Public School #'s

[R@j]

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Hi, I'm new to this forum, and I'm planning on applying this coming round. I'm a MD resident and I just graduated from Duke (BME) and was looking at the average GPA/MCAT for UMD medical school from one of those med school guides. Can anyone tell me how the average GPA is so high (3.67, 3.63BCPM)?

I'm getting qualms about this whole process with a 3.56 GPA and 36 MCAT (11V, 12P, 13B). I hope the fact that I'm taking a year off to do research will help.

Do you think the fact that I'm a Blue Devil will hurt my chances of being a Terrepin? 😳

 

[TheFlash]

No way dude! Graduating BME from Duke is insane. I know guys with GPA's much, much lower than yours in the same program. It's very grade-deflating. And don't worry, adcoms do take the rigor of your undergrad courses into account when considering your GPA. So even though you've got a 3.56, it's worth more than that average 3.67 from a regular bio major at a so-so school. I don't think you've got too much to sweat. Plus you're also a resident with a bling bling MCAT score. Best of luck. 👍

 

[Benjo]

The Flash is right.
When you are interpreting the numbers from any school it is important to remember the probable composition of the class that contributes to those numbers. The students at UMd med school are most likely not primarily coming from highly competitive elite undergrad schools (like Duke, to throw out a random example), so the average GPAs that UMd reports will not represent what they expect from graduates of elite, rigorous programs, like yours.
And, as is always the case, the MCAT does a lot to compensate for ostensibly sub-par performance in BCPM classes.
These statements are all generalizations, and, of course, just my opinions.

 

[krebse]

Most important of all, don't forget those numbers you found are averages, and your MCAT's great, you should be just fine as long as your not a total social reject during the interview which you're quite likely to get if you've got a few EC's and a decent PS to round out your file...you should be on cloud nine dude 🙂

 

[SpiritiualDuck]

Is it me, or do we constantly chat about this stuff. Your numbers are fine. Everyone on here needs to be stroked. Coming out of Duke with those numbers will make you quite competitive at many schools. Am I just saying this, because it seems like you should know this.

 

[fullefect1]

A 36 MCAt is considered very high. You should be all set. Just apply to a couple different schools, some top, some middle, and some bottom. Research is great, but you do have some clinical experience as well?

 

[MoosePilot]

Wow, I'm glad I wasn't an obsessed pre-med type as an undergrad, I probably would have curled up in fetal position and cried for mama.

If you can't get into a school in your state with those numbers, the world is borked. You've got outstanding credentials. Congrats and good luck.

 

[R@j]

Thanks for the feedback. Its intimidating to go through one of those books and look at the average statistics though 😳

Could you all help me narrow the list of schools I should I apply to? Like I said before I have a 3.56/36 GPA/MCAT and I'm a MD resident and I have some good EC's (RA for 2 yrs, Co-Chair for judicial board for 2yrs, TA for 3 yrs, elementary school tutor, summer research, clinical volunteer, and shadowing) I'm positive that I have really good LOR's too.

Here's a list of schools I'm considering:
Dream - WashU, Columbia, Hopkins, Duke, Stanford, UPenn
Reasonable - NWU, UChic, Georgetown, Mt. Sinai, Emory, Case Western
More Reasonable - GWU, UMD, Wake Forest

Any suggestions?

 

[R@j]

------bump------

 

[jennie 21]

No specific suggestions...just want to point out that Northwestern and U. Chicago are very competitive and might more properly belong in the "dream" category. That's no reflection on your credentials which are very good but I've had friends who got into Wash U., Duke, etc. who were rejected outright from Northwestern and U. Chicago. Your list is very heavy on highly competitive top-30 schools...I'd add another few lower-tier schools to your list just to be on the safe side.