Should I even try US Med Schools? Please advice.

[cricketer1]

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i m a senior with a low gpa of only 3.0 or 3.1. i started out with a good gpa at community college but when transferred to a very competetive 4 yr college, it dropped cuz of C's in some hard bio classes. i will be taking the mcat this jan n if i dont do good i ll retake it in aug. this is my last semester n i know for sure that medicine is wat i want to do. but i couldnt do volunteering. i got all the testing done to volunteer at a hospital when i was in my community college, but then transferred to a 4 yr college to another place. my junior year went by really fast n i put my extra time in research. now i m a senior. i will volunteer this semester n later too if i dont get in to a school.

so i will apply this year. but i dont think i have chances at US med schools. so shud i even try there n wait another year? or shud i just apply to caribbean big 4 for fall semester or may be jan semester? will med schools see my late volunteering as just a box checking thing or will they believe me that i wanted to do it but just got delayed?

thanks!

 

[oldpro]

i m a senior with a low gpa of only 3.0 or 3.1

no you will not get accepted...........................there are some dreamers who will tell you have a shot, reality is NO!😎

 

[Scottish Chap]

i m a senior with a low gpa of only 3.0 or 3.1. i started out with a good gpa at community college but when transferred to a very competetive 4 yr college, it dropped cuz of C's in some hard bio classes. i will be taking the mcat this jan n if i dont do good i ll retake it in aug. this is my last semester n i know for sure that medicine is wat i want to do. but i couldnt do volunteering. i got all the testing done to volunteer at a hospital when i was in my community college, but then transferred to a 4 yr college to another place. my junior year went by really fast n i put my extra time in research. now i m a senior. i will volunteer this semester n later too if i dont get in to a school.

so i will apply this year. but i dont think i have chances at US med schools. so shud i even try there n wait another year? or shud i just apply to caribbean big 4 for fall semester or may be jan semester? will med schools see my late volunteering as just a box checking thing or will they believe me that i wanted to do it but just got delayed?

thanks!

The odds are significantly stacked against you so responses to your question will most often affirm this. However, keep in mind that the background of those who answer your post 'prophetically' will substantially bias their reply.

As you know, the average GPA for accepted applicants in U.S. allopathic medical schools is now around 3.6. For U.S. osteopathic medical schools, it's around 3.3 or 3.4. The range in both cases is considerable. While anecdotes will offer you the most encouragement, I will emphasize again that the odds are statistically against you before telling you that I personally know regular applicants who have been accepted to allopathic and osteopathic medical schools will GPAs right around 3.0. Two examples: one has a 2.9, but a 32 on the MCAT. This person gained admission to two allopathic schools in the U.S. and will match this year. Another has a 3.2 and a 32 on the MCAT and this person is ranked among the top 5 in a U.S. allopathic school. In each case, the commonality was an acceptable MCAT score, and significant expertise in areas which complement medicine (i.e. they brought something else to the table, so to speak).

I think the fairest answer is to say that nobody can predict your chances with certainty, but it's wise to weigh the average applicant's success with your own numbers. With an outstanding MCAT score, you may be one of those exceptions and it's all down to whether you're willing to try. If you're not successful, you can either take more undergraduate courses to boost your GPA, obtain a masters degree with a high GPA and perhaps publications, or apply to a special masters program that is affiliated with a medical school. Keep in mind that osteopathic medical schools will replace an old grades with a better one if you retake a class, and that could give you a higher GPA quickly. I wish you all the best. Don't give up on your dream if this is what you want to do!

 

[oldpro]

look I'm not bias, I'm realistic, a 3.0 just about has no chance when only 40% of all that apply get accepted in the US, Most of you will beat the Caribbean students into the ground with the Match stats and such, yes reality,

I think with the 40% and only a small percentage of those with lower then 3.4 averages accepted its hard to advise someone to spend thousands on applying and waiting for no acceptances and sitting out of Medical school a year.

But go ahead and give false hope............................. If I had to give odds I would say a 3.0 has about a 1 to 5% chance with a MCAT around 30, but few students who have a low GPA are able to get a MCAT above a 30.

Few have super great EC's for the APP

If you have a very good MCAT (above 32) and super EC's for the App then the odds may be higher, but not by a lot

So you want to tell people that may have a 10 to 15% shot out of the 40% that get accepted to go for it? I would not want that on my conscience the rest of my life.

There are better options
Post Bac
Caribbean

These have a better success rate.

Good Luck all.

 

[billydoc]

i m a senior with a low gpa of only 3.0 or 3.1. i started out with a good gpa at community college but when transferred to a very competetive 4 yr college, it dropped cuz of C's in some hard bio classes. i will be taking the mcat this jan n if i dont do good i ll retake it in aug. this is my last semester n i know for sure that medicine is wat i want to do. but i couldnt do volunteering. i got all the testing done to volunteer at a hospital when i was in my community college, but then transferred to a 4 yr college to another place. my junior year went by really fast n i put my extra time in research. now i m a senior. i will volunteer this semester n later too if i dont get in to a school.

so i will apply this year. but i dont think i have chances at US med schools. so shud i even try there n wait another year? or shud i just apply to caribbean big 4 for fall semester or may be jan semester? will med schools see my late volunteering as just a box checking thing or will they believe me that i wanted to do it but just got delayed?

thanks!

By saying "U.S medical schools" I sure hope you are not excluding D.O (?) Look, there are plenty of ppl on SDN who had stats lower than yours and were able to overcome it. But you may have to look beyond the Carib forum to get that info. The dumbest thing you could do is to never even try, and to take an advice from someone on here who didn't either. 🙄 I had pretty smoth sail with acceptance to ROSS, SABA, and SMU few years back. I was already older. and thought that I will "save" time, even though I had the GPA and many, many yrs of clinical experience which were giving me a very good shot at D.O. Anyway, the past doesn't matter. D.O is happenning for me this year, and I'm also waiting to hear from some State MD schools. But I applied late, and thus limited my chances. Re-take classes with "C's", give MCAT your best shot, and....very important.....apply early. And don't let others, especially those who never even tried tell you "No, you can't do it". That's just plain B.S. It will take some time, but yes...after you did some work you absolutely should apply, and let adcoms decide "Yes or No". I think you'll be really surprised....when you try that is 😉

Hope it helps

 

[Scottish Chap]

By saying "U.S medical schools" I sure hope you are not excluding D.O (?) Look, there are plenty of ppl on SDN who had stats lower than yours and were able to overcome it.

Agreed. OP: again, weigh the odds, but be very careful who you listen to. Nobody can give you accurate odds, and there are better ways of getting your medical degree without leaving the U.S.

 

[McGillGrad]

Apply at least once to US schools. You never know.

 

[cricketer1]

thank you very much for all ur replies and encouragement. it helped n i really appreciate it.

By saying "U.S medical schools" I sure hope you are not excluding D.O (?)

no i m not excluding DO at all. i ll definitely try there too. n i hope ur application process goes well too n u hear good news.

Apply at least once to US schools. You never know.

If I had to give odds I would say a 3.0 has about a 1 to 5% chance with a MCAT around 30, but few students who have a low GPA are able to get a MCAT above a 30.

Few have super great EC's for the APP

If you have a very good MCAT (above 32) and super EC's for the App then the odds may be higher, but not by a lot

There are better options
Post Bac
Caribbean

yes i understand the 3.0 is really against me. thats y i m really gonna try to get a high mcat score...not just above 30 but 37 is my goal. hopefully that will at least get me into a DO school.

if not then i m really considering the big 4 caribbean schools. thats y i put my question in the carib forum cuz i was just confused whether i shud just apply to carib for jan semester right after my graduation this May cuz of the 3.0, or wait a whole year for US schools where my chances r not good. so i m leaving it up to my mcat score n hoping to atleast get into DO or carib.

 

[MDPWR]

no you will not get accepted...........................there are some dreamers who will tell you have a shot, reality is NO!😎

Ok now here is a sure shot way to get in with his stat. If he has a uncle, who knows a guy, who happens to know the person who actually sits on the admissions committee of the medical school, then I'll say yes he can get in. Otherwise, its really hard with 3.0. You can surely try with excellent post bac or a masters degree to boost up your file.

Good luck to you bud.

 

[IMbound]

I agree with the prev posts, it would be very difficult for you to get in unless you did well over 30 on the MCATs. It may be worthwhile to apply to SGU and the other 4 carib schools as most have rolling apps in which if you want to defer, you could. Although it may be too early for you to know, if would be useful if you knew if you have any idea what type of doctor you want to be as this may weigh in on the decision.

 

[oldpro]

thank you very much for all ur replies and encouragement. it helped n i really appreciate it.



no i m not excluding DO at all. i ll definitely try there too. n i hope ur application process goes well too n u hear good news.




yes i understand the 3.0 is really against me. thats y i m really gonna try to get a high mcat score...not just above 30 but 37 is my goal. hopefully that will at least get me into a DO school.

if not then i m really considering the big 4 caribbean schools. thats y i put my question in the carib forum cuz i was just confused whether i shud just apply to carib for jan semester right after my graduation this May cuz of the 3.0, or wait a whole year for US schools where my chances r not good. so i m leaving it up to my mcat score n hoping to atleast get into DO or carib.

DO? Maybe? A shot??? Look at the stats from 2007 that the schools say the average matriculated had, do not use an internet source like MD applicants its like using Wikipedia for a research paper, there is no obligation to tell the truth.

37 MCAT may help but a 3.0? MCAT and GPA are not hand in hand they are two different indicators so no matter what someone on here posts and claims an "ADMISSION COM" person told them, GPA is one thing and a MCAT is another so they are looked at and it does hurt you a lot to have a GPA below a 3.4 every 0.1 lower hurts the app, below a 3.0 and the chances are even bleaker.


In the USA Admission Committees are looking to turn down people not accept them. Too many premeds kid themselves that if I get a .....MCAT the committee will be so impressed they will have to accept me with a 3.1 GPA.
No they do not, in fact some schools have automatic GPA cut offs, Some Committees are known to have Unofficial Cut offs,

one thing to remember in all this.........

While some premeds give the advice to avoid the Caribbean Avoid the Carribean, some of these guys are taking 2 and 3 years getting turned down for medical school while I graduate with an MD next June 09

So good luck

 

[MDPWR]

DO? Maybe? A shot??? Look at the stats from 2007 that the schools say the average matriculated had, do not use an internet source like MD applicants its like using Wikipedia for a research paper, there is no obligation to tell the truth.

37 MCAT may help but a 3.0? MCAT and GPA are not hand in hand they are two different indicators so no matter what someone on here posts and claims an "ADMISSION COM" person told them, GPA is one thing and a MCAT is another so they are looked at and it does hurt you a lot to have a GPA below a 3.4 every 0.1 lower hurts the app, below a 3.0 and the chances are even bleaker.


In the USA Admission Committees are looking to turn down people not accept them. Too many premeds kid themselves that if I get a .....MCAT the committee will be so impressed they will have to accept me with a 3.1 GPA.
No they do not, in fact some schools have automatic GPA cut offs, Some Committees are known to have Unofficial Cut offs,

one thing to remember in all this.........

While some premeds give the advice to avoid the Caribbean Avoid the Carribean, some of these guys are taking 2 and 3 years getting turned down for medical school while I graduate with an MD next June 09

So good luck

Oldpro you are really helpful, I must say you will be a good doctor for sure.

Keep up the good work!

 

[cricketer1]

Oldpro you are really helpful, I must say you will be a good doctor for sure.

Keep up the good work!

i agree!! i have been reading other forums to get gen. info on things that might help me too n oldpro is one of the very helpful ppl with lot of advices. thanks for all those comments oldpro n others.

 

[oldpro]

i agree!! i have been reading other forums to get gen. info on things that might help me too n oldpro is one of the very helpful ppl with lot of advices. thanks for all those comments oldpro n others.

Thanks, to me the point to all this is the goal.

You set a goal and work towards it. I must admit I'm a rebel at heart and hate to be told I cannot do something I want to do. Not in the spoiled way in the way that takes work and achievement. IMHO anyone who can get a 3.0 or better should go to medical school, get a shot, I have never understood this worry over failure? Failure is normal and sometimes its how we learn and it pushes us to do better.

Think of Edison and the Light, he failed failed then succeeded.

To me US schools, Caribbean schools, European schools all do the same thing
Allow you to study medicine and in the end if you work and can learn you pass and become a Physician the Goal.