So here are my stats:
Emory University
AO: 3.55
BCPM: 2.4 (ouch)
Overall: 3.02
graduated May '06
Bio/Poli-Sci double major, BS degree
EC:
-my dorm's Res Hall Assoc treasurer, several student groups w/leadership positions, pre-health club, HSTAT, etc.
-shadowed several doctors
-hope to work in med research at Emory this fall
-some hospital volunteering
-other volunteering in community
MCAT: Taking it in August, crossing fingers and expecting mid-30s+ (if current practice progress holds up)
LOR: I have pretty good referrals, so I'm not worried about that.
Other: Studied abroad for a semester, joint-enrolled at a college while in high school. Academically, I did extremely well in both (4.0/3.8, respectively). I have pretty good writing skills as well.
Med schools: Considering my GPAs, it goes without saying that I'll be applying to the lower tier allopathic schools, caribbean schools, and even DO schools. At this point, I'll go to whatever accredited school that accepts me.
There are a few other things to keep in mind. I grew up in a rural part of the South, an area that would qualify as "underserved" in the healthcare perspective on the AMCAS application. My science GPA started off bad, slowly got better, crashed again my senior fall semester due to stress from a family medical situation, then relatively came around for my last semester. As a double major, study time was scarce and there wasn't any room to take more manageable science courses to boost my BCPM GPA. I was more concerned with graduating on time instead of shelling out for another expensive year at Emory.
Also, how important is the difficulty of the undergrad school and the courses taken when it is compared to one's GPAs? Emory claims it puts more students in medical school than any other college, so I guess that a good sign for its hellacious pre-med program. And I've taken a ridiculous amount of credit hours (158 total) to satisfy both majors and graduate in four years, including a 22-hour fall semester as a senior.
I would consider a post-bacc program or a masters, but I'd rather do other things that don't cost a lot of money, like tons of research and volunteer work, before I would commit to more debt ahead of med school. How would that pan out?
I realize this is a lot of info to take in and analyze, but all help towards a stressed out pre-med is greatly appreciated!