rationale you might make it.

 

[Mobius1985]

Since you've been reading SDN for awhile now, you know that your excellent graduate GPA won't help mend your undergrad GPA (for AMCAS applications), but at least you chose a science-heavy masters degree that proves you've got what it takes to do well in med school. Any school that looks at your whole academic record might give you a chance. There are some med schools that don't look at the first year's grades. If you applied broadly, you might have hit on one of those (and which ones they are, I couldn't tell you off hand). To me, "applying broadly" means including DO medical schools in the mix. Did you? Their application service does include grad school GPA in the cumulative GPA.

If you don't get in somehwere this cycle, I think your best shot at improving your chances at allopathic schools is to get a higher MCAT score (I'm thinking 33-34). It would take much more time to take additional undergrad classes to improve your undergrad GPA, and would provide minimal impact when you already have 120+ hours of coursework. Considering you are studying upper-level science, do you think you could brush up on the Physics and Orgo you learned on your own? Or ideally
take a formal prep class?

I think you should have included your non-relevant work experiences (waitressing, etc) on your application, as they show your were busy supporting yourself and didn't have the same time to devote to your studies and ECs as others.

Yes, I think you still have a chance this cycle, but it's time to prepare for Plan B, just in case it doesn't work out. I'm glad you've continued to build your ECs over this last nine months.

 

[cyclonebabi]

Thanks for the advice! Any other comments would be appreciated as well.
At this point, I am not condsidering on retaking the MCAT again. Do you think if I build up my EC a little more, that this MCAT (along with my GPA) would be ok for med school?

thanks

 

[236116]

I think you should try for a higher MCAT. That, plus more ECs, including your work history on the application, and the master's, should balance out the ugrad.

 

[cyclonebabi]

thanks jurrasicpark.....in response to mobius....yes...I also did apply to a few DO schools. Thanks you both for your input, and any further comments/suggestions would be appreciated as well.

 

[skubdubdu]

Thanks for the advice! Any other comments would be appreciated as well.
At this point, I am not condsidering on retaking the MCAT again. Do you think if I build up my EC a little more, that this MCAT (along with my GPA) would be ok for med school?

thanks

All of those are good ideas. Make sure you apply to a sufficient number of schools. I know people I went to undergrad with that had lower scores than yours and went to med school (albeit D.O. schools, which have a bit lower averages on the MCAT). By reapplying with higher scores and activities you always improve your chances. Just don't do worse the second time! 28 is ~average, and sufficient for many US allopathic med schools.

 

[cyclonebabi]

thanks for all the responses...

so let me get this straight....even though my average gpa of 3/4 years of undergrad (excluding first year obviously) comes out to ~3.7-3.75, my first year will require me to pull out an amazing score on the MCAT (33+)?

Can't my performance in later years show to the schools and adcoms that my 1st year was a fluke? As such, would I really need to rewrite the MCAT, or is the 28 enough (I know I did get some feedback on the score.....but looking for what other people think)

any help is appreciated!

babi

 

[MilkmanAl]

so let me get this straight....even though my average gpa of 3/4 years of undergrad (excluding first year obviously) comes out to ~3.7-3.75, my first year will require me to pull out an amazing score on the MCAT (33+)?

Yes.

Can't my performance in later years show to the schools and adcoms that my 1st year was a fluke?

It will certainly help your case and might help quite a lot. However, the total GPA is still glaringly low.

is the 28 enough

A 28 probably wouldn't be enough even if you had a 4.0. Retake the MCAT.