so what are my chances

[Ema]

So, as I was reading these posts I noticed that everyone has relatively competative scores.I am not that great candidate by the paper and I was wondering if anyone knows if there are people who get in with lower grades.

I am majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology and my GPA is only 3.3. I am doing biomedical research, and working in a hospital at the same time. Throughout my education I kept part time job (30 hrs/week) and I volunteered for 9 months (4 hours a week)
The problem beside the GPA is that I have taken basic science at cc. I started cc because I had to take ESL classes first and I did not have any money to go to the university right away. I am kind of hoping that admissions would recognize the fact that I was working hard and that I was able to learn English and manage to obtain bachelors in 5 years, work, volunteer and take full load of classes each semester including summers. I mean I worked really hard and I really want to get into the med school. Will that matter to them at all..... or... will they just look at the numbers? I have a feeling that my chances are very slim......

I am taking MCAT in April and I am hoping to do good.....
Thanks

 

[madonna]

So, as I was reading these posts I noticed that everyone has relatively competative scores.I am not that great candidate by the paper and I was wondering if anyone knows if there are people who get in with lower grades.

I am majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology and my GPA is only 3.3. I am doing biomedical research, and working in a hospital at the same time. Throughout my education I kept part time job (30 hrs/week) and I volunteered for 9 months (4 hours a week)
The problem beside the GPA is that I have taken basic science at cc. I started cc because I had to take ESL classes first and I did not have any money to go to the university right away. I am kind of hoping that admissions would recognize the fact that I was working hard and that I was able to learn English and manage to obtain bachelors in 5 years, work, volunteer and take full load of classes each semester including summers. I mean I worked really hard and I really want to get into the med school. Will that matter to them at all..... or... will they just look at the numbers? I have a feeling that my chances are very slim......

I am taking MCAT in April and I am hoping to do good.....
Thanks

3.3 is not that low. just make sure you study hard for the MCAT and score well. also do some more volunteering. your research and clinical exposure are definite strength. aply to a variety of schools, write interesting essays and you'll have a great chance.
good luck

 

[Caboose]

I would recommend reading the not so short guide to medical school pdf available on this site. I liked the rough estimate it gives about which medical schools you are likely to get into and whatnot. Absolutely nothing is certain about anything in this process... o.k., maybe that's extreme, but it's certainly not cut and dry.

It said, (GPA x 10) + (MCAT score). The lowest is about a 55 where you should definitely reconsider applying this year even for the lower end schools. Nothing is for sure, but I kinda dig this little rule.

Go to www.mdapplicants.com and type in various scenarios for the beast you're about to challenge.

Aaaaand it's back to chemistry for me.

Caboose.