Please, what are my chances?

[tothebitterend]

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1.) State - NJ
2.) Ivy undergrad, 3.3 GPA
3.) Post-bacc, cum GPA 3.75
4.) MCAT 30-45
5.) 250+ hours volunteering in hospital
6.) 200+ hours shadowing/observing in a variety of health care settings, including primary care setting
7.) Several years of research experience (required leadership) + 1 article, 2 posters
8.) Several semesters teaching at college level (adjunct lecturer)
9.) 50+ hours non-medical community service

Realistically, do I have a chance? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[Catalystik]

1.) State - NJ
2.) Ivy undergrad, 3.3 GPA
3.) Post-bacc, cum GPA 3.75
4.) MCAT 30-45
5.) 250+ hours volunteering in hospital
6.) 200+ hours shadowing/observing in a variety of health care settings, including primary care setting
7.) Several years of research experience (required leadership) + 1 article, 2 posters
8.) Several semesters teaching at college level (adjunct lecturer)
9.) 50+ hours non-medical community service

How many hours of postbac?
What are your new cumulative GPA and BCPM with the postbac?
Have you taken any MCAT practice tests and what did you get?
When did you plan to take it?

 

[tothebitterend]

1.) How many hours of postbac?
2.) What are your new cumulative GPA and BCPM with the postbac?
3.) Have you taken any MCAT practice tests and what did you get?
4.) When did you plan to take it?

Thank you for the response, Catalystik.

1.) ~60 hours.

2.) It's difficult for me to estimate my BCPM because I am currently taking several science courses (final course grades have not been submitted). Unfortunately, I do not expect to get As in all classes, so I am probably going to end up with something like a 3.4-3.6 BCPM. Currently my postbac (only) GPA is 3.75, but this does not include grades from this semester. Taking probable grades from this semester into account, as well as my 3.3 undergrad GPA, I imagine that my new cumulative GPA will be around 3.4-3.6.

3.) My practice test scores have varied from mid 30s to low 40s. Based on practice test scores and my performance on other standardized tests (e.g., SAT I, SAT IIs, etc.), I believe that I am capable of getting a 35+ MCAT, but I am concerned that even an excellent MCAT score is not going to redeem my low GPA.

4.) My plan was to take the MCAT later this month; however, I am wondering if I should forget about applying this year (in which case I will need to cancel my MCAT registration or void the exam)?

I would greatly appreciate any advice or suggestions. Thank you!

 

[GreenRabbit]

Thank you for the response, Catalystik.
3.) My practice test scores have varied from mid 30s to low 40s. Based on practice test scores and my performance on other standardized tests (e.g., SAT I, SAT IIs, etc.), I believe that I am capable of getting a 35+ MCAT, but I am concerned that even an excellent MCAT score is not going to redeem my low GPA.
I would greatly appreciate any advice or suggestions. Thank you!

I think you will be fine, just focus on that MCAT. 🙂

 

[Catalystik]

1.) ~60 hours.

2.) It's difficult for me to estimate my BCPM because I am currently taking several science courses (final course grades have not been submitted). Unfortunately, I do not expect to get As in all classes, so I am probably going to end up with something like a 3.4-3.6 BCPM. Currently my postbac (only) GPA is 3.75, but this does not include grades from this semester. Taking probable grades from this semester into account, as well as my 3.3 undergrad GPA, I imagine that my new cumulative GPA will be around 3.4-3.6.

3.) My practice test scores have varied from mid 30s to low 40s. Based on practice test scores and my performance on other standardized tests (e.g., SAT I, SAT IIs, etc.), I believe that I am capable of getting a 35+ MCAT, but I am concerned that even an excellent MCAT score is not going to redeem my low GPA.

4.) My plan was to take the MCAT later this month; however, I am wondering if I should forget about applying this year (in which case I will need to cancel my MCAT registration or void the exam)?

I would greatly appreciate any advice or suggestions. Thank you!

With your substantial postbac hours and strong recent GPA performance (which will hopefully continue this term), I think you'd have a decent chance at an acceptance with a 35+ MCAT score (if you don't apply late in the cycle). If your GPA this term takes a dive, then waiting for the upward trend to reassert itself before application would be wise. Don't distract yourself with MCAT study if it will cause you to get Bs, as another semester of coursework would otherwise not be necessary. You can delay the test if you're not ready, even into September.

If you do decide to wait until next year to apply, take the opportunity to strengthen your nonmedical community service.

 

[tothebitterend]

I think you will be fine, just focus on that MCAT. 🙂

Thanks for the encouragement, GreenRabbit.

With your substantial postbac hours and strong recent GPA performance (which will hopefully continue this term), I think you'd have a decent chance at an acceptance with a 35+ MCAT score (if you don't apply late in the cycle). If your GPA this term takes a dive, then waiting for the upward trend to reassert itself before application would be wise. Don't distract yourself with MCAT study if it will cause you to get Bs, as another semester of coursework would otherwise not be necessary. You can delay the test if you're not ready, even into September.

If you do decide to wait until next year to apply, take the opportunity to strengthen your nonmedical community service.

Thanks for the response, Catalystik. If my GPA does take a dive this semester, how many As will I need in order for the upward trend to reassert itself? For example, would three As redeem two Bs?

My nonmedical community service involves tutoring adults through a nonprofit social service organization. If I continue to tutor while taking classes next semester, will this be sufficient to strengthen my nonmedical community service? Would it be preferable to find a nonmedical community service opportunity that does not involve tutoring?

Finally, if I am currently getting mid 30s - low 40s on practice exams, would it make sense to delay taking the MCAT until I am getting low 40s consistently? I think I can get a 40+ if I take the summer off and focus exclusively on the MCAT, but is the difference between a 35-39 score and a 40+ significant enough to justify dedicating my summer to MCAT prep?

Thank you again for your help!

 

[Catalystik]

1) If my GPA does take a dive this semester, how many As will I need in order for the upward trend to reassert itself? For example, would three As redeem two Bs?

2) If I continue to tutor while taking classes next semester, will this be sufficient to strengthen my nonmedical community service?

3) Would it be preferable to find a nonmedical community service opportunity that does not involve tutoring?

4) would it make sense to delay taking the MCAT until I am getting low 40s consistently?

is the difference between a 35-39 score and a 40+ significant enough to justify dedicating my summer to MCAT prep?

1) 2-3 As would be fine if there are no Bs.

2) Continued activity through the summer will strength it. Better if you continue in the fall, too.

3) I think the tutoring is perfect, as it covers nonmedical community service and teaching too.

4) 3.5/35 to 3.5/38 improves your chance by 9%. A 3.5/40 only adds another 3% to that. A 45 adds 1% more.