Should I go back to school first?

[Wahooali]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey ya'll (this is my first posting, so "hi!"),

I just graduated in May from the University of Virginia, and my plan was to take two years off to work as a a laboratory technician at UVA and then head off to med school. My overall and science GPAs were both a 3.32 majoring in Biochemisty, and I am taking the MCAT in April (my practice scores are around a 30). I also volunteer at the rescue squad as an EMT-B 13hrs/wk, volunteered at the hospital, and have lots of leadership experience from various organizations during my undergraduate career including president of my sorority, etc, etc. I should be able to get pretty solid recs, and I am pretty decent (read: have a lot of experience with) at interviews.

Now that you know a little about me, here is my dilemma, I'm starting to freak out a little bit because my numbers are sub-par. They are right there on the cusp of getting in somewhere, and not getting in anywhere. I wanted to ask what ya'll thought as far as whether I should even try to apply this summer, or if I should forget it and get a Masters in Public Health or Biochemistry, or do a Post-bac program first and apply a few years from now. Any thoughts? Thank you so much.

 

[Disenchanted 1]

You should definitely apply for it this summer. Dude, if your practices have started around 30, if you actually try you are definitely going to bring it up.....(to make it more tangible, my first MCAT diagnostic was 19 !!! 🙄 ) Plus MCAT makes up for GPA !! so if you can pull off mid 30's, you are definitely going to be a competitive applicant. As far as your EC's and LOR's they look solid and if you got the personality going then I think you are set. Just be confident and self-assured.

BTW, it kinda matters where you are applying to. I mean you have to be realistic and not just apply to those two elite schools who only except 4.0 GPA and above 40 MCATers.

But regardless, in my opinion if you can apply earlier why not!!?? Med school is long as is, no need to make it longer by elongating the process of applying if you are a competetive student.

Oh yea, one more thing to make you feel better......your major is difficult!!

GOOD LUCK

 

[bigdan]

OP-
You've likely read the advice that you're going to get on your question in all the other threads that are similar. Although there are guidelines that you can use to assist in your decision on where to apply, the admissions process is much more than a numbers game. You've already identified a bunch of things that will set you apart from others...
I'm looking at applying to medical schools now, about 6 years after my undergraduate degree was conferred. I'm not at the top of the numbers game for admissions standards, but I've got 6 years of things to discuss and experiences to draw from that I can safely assume will set me apart from others in terms of what I bring to the table.
I'd do your year off or whatever, and see where you feel you need to be after that. I really don't want to enter medical school as old as I'll be if/when I get in, but I'm SO glad I got to be worry free (no classes, no debt, tons of travel, great job, etc.) throughout my 20's.
Food for thought...
Good luck.

dc

 

[jlee9531]

your numbers are around mine....3.4 overall
3.1 bcpm 31 mcat.

you have great ECs and depending on your other stuff i think you should be a competitive applicant for med schools.

the application process is not all about numbers but about the overall package...how else would i have gotten an interview at ucla with those numberrs that i posted when their avg is much higher than mine and avg mcat is a bit higher as well.

good luck.

 

[ek6]

I say apply this summer for entry in the fall of 2005 (which, I assume, was what you originally planned). You're situation really mirrors mine...only I waited that extra year. That year feels like a long time - I got in, but will be going to med school 3 years after graduating instead of 2. Not that long, but 1 year longer than expected. I had a 3.4 and didn't break that 30 on two tries. Nonetheless, I still got into two med schools so far. I say, have confidence in your numbers since you did a tough major and just apply. Plus, UVA is a very respectable school in my opinion (I went to a top 10 liberal arts school and have gotten props on it during interviews...your institution is always a good credential to have).
Keep in mind...apply to many schools and submit your AMCAS in June! I can't stress this enough. Even if you get like a 28 or something, some schools like New York Med or Hahnemann (not that they are bad schools!) will still grant you an early interview. Go for it and apply.

 

[tbo]

Wahooali: My advice would be to apply for 2005. You already landed a job at UVA, which is great, but what you still don't know is where you stand. Are you competitive or are you not? The only way to really answer that is to apply. If you don't get in, you still have your lab tech gig AND you get feedback from adcoms that will focus your next couple years before you re-apply (like, do you need more schooling to raise a GPA, do you need to retake the MCAT, do you need volunteer work, etc)

This is a lesson from my own "mistake", as I'm 3.5 years removed from graduating. I took the route of getting a job and applying to graduate school to bolster my application (which is worse than yours statistically), but I too still ask the question about where I stand. Bottomline-apply to some schools, best case scenario you get in, and you've saved 2 years. Worst case is you don't get in, but you continue gaining unique experience as a lab tech and you have invaluable feedback from adcomms themselves.

 

[skypilot]

Just be sure to apply strategically to schools that will want you. There are a bunch in Virginia, Washington DC, and Philadelphia.

 

[Wahooali]

Thank you guys so much for taking the time to give me your input, I really appreciate it. My family and non-pre-med friends can encourage me to apply and that it will happen, but it means so much more hearing it from people who understand my valid concerns. Best of luck to everyone applying now, and in the near future.

 

[JohnHolmes]

Ba ta da da ta dump BUMP