Publication vs summer programs? When should I apply?

[derail]

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Hi everyone--

I'm a sixth year college student wanting to go into research (I started college at 16). I had some significant health problems, which are now pretty much resolved. My current AMCAS GPA is a 3.51 (sGPA 3.47 due to physics taken my first year of college), but I've had straight A's the past three semesters. I'm designing my own major in neuroscience. I'm taking the MCAT in March and I'll be applying this summer. I'm going to have two pubilcations most likely by this summer or early this fall. I'm set to graduate in the spring of 2012.

I have two questions:

(1) I've been doing research at my institution for two years now. Last summer I did a SURF program at a well-known institution and was thinking of doing the same this summer. I asked my mentors for recommendations and one of them asked me if I would stay here and work on one of his big projects. He was recently in Time Magazine over this project, so it's a huge deal. I may be able to get my name on the journal article when it comes out. However, this means I couldn't do another SURF program. Some schools give advantages in admissions for their summer program students, and with my GPA, I know I'll need any boost I can get. What should I do? I also don't think the work with my mentor will be full-time either, but if I apply to programs this summer, it'll mean more essay time.

(2) Should I apply this year? My GPA is a little on the lower side, so would waiting another year, where I could pull it up to something like a 3.65, be a good idea? I'd have to take a gap year, but I'd probably try to find a research position, such as the NIH program. Additionally, I haven't take the second semester of physics due to the aforementioned health problems. I've been teaching it to myself, but would it be better to have the course first for the MCATs?

Thanks!

 

[ImagineThis]

I am still an Undergraduate, so I think you should probably take the advice of current students over my own, but from what I do know about the admissions process, I do think a gap year could be pretty beneficial. You don't seem too opposed to it either.

You stated yourself that you have been getting all A's for the past two semesters. All of my advisors reiterated again and again that the adcoms like to see growth in your academics, and, given your medical situation and the fact that you entered college early, I think it would be really beneficial, and perhaps remove some of the weight from your GPA if you had something post college to fall back on. That being said, if your only reservation is your GPA and not getting in anywhere, why not apply? If you get rejected, then you take a gap year and build up your credentials. If you get accepted, all is good.

On that note, would either your home institution or the place where you did summer research want you to work there over your gap year? If you did want to do a gap year and research, it sounds like the place where you did your summer research would be fantastic, although, you would know best which project you are more interested in and passionate about.

With regards to physics... really try to get an A in it. If you didn't do great the first semester, you can probably make up for that now by acing it. While you could probably get by with teaching yourself physics for the MCAT, I wouldn't recommend it. The better you score on the MCAT the less of a problem your GPA becomes. Show the adcoms that you are ready for the academics.

Good Luck!

 

[whiteshadodw]

1) Doing research based on who is a well known mentor and who isn't, might be a good idea. Then again, it might not. You seem to be overlooking what would make you a happy person. I did research for a semester because I thought I was going to like the project, and I ended up not liking it and not liking the people in the lab (I was a minnow and treated like one). If you're getting publications, then I wouldn't worry too much you'll be fine, just keep doing research you like.

2) You can most definitely make up for a below average GPA with a stellar MCAT, but considering you haven't taken physics 2 yet, I wouldn't consider your chances too high. Like ImagineThis said, it's tough to teach it to yourself. Waiting a year isn't bad, and from what I hear a lot of people wait a year or two.

Look at the stickies by Neuronix, the stats are pretty simple and you should be able to judge what kind of candidate you are based on those stats.

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