To apply or not to apply (this June), that is the question!

[Epimetheus]

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[bucks2010]

Based on AAMC stats alone with a 3.2 and 27-29, your chance of acceptance is 26%. A 30-32 MCAT will give an acceptance rate of 39%. A 33-35, 51%.

So your MCAT obviously has a lot to do with your chances in the admissions process.

Doing the same with the GPA: 3.2-4/27-29: 26%, 3.4-6/27-29: 36%, 3.4-6/30-32: 56%

I think your MD chances hinge a lot on your GPA and MCAT score. If you really want a good shot at MD schools, you should figure out if it would be feasible to boost your GPA into the 3.4+ range. If not, you might consider going the DO route because of their grade replacement policy - quick way to get your GPA higher.

How many hours of clinical volunteering (not shadowing) do you have?

 

[Catalystik]

It's been my observation that adcomms will want to see consistent, excellent acadmic achievement for 1.5 to 2 years before they will have confidence in you, whereas yours will be of a year's duration. Your surest path to MD will be through an SMP, provided your grades continue to be excellent. There is a very good one in your state. It's also possible that you'd achieve the same consideration with another year of informal postbac coursework consisting of a lot off upper-level Bio and Biochem, along with a very-strong MCAT score.

For a more personal opinion on your situation, you might consider making a phone appointment with a med school dean of a few of your less-selective state schools and running your story by them for expert input. You might also check into the minimum MCAT score accepted by your in-state SMP.

Of course you'll list your intercollegiate athletics. The teamwork, dedication, sacrifice, and hard work this requires is a benefit to your application. The Bioethics Society involvement is another plus. You have a lot of good ECs, though it would help if you included the timeframe of involvement for all of them.

 

[Epimetheus]

Thanks for the reply. I do about 4-5 hours of clinical volunteering at week. I have been doing this since last May. I am also hoping that my MCAT retake went well, but scores will not be reported until early March. If my MCAT score is not where it needs to be in order to give myself a decent chance, then would you say try and take again in May?

Based on AAMC stats alone with a 3.2 and 27-29, your chance of acceptance is 26%. A 30-32 MCAT will give an acceptance rate of 39%. A 33-35, 51%.

So your MCAT obviously has a lot to do with your chances in the admissions process.

Doing the same with the GPA: 3.2-4/27-29: 26%, 3.4-6/27-29: 36%, 3.4-6/30-32: 56%

I think your MD chances hinge a lot on your GPA and MCAT score. If you really want a good shot at MD schools, you should figure out if it would be feasible to boost your GPA into the 3.4+ range. If not, you might consider going the DO route because of their grade replacement policy - quick way to get your GPA higher.

How many hours of clinical volunteering (not shadowing) do you have?

 

[Epimetheus]

Thanks Catalystik for your response. I will continue taking classes into the summer and autumn quarters of this upcoming year, so I was thinking if I apply with a 3.2, I could at least update my primary and secondaries in late summer as well, and maybe have adcomms see consistent improvement. Thoughts?

What SMP program is in OH that you are referring to? I heard Toledo has a decent SMP, but I haven't found any at other schools in OH.

As far as a time frame for my EC's, I do about 4-5 hours clinical volunteering a week (for about a year), with 3 hours of regular volunteering (about 2-3 years), and about 10 hours of research a week (little over a year). Most of my other EC's (fraternity life, intramurals, etc...) are about 1-2 hours a week.

Hypothetical example: my MCAT score I get back in March is once again in the 27-29 range...do I try and retake in May, because I know for people on the bubble like me, an early application gives us the best chance, or do I try and take again later in the summer?

Also, I forgot to mention LOR's. I should have strong LOR's from two science faculty as well as a strong LOR from my research advisor and physician I have shadowed. Still working on a non-science LOR though.

Thanks again. Your time is greatly appreciated.

It's been my observation that adcomms will want to see consistent, excellent acadmic achievement for 1.5 to 2 years before they will have confidence in you, whereas yours will be of a year's duration. Your surest path to MD will be through an SMP, provided your grades continue to be excellent. There is a very good one in your state. It's also possible that you'd achieve the same consideration with another year of informal postbac coursework consisting of a lot off upper-level Bio and Biochem, along with a very-strong MCAT score.

For a more personal opinion on your situation, you might consider making a phone appointment with a med school dean of a few of your less-selective state schools and running your story by them for expert input. You might also check into the minimum MCAT score accepted by your in-state SMP.

Of course you'll list your intercollegiate athletics. The teamwork, dedication, sacrifice, and hard work this requires is a benefit to your application. The Bioethics Society involvement is another plus. You have a lot of good ECs, though it would help if you included the timeframe of involvement for all of them.

 

[high5]

cincinnati SMP is really good I heard. If you do well, I think most of the students get into their medical school.

 

[Catalystik]

Cincinnati: MS in Physiology
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Hosted by: Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology
Year started: 2006
Med school integration: 3 medical school courses, graded against the med school curve
Program duration: 4 quarters
Program starts: early August
Program ends: 3rd wk of July
Thesis requirement: Literature research review paper
Tuition: 27000 IS, 27400 OOS '09
Min GPA: 3.0
Min MCAT: 27
Class size: 22
App cost: $100.00
App opens: Dec 1
App closes: Jun 1
MCAT prep: no
Promises: Establishes Ohio residency. More than 50% accepted somewhere during SMP year. Class of '07 is at 86%. Strong support for med school apps during SMP year.

Toledo: Masters Degree in Medical Sciences
Location: Toledo, OH
Hosted by: College of Graduate Studies
Year started: <= 2006
Med school integration: 4 medical school courses, graded against the med school curve
Program duration: 3 semesters
Program starts: late August
Program ends: early May
Thesis requirement: Journal paper review
Tuition: 16500 IS, 39450 OOS '07
Min GPA: 3.0
Min MCAT: 24
Class size: 35
App cost: $45.00
App opens: Mar 1
App closes: May 1
MCAT prep: no
Promises: Enrollment guarantees Toledo interview. Historically 65% get in somewhere.

 

[Catalystik]

1) I was thinking if I apply with a 3.2, I could at least update my primary and secondaries in late summer as well, and maybe have adcomms see consistent improvement. Thoughts?

2) As far as a time frame for my EC's, I do about 4-5 hours clinical volunteering a week (for about a year), with 3 hours of regular volunteering (about 2-3 years), and about 10 hours of research a week (little over a year). Most of my other EC's (fraternity life, intramurals, etc...) are about 1-2 hours a week.

3) Hypothetical example: my MCAT score I get back in March is once again in the 27-29 range...do I try and retake in May, because I know for people on the bubble like me, an early application gives us the best chance, or do I try and take again later in the summer?

1) Such grade updates are helpful if adcomms on on the cusp about your application. They will not help if you don't meet minimum cutoffs with your application GPAs.

2) The research and "regular" volunteering sound good. Keep in mind that 1.5 years of clinical experience is the average listed on an application.

3) You try to take it again when you are consistently scoring in your target zone on repeated practice tests. If a low score is a fluke, you can retake immediately. If you just didn't "get it" then a 2-3 month classroom prep course might be in order.