Medical Stereotypical question: Is a 3.4-3.6gpa good enough for medschool if I dont get a 518+ MCAT?

[Goro]

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I switched from CS to neuroscience. I have two years left (super super senior yes, two years I took part time/no classes). I have ~3.35gpa, with a trend from 2.8 (freshman year) to 3.8 (this year). My science gpa is a ~3.7 though.

As a 4th year student I have 1250+ nonclinical volunteer hours, ~50 clinical volunteer hours before the pandemic (doing more once pandemic ends). I have two doctors willing to let me shadow them when pandemic regulations allow me to. I have not done any research, but ofc, still have two years to try.
My essay is just about taking care about my mother who has a neuromuscular disorder since middle school and why that inspired me (stereotypical but thats most people isn't it?).

I havent taken the MCAT yet, but everyone is saying that my stats are mediocre/average, but my GPA pulls me slightly below average. So I need a 518+ MCAT to get in with my gpa of ~3.35 (going to 3.4-3.6). Ironically Im doing best in behavioral science, than biology.

So I was wondering, if I get below a 520, like a 510 or so, should I just take a postbacc, masters, or something?

Depends upon your state of residence and school list and the rest of your app.

3.4 is kinda circling the drain for MD.

A high MCAT doesn't remediate a low GPA, either.

 

[Goro]

Yeah but I was curious if I managed to continue to bring it up, get it up to a 3.5 or 3.6 gpa. Like I said, I have two more years in college.

I may have been in college for four years, but I was part time/unable to go to class for two. So I've only taken 2.5 years of classes really.

I see you dont advise on Postbaccs. But what do you think my odds would be if I managed to get my gpa up to 3.5x-3.6x?

How do you know that you can handle a medical school curriculum if you haven't been a true full time student?

 

[Goro]

Rising GPA trends are always good!

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Oh thats because I had all my main, private, issues taken care of. I was really happy when I realized they no longer stood in my way. Finically I dont have an issue.

Also I have been full time this last year and will be full time the next 1.5 years.

One of my main worries in my sophomore year was also making sure my mom got medical care & was safe. Which is why I took a semester off and took care of her until she got a helper.

And thanks! Yeah my goal is to keep this trend to the end.

No one said they don’t advice post bac. If you want Md and your ending GPA is 3.4 you should do a post bac. 3.4 would be ok for DO pending a decent MCAT score.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

I misread Goro's tag. Medical schools I can advise you on, but I do not advise on specific SMPs or post-bac programs.

Sorry Goro. And thank you for your advice so far.

I thought he meant he doesnt talk about postbac in general. Sorry I was on my phone.

Also my end GPA isnt 3.4. My most likely ending gpa would be a 3.5-low 3.6 gpa if I continue to do well next 1-1.5 years when I apply (depending what I do over summer, if school one year, if something else, 1.5 years).

Yeah. It will kinda depend on your MCAT and rest of app.

 

[GoSpursGo]

So it would only depend on my MCAT/app if I get a 3.5+? or would a 3.5 itself be unlikely?

Bottom line, there are no hard and fast cut-offs, where 3.51 you're good and 3.49 you're dead. It just depends on the entire package put together. If you have a ~3.5ish and a strong MCAT and a strong rest of your app, you stand a shot if you apply broadly and include DO schools.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Get the highest MCAT you can and then come back here and we can see where you stand.