Underdogs applying now.....

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errozion said:
a TRUE underdog here. undergrad gpa = 3.28 (all Bs and Cs in science classes) and just flaked out of the August 2005 MCAT, taking it in April of '06 now and hopefully have a descent shot for even an interview!

What kind of MCAT score would give me a good shot with my LOW GPA?
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Shoot for at least a 28 and at least a 9 in each section. I've personally known some people that have gotten in with a 28-29 and similar grades/GPA as you have. They're all now in MD programs. Interesting enough, they're mostly in out-of-state programs after not getting into state schools.
 
errozion said:
a TRUE underdog here. undergrad gpa = 3.28 (all Bs and Cs in science classes) and just flaked out of the August 2005 MCAT, taking it in April of '06 now and hopefully have a descent shot for even an interview!

What kind of MCAT score would give me a good shot with my LOW GPA?
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realistically, i would say above 30 for sure.
 
Erizion...I have similar stats as you do. I have a 3.2 in biology with Bs and Cs in my science classes as well. I have a 25 on the MCAT. I am currently enrolled in a masters program at the U of Louisville. Hopefully I can offset my 3.2 undergrad with a 4.0 graduate GPA. I have an interview with the admissions counselor tommorow and I hope she will clear up any confusion with the undergrad...graduate GPA deal.

I am going to take the April MCAT in 2006 too...I hope to get a 30+ I hope that this will give me better chances...to the poster above me...you said you knew people with a ~3.2ish GPA and 28-29 on their MCATs....do you know what out of state MD schools they got into? Thanks for the info..

Just for the record...true underdog here....3.2/25...stop whining you 3.5+/30+ guys/gals....haha...
 
mizzoudude said:
Erizion...I have similar stats as you do. I have a 3.2 in biology with Bs and Cs in my science classes as well. I have a 25 on the MCAT. I am currently enrolled in a masters program at the U of Louisville. Hopefully I can offset my 3.2 undergrad with a 4.0 graduate GPA. I have an interview with the admissions counselor tommorow and I hope she will clear up any confusion with the undergrad...graduate GPA deal.

I am going to take the April MCAT in 2006 too...I hope to get a 30+ I hope that this will give me better chances...to the poster above me...you said you knew people with a ~3.2ish GPA and 28-29 on their MCATs....do you know what out of state MD schools they got into? Thanks for the info..

Just for the record...true underdog here....3.2/25...stop whining you 3.5+/30+ guys/gals....haha...
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Sure - a couple got into Temple, one got into Penn State, and one got into Drexel.
 
QofQuimica said:
Well, if medical school acceptance is only dependent on MCAT scores, then no, I'm not an underdog. 😛 But it's not. Anyone thinking that having all perfect stats gives you some kind of open admission to medical school can talk to Wiggy about it. She has the best stats of any pre-med I've ever seen, and I've been teaching pre-meds for going on nine years now.

That being said, I'm not sure that I'd consider myself to be an "underdog" either. I'm kind of a bizarre applicant all around: yeah, I have the highest MCAT, but I also have the lowest GPA (zero), and from a school that many people have never heard of before. 😛 I definitely empathize with the people wondering whether they would get secondaries because their GPAs were too low to meet cutoffs. And since technically this is now my fourth time applying to medical school, I do think that I have some grounds to claim that I've faced an uphill battle. Granted, I didn't take my applications seriously enough as a high school or college student, but I am serious now, and the stakes are higher to me. I have more to lose at this point, because I care about going to medical school much more than I did as an adolescent.
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Hey QofQuimica--another non-trad with no gpa really here (except from my first degree, which includes no pre-reqs). How's it working out for you? I've gotten some weird responses. MCW won't even look at me w/o my institution converting my narrative evals to a gpa. Not sure yet if I'll have them do it or if I'll just find another school. It doesn't make us straight out underdogs, but definitely different.... Don't know what your MCAT was, but it sounds stellar. I thought mine was good, but this site tends to make me second guess that (33S). Did you have any evaluations or were your classes simply P/F? I'd love to hear from someone else in the same situation!
 
OK... I love coming to this site and everything but sometimes it drives me crazy; I forget just how young some of the applicants are in this forum. Getting into medical school is not only about numbers-- I've said it before and I'll say it again-- gpa's and mcat scores give you no indication of what kind of doctor you'll be. Medical schools know this, and that is how people at the top of their class with 40S's on their mcats do not get in. For all you "underdogs" out there, or people like me whose stats are smack dab in the average zone of matriculation, we really need to stop focusing in on the numbers cause they don't mean jack. The quantitative crap on our application is mostly stuff we can't change, so what we have to do is really show schools why we want to go into medicine and why we think we would make good physicians.
 
Dr.Giggles said:
I feel like an underdog. No one in my family knows anything about medicine or what it takes to be a doctor, not even me. I wish found SDN earlier, instead of 4 months ago.
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You are NOT an underdog.
 
my numbers are fine, but i feel like an underdog because i don't have cool ec's, am a non-trad and have a law degree that i'm worried will make me look like a total flake because i don't practice (hated it). so, there's my insecurities.

oh yeah, and i also apparently don't know how to use apostrophes.
 
exlawgrrl said:
my number's are fine, but i feel like an underdog because i don't have cool ec's, am a non-trad and have a law degree that i'm worried will make me look like a total flake because i don't practice (hated it). so, there's my insecurities.
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yeah, I have a 4.0 and haven't taken the MCAT yet. I'm more worried about the fact that I'm going to a community college and I only have ~100 hrs of volunteer work. I live in a dead end town with no EC opportunities (such as research, shadowing, etc).
 
QofQuimica said:
ditto. I have no undergrad GPA at all, except for a few classes not taken at my main institution. My state schools screen based on GPA, so I requested that the schools waive the minimum GPA requirement and/or accept my graduate GPA in lieu of the undergrad. Plus I'm non-trad.
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Haha, these schools are gonna be clamoring for you. Somebody's going to swallow their tongue somewhere along the line while they're glancing at an undergrad they've never even heard of and then they see your MCAT. :laugh: Since you've got a graduate GPA, I'm sure they'll look at that, your EC's, and the brain bulging out of your skull. 😛
 
SOUNDMAN said:
You are NOT an underdog.
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Agreed, but the mentality alone can make you one, it seems. Believe me, people, everyone going into this process is nervous. Whether it's willthatsall or dajimmers, people with excellent stats, or some of the people that posted in this thread, everyone will be anxious that their essay might really rub someone the wrong way or their interviewer will be having a bad day, and they won't get into med school. I have above-average stats, but that doesn't mean my heart isn't pumping when I get a letter in the mail or as I get ready to click "submit."
 
WAY UNDERDOG... The underdog of the underdog the oh my gosh I can't believe this person applied underdog....

sigh...

LOW MCAT, LOW GPA 🙁
 
yeh me too,the king of underdogs!!!
dont worry, hang in there, have faith in yourself and in God.
🙂
 
jbrice1639 said:
i'm in the low gpa/high mcat club as well. non-trad, post-bac. i still think my chances are good as long as i can get a few schools to interview me...i tend to do well in interviews, so if i can get the chance to talk to these adcoms face to face, i think i have a good chance of getting at least a couple acceptances...i think all of us underdogs do...it's got a lot to do with confidence too, so we just gotta keep the faith 😀
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Yep - It's all about getting those damn interviews! I'm fairly certain I can sell myself and stand out, but getting there seems a Sisyphean task.
 
it happened 2.5 years ago. it took me exactly 2.5 years to raise my gpa from 2.2. to 3.1. but will adcoms think about how long 2.5 years is and how much i've tried? probably not, because there are hundreds of thousands of applicants who never had that problem from whom to choose.

AND i'm chinese.

AND i'm fresh outta college -- for those of you who are non-traditional, or just older (25+), schools will consider you as more mature. why do you think they are always asking bs 2ndary questions about how you've undergone personal growth? at least you have that going for you. and if you've had other jobs or careers, they like that too. because they think you for sure know what you want, whereas younger kids have to prove themselves more.

AND my mcat is average... i was in need of a supercool score to "fix" my gpa. but alas... it did not happen.
 
QofQuimica said:
My entire undergraduate curriculum was pass/fail, with no grades, credit hours, or GPA.
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omg are you the one with the 43?
 
I'm prayin for some love from ANY school. On a happier note, I found out my last LORs were FINALLY sent this past week. Hopefully now I'll have some complete files and *cross fingers* interviews.
 
quick question - do schools give a flying f*ck if you did volunteer work at a hospital (500+ hours) if it was during high school? should it even be listed in AMCAS?
-mota
 
DaMota said:
quick question - do schools give a flying f*ck if you did volunteer work at a hospital (500+ hours) if it was during high school? should it even be listed in AMCAS?
-mota
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My understanding is that all of your activities are supposed to be post-secondary. But the consensus seems to be that if you've continued volunteering in a hospital while in college, you can mention your high school volunteering along with your college volunteering to show the length and depth of your commitment.
 
I think I'm an underdog--35R/3.8 but I have probably close to 20 W's from back in the day (3 are actually recent-had a bad semester a year or two ago) and I dropped out of high school too, which, it seems, some schools won't let me forget about.
 
LabMonster said:
Yep - It's all about getting those damn interviews! I'm fairly certain I can sell myself and stand out, but getting there seems a Sisyphean task.
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I'm with y'alls on this one. I'm a total underdog here...I got a 26S the first time and then a 30Q the second time. It's my GPA that blows GOATS. I'm hoping that my graduate degree, healthcare experiences, and research help me. I've been told time and again that once I reach the interview stage, I'm golden. (I guess there are some applicants who just aren't able to state why they really want to be physicians! Lame...) It's getting to that stage that I'm worried about. Reading about all the interviews being handed out by schools that I applied to is kinda discouraging but I'm gonna chalk it up as it being super early in the process. I'd love to stay in NY (or even go back to my home state of Cali...paha!) and I applied to SO MANY frickn schools. I hope I don't have to reapply..

Oh LabMonster, I got the secondary for Wake Forest as well. I was extremely surprised since I didn't get VCU, but it's my top choice now after researching it further. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for us underdogs. 👍
 
IM in the low GPA/ hopefully high MCAT will boost me up, but im thinking of applying with a 2.9 overall and a 2.8 BCPM, so i think that definately qualifies me to be an underdog. But im taking my chances with a couple of schools and hopefully get an invite or two.

Best of luck to all out there
 
underdog here . . . I've been on my own since age 17, which creates alll sorts of stress to distract you, and successfully distracted me thru my freshman year, I have a 3.34 GPA (serious upward trend, lots of C's in pre-med req classes) and a 3.12 SciGPA. I also did no club/leadership/volunteer during undergrad because of the whole running a household having a relationship with my husband thing that I was doing simultaneously. Also was hit by a car while on my bicycle resulting in a post concussive syndrom and a bunch of medical withdrawals and a dip in the GPA spring of junior year. However, I have bunches of research, a 32Q that I'm extremely proud of, and great experience in my year off (clinical research coordinator and volunteering at a childrens hospital playin with tha kiddies). All that said, I have my first interview already and am extremely confident that even an underdog like me can do this, . ..If nothing else I think I've proven my committment and determination. So have hope fellow underdogs!
 
Gij said:
I have seen plenty of people with good MCAT but not-so-good GPA, but not many people with a somewhat decent GPA, but a bad MCAT score. I graduated with 3.75 from Bioengineering, but a 7,10,12,Q (vrb,phy,Bio). Anybody else in a similar situation?
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I have a 3.91o/3.84s. I am taking the MCAT this Sat. So far, my pratice test scores aren't breaking 22. I am only hoping for 25+ on the MCAT.
 
Sondra said:
I have a 3.91o/3.84s. I am taking the MCAT this Sat. So far, my pratice test scores aren't breaking 22. I am only hoping for 25+ on the MCAT.
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How did you prepare for it this time?

I think really good preparation makes all the difference. I mean you've shown you can handle a certain level of conceptual material with your GPA. Something about the test is just holding you below your potential.
 
MoosePilot said:
How did you prepare for it this time?

I think really good preparation makes all the difference. I mean you've shown you can handle a certain level of conceptual material with your GPA. Something about the test is just holding you below your potential.
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I honestly can't tell you what is wrong. I know the content fairly well. I am a biology major with enough classes to have a chem minor. What I can tell you is that I have a handicap when it comes to certain things like test taking. I also have never been able to work a crossword puzzle or do mazes. I have aced all of my classes where the test are essay based, but I struggle when the answers are multiple choice or T/F.

I signed up to take the MCAT last August, but I backed out becuase I didn't feel ready. I stopped studying for the test last August, and I didn't start studying again until two weeks ago. I am working on test taking strategy, not content. I have already seen my verbal score go up based on the exams in the 101 Passages examkracker book (4,6,6,9,11). I don't really know what else to do. I am brushing up on my physics and chemistry using examkrackers. My biology score is pretty descent with a solid 9. Sorry this is so long, but I was hoping that maybe you could feel my frustration.
 
psipsina said:
underdog here . . . I've been on my own since age 17, which creates alll sorts of stress to distract you, and successfully distracted me thru my freshman year, I have a 3.34 GPA (serious upward trend, lots of C's in pre-med req classes) and a 3.12 SciGPA. I also did no club/leadership/volunteer during undergrad because of the whole running a household having a relationship with my husband thing that I was doing simultaneously. Also was hit by a car while on my bicycle resulting in a post concussive syndrom and a bunch of medical withdrawals and a dip in the GPA spring of junior year. However, I have bunches of research, a 32Q that I'm extremely proud of, and great experience in my year off (clinical research coordinator and volunteering at a childrens hospital playin with tha kiddies). All that said, I have my first interview already and am extremely confident that even an underdog like me can do this, . ..If nothing else I think I've proven my committment and determination. So have hope fellow underdogs!
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i really hope i have a tulane interview invite waiting for me in my mailbox when i get home!!!
 
Sondra said:
I honestly can't tell you what is wrong. I know the content fairly well. I am a biology major with enough classes to have a chem minor. What I can tell you is that I have a handicap when it comes to certain things like test taking. I also have never been able to work a crossword puzzle or do mazes. I have aced all of my classes where the test are essay based, but I struggle when the answers are multiple choice or T/F.

I signed up to take the MCAT last August, but I backed out becuase I didn't feel ready. I stopped studying for the test last August, and I didn't start studying again until two weeks ago. I am working on test taking strategy, not content. I have already seen my verbal score go up based on the exams in the 101 Passages examkracker book (4,6,6,9,11). I don't really know what else to do. I am brushing up on my physics and chemistry using examkrackers. My biology score is pretty descent with a solid 9. Sorry this is so long, but I was hoping that maybe you could feel my frustration.
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I can feel your frustration, but I hope you also recognize that you've done some of this to yourself with your study strategy. It's easy to draw back from something that scares you. You might have other reasons to have put off your studying, too.

I'd focus on the MCAT, like you're doing. If you don't do what you want this time, then retake.
 
My MCAT score is just above 30.......... but I got an L 😱 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on the essay....will that kill me?
Also, my extracurriculars are not great, I have no clinical experience and im just volunteering now in a hospital.....

any opinions?
 
shuey123 said:
My MCAT score is just above 30.......... but I got an L 😱 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on the essay....will that kill me?
Also, my extracurriculars are not great, I have no clinical experience and im just volunteering now in a hospital.....

any opinions?
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An L isn't great, but I don't think many schools give a darn about the essay section. Be sure to spend some effort doing great essays for your PS and your secondaries. Be sure to have someone sharp edit them. I think it won't even matter.
 
Another Underdog!

3.2 overall, 3.0 S (BOOOO)

but MCATs are alright...35? Is that alright?

oof. I think i've already *received* my first rejection, but still hopefull 😡
 
CuddlyKumquat said:
Another Underdog!

3.2 overall, 3.0 S (BOOOO)

but MCATs are alright...35? Is that alright?

oof. I think i've already *received* my first rejection, but still hopefull 😡
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Silly. A 35 is outstanding. I think you'll be ok with that GPA and MCAT combination if you applied to a good range of schools. That might be biased by the fact that those are fairly close, although your science is slightly better in a very important range.
 
pistachio said:
2.8 science, 2.97 overall, 39 MCAT. sigh...no man's land.
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Yep! That's one of the toughest situations because you're in a freaking weird statistical world where part of your app is sure to doom you to rejection and part almost guarantees your acceptance. How freaking tough is it to guess your chances when you're in that situation? How do you pick the schools to apply to (other than applying to a bunch from across the range)?

I feel for ya.
 
pistachio said:
2.8 science, 2.97 overall, 39 MCAT. sigh...no man's land.
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39 - Nice! If it makes you feel better, I remember reading that the MCAT is a better predictor of success in medical school than grades are.

I'll bet if you were to do a one-year master's program and get a great GPA (3.7 or higher), you'd probably be looking at a couple acceptances as long as your LORs are ECs are good.
 
pistachio said:
2.8 science, 2.97 overall, 39 MCAT. sigh...no man's land.
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Almost exactly my situation too
I have a 3.98 in post bacc, but that only brings my overall to 2.8 ouch.
 
murphomatic and pistachio, just a little FYI:

This past cycle, I can think of at least 3 SDNers who had sub-3.0 GPAs (ranging from 2.6 to just shy of 3.0), but had excellent upward trends (one aced his undergrad postbac work, one aced a special masters program, and the other one showed strong improvement in his junior and senior years), scored high on the MCAT (39-40), and were accepted to US allo schools this year.

Maybe you guys can continue the inspiring comeback stories! 😀
 
silas2642 said:
OK... I love coming to this site and everything but sometimes it drives me crazy; I forget just how young some of the applicants are in this forum. Getting into medical school is not only about numbers-- I've said it before and I'll say it again-- gpa's and mcat scores give you no indication of what kind of doctor you'll be. Medical schools know this, and that is how people at the top of their class with 40S's on their mcats do not get in. For all you "underdogs" out there, or people like me whose stats are smack dab in the average zone of matriculation, we really need to stop focusing in on the numbers cause they don't mean jack. The quantitative crap on our application is mostly stuff we can't change, so what we have to do is really show schools why we want to go into medicine and why we think we would make good physicians.
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Which is why I still applied this year.
 
pistachio said:
2.8 science, 2.97 overall, 39 MCAT. sigh...no man's land.
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My advisor said, "Look, the Adcoms will look at you application and say 'Hey he/she didn't get smart overnight - so where is the discrepancy.'"

I got a 33 - your 39 shows great discrepancy between future ability and past performance.
 
The discrepancy is that he is capable of high performance for a short time. So the potential is there but he is unable to put forth the effort for a period of years to earn his GPA's.

It makes the adcoms nervous because medical school is not a sprint but a huge long marathon.

fiddler
 
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