Wait to apply?

[badger1]

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Hello,

I have just finished my sophomore year and it went alot better than freshman. Overall i screwed up my first year, i got a 2.5 first semester and a 2.7 second and i considered giving up on premed after that. However this year went alot better, i got a 3.5 first semester and a 3.65 second and my overall is a 3.1.

i am currently working in a lab 10 hours a week aswell as volunteering in an emergency room and by the time i apply i should have voluneered over 150 hours.

First off i am in a very competitve biochemistry degree, number 7 in the country, so i didnt know if that would be factored in. I also hopefully can keep these grades up so by next year it should be a 3.3/3.4 and by then end of my senior year alot better.

I had two questions, first off what else should i do for extra curriculars? Also should i wait until the end of my senior year to apply, assuming i bring my GPA up or would a 3.3/3.4 and a good mcat get me in somewhere? I dont plan on applying to the top schools, really any med school would do.

Thanks

 

[JJMrK]

You should be able to get a 3.5 by killing your last two years. Go for it.

 

[Mobius1985]

First off i am in a very competitve biochemistry degree, number 7 in the country, so i didnt know if that would be factored in.

I had two questions, first off what else should i do for extra curriculars? Also should i wait until the end of my senior year to apply, assuming i bring my GPA up or would a 3.3/3.4 and a good mcat get me in somewhere?
Thanks

The competitiveness of your program won't help you; a high GPA is the most important factor in your competitiveness (along with MCAT score).

You'll also need a leadership experience and some physician shadowing. Other random community service that is not medically related would be nice to see, also. Your research and clinical volunteering look to be fine.

A GPA of 3.45 is competitive for DO schools. Closer to 3.6 is competitive for MD schools. Don't apply after your junior year if you want an MD program. Some need a fifth year, too, to repair their GPA. Right now, with straight As for two years, you could hit a 3.5, so if you apply with that you'd need a higher MCAT score, like a 32+. Try to get closer to straight As, even if it means a lighter class load and fewer extracurriculars.