SJSU student chances with MD?

[radhopeful2021]

Hello, this is my first post to this forum (yay!) so I'm a bit new to this.

I am currently a sophomore (2nd year) at San Jose State University majoring in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Systems Physiology and a minor in Chemistry. My overall GPA right now is a 3.5, and I aspire to become an MD physician or medical researcher at either Stanford or UCSF. My backup choices are any other schools in California, including Loma Linda U. I'm planning on taking the MCAT sometime after I finish some upper division courses in my major. I am currently volunteering and have applied to research positions at my school. We'll see how it goes sometime mid-February when I receive notifications.

My question is: are my chances of going to a prestigious school out the window, or is there still a chance for me to enter a California MD school? And what can I do to improve my acceptance rates?

Thank you! 🙂

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Hello, this is my first post to this forum (yay!) so I'm a bit new to this.

I am currently a sophomore (2nd year) at San Jose State University majoring in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Systems Physiology and a minor in Chemistry. My overall GPA right now is a 3.5, and I aspire to become an MD physician or medical researcher at either Stanford or UCSF. My backup choices are any other schools in California, including Loma Linda U. I'm planning on taking the MCAT sometime after I finish some upper division courses in my major. I am currently volunteering and have applied to research positions at my school. We'll see how it goes sometime mid-February when I receive notifications.

My question is: are my chances of going to a prestigious school out the window, or is there still a chance for me to enter a California MD school? And what can I do to improve my acceptance rates?

Thank you! 🙂

I wouldn't say you have no chance at a prestigious school, but it's pretty low. You need raise your GPA big time, get a 35+ MCAT and start doing some major ECs. Look through MDapps for some EC ideas.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

I have spoken to a guy that went to CSU-LB and is at UCSF. The caveats are that he's URM, did summer research at Harvard, and he worked at the NIH for 2 years. Also, he got accepted for MD/Ph.D, so as long as the Ph.D faculty wanted him, he could get in. Stanford is likely borderline impossible. The UC system is much, much more willing to entertain applications from schools that aren't seen as prestigious in comparison.

I hear this one has a major role in securing that MD/PhD.

 

[winteriscoming]

I just want to warn you, in case you didn't realize, that Loma Linda is a Christian school and you have to demonstrate your dedication to Jesus, etc. If you are not a practicing Christian, you can't really apply here.

Just FYI, b/c I'm a CA resident too, and I was considering Loma Linda b/c it had one of the lowest mcat/gpa averages of all MD schools. Alas, I'm not religious at all, so I had to throw that one off the list. Creighton too. Darn. Haha.

 

[radhopeful2021]

Wow, thanks for all your input! I'll work harder ^.^

 

[Eva86]

WHY you need to be out of Prestagious college to get into Medical school! This is Just NOT fair. Not everyone can afford going into Stanford or Harvard, or even UC university. I am SJSU graduate as well. And hoping to get into medical school. but reading all of these things make me lose hope!

 

[plumhill]

I know people who have gone to less prestigious undergraduate institutions (University of Cincinnati; Wright State University...both in OH) and gotten into medical school just fine. As long as you show that you've succeeded in your environment and are truly dedicated to the field, it shouldn't hinder you too much.

 

[TriagePreMed]

WHY you need to be out of Prestagious college to get into Medical school! This is Just NOT fair. Not everyone can afford going into Stanford or Harvard, or even UC university. I am SJSU graduate as well. And hoping to get into medical school. but reading all of these things make me lose hope!

Getting into medical school and getting into a top 10 medical school are 2 very different things. The top 10 has a history of being elitist, so it's unsurprising. However, you do get the occasional exception here and there. Your SJSU degree is fine to get you into medical school. Don't lose hope.