Same Old Question: What Are My Chances?

[notsittinpretty]

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So I pretty much just heard about this site yesterday from someone at work, and to tell the truth, I haven't stopped looking at it since. This is a great site and I think people really know what they are talking about. But here's my story.

I'm 23. Graduated from a topten liberal arts college in 2003. I've spent the last year doing research in beantown and sent in my AMCAS about two weeks ago. I have plenty of volunteer experience and have numerous extracurriculars to my credit. My overall GPA is 3.05 with a science GPA of 3.2. My MCAT score was a 32R (10BS,10PS,11V). Oh and I'm a pa resident. Am i wasting my time and money? I really appreciate any constructive comments. Thanks All

 

[notsittinpretty]

So i probably won't get in since i can't do math, but my BS was an 11, not a 10. Thanks

 

[Blake]

I think you have a chance, although I don't really know the US system. How good is your science GPA ?

 

[Ryo-Ohki]

What was your major?

 

[MoosePilot]

I think you have a chance, although I don't really know the US system. How is your science GPA ?

I bet it's 3.2, like she said in her post.

I think you've got a good shot unless schools wonder why you'd go into PA and then right into med school. Apply to a wide range of places, because your GPA is at the low end of matriculants.

 

[Blake]

I bet it's 3.2, like she said in her post.

I think you've got a good shot unless schools wonder why you'd go into PA and then right into med school. Apply to a wide range of places, because your GPA is at the low end of matriculants.

The edit came later than my post 😳

 

[MoosePilot]

The edit came later than my post 😳

Sorry 🙂

Doesn't it show when people have edited?

 

[WatchingWaiting]

So I pretty much just heard about this site yesterday from someone at work, and to tell the truth, I haven't stopped looking at it since. This is a great site and I think people really know what they are talking about. But here's my story.

I'm 23. Graduated from a topten liberal arts college in 2003. I've spent the last year doing research in beantown and sent in my AMCAS about two weeks ago. I have plenty of volunteer experience and have numerous extracurriculars to my credit. My overall GPA is 3.05 with a science GPA of 3.2. My MCAT score was a 32R (10BS,10PS,11V). Oh and I'm a pa resident. Am i wasting my time and money? I really appreciate any constructive comments. Thanks All

Your chances are less than stellar. Although your MCAT is good and it sounds like you have reasonable extracurricular involvement, your gpa is low. It is a positive that your science gpa is higher than your cumulative. Strictly by the numbers (from the AAMC MSAR book), only 25% of applicants with a 3.25 gpa get in to medical school. Your MCAT adds positive value to this, as would a good personal statement. However, I would say your chances are no better than 50/50 even assuming strong MCAT, extracurriculars, interview performance, and personal statement. Certainly apply to all your state schools (except UPenn), but be prepared for a decent likelihood of rejection.

You are fortunate in that your MCAT score indicates you have the potential to do fine in med school; however, you will probably have to do a post-bacc or master's degree this upcoming year to fortify your gpa and make yourself a more competitive applicant on the gpa front.

 

[Blake]

Sorry 🙂

Doesn't it show when people have edited?

Nope. You can try it 🙂

 

[MoosePilot]

Strictly by the numbers (from the AAMC MSAR book), only 25% of applicants with a 3.25 gpa get in to medical school.

I don't think you can judge just by these numbers. Because while only about 25% of 3.2 GPA students get in, only about 25% of 32 MCAT students *don't* get in. So she only has a 25% chance of getting in and only a 25% chance of being rejected? Stats are funny, aren't they?

 

[stinkycheese]

I bet it's 3.2, like she said in her post.

I think you've got a good shot unless schools wonder why you'd go into PA and then right into med school. Apply to a wide range of places, because your GPA is at the low end of matriculants.

I think they meant, Pennsylvania resident, not physician's assistant resident.

 

[MoosePilot]

I think they meant, Pennsylvania resident, not physician's assistant resident.

LOL - I'm doing real good in this thread 😳

U. of Penn. 3.78 mean GPA 11.4 mean MCAT
U. of Pitt. 3.7/10.9
Drexel 3.44/at or above 75 percentile MCAT
Jefferson 3.51 sci/10.3
Penn. State 3.62/10
Temple 3.5/29

I'd apply to all your state schools. You've got a bunch and they've got a decent range of stats. You're not that much below Temple's avg GPA, but have some good points on their average MCAT.

 

[MEG@COOL]

Add some DO schools on to the list if you really want to get in this year.

... as insurance.

 

[WatchingWaiting]

I don't think you can judge just by these numbers. Because while only about 25% of 3.2 GPA students get in, only about 25% of 32 MCAT students *don't* get in. So she only has a 25% chance of getting in and only a 25% chance of being rejected? Stats are funny, aren't they?

I didn't say she has a 25% chance of getting in. I said her gpa starts her at that point, while her odds increased to probably about 50/50 given the good MCAT and decent extracurriculars.

 

[Blake]

Add some DO schools on to the list if you really want to get in this year.

... as insurance.

You have a weird attitude against DOs. Painful childhood experience with one ? 🙄

 

[MEG@COOL]

You have a weird attitude against DOs. Painful childhood experience with one ? 🙄

I think your attitude about them is more weird in that you dont accept the fact that their admissions are not as competitive.

 

[MoosePilot]

I didn't say she has a 25% chance of getting in. I said her gpa starts her at that point, while her odds increased to probably about 50/50 given the good MCAT and decent extracurriculars.

I know you didn't. I read the rest of your post and saw the 50% part. I just don't think you can even go that far. Numbers are so darn tricky and none of us are adcoms if someone is in the ballpark as far as numbers, I think the only thing to do is jump into the fray and find out first hand how the app process goes.

 

[WatchingWaiting]

You have a weird attitude against DOs. Painful childhood experience with one ? 🙄

Christ, how does this DO crap always come on these threads? DO schools have lower threshholds (specifically, a mean gpa that is .3 lower and a mean MCAT that is 5 points lower) for undergraduate academic competency to get in. Just as no reasonable person would argue that most people go to the Carribean for med school because they really like the weather, the argument that most people go to DO school because they really like the philosophy is equally crap. Most people go both these options because they don't have the numbers to get into an MD school.

Hence, if your gpa/MCAT combo is slightly low for MD schools, add some DO possibilities if you want to get in without having to retake the MCAT/do a post-bacc.

 

[skypilot]

Some schools will add a couple of points to your GPA due to the rigor of your undergraduate college. I think you have a shot but I would apply a broad range of schools and would consider all the schools.

 

[ArcherM2]

Christ, how does this DO crap always come on these threads? DO schools have lower threshholds (specifically, a mean gpa that is .3 lower and a mean MCAT that is 5 points lower) for undergraduate academic competency to get in. Just as no reasonable person would argue that most people go to the Carribean for med school because they really like the weather, the argument that most people go to DO school because they really like the philosophy is equally crap. Most people go both these options because they don't have the numbers to get into an MD school.

Hence, if your gpa/MCAT combo is slightly low for MD schools, add some DO possibilities if you want to get in without having to retake the MCAT/do a post-bacc.

WatchingWaiting: Do you like surgery? Because you seem like the kind of pompous ass that would fit right in with the majority of those "God-like", I'm better than everyone else-surgeons.

 

[Blake]

WatchingWaiting: Do you like surgery? Because you seem like the kind of pompous ass that would fit right in with the majority of those "God-like", I'm better than everyone else-surgeons.

Hey, I plan on becoming a surgeon. I don't think they're all pompous asses 😳

 

[MoosePilot]

WatchingWaiting: Do you like surgery? Because you seem like the kind of pompous ass that would fit right in with the majority of those "God-like", I'm better than everyone else-surgeons.

This disagreement is clearly off topic for the OP. Please be nice to the OP and start a new thread. Or just search for an old MD vs. DO thread and post nasty things to each other, it will be the same thing.

 

[UpstateMS]

Just out of curiousity, what was this top-10 liberal arts college that you graduated from? I'm curious because I'm going into my second year at med school and I went to a small liberal arts college. My MCAT score was about equivalent to yours, and I had only a slightly higher science GPA. I did fairly well when it came to the med school application game. Depending on the school, your 3.2 science GPA might be highly competitive and viewed as a good gpa. Depends a lot on the college and how their alum do at the schools you apply to.

 

[notsittinpretty]

I made the original post, so thanks for all of your insight. I pretty much knew going into this process that it would be difficult given my gpa. My gpa was 2.5 after freshman year, so i've basically improved ever since. Good luck to everyone, especially those who find themselves in a similar situation.

 

[SpiritiualDuck]

So, you've shown an upward trend. That's great. I think you have a very good chance this year. Apply wide and to all the PA schools especially, Drexel, Temple, PCOM and your state school.

Also consider schools like UVM that take a fair amount of out of state applicants.

Also, many schools give more credit to your junior and senior year GPA. They have a tendency to forgive poor 1st year performances.

Good luck

 

[UpstateMS]

The advice I've read so far sounds good: apply to all of the PA schools. The upward trend should help, as should the good MCAT score. I would, however, be prepared to answer some interview questions about your low grades early in college. Best of luck.

 

[Medikit]

Definitely apply

 

[45408]

WatchingWaiting: Do you like surgery? Because you seem like the kind of pompous ass that would fit right in with the majority of those "God-like", I'm better than everyone else-surgeons.

Nah, it just seems like you don't like hearing it how it is.

 

[KatieOConnor]

I went to a school of a similar rank and type, and they classify you as 'well qualified' if you have a GPA of above 3.1 and an MCAT score of above 30. This means you will likely get in. And, I've heard that Haverford has less grade inflation than some others. Adcoms usually know things like this. That GPA with your MCAT score should allow you to get into some decent allopathic schools.