Unsure where I stand, need advice

[OnASkitsMission]

Hi I’m unsure what to do. I graduated a week ago from my state school and don’t know whether to apply this cycle or wait another year. Info about me:

-ORM Asian (Pakistani)
-State of residence: Maryland
-Undergrad: Large state school
-3.24 cgpa/3.13 sgpa
Last 2 semesters were 27 credits all science at 3.78 ->
3.91 in 14 credits then 3.63 in 13 credits, all A’s and one B-. I did have a W in my final semester due to being overextended with commuting and volunteering.
-MCAT not taken yet, scheduled for June 28. Practice tests coming in around low 500’s right now. Was aiming for 517+ but is looking unrealistic in the time frame.
-Clinical: 250 hours volunteering in the Pediatric ED and Trauma Units of my big University hospital
-Nonclinical: 100 hours in habitat for humanity Restore
-Shadowing: 60 hours across three specialties (8 in sleep medicine, 22 in internal medicine/primary care, 30 in neurology)
-Research: 3 semesters of microbiology research culminating in two posters presented at undergraduate conferences

I understand my GPA slays me and not having taken the MCAT yet makes the discussion difficult, but I would just like to know where I stand. Should I push through with trying to score high and apply this cycle or wait a year to buff my score and app some more? Also would appreciate any input on if my upward trend is enough or any more advice. I just feel a little lost at the moment. Thanks!

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[OnASkitsMission]

Sorry for the tag but @Goro @Faha @LizzyM @Moko I would really appreciate the advice.

 

[LizzyM]

Stop. Your GPA is sub-optimal and you are headed toward a suboptimal MCAT score that will follow you like gum stuck to the bottom of your shoe.

Take at least a year. If you can spare the time, devote at least 300 hours to MCAT prep including content review, practice questions and full-length practice tests. If this take a year, so be it. Do not take the MCAT until you are absolutely ready.

While your recent GPA is good, I'm guessing that the pre-reqs were taken earlier and those grades are in the B- to B+ range. That is not great but not a deal breaker. You need to make up for it with a great MCAT and more community service to the poor (non-clinical) and perhaps get yourself a clinical job. Figure out where you stand a year from now but I'm saying in no uncertain terms that you are not ready for prime time right now.

 

[Goro]

Hi I’m unsure what to do. I graduated a week ago from my state school and don’t know whether to apply this cycle or wait another year. Info about me:

-ORM Asian (Pakistani)
-State of residence: Maryland
-Undergrad: Large state school
-3.24 cgpa/3.13 sgpa
Last 2 semesters were 27 credits all science at 3.78 ->
3.91 in 14 credits then 3.63 in 13 credits, all A’s and one B-. I did have a W in my final semester due to being overextended with commuting and volunteering.
-MCAT not taken yet, scheduled for June 28. Practice tests coming in around low 500’s right now. Was aiming for 517+ but is looking unrealistic in the time frame.
-Clinical: 250 hours volunteering in the Pediatric ED and Trauma Units of my big University hospital
-Nonclinical: 100 hours in habitat for humanity Restore
-Shadowing: 60 hours across three specialties (8 in sleep medicine, 22 in internal medicine/primary care, 30 in neurology)
-Research: 3 semesters of microbiology research culminating in two posters presented at undergraduate conferences

I understand my GPA slays me and not having taken the MCAT yet makes the discussion difficult, but I would just like to know where I stand. Should I push through with trying to score high and apply this cycle or wait a year to buff my score and app some more? Also would appreciate any input on if my upward trend is enough or any more advice. I just feel a little lost at the moment. Thanks!

As of right now, DOA for MD, and weak but still alive for DO.

Follow my learned colleague's advice to the letter.

If you're gunning for MD, consider a DIY postbac, or an SMP. Read my post on reinvention for premeds.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Did you ever meet with your prehealth advisors before you graduated? If so, what did they suggest? Who would write your letters?

 

[OnASkitsMission]

Stop. Your GPA is sub-optimal and you are headed toward a suboptimal MCAT score that will follow you like gum stuck to the bottom of your shoe.

Take at least a year. If you can spare the time, devote at least 300 hours to MCAT prep including content review, practice questions and full-length practice tests. If this take a year, so be it. Do not take the MCAT until you are absolutely ready.

While your recent GPA is good, I'm guessing that the pre-reqs were taken earlier and those grades are in the B- to B+ range. That is not great but not a deal breaker. You need to make up for it with a great MCAT and more community service to the poor (non-clinical) and perhaps get yourself a clinical job. Figure out where you stand a year from now but I'm saying in no uncertain terms that you are not ready for prime time right now.

Thank you for affirming what I was feeling, just cancelled my MCAT. I will take a year of full time study to try to get it to 520+ or as high as I can.

Regarding my GPA, for more context I took 6 years to graduate college including a gap semester and an extra semester after all grad reqs were complete to boost my GPA a bit more (this past semester). My cGPA/sGPA through the semesters are as follows:

-Fall ‘19: 3.93/3.85
-Spring ‘20: 4.0/4.0 (5 credits taken non P/F, rest were P including orgo I lab and lecture)
-Fall ‘20: 3.389/3.257
-Spring ‘21: 2.0/2.0 (3 credits taken, C in orgo I retake)
-Fall ‘21: GAP
-Spring ‘22: 1.564/1.09 (My worst semester, F in orgo II and D+ in Physics II, my first semester commuting and dealing with health issues)
-Fall ‘22: 3.323/3.21
-Spring ‘23: 3.3/3.109
-Summer ‘23: 4.0/4.0 (3 credits taken, research class)
-Fall ‘23: 3.288/2.9 (C+ in gen chem 2)
-Spring ‘24: 2.8/2.8 (C in discrete math, car stolen 2 weeks before finals)
-Fall ‘24: 3.914/3.914 (All A’s, one A- in Physics II)
-Spring ‘25: 3.63/3.63 (All A’s, one B- and a W due to being overextended)

All in all, had a very rough time in college. Last 27 credits are all science at 3.78 like I mentioned. You did mention to make up for the GPA with a great MCAT, my question is will this upward trend be enough to pair with it? I was looking at the matriculant grid and saw someone with a 3.2-3.39 and 517+ has a 56.5% chance of acceptance, same as a 3.60-3.79 and 510-513. Am I interpreting it correctly or missing context? I will take the year to score high (517+) and take your advice on non clinical and clinical experiences, where would I stand then?

 

[OnASkitsMission]

As of right now, DOA for MD, and weak but still alive for DO.

Follow my learned colleague's advice to the letter.

If you're gunning for MD, consider a DIY postbac, or an SMP. Read my post on reinvention for premeds.

I actually did read your guide years ago when I was in the dumps Goro, I used it as my light at the end of the tunnel. I read a few other post/replies on here and decided to take 27 science credits in my last academic year vs the only 8 I needed to graduate to prove an upward trend. Will 27 credits of science at 3.78 be enough when paired with a 517+ MCAT for reinvention?

These were some of your replies I looked to, while it wasn’t 27 credits of a postbac it was 27 credits at the end of my college career:

Post in: 'How many credits of a Post-bacc should I pursue?'
How many credits of a Post-bacc should I pursue?

And

Post in: 'DIY Post Bacc- How many hours should I consider taking?'
DIY Post Bacc- How many hours should I consider taking?

 

[OnASkitsMission]

Did you ever meet with your prehealth advisors before you graduated? If so, what did they suggest? Who would write your letters?

Yes I did, they expressed concern over my GPA and advised me to push my MCAT back to potentially score higher. I already have three academic letters (2 science and 1 non science) in my Interfolio which I believe are strong in courses I did well in.

My prehealth committee doesn’t write letters anymore, they just write a note that I participated in the advising process (2 meetings and a mock interview) if I do.

 

[Goro]

I actually did read your guide years ago when I was in the dumps Goro, I used it as my light at the end of the tunnel. I read a few other post/replies on here and decided to take 27 science credits in my last academic year vs the only 8 I needed to graduate to prove an upward trend. Will 27 credits of science at 3.78 be enough when paired with a 517+ MCAT for reinvention?

These were some of your replies I looked to, while it wasn’t 27 credits of a postbac it was 27 credits at the end of my college career:

Post in: 'How many credits of a Post-bacc should I pursue?'
How many credits of a Post-bacc should I pursue?

And

Post in: 'DIY Post Bacc- How many hours should I consider taking?'
DIY Post Bacc- How many hours should I consider taking?

It might be worth a shot with a great MCAT but also a lot more nonclinical volunteering

 

[LizzyM]

It is easiest for me to read GPA by academic year rather than by semester as this is how we consume it when we see an application.

 

[OnASkitsMission]

It is easiest for me to read GPA by academic year rather than by semester as this is how we consume it when we see an application.

How is GPA presented by academic year? Is it one academic year is fall through spring? Or one academic year is 30 credits?

 

[LizzyM]

How is GPA presented by academic year? Is it one academic year is fall through spring? Or one academic year is 30 credits?

It is fall through spring if you are a traditional student. If you were a part-time student or frequently started and stopped and missed terms, then it is per 30 credit hours or whatever is close to that...

Anything after junior year is called senior year even if it is 65 credits. So roughly 30, 30, 30 and then whatever else until graduation. Anything after college graduation is shown as a post-bac GPA. HS GPA is shown on a separate line.

 

[OnASkitsMission]

It is fall through spring if you are a traditional student. If you were a part-time student or frequently started and stopped and missed terms, then it is per 30 credit hours or whatever is close to that...

Anything after junior year is called senior year even if it is 65 credits. So roughly 30, 30, 30 and then whatever else until graduation. Anything after college graduation is shown as a post-bac GPA. HS GPA is shown on a separate line.

Hmm that complicates things then, that would lump in Spring ‘24 into my senior year making it 41 credits.

This was the semester I did poorly in due to my car being stolen roughly two weeks before finals, which would bring down my senior year from the 3.78 I was anticipating (Fall ‘24 through Spring ‘25) to a 3.44 reported senior year on AMCAS.

Is there anyplace I could explain this when applying?

 

[LizzyM]

Just eye-balling it, this is how I would think it divides up.

Freshman
-Fall ‘19: 3.93/3.85
-Spring ‘20: 4.0/4.0 (5 credits taken non P/F, rest were P including orgo I lab and lecture)

Sophomore
-Fall ‘20: 3.389/3.257
-Spring ‘21: 2.0/2.0 (3 credits taken, C in orgo I retake)
-Fall ‘21: GAP
-Spring ‘22: 1.564/1.09 (My worst semester, F in orgo II and D+ in Physics II, my first semester commuting and dealing with health issues)


Junior
-Fall ‘22: 3.323/3.21
-Spring ‘23: 3.3/3.109
-Summer ‘23: 4.0/4.0 (3 credits taken, research class)

Senior
-Fall ‘23: 3.288/2.9 (C+ in gen chem 2)
-Spring ‘24: 2.8/2.8 (C in discrete math, car stolen 2 weeks before finals)
-Fall ‘24: 3.914/3.914 (All A’s, one A- in Physics II)
-Spring ‘25: 3.63/3.63 (All A’s, one B- and a W due to being overextended)

I figure that you hit ~90 by summer '23 and therefore everything after that is senior year. Some schools have a secondary question about dealing with a difficulty and you can certainly explain your situation while tailoring it to the prompt (one size does not fit all -- you might be asked for coping strategies, or ability to bounce back from difficulties, or sources of support in difficult times).

 

[OnASkitsMission]

Just eye-balling it, this is how I would think it divides up.

Freshman
-Fall ‘19: 3.93/3.85
-Spring ‘20: 4.0/4.0 (5 credits taken non P/F, rest were P including orgo I lab and lecture)

Sophomore
-Fall ‘20: 3.389/3.257
-Spring ‘21: 2.0/2.0 (3 credits taken, C in orgo I retake)
-Fall ‘21: GAP
-Spring ‘22: 1.564/1.09 (My worst semester, F in orgo II and D+ in Physics II, my first semester commuting and dealing with health issues)


Junior
-Fall ‘22: 3.323/3.21
-Spring ‘23: 3.3/3.109
-Summer ‘23: 4.0/4.0 (3 credits taken, research class)

Senior
-Fall ‘23: 3.288/2.9 (C+ in gen chem 2)
-Spring ‘24: 2.8/2.8 (C in discrete math, car stolen 2 weeks before finals)
-Fall ‘24: 3.914/3.914 (All A’s, one A- in Physics II)
-Spring ‘25: 3.63/3.63 (All A’s, one B- and a W due to being overextended)

I figure that you hit ~90 by summer '23 and therefore everything after that is senior year. Some schools have a secondary question about dealing with a difficulty and you can certainly explain your situation while tailoring it to the prompt (one size does not fit all -- you might be asked for coping strategies, or ability to bounce back from difficulties, or sources of support in difficult times).

Thanks Lizzy. I went through and counted it up. If I disregard W’s and P’s from the 30 credit blocks and only count letters grades (A-F) then my GPA’s by year are:

Freshman: 3.75 (28 credits)
Sophomore: 2.37 (30 credits)
Junior: 3.36 (34 credits)
Senior: 3.44 (41 credits)

That senior GPA is including my Fall ‘24 through Spring ‘25 semesters which is the 27 credit 3.78 upward trend. I appreciate the advice about the prompt response. Would these GPA’s and the upward trend paired with a strong MCAT (517+) be enough?

I also found a small farm near my house which I can volunteer at to help grow food for those in need/experiencing food insecurity. I feel passionate about it, would this be good nonclinical volunteering? I’m wondering because I won’t necessarily have as much direct contact with underprivileged individuals while working on the farm.

 

[LizzyM]

Working on a farm raising produce for the hungry is laudable (my husband's uncle did that in his retirement years) but it doesn't help you to get to know people who aren't always at their best. Getting comfortable with people who are uncomfortable to be around is a key skill and one that can be honed through non-clinical volunteering.