Of course you should try, its not all about numbers. You just have to stand out in your app and in your interview. Numbers help you reach that but its not totally self reliant on Mcat and gpa like most people seem to think.
Just knock out your app and interview and keep mind in the right direction and youll get there.
*sigh* I apologize in advance, but I just HATE seeing anyone throwing out advice like "it's not all about the numbers, I know your numbers are low, but I know so-and-so who got in with low numbers, so why not just throw your name in the hat and see what happens?" This is nothing personal, but I've just seen that advice one too many times, I guess.
Be careful. No, as you say, it's not ALL about GPA/MCAT, but it is a LOT about that. Due to the large numbers of applications that medical schools receive, a majority of schools have SOME bottom threshold below which they screen out all applicants. There just isn't enough time in the day to look at EVERY 3.0/26 hopeful with what he/she perceives as "excellent" ECs. There is a reason that GPA and MCAT are considered important- what med school wants to admit a personable applicant with a low GPA only to find he/she can't keep up with the academic load of med school? or what med school wants to admit the nicest person in the world with a low MCAT only to find they can't pass STEP 1? And remember, you can't stand out in your interview unless you can GET there in the first place... and even then, for every story you have about a "low numbers" applicant getting in after killing the interview, I could tell you five stories of a low numbers applicant who killed the interview but didn't get in, and then when they called later to find out why found out it was because of their numbers, again, it's not EVERYTHING... but it's a lot.
Also, "standing out in your app" is a lot easier said than done. The OP specifically states that he doesn't have any clinical experience yet and lacks research. This will make writing a strong personal statement extremely difficult. Furthermore, you can write the most touching PS in the world, and that's still not going to get an adcom to invite a student with a suspect academic record and marginal ECs for an interview; quite simply, being a brilliant writer won't make you qualified for medical school.
Finally, please keep in mind that applying to medical school is an EXTREMELY expensive process, and that goes double for people with marginal applications. These are the people who feel they have to "shotgun it" and pray they get accepted somewhere, so they apply to 60 med schools, pay 60 secondary fees, maybe fly across the country for an interview or two in March... and then don't get in. That's a LOT of money that person is now out, and a LOT of time wasted that could've been put to better use strengthening the application for the following year. Yes, we all know that one person who got in with low numbers... but for every success story, there are a hundred people who have nothing to show for all their trouble except several thousands of dollars in secondary bills.
So PLEASE... I'm all for optimism in this process, but THINK before recommending that someone apply! Keep in mind, there are a number of fine people on this board who I'm sure had their "mind in the right direction" last year who are in the midst of reapplying. I'm sure most of them would tell you that they wish they had waited and improved their application before they made the jump to apply.
In conclusion... this has little to do with the OP, I suppose
😛 All I can say to the OP is do well on all your classes from here on out. If you reach the end of your college career and your GPA isn't over a 3.5 and you don't have a killer MCAT (35+), I cannot recommend applying until you can get one of those numbers, unless money really is no object to you. It's far better to wait and apply just ONCE when you're really ready than apply three times.
Sorry for the rant. Again, I'm not attacking anyone personally. That's just how I feel.
