WAMC: 3.49/3.32/511 Practice MCAT

[Doc_Asdfghj5]

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I’ve been lurking around here but first time poster so apologies if it’s a big wall of text.

cGPA and sGPA as calculated by AMCAS or AACOMAS
cGPA: 3.49/sGPA: 3.32
College Courses taken at my HS: 2.90 GPA

Taken through a local college, poor management/support.​

Freshman: 3.44 GPA
Sophomore: 3.49 GPA
Junior: 3.28 GPA

Had a bad semester; poor time management/coping skills – thought I could handle it but took on too much in addition to trying to MCAT study, decided was too much and delayed MCAT until now.​

Senior: 4.00 GPA (+1 semester left)

If my last remaining semester goes well, I’d be on track to graduate with a cGPA 3.50 and a sGPA 3.38.​

MCAT score(s) and breakdown
Haven’t taken - AAMC Practice: 511 MCAT: 126/130/128/127 (NS FL, from 503-507)

State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US)
Ohio

Ethnicity and/or race
Asian

Undergraduate institution or category
Public university in Ohio w/attached medical school

Clinical volunteer experience:
1 Year intern @ hospice agency (3 hours/week)
3 Year hospice volunteer (2 hours/week)
1 Year EMS @ rural fire department (6 hours/week)

Non-clinical volunteering:
1.5 Year hospital reception volunteer (5 Hours/Week)
1 Year intern @ underprivileged suburban school district (12-16 hours/week)
Leadership camp staff member (1-2 month/3 summers, also not accounted for – time spent doing this in HS)

Employment
2 Year EMS @ Private Ambulance Company (8 hours/week|40-56 hours/week Summer)
Event Supervisor (1 month/3 summers)

Research experience and productivity
1 Year, Clinical Research, no papers nor posters (9 hours/week)

Shadowing experience and specialties represented
4 Hours Hospice/Palliative Care MD

4 Hours Hospice/Palliative Care RN​

4 Hours Pediatric Family Medicine MD
4 Hours Neurology MD
5 Hours Emergency Medicine MD

Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc)
2 Year Student Government (2 Year Officer – Founder)
4 Year Campus Tour Guide
3 Year Academic Program Ambassador
2 Year Service Organization (2 Year Officer – Founder)
1 Year Public Health Advocacy Organization
2 Year Near-Peer Mentorship Program
1 Year Collegiate Band

Relevant honors or awards
Dean’s List at various times
National Leadership/Service Honorary
Academic Scholarship

Anything else not listed you think might be important
Took several college courses offered at my high school, didn’t do well in them and didn’t think too much at the time of how much it would affect my GPA going into college unfortunately. Freshman year was a challenge, received my first and only C during my first semester; took me time to really adjust for the rest of my Freshman and into Sophomore year. All my Junior and Senior year courses consisted of upper-level sciences offered at my university; which for me were graduate-level courses offered at the medical school to undergraduates.

I have not yet taken my MCAT, I’ve had multiple attempts in trying to study for it, once during my Junior year; where I decided I wouldn’t be ready and currently again my Senior year. Have taken several third-party full-lengths and a single AAMC full-length, receiving a 511 (126/130/128/127) after several months of sporadic studying. Still planning on several AAMC full-lengths with review and a January 2019 test date. Using the Practice MCAT score of 511, I’m worried that it is not competitive enough especially when considering my wider portfolio. And regardless, I do have a lower cGPA and sGPA.

Again, I’m not yet in the application cycle but I am planning on applying MD, to all state schools in Ohio at the very minimum with a burning desire to be accepted to my current institution’s medical school.

Obviously already planning on taking a single gap year – spending time to continue to work in EMS, volunteer, and get more shadowing hours in; but depending on advice, may delay yet again to a 2020 January MCAT date to have dedicated time not spent elsewhere to study.

I am also seriously considering an SMP program to show my potential of maintaining a high GPA at a higher level, especially now with the courses and study skills I’ve learned during undergrad. As I understand though, most SMP’s require the MCAT anyways so this would be dependent on when I take the MCAT; I’d likely apply to the SMP simultaneously as medical school.

• Would a 511 MCAT be competitive enough for me applying to MD schools and more so - realistically, what MCAT would I need considering my GPA?
• Should I take the risk of taking the MCAT soon and if it’s not as high as I hoped, take it for a second time later or just be safe and delay it until later?
  • Though if I delay taking my MCAT to a later time, I wouldn’t be able to apply to SMP programs for this current cycle?
• Am I competitive for MD schools regardless of MCAT considering my lower GPA?

Any feedback/advice concerning this or anything that would make me more competitive would be very much appreciated as I am unsure of what to do and want to be able to put my best foot forward!

 

[Toutie]

You really need another year or so of science courses to raise your GPA. It is currently too low (especially your science GPA). Even a great MCAT score will likely not be enough to make up for your low GPA. You don't really need an SMP. A DIY post bacc could also do the job.

 

[jarednogeek]

I would recommend DO or another year of upper level science classes with A’s. Adcoms May have other opinions. 3.3 is a low science GPA for MD

 

[Doc_Asdfghj5]

Thank you! I didn't realize that a DIY post-bacc would contribute to an undergrad GPA. I have a significant number of BCPM credit of my upperclassmen years - what would you suggest would be a "good" GPA?

 

[Toutie]

Thank you! I didn't realize that a DIY post-bacc would contribute to an undergrad GPA. I have a significant number of BCPM credit of my upperclassmen years - what would you suggest would be a "good" GPA?

Get your science GPA above 3.5. If you can get it over 3.6 that would be even better. Take as many upper division science classes as you need to get it up there.

Also try to get in around 20-30 hours more shadowing, so that you are closer to 40-50 hours.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

Eh...Three semesters of good grades while in undergrad might not be enough to show reinvention for MD schools. Might have a puncher's chance with a 515+ MCAT. A 30-credit DIY postbacc would be enough. Hell. Staying in school for another semester - and doing well - might do the job.