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Re-Application Guidance. Much Obliged!
- Thread starter Fmejia
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You definitely need to bring that GPA up - the average for matriculants is around a 3.65. I would work on increasing your GPA and retaking the MCAT.
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Can't you just stay in undergrad an extra year, or at least an extra semester? These SMP's seem like kind of scam to me, money-wise, and UW Madison is a good school. Getting a string of A and A- grades there I would think would be equally as helpful as doing some SMP thing. The B in neurobiology isn't that bad. The D's you will definitely have some explaining to do.
The MCAT score is quite low for MD schools. However, it was only your first try. With that score, I would consider taking a prep course like Princeton Review. Some people also like Kaplan, but I preferred Princeton Review because they had more class time and more personal attention. However, it does cost money, and I realize that now more people just study by themselves or online, so you have to do what you think will work best for you. With the lower GPA you are going to have, it would really help to have an MCAT score in the 30's, which would be a significant jump from what you have.
You need to show that you can do the work of med school, academically speaking, and having such a big grade drop in the face of whatever personal difficulties is a big red flag. The thing is, stressful life circumstances and even tragedies can happen and likely will happen again @some point during your med school, resident or life as a practicing physician. The adcom has to have reasonable expectations that you'll be able to function as a doctor even under stress. This is a big part of the reason why I bet they care so much about things like academic consistency.
The MCAT score is quite low for MD schools. However, it was only your first try. With that score, I would consider taking a prep course like Princeton Review. Some people also like Kaplan, but I preferred Princeton Review because they had more class time and more personal attention. However, it does cost money, and I realize that now more people just study by themselves or online, so you have to do what you think will work best for you. With the lower GPA you are going to have, it would really help to have an MCAT score in the 30's, which would be a significant jump from what you have.
You need to show that you can do the work of med school, academically speaking, and having such a big grade drop in the face of whatever personal difficulties is a big red flag. The thing is, stressful life circumstances and even tragedies can happen and likely will happen again @some point during your med school, resident or life as a practicing physician. The adcom has to have reasonable expectations that you'll be able to function as a doctor even under stress. This is a big part of the reason why I bet they care so much about things like academic consistency.
Taking another year isn't that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. I am speaking from the position of someone who is just finishing that extra year and I believe I am far better prepared to enter med school now.
Also I would say that the MCAT is more important than your GPA. My MCAT was 33. However my first 2 years of undergrad were poor at best. My next 3 years were strong and my average GPA was around 3.3. It sounds like overall your academic record is consistently high and the admissions committees do look at trends. Make sure to explain the recent dip somewhere in your applications.
My input would be if you can get a good score on the MCAT then trying to pull your GPA back up would be secondary.
Also I would say that the MCAT is more important than your GPA. My MCAT was 33. However my first 2 years of undergrad were poor at best. My next 3 years were strong and my average GPA was around 3.3. It sounds like overall your academic record is consistently high and the admissions committees do look at trends. Make sure to explain the recent dip somewhere in your applications.
My input would be if you can get a good score on the MCAT then trying to pull your GPA back up would be secondary.
your situation is ideal, as it showed growth over a period of time. however Fmejia got the low grades later on (closer to the time he/she would enter medical school) which does not look good.
my advice
1-in your PS explain clearly why you got those grades, and show that the circumstances were not in the norm. express your passion for medicine and your relentless pursuit of a medical education. also mention what you are doing to bring those grades up and prove yourself.
2-you have to retake the MCAT, no doubt.
3-you have to bring up your GPA by doing an SMP or spending extra time in school or re-taking classes. Personally, I would take an SMP and apply the same year.
good luck!
