Realistic Expectations

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fuzzywuz

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Hi all,

I'm in a situation right now and would like some advice.

I'm sitting here going through a number of threads on this forum and browsing through profiles on Mdapplicants. There are two main thoughts going though my mind. Confusion and hopelessness.

Everyone here has high GPAs, stellar ECs, great MCAT scores, exceptional LORs. Would this population (SNDers) be considered "typical"? Or is this forum the home to the cream of the crop in the applicant pool? I feel like with my stats, I will NOT stand a chance. With this, I'm quite discouraged.

Secondly, I'm going to a college (cut-throat Ivy League) which constantly boast the fact that students with a GPA of 3.4+ and MCAT of 30+ stand a good chance of being admitted (~75-80%). Here are my stats-

Rising Senior (NY State Residence)
Cum GPA- 3.45
MCAT- Will take next summer
BCPM- 3.39
IF only BCP- 3.30

Good ECs (mostly off-campus, no clubs), research, plenty of internship, shadowing, and volunteer, working as counselor to people with mental disabilities, will get good LORs.

As you can see, my stats are only borderline. Comparing my profile to others here, I don't think I'm in good shape... With this, I've decided to take a year off and apply after I get my senior year grades in. I hope to pull to a cumulative GPA of 3.51. My goal is to get at least a 30 on my MCATs.


What should my realistic expectations be? I've always gave myself the benefit of the doubt and tried to look at the brighter side of things. Now reality is setting in... Any suggestions or advice at this point in time to make myself more competitive?

Thanks for reading this!
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Actually, Ivy League students tend to do better with similar GPAs than folks from less well-known institutions. So your 3.45 is arguably worth as much as someone else's 3.55.

Take your MCAT and apply if it's 30 or more, my friend.
 
You searched for applicants:
Whose applications are complete
MCAT score greater than 30
Overall GPA less than 3.50
Applied MD and accepted at any medical school
</B>
The following profiles matched your search:
07742 Anonymous, 34 MCAT, 0.00 GPA, applied 2007
01220 Allegheny College, 37 MCAT, 3.35 GPA, applied 2004
01936 Amherst College, 38 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2005
03653 Arizona State University - West, 31 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2005
01781 Assumption College, 30 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2004
05881 Augustana College, 35 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2007
00765 Austin College, 31 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2000
03219 Austin Peay State University, 34 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2005
01455 Barnard College, 34 MCAT, 3.41 GPA, applied 2004
00375 Baylor University, 32 MCAT, 3.34 GPA, applied 2003
01888 Birmingham Southern College, 31 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2001
00299 Boston College, 31 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
05464 Boston College, 30 MCAT, 3.34 GPA, applied 2006
00787 Boston University, 33 MCAT, 2.92 GPA, applied 2004
01611 Boston University, 39 MCAT, 2.85 GPA, applied 2004
06298 Boston University, 33 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2006
03384 Bowdoin College, 33 MCAT, 3.27 GPA, applied 2002
04178 Bowdoin College, 32 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2006
00827 Brandeis University, 32 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
00644 Brandeis University, 31 MCAT, 3.42 GPA, applied 2003
00736 Brandeis University, 33 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2003
07707 Brandeis University, 32 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
00791 Brigham Young University, 33 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
00011 Brown University, 33 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2003
04552 brown university, 40 MCAT, 3.31 GPA, applied 2006
00665 BYU, 31 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2003
06105 BYU, 30 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2007
03430 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 30 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2006
01577 Cal State San Bernardino, 33 MCAT, 2.74 GPA, applied 2004
00549 California Institute of Technology, 33 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
01235 California State University, Fresno, 31 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2004
00646 Caltech, 38 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2002
01967 Calvin College, 33 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2004
07640 Anonymous, 33 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2007
07633 Carleton College, 35 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2007
01299 Carleton College, 30 MCAT, 3.36 GPA, applied 2004
03710 Carleton College, 37 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2006
03736 Carnegie Mellon University, 36 MCAT, 3.00 GPA, applied 2005
03806 Carnegie Mellon University, 36 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2005
01720 Carnegie Mellon University, 33 MCAT, 2.92 GPA, applied 2004
02112 Carnegie Mellon University, 40 MCAT, 2.92 GPA, applied 2005
00041 Case Western Reserve University, 30 MCAT, 3.43 GPA, applied 2002
02914 Case Western Reserve University, 32 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2005
04449 Clemson University - Chemistry, 33 MCAT, 3.00 GPA, applied 2006
03263 Colby College, 35 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2005
01413 Colgate University, 37 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2004
05965 Colgate University, 33 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2007
01240 Colgate University, 32 MCAT, 3.07 GPA, applied 2004
02341 Colgate University, 34 MCAT, 3.05 GPA, applied 2005
06123 College of the Holy Cross, 30 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2006
02373 College of William & Mary, 30 MCAT, 3.43 GPA, applied 2005
01140 College of William and Mary, 35 MCAT, 3.18 GPA, applied 2004
02074 College of William and Mary, 33 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2004
05664 Colorado College, 36 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2005
04652 Colorado School of Mines, 36 MCAT, 2.80 GPA, applied 2006
01359 Colorado State University, 34 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2004
00287 Columbia, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
07875 Columbia University, 32 MCAT, 3.38 GPA, applied 2007
00184 Columbia University, 36 MCAT, 2.90 GPA, applied 2003
01198 Columbia University, 33 MCAT, 3.39 GPA, applied 2004
01917 Columbia University, 32 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2004
02414 Columbia University, 35 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2005
01266 Columbia University, 34 MCAT, 3.37 GPA, applied 2004
01246 Columbia University, 33 MCAT, 3.42 GPA, applied 2004
06239 Columbia University, 35 MCAT, 3.18 GPA, applied 2006
05346 Anonymous, 32 MCAT, 3.41 GPA, applied 2006
03570 Cornell University, 37 MCAT, 2.96 GPA, applied 2006
05017 Cornell University, 36 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2003
05196 Cornell University, 37 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2006
05443 Cornell University, 33 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2006
00427 Cornell University, 33 MCAT, 3.31 GPA, applied 2003
03027 Cornell University, 30 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2004
03171 Cornell University, 30 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2005
05436 Cornell University, 32 MCAT, 3.34 GPA, applied 2006
03305 Cornell University, 34 MCAT, 3.43 GPA, applied 2005
05598 Cornell University, 37 MCAT, 3.24 GPA, applied 2007
01035 CSU - Fresno, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
02160 CSU Chico, 36 MCAT, 3.44 GPA, applied 2005
00426 Dartmouth College, 43 MCAT, 3.25 GPA, applied 2003
00585 Dartmouth College, 32 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
00465 Dartmouth College, 31 MCAT, 3.36 GPA, applied 2003
01896 Dartmouth College, 30 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2004
00212 Dartmouth College, 31 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2003
00866 Dartmouth College, 39 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2003
02638 Dartmouth College, 32 MCAT, 3.39 GPA, applied 2005
02847 Dartmouth College, 34 MCAT, 3.37 GPA, applied 2005
05983 Anonymous, 32 MCAT, 3.37 GPA, applied 2007
03608 Dartmouth College, 34 MCAT, 2.90 GPA, applied 2005
05124 Dartmouth College, 30 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2006
00315 Davidson, 30 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2003
01719 Davidson College, 31 MCAT, 3.23 GPA, applied 2004
03440 Davidson College, 32 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2005
07726 Davidson College, 32 MCAT, 2.85 GPA, applied 2007
01137 Davidson College, 32 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2003
03210 Davidson College, 31 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2005
01268 Davidson College, 32 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2002
00653 DePauw University, 30 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2000
02233 Dickinson College, 30 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2005
03021 Drake University, 35 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2005
04073 Drexel University, 37 MCAT, 2.79 GPA, applied 2006
01872 Duke University, 32 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2004
00596 Duke University, 34 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2003
00660 Duke University, 34 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
04575 Duke University, 30 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2006
00348 Duke University, 36 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
01907 Duke University, 35 MCAT, 3.32 GPA, applied 2004
00823 Duke University, 35 MCAT, 3.42 GPA, applied 2003
01396 Duke University, 42 MCAT, 3.34 GPA, applied 2004
03892 Duke University, 33 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2004
04981 Duke University, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2006
06742 Duke University, 35 MCAT, 3.42 GPA, applied 2007
01850 Eastern Oregon University, 33 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2004
01959 Emory, 30 MCAT, 3.15 GPA, applied 2004
02655 Emory University, 32 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2005
01441 Emory University, 36 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2004
01616 Emory University, 33 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2004
05693 Emory University, 32 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2006
07334 Emory University, 33 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2007
00029 Florida Atlantic University, 33 MCAT, 3.28 GPA, applied 2003
03161 Florida State University, 33 MCAT, 3.09 GPA, applied 2005
05220 Furman University, 35 MCAT, 3.16 GPA, applied 2006
00934 George Washington University, 33 MCAT, 3.44 GPA, applied 2004
01300 Georgetown, 32 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2004
00180 Georgetown, 32 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2004
04944 Georgetown University, 38 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2006
02009 Georgia Institute of Technology, 31 MCAT, 3.14 GPA, applied 2004
06103 Georgia Southern University, 32 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2006
04001 Goucher College, 33 MCAT, 3.14 GPA, applied 2006
04623 Grand Valley State University, 38 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2006
01196 Grinnell College, 41 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
01571 Gustavus Adolphus College, 32 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2004
04249 Hamilton College, 32 MCAT, 3.39 GPA, applied 2006
00326 Harvard, 34 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2003
04760 Harvard, 35 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2006
00188 Harvard, 33 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 1999
01328 Harvard, 33 MCAT, 3.38 GPA, applied 2004
02024 Harvard, 35 MCAT, 3.18 GPA, applied 2004
04028 Harvard, 41 MCAT, 3.24 GPA, applied 2006
03508 Harvard College, 38 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2005
01654 Harvard University, 31 MCAT, 3.25 GPA, applied 2004
01992 Harvard University, 39 MCAT, 2.95 GPA, applied 2005
07960 Harvard University, 44 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2007
00462 Harvard University, 40 MCAT, 3.35 GPA, applied 2003
06497 Holy Cross, 30 MCAT, 3.31 GPA, applied 2007
00141 Holy Cross, 35 MCAT, 3.19 GPA, applied 2003
08151 Houston Baptist University, 31 MCAT, 3.34 GPA, applied 2007
04339 Hunter College, 32 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2006
01731 Illinois Wesleyan University, 33 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2004
00232 Indiana University - Bloomington, 33 MCAT, 3.19 GPA, applied 2003
00418 James Madison University, 40 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
00615 Johns Hopkins, 30 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2001
05342 Johns Hopkins University, 31 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2006
07717 Anonymous, 35 MCAT, 0.00 GPA, applied 2007
00451 Johns Hopkins University, 37 MCAT, 3.21 GPA, applied 2003
00922 Johns Hopkins University, 35 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2004
01313 Johns Hopkins University, 34 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2004
03612 Johns Hopkins University, 34 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2004
00754 Johns Hopkins University, 32 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2003
02063 Johns Hopkins University, 31 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2005
02356 Johns Hopkins University, 37 MCAT, 3.43 GPA, applied 2005
02337 Johns Hopkins University, 33 MCAT, 3.25 GPA, applied 2005
03119 Johns Hopkins University, 30 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2005
01162 Johns Hopkins University, 33 MCAT, 3.43 GPA, applied 2004
00770 Kansas State University, 32 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2000
03571 Kent State University, 30 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2005
03965 Lamar University, 31 MCAT, 3.33 GPA, applied 2006
00266 Lehigh University, 33 MCAT, 3.19 GPA, applied 2003
02406 LeMoyne College, 30 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2003
00492 loyola, 31 MCAT, 2.80 GPA, applied 2003
03047 Macalester College, 32 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2005
01932 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 35 MCAT, 3.48 GPA, applied 2004
02952 McMaster University, 37 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2005
06953 Mercer University, 34 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2007
03145 Middlebury College, 33 MCAT, 3.35 GPA, applied 2005
01188 Milligan College, 32 MCAT, 3.17 GPA, applied 2004
00115 MIT, 37 MCAT, 2.78 GPA, applied 2002
01964 MIT, 32 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2004
05328 MIT, 32 MCAT, 3.23 GPA, applied 2006
02497 MIT, 32 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2005
07232 MIT, 32 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2007
01713 MIT, 37 MCAT, 3.39 GPA, applied 2004
02745 MIT, 35 MCAT, 3.15 GPA, applied 2005
01619 NC State University, 33 MCAT, 3.02 GPA, applied 2004
04169 New York University, 34 MCAT, 3.34 GPA, applied 2006
06108 New York University, 36 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2005
01798 New York University, 30 MCAT, 3.44 GPA, applied 2004
04903 New York University, 34 MCAT, 3.08 GPA, applied 2006
05589 New York University, 30 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2006
00145 Northwestern University, 33 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
02927 Northwestern University, 32 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2005
00170 Northwestern University, 31 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
00267 Northwestern University, 32 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2003
00458 Northwestern University, 36 MCAT, 3.26 GPA, applied 2003
01554 Northwestern University, 32 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2004
05204 Northwestern University, 30 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2005
00603 Northwestern University, 30 MCAT, 3.36 GPA, applied 2003
00902 Northwestern University, 39 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
00711 Notre Dame, 34 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2000
06732 NU, 34 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2007
03217 Oberlin College, 38 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2005
00612 Oberlin College, 33 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2003
01260 Oberlin College, 34 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
02974 Oberlin Conservatory, 32 MCAT, 3.29 GPA, applied 2005
01733 Occidental College, 31 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2004
 
Members don't see this ad :)
00692 Ohio State University, 32 MCAT, 2.85 GPA, applied 2003
01000 Ohio State University, 31 MCAT, 3.38 GPA, applied 2004
01783 Ohio State University, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
04199 Ohio State University, 34 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2002
05022 Oregon State University, 36 MCAT, 3.23 GPA, applied 2006
01615 Penn State Univ, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
02524 Penn State University, 31 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2005
04200 Penn State University, 34 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2006
06245 Pittsburg State University, 30 MCAT, 2.92 GPA, applied 2006
02267 Princeton, 37 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2005
00026 Princeton University, 31 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2002
00487 Princeton University, 35 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2003
01165 Princeton University, 33 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2004
04056 Princeton University, 37 MCAT, 3.19 GPA, applied 2006
05606 Princeton University, 39 MCAT, 3.04 GPA, applied 2007
00937 Princeton University, 30 MCAT, 3.00 GPA, applied 2004
01886 Princeton University, 40 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
01931 Princeton University, 33 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
01043 Purdue University, 30 MCAT, 3.14 GPA, applied 2004
05351 Queen's University, 30 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2006
05466 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 38 MCAT, 3.34 GPA, applied 2007
01540 Rice University, 32 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2004
02624 Rice University, 31 MCAT, 3.27 GPA, applied 2005
02530 Rutgers University, 30 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2005
04643 Rutgers University, 40 MCAT, 3.38 GPA, applied 2006
02884 Rutgers University - Cook College, 31 MCAT, 3.43 GPA, applied 2005
00858 Rutgers University, New Brunswick, 31 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2003
00826 Saint John's University, 31 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2002
01355 Samford University, 30 MCAT, 3.34 GPA, applied 2004
03166 San Diego State University, 32 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2005
03383 Santa Clara University, 35 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2005
06666 Santa Clara University, 37 MCAT, 2.90 GPA, applied 2001
06976 Anonymous, 34 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2007
00493 Santa Clara University, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
04609 Scripps College, 30 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2006
02621 Smith College, 31 MCAT, 3.31 GPA, applied 2005
02864 Smith College, 34 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2005
02134 Southern IL University - Edwardsville, 36 MCAT, 3.26 GPA, applied 2005
02446 St. Bonaventure University, 36 MCAT, 3.23 GPA, applied 2002
00971 Stanford, 34 MCAT, 3.38 GPA, applied 2004
06275 stanford, 33 MCAT, 3.00 GPA, applied 2008
02115 Stanford Univeristy, 35 MCAT, 3.35 GPA, applied 2005
00001 Stanford University, 35 MCAT, 3.19 GPA, applied 2003
00605 Stanford University, 35 MCAT, 2.94 GPA, applied 2003
03183 Stanford University, 31 MCAT, 3.34 GPA, applied 2005
07792 Anonymous, 38 MCAT, 3.35 GPA, applied 2007
00310 Stanford University, 36 MCAT, 3.23 GPA, applied 2003
00327 Stanford University, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
01660 Stanford University, 34 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2004
01526 Stanford University, 33 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2004
01276 Stanford University, 31 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2004
03808 Stanford University, 33 MCAT, 3.44 GPA, applied 2006
05647 Stanford University, 31 MCAT, 3.24 GPA, applied 2006
01552 Stanford University, 31 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2004
05170 Stanford University, 34 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2002
05493 Stanford University, 35 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2006
06615 Stevens institute of Technology, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2007
00938 SUNY Albany, 35 MCAT, 2.80 GPA, applied 2003
07340 SUNY at Stony Brook, 35 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2007
05584 SUNY Binghamton, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2006
00752 SUNY Buffalo, 32 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2003
07863 SUNY Geneseo, 34 MCAT, 2.89 GPA, applied 2007
05073 SUNY Stony Brook, 38 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2006
00846 SUNY-Binghamton, 35 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2003
04183 SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, 30 MCAT, 3.22 GPA, applied 2006
00909 Swarthmore, 33 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2001
03412 Swarthmore College, 33 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2004
05308 Swarthmore College, 33 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2007
04190 Swarthmore College, 32 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2006
02694 Syracuse University, 30 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2005
00183 Texas A&M University, 38 MCAT, 3.44 GPA, applied 2003
01475 Texas A&M University, 35 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2004
00282 Texas A&M University, 30 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2003
03043 The Citadel, 30 MCAT, 3.19 GPA, applied 2005
00517 The Evergreen State College, 34 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2003
05218 The Evergreen State College, 30 MCAT, 0.00 GPA, applied 2006
06202 The Pennsylvania State University, 32 MCAT, 3.24 GPA, applied 2007
01226 The University of Chicago, 30 MCAT, 3.28 GPA, applied 2004
04284 To be disclosed at a later date, 32 MCAT, 3.26 GPA, applied 2006
07487 Anonymous, 31 MCAT, 3.31 GPA, applied 2007
04181 Trinity College, 32 MCAT, 3.37 GPA, applied 2004
04541 Trinity College, 33 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2006
01825 Tufts, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
00277 Tufts University, 33 MCAT, 3.44 GPA, applied 2003
01624 Tufts University, 34 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2003
04475 Tufts University, 34 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2006
05571 Tufts University, 35 MCAT, 3.37 GPA, applied 2006
01470 Tufts University, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
05596 Tulane, 31 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2007
00563 Tulane University, 31 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2003
05105 Tulane University, 32 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2006
03636 Tulane University, 32 MCAT, 3.34 GPA, applied 2006
03914 Tulane University, 34 MCAT, 3.29 GPA, applied 2006
00130 Tulane University, 33 MCAT, 3.29 GPA, applied 2001
00023 Tulane University, 32 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2003
00154 Tulane University, 30 MCAT, 3.35 GPA, applied 2003
00320 Tulane University, 32 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
00885 U of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 31 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 1998
00099 U of MN College of Biological Sciences, 31 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2002
00496 U Rochester, 34 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2003
01641 U.C. Berkeley, 37 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2004
02765 UC Berkeley, 35 MCAT, 3.07 GPA, applied 2005
00785 UC Berkeley, 32 MCAT, 2.86 GPA, applied 2003
01060 UC Berkeley, 34 MCAT, 3.33 GPA, applied 2001
05943 UC Berkeley, 30 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2006
00859 UC Berkeley, 37 MCAT, 3.39 GPA, applied 2003
01738 UC Berkeley, 37 MCAT, 2.49 GPA, applied 2000
04737 UC Berkeley, 34 MCAT, 3.41 GPA, applied 2006
02258 UC Berkeley, 36 MCAT, 2.90 GPA, applied 2005
03313 UC Berkeley, 34 MCAT, 3.23 GPA, applied 2005
02523 UC Berkeley, 37 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2005
00712 UC Berkeley, 35 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2003
01111 UC Berkeley, 40 MCAT, 3.00 GPA, applied 2004
01442 UC Berkeley, 37 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
03365 UC Davis, 37 MCAT, 3.37 GPA, applied 2006
00639 UC Davis, 35 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2003
03668 UC San Diego, 34 MCAT, 3.35 GPA, applied 2005
01181 UC San Diego, 31 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2004
00580 UC San Diego, 35 MCAT, 3.44 GPA, applied 2002
03223 UC San Diego, 36 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2006
00385 UC Santa Cruz, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2002
 
00568 UCLA, 32 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2003
00643 UCLA, 34 MCAT, 3.19 GPA, applied 2003
01864 UCLA, 33 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
00151 UCLA, 32 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2003
00629 UCLA, 35 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2003
00842 UCLA, 32 MCAT, 3.39 GPA, applied 2003
01098 ucla, 33 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
02073 UCLA, 32 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2004
02349 UCLA, 32 MCAT, 2.90 GPA, applied 2004
00076 UCLA, 30 MCAT, 3.42 GPA, applied 2002
01635 ucla, 30 MCAT, 3.36 GPA, applied 2003
01712 UCLA, 32 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
04099 UCLA, 35 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2006
05428 ucla, 31 MCAT, 3.38 GPA, applied 2006
05583 UCLA, 32 MCAT, 3.36 GPA, applied 2006
00144 UCLA, 36 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2002
00274 UCLA, 33 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2003
00515 UCLA, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
03213 UCLA, 32 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2005
03557 UCLA, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2005
04378 UCLA, 30 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2006
05316 UCLA, 33 MCAT, 3.37 GPA, applied 2006
01387 UCSB, 33 MCAT, 3.23 GPA, applied 2004
00571 UCSD, 31 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2003
04075 UCSD, 31 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2006
00662 UCSD, 30 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2003
04519 UCSD, 36 MCAT, 3.41 GPA, applied 2006
01041 UCSD, 36 MCAT, 3.26 GPA, applied 2004
03146 UMontana, 37 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2005
00081 UNC, 33 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2001
00578 UNC Chapel Hill, 31 MCAT, 3.41 GPA, applied 2003
03782 UNC Charlotte, 30 MCAT, 3.04 GPA, applied 2006
03740 UNC-Chapel Hill, 34 MCAT, 3.25 GPA, applied 2006
06188 UNC-Chapel Hill, 34 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2007
07488 UNC-Chapel Hill, 30 MCAT, 3.21 GPA, applied 2007
00469 Univ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 31 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2003
00698 Univ of Pennsylvania, 32 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 1998
00420 Univ. of CA, 32 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2003
01026 Univ. of Oregon, 33 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2000
03303 University of Alabama, 33 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2005
05287 University of Alberta, 32 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2006
02812 University of Arizona, 30 MCAT, 3.46 GPA, applied 2005
00988 University of California Berkeley, 31 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2004
01683 University of California, Berekeley, 32 MCAT, 3.21 GPA, applied 1994
00774 University of California, Berkeley, 32 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 1999
02455 University of California, Davis, 31 MCAT, 2.84 GPA, applied 2005
00801 University of California, Davis, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
05248 University of California, Davis, 30 MCAT, 2.80 GPA, applied 2006
06422 University of California, Irvine, 32 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2007
02666 University of California, Los Angeles, 32 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2005
04006 University of California, San Diego, 32 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2005
02647 University of California, San Diego, 30 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2005
05426 Anonymous, 33 MCAT, 3.34 GPA, applied 2007
00935 University of Chicago, 35 MCAT, 3.05 GPA, applied 2004
00601 University of Chicago, 33 MCAT, 3.24 GPA, applied 2002
03777 University of Chicago, 36 MCAT, 3.39 GPA, applied 2006
00678 University of Chicago, 33 MCAT, 3.11 GPA, applied 2002
02582 University of Chicago, 36 MCAT, 3.14 GPA, applied 2005
01780 University of Cincinnati, 33 MCAT, 3.00 GPA, applied 2002
01095 University of Colorado, 32 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2004
06505 University of Colorado at Boulder, 34 MCAT, 3.00 GPA, applied 2007
01796 University of Colorado at Boulder, 31 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2005
00847 University of Colorado at Boulder, 31 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2003
01534 University of Colorado at Boulder, 30 MCAT, 3.44 GPA, applied 2004
00068 University of Colorado at Denver, 31 MCAT, 3.23 GPA, applied 2003
05806 University of Connecticut, 32 MCAT, 3.27 GPA, applied 2007
00455 University of Connecticut, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
05131 University of Dallas, 33 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2006
00167 University of Dayton, 33 MCAT, 3.16 GPA, applied 2003
01754 University of Delaware, 31 MCAT, 3.42 GPA, applied 2004
02245 University of Florida, 30 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2005
01091 University of Florida, 31 MCAT, 3.44 GPA, applied 2004
01289 University of Florida, 31 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2004
02921 University of Hawaii at Manoa, 30 MCAT, 3.36 GPA, applied 2005
05179 University of Houston, 31 MCAT, 2.90 GPA, applied 2006
03606 University of Illinois - Urbana, 36 MCAT, 3.28 GPA, applied 2006
01449 University of Illinois at Chicago, 34 MCAT, 3.34 GPA, applied 2004
03179 University of Illinois at Chicago, 31 MCAT, 3.27 GPA, applied 2005
02545 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 30 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2005
01952 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 31 MCAT, 3.31 GPA, applied 2004
00704 University of Iowa, 32 MCAT, 2.99 GPA, applied 2003
02345 University of Kansas, 35 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2005
02318 University of Kentucky and Vanderbilt, 40 MCAT, 3.02 GPA, applied 2005
03228 university of maryland, 30 MCAT, 3.00 GPA, applied 2004
01593 University of Maryland Baltimore County, 32 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
00174 University of Maryland College Park, 34 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2003
06703 University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 35 MCAT, 3.44 GPA, applied 2007
00304 University of Michigan, 38 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
00714 University of Michigan, 32 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2002
01632 University of Michigan, 33 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2004
02772 University of Michigan, 31 MCAT, 3.21 GPA, applied 2005
02970 University of Michigan, 42 MCAT, 3.13 GPA, applied 2005
03809 University of Michigan, 32 MCAT, 3.42 GPA, applied 2005
00550 University of Michigan, 31 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
04522 University of Michigan, 33 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2006
00225 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, 31 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 1999
00760 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, 33 MCAT, 3.31 GPA, applied 2003
01116 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2002
03778 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 31 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2006
06897 University of MN-TC, 32 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2007
02721 University of Nebraska, 30 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2006
06216 University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 34 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2005
01159 University of Nevada, 31 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2004
00626 University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 31 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2003
00524 University of Nevada, Reno, 30 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2003
06511 University of North Carolina at Chapel H, 32 MCAT, 3.01 GPA, applied 2007
02644 University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 32 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2005
04990 University of North Texas, 31 MCAT, 3.00 GPA, applied 2006
00410 University of Notre Dame, 39 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2003
06868 University of Notre Dame, 31 MCAT, 3.33 GPA, applied 2007
00097 University of Notre Dame, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2002
04412 University of Notre Dame, 36 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2002
00435 University of Notre Dame, 33 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2003
03617 University of Notre Dame, 35 MCAT, 3.28 GPA, applied 2005
04208 University of Oklahoma, 36 MCAT, 3.23 GPA, applied 2006
01252 University of Pennsylvania, 32 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2004
03155 University of Pennsylvania, 31 MCAT, 3.43 GPA, applied 2005
02578 University of Pennsylvania, 36 MCAT, 3.16 GPA, applied 2005
04893 university of pennsylvania, 37 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
03098 University of Pennsylvania, 34 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2005
03724 University of Pennsylvania, 38 MCAT, 3.28 GPA, applied 2006
06492 University of Pennsylvania, 35 MCAT, 3.25 GPA, applied 2007
05086 University of Pennsylvania, 31 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2006
02086 University of Pennsylvania, 37 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2001
03686 University of Pennsylvania, 33 MCAT, 3.37 GPA, applied 2006
01813 university of pittsburgh, 37 MCAT, 3.00 GPA, applied 2001
04157 University of Richmond, 30 MCAT, 2.85 GPA, applied 2006
05349 University of Saint Thomas, TX, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2006
01499 University of South Florida, 33 MCAT, 3.17 GPA, applied 2004
05655 University of Southern California, 33 MCAT, 3.42 GPA, applied 2006
02995 University of Southern California, 32 MCAT, 3.41 GPA, applied 2005
00168 University of St. Thomas, 32 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2002
01576 University of St. Thomas, 30 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2004
01018 University of Tennessee, 32 MCAT, 3.26 GPA, applied 2004
03756 University of Texas at Austin, 38 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2006
00255 University of Texas at Austin, 33 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2003
06686 University of Texas at Austin, 30 MCAT, 3.32 GPA, applied 2007
01343 University of Texas, Austin, 33 MCAT, 3.49 GPA, applied 2004
02058 University of Texas-Austin, 32 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2005
00202 University of Toronto, 34 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
02710 University of Toronto, 30 MCAT, 2.99 GPA, applied 2004
03649 University of Toronto, 35 MCAT, 3.33 GPA, applied 2005
00089 University of Utah, 33 MCAT, 3.41 GPA, applied 2001
03684 University of Vermont, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2005
00031 University of Virginia, 34 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
00794 University of Virginia, 31 MCAT, 3.36 GPA, applied 2003
06883 University of Virginia, 33 MCAT, 3.10 GPA, applied 2007
00354 University of Virginia, 33 MCAT, 3.43 GPA, applied 2003
00431 University of Virginia, 36 MCAT, 3.15 GPA, applied 2003
01923 University of Virginia, 34 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2005
04037 University of Virginia, 32 MCAT, 3.00 GPA, applied 2006
00784 University of Virginia, 35 MCAT, 3.31 GPA, applied 2003
01157 University of Virginia, 32 MCAT, 3.24 GPA, applied 2004
05261 University of Virginia, 31 MCAT, 3.25 GPA, applied 2006
05215 University of Virginia, 32 MCAT, 3.48 GPA, applied 2006
01257 University of Washington, 32 MCAT, 3.39 GPA, applied 2004
02723 University of Washington, 35 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2005
00811 University of Washington, 31 MCAT, 3.29 GPA, applied 2003
01776 University of Washington, 33 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2004
00050 University of Washington, 34 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2001
00829 University of Wisconsin Madison, 35 MCAT, 3.35 GPA, applied 2002
07514 University of Wisconsin- Madison, 32 MCAT, 3.16 GPA, applied 2007
03435 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 30 MCAT, 3.34 GPA, applied 2005
00090 University of Wisconsin-Madison, 33 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2003
02594 University of Wisconsin-Madison, 31 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2005
06609 University of Wisconsin-Madison, 31 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2007
05920 Unknown, 30 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2007
05812 UNLV, 38 MCAT, 3.01 GPA, applied 2007
01272 US Naval Academy, 35 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2004
07872 UT-Arlington, 31 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2007
05984 UT-Austin, 33 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2007
06493 Vanderbilt U., 31 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2006
01052 Vanderbilt University, 32 MCAT, 2.70 GPA, applied 2001
07279 Vanderbilt University, 39 MCAT, 3.09 GPA, applied 2007
00191 vanderbilt university, 30 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2003
00831 Wake Forest University, 36 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2003
02449 Wake Forest University, 32 MCAT, 3.26 GPA, applied 2005
03318 Washington University, 32 MCAT, 3.18 GPA, applied 2005
00293 Washington University, 30 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 1998
06280 Washington University, 37 MCAT, 3.39 GPA, applied 2006
01778 Washington University, 32 MCAT, 3.11 GPA, applied 2004
00547 Washington University in St. Louis, 32 MCAT, 3.02 GPA, applied 2003
01971 Washington University in St. Louis, 38 MCAT, 3.20 GPA, applied 2004
03220 Washington University in St. Louis, 32 MCAT, 3.43 GPA, applied 2005
01650 Washington University in St. Louis, 32 MCAT, 3.35 GPA, applied 2004
02753 Wellesley College, 33 MCAT, 3.45 GPA, applied 2005
05512 Anonymous, 30 MCAT, 3.26 GPA, applied 2007
01861 Wheaton College (IL), 32 MCAT, 3.48 GPA, applied 2004
01867 Wheaton College (IL), 32 MCAT, 3.41 GPA, applied 2005
05164 Wheaton College (MA), 32 MCAT, 3.30 GPA, applied 2006
03817 Willamette University, 37 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2006
00447 Williams College, 37 MCAT, 3.43 GPA, applied 2003
04228 Williams College, 33 MCAT, 3.47 GPA, applied 2006
00789 Williams College, 33 MCAT, 3.17 GPA, applied 2003
03370 Williams College, 31 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 2005
04785 Williams College, 37 MCAT, 3.43 GPA, applied 2006
04843 Williams College, 36 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2006
01020 Yale College, 36 MCAT, 3.25 GPA, applied 2004
01148 Yale University, 33 MCAT, 3.40 GPA, applied 1999
00421 Yale University, 36 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2002
00148 Yale University, 33 MCAT, 3.50 GPA, applied 2002

526 profiles matched your search criteria. Search took 1.26 seconds.
 
You get the drift....apply.
 
fuzzywuz said:
Hi all,

I'm in a situation right now and would like some advice.

I'm sitting here going through a number of threads on this forum and browsing through profiles on Mdapplicants. There are two main thoughts going though my mind. Confusion and hopelessness.

Everyone here has high GPAs, stellar ECs, great MCAT scores, exceptional LORs. Would this population (SNDers) be considered "typical"? Or is this forum the home to the cream of the crop in the applicant pool? I feel like with my stats, I will NOT stand a chance. With this, I'm quite discouraged.

Secondly, I'm going to a college (cut-throat Ivy League) which constantly boast the fact that students with a GPA of 3.4+ and MCAT of 30+ stand a good chance of being admitted (~75-80%). Here are my stats-

Rising Senior (NY State Residence)
Cum GPA- 3.45
MCAT- Will take next summer
BCPM- 3.39
IF only BCP- 3.30

Good ECs (mostly off-campus, no clubs), research, plenty of internship, shadowing, and volunteer, working as counselor to people with mental disabilities, will get good LORs.

As you can see, my stats are only borderline. Comparing my profile to others here, I don't think I'm in good shape... With this, I've decided to take a year off and apply after I get my senior year grades in. I hope to pull to a cumulative GPA of 3.51. My goal is to get at least a 30 on my MCATs.


What should my realistic expectations be? I've always gave myself the benefit of the doubt and tried to look at the brighter side of things. Now reality is setting in... Any suggestions or advice at this point in time to make myself more competitive?

Thanks for reading this!
Click to expand...

As long as your numbers are good enough to get you past the cutoffs so you get interviews, don't worry about it. With some of the horror stories I've heard of how ridiculous people act at interviews, just be normal and polite at the interviews and you'll be fine.
 
Less than a 3.5 will keep you from getting outright acceptances at good schools. Getting more than a 35 will get you interviews. People really can't give you advice until you take your MCAT, but you still have a shot at this point.
 
ahhh..... the "IF only GPA."


My IF only sophomore-thru-senior-just-counting-biology-and-economics GPA was 4.0 - Harvard, baby Harvard.


Now for something constructive- Smoke the MCAT and you'll be fine. Definitely apply if you score 32. Probably apply if you score 29-31. Think about it with a 27-28. Retake if a 26. Give up if you score 25 or below.
 
Thanks for the encouragement. No honestly!
 
Perrotfish said:
SDN posters are considerably above average even when they're being honest. I believe the average to get into a medical school right now is a 3.5 and a 30 MCAT, and that's not from an Ivy League either. Do well on the MCAT and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...


Completely agree with this piece of advice. Also keep in mind that people here / students at your school will tend to really care about "name-brand" medical schools. Whereas doctors, patients, and other health care workers don't give a ***t where you went to school. As long as you stick with US allopathic schools, the difference when it comes to matching is very marginal.

My BCPM gpa is .3 lower than you, and cumulative is .1 lower than you. I had a 32 MCAT and got into medical school, so you really shouldn't have anything to worry about. As an NY resident, I believe you have many options. I'm not quite sure how a lot of NY schools look at NY residents.
 
I've also heard that grades for specific classes mean more. For instance...if you have A's in your Organic Chem class, that's probably more important than making a C in a (for instance) genetics course. Also, if you are a well-rounded student, I don't think your GPA will kill you.

I think at this point, study really hard and make sure you do well on your MCAT. Like others have said...a 3.45 GPA from an Ivy League school isn't bad at all. From what I understand, they like it when students challenge themselves (Ivy League school...also a bonus if you have a tough major?) and are well rounded (great ECs) versus an introvert with a 4.0 and a high MCAT.

Good luck with everything!
 
Pink08 said:
I've also heard that grades for specific classes mean more. For instance...if you have A's in your Organic Chem class, that's probably more important than making a C in a (for instance) genetics course. Also, if you are a well-rounded student, I don't think your GPA will kill you.

I think at this point, study really hard and make sure you do well on your MCAT. Like others have said...a 3.45 GPA from an Ivy League school isn't bad at all. From what I understand, they like it when students challenge themselves (Ivy League school...also a bonus if you have a tough major?) and are well rounded (great ECs) versus an introvert with a 4.0 and a high MCAT.

Good luck with everything!
Click to expand...

Medical schools also know about Ivy League grade inflation. I'm not sure if it's safe to assume that, across the board, you can add a tenth of a point to your GPA if you went to an Ivy League school. That aside though, your GPA is decent regardless of where you went to school and I think you should apply.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
saqrfaraj said:
Medical schools also know about Ivy League grade inflation. I'm not sure if it's safe to assume that, across the board, you can add a tenth of a point to your GPA if you went to an Ivy League school. That aside though, your GPA is decent regardless of where you went to school and I think you should apply.
Click to expand...


I'm not so sure about grade inflation at the Ivies (except Harvard). I go to Cornell, and you know what they say about it. Its the easiest one to get into, the hardest one to get out of.

There was an article in the school newspaper pointing out that more classes are getting a median of A- or better... regardless, I feel like Cornell is one of the more cut-throat Ivies.
 
fuzzywuz said:
I'm not so sure about grade inflation at the Ivies (except Harvard). I go to Cornell, and you know what they say about it. Its the easiest one to get into, the hardest one to get out of.

There was an article in the school newspaper pointing out that more classes are getting a median of A- or better... regardless, I feel like Cornell is one of the more cut-throat Ivies.
Click to expand...

No offense, but I don't buy the "easiest Ivy to get into, toughest to get out of" myth. I think Cornellians are some of the biggest whiners. Cornell provides top notch education in the sciences, as good as any other Ivy, but its caliber of students is slightly below that of Harvard, Yale, etc. Hence, Cornell isn't actually harder than Harvard, just that its students have a bit more trouble handling the curriculum and expectations which is on par with better schools (leading to a slightly lower graduation rate than other Ivies). Yes, Cornell passes out fewer A's. But its students (your competition) is not as smart as those at Harvard. It is my opinion, therefore, that Cornell is as hard as any other Ivy, no more, no less.

Cornell's stats are online: last year, 72% of applicants with 3.4-3.6 GPA and 30-34 MCAT got in. That is a realistic target zone for you and provides you with an excellent shot at med school. Obviously, 35+ MCAT would be even better but it's tough to bank on getting an MCAT that high. Good luck!
 
fuzzywuz said:
Secondly, I'm going to a college (cut-throat Ivy League) which constantly boast the fact that students with a GPA of 3.4+ and MCAT of 30+ stand a good chance of being admitted (~75-80%).
Click to expand...

Actually, you underestimate this statistic. Last year, among applicants from Cornell in this range, the acceptance rate of 91% and 92% the year before.
 
I think you perceive Cornellians as whiny because of their hardcore and extremely competitive nature. While it is true that competition exist everywhere, I feel the competitive atmosphere at Cornell is at a whole different level.
 
BigRedPremed said:
No offense, but I don't buy the "easiest Ivy to get into, toughest to get out of" myth. I think Cornellians are some of the biggest whiners. Cornell provides top notch education in the sciences, as good as any other Ivy, but its caliber of students is slightly below that of Harvard, Yale, etc. Hence, Cornell isn't actually harder than Harvard, just that its students have a bit more trouble handling the curriculum and expectations which is on par with better schools (leading to a slightly lower graduation rate than other Ivies). Yes, Cornell passes out fewer A's. But its students (your competition) is not as smart as those at Harvard. It is my opinion, therefore, that Cornell is as hard as any other Ivy, no more, no less.

Cornell's stats are online: last year, 72% of applicants with 3.4-3.6 GPA and 30-34 MCAT got in. That is a realistic target zone for you and provides you with an excellent shot at med school. Obviously, 35+ MCAT would be even better but it's tough to bank on getting an MCAT that high. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Your right that Cornell's education is in no way inferior to that of Harvard's. But there is a difference.


BTW, the 91% and 64% figure is only true if you score a 35+ on the MCAT. MCAT scores of 30-34 is at 72% and 88%.. (Again with a 3.4-3.6)

I don't think Cornell gives out fewer A's because the student aren't as capable as Harvard kids. If you put a Harvard kid in Cornell, its not a sure thing they'll ace all of the classes at Cornell. It's just that there are different standards between the schools.

BigRedPremed, what year are you? And have you applied? I hope you don't take my comments as insulting. It's nice to have a debate sometimes and I really enjoy hearing the opinions of another Cornellian.
 
fuzzywuz said:
There was an article in the school newspaper pointing out that more classes are getting a median of A- or better... regardless, I feel like Cornell is one of the more cut-throat Ivies.
Click to expand...

A median of an A- seems very high to me. That means that 50% of the class is getting an A- and up, right? I think that's a very skewed curve, but I can't say whether or not it's due to grade inflation.
 
jochi1543 said:
You searched for applicants:
Whose applications are complete
MCAT score greater than 30
Overall GPA less than 3.50
Applied MD and accepted at any medical school
</B>
The following profiles matched your search:
07742 Anonymous, 34 MCAT, 0.00 GPA, applied 2007
<snip to spare us all>
Click to expand...

I don't think the massive dump of text from mdapplicants.com was necessary. A link would have sufficed! :thumbdown:rolleyes:
 
fuzzywuz said:
Everyone here has high GPAs, stellar ECs, great MCAT scores, exceptional LORs. Would this population (SNDers) be considered "typical"? Or is this forum the home to the cream of the crop in the applicant pool? I feel like with my stats, I will NOT stand a chance. [...]

Good ECs (mostly off-campus, no clubs), research, plenty of internship, shadowing, and volunteer, working as counselor to people with mental disabilities, will get good LORs. [...]

As you can see, my stats are only borderline. Comparing my profile to others here, I don't think I'm in good shape... With this, I've decided to take a year off and apply after I get my senior year grades in. I hope to pull to a cumulative GPA of 3.51. My goal is to get at least a 30 on my MCATs.
Click to expand...

Dude, your numerical stats may be borderline, but you seem to have some amazing EC's, which is much more important than numerical stats past the initial screening. As long as you get a good MCAT score, you'll make it past that screening at most schools.

Also, as others have mentioned, SDN hardly represents the population as a whole. Just looking at the MCAT scores from my test (May 11th), there were only two people (I believe) that reported scores of less than 30. Most people get less than 30 when they take it (average is something like 24). You're looking at a small, very good sample of applicants.
 
BigRedPremed said:
No offense, but I don't buy the "easiest Ivy to get into, toughest to get out of" myth.
Click to expand...

I grew up in western NY state and took a bunch of field trips to Cornell in grade school/high school. The reputation back then was that it was a hyper-competitive school that was really easy to get out of - usually repeated near the gorge with lots of meaningful glances and head-tilts, wink-wink-nudge-nudge, if you know what I mean.

Yes, Cornell passes out fewer A's. But its students (your competition) is not as smart as those at Harvard. It is my opinion, therefore, that Cornell is as hard as any other Ivy, no more, no less.
Click to expand...

Proving your own point?

(No offense. I was a Big Green CS major back in the day, and we wasn't known for our English skills either.)

Fuzzy, good luck on the MCATs.
 
saqrfaraj said:
A median of an A- seems very high to me. That means that 50% of the class is getting an A- and up, right? I think that's a very skewed curve, but I can't say whether or not it's due to grade inflation.
Click to expand...

Not too sure about the proportion of courses that have medians of A- or better.

But those premed sciences classes tend to curve very low to weed people out. Orgo is curved to a B-, not to sure about other schools though..
 
I don't think its fair to say Cornell kids are dumber than Harvard kids, though I do agree that they probably did not distinguish themselves to quite the same extent as the Harvard kids in high school.

That being said, I have taken classes at both institutions, and the courses at Cornell require more critical thinking and are graded harder, no doubt about it. Harvard students are incredibly smart, don't get me wrong, but Cornell courses grade harder...and from everything I have heard, adcoms are well aware of Cornell's reputation for being difficult. I also have to say I took an upper level science class at another non-ivy school that is pretty well regarded and I was SHOCKED by how much easier it was to well in the course...I breezed through with an A...and I don't think I am smarter than the kids in the class, I think the tests were just easy memorization and did not require critical thinking...

My boyfriend went to another ivy and his transcript actually lists the median grade in each of his science courses, and they were much higher than the median grades at Cornell...the median grade for Gen Chem was a B+ or something, many of his upper level science courses were curved to a A-....
 
fuzzywuz said:
Your right that Cornell's education is in no way inferior to that of Harvard's. But there is a difference.


BTW, the 91% and 64% figure is only true if you score a 35+ on the MCAT. MCAT scores of 30-34 is at 72% and 88%.. (Again with a 3.4-3.6)

I don't think Cornell gives out fewer A's because the student aren't as capable as Harvard kids. If you put a Harvard kid in Cornell, its not a sure thing they'll ace all of the classes at Cornell. It's just that there are different standards between the schools.

BigRedPremed, what year are you? And have you applied? I hope you don't take my comments as insulting. It's nice to have a debate sometimes and I really enjoy hearing the opinions of another Cornellian.
Click to expand...

I graduated a few weeks ago. I'm not sure why you'd think that your comments are insulting. If anything, they make my GPA look more impressive :laugh:

But, seriously, while Cornell's classes are challenging, I don't think they quite live up to the notoriety. From my experience, Cornell students love to use the excuse that it's supposedly grade-deflated. Instead, of trying to better their GPA, they buy into this "I'm at Cornell, I'm supposed to get a low GPA" mentality.

I graduated as a bio major so I've taken enough science classes to know that only a few (perhaps orgo, intro bio, and genetics) are truly challenging.
 
HanginInThere said:
I grew up in western NY state and took a bunch of field trips to Cornell in grade school/high school. The reputation back then was that it was a hyper-competitive school that was really easy to get out of - usually repeated near the gorge with lots of meaningful glances and head-tilts, wink-wink-nudge-nudge, if you know what I mean.



Proving your own point?

(No offense. I was a Big Green CS major back in the day, and we wasn't known for our English skills either.)

Fuzzy, good luck on the MCATs.
Click to expand...

haha I did make a couple of booboos in my first two posts. I actually take pride in my writing. It's probably the major reason that my AO GPA is 4.0 after taking a boatload of humanities courses, including 3 English courses.

The suicide thing is another myth, one that augments its reputation as an academically-intense school. Cornell's suicide rate is actually slightly below the national average. But, of course, Cornell's suicides are made all the more dramatic by all the gorge-jumping.
 
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