What Are My Chances and Other General Questions

[nu2004]

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Hey guys, I have a question that's eating me up inside...

I am a 2nd year and was recently at a friend's dorm where there was drinking occurring. I was not drinking, but when the Resident Officers came, I was written up for simply being present (and of course, accused of alcohol consumption). I had a meeting with the Resident Supervisor and he determined that there was not enough information to implicate me in the offense, so he wrote that I was "Not held responsible".

I asked him if this would be on my student record and he said that it stays with me until the day I graduate, that if someone (such as med schools) were to do a background check, it would show up that I was accused but found not responsible for the alcohol violation. This doesn't go on my transcript or anything, but it stays with my student record. My question is whether I'm required to note this on the disciplinary action section of AMCAS and whether it will impact me in med school admissions? (I guess it's kinda like being a suspect in a crime and being found not guilty, but it's still on record that you were a suspect lol).

Sorry if this sounds like a paranoid post, but this is the first time it's happened to me and I wanted to make sure I didn't really screw myself over. I know everyone is going to say "don't worry, you'll still get in", and I realize that, but will this impact me for the really top schools or anything? Thanks in advance!

this is likely not going to hurt you at all. RA's like to blow up a big fuss about this sort of thing in order to scare you a little bit and flaunt their authority. when it comes down to it, however, universities have provided the residential supervisory system so that as kids at universities we can make mistakes and land softly, learn from our mistakes, and move on with life without having embarrassing tickets (or worse, arrests) on our record. the director of admissions of a top medical school told my group of interviewees, "we don't really care about tickets for drinking and stuff like that."

on the other hand, if you ever get arrested for drug possession or use, or something like a DUI, kiss medical school goodbye. or rather, kiss Stewart University New Scotland International School of Medicine hello 🙄

 

[insane]

i have two maybe three EC opportunities this summer and was wondering which one i should pick.

Shadowing a doctor/hospital volunteering
working at a research company that does drug trial FDA stage II & III human drug tests

or maybe if i can get the spot
Argonne N'atl Labs.

 

[BAVAR]

This is the second time I am going down this road (first time around the whole med school idea was shelved because of a family health emergency). But I seem to keep coming back to medicine. So I am planning to re-apply in 2009 (my husband will graduate in May 2010 & I can start school in August 2010 - I am quite the optimist!) and I really need advice on what to do between now and July 2009. Here is some background:

Education: Engineering undergrad from a foreign university (3.9 GPA)
Masters in Biomed Engg from an UC (3.7 GPS)
MCAT 32 M

Work: Working as a manager for a healthcare consulting company - I can get good recos from my boss

Research: 1.5 yrs research experience as student researcher (2 conference presentations) (good reco from prof)
3 yrs of research at work (3 conference presentations, 2 publications as first author, 1 publication as second author)

Volunteer Experience: About 1 yr of experience as a volunteer at an ER

I am planning to take some OChem courses and I need to retake the MCAT because my score will not be valid after 3 yrs in most schools. I am not really sure what else I can do and I would really appreciate any advice. I am planning to apply only to schools in California so I know this will be very competitive but we don't want to move out of state.

Sorry this is a long post, but I am having one of those "what am I doing with my life?" days. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[nu2004]

you might check out some of the (many) threads dedicated to this type of question. for your specific situation, i would recommend beefing up on your clinical experience, maybe shadowing. if you are in a city in which there is a medical school, see if you can make some connections with faculty at the school whether through research or shadowing.

do you (or will you) have solid academic letters of recommendation?

you might also check out the non-trad forum. i realize it's less active, but it's frequented by people who are more familiar with your situation. good luck!

 

[nu2004]

i have two maybe three EC opportunities this summer and was wondering which one i should pick.

Shadowing a doctor/hospital volunteering
working at a research company that does drug trial FDA stage II & III human drug tests

or maybe if i can get the spot
Argonne N'atl Labs.

the research, especially if you work hard and can get a good LOR out of the experience

 

[Howzat]

OP, your application seems to be very very competitive. Why are you applying next year and not this year?

 

[JMedical08]

Hi i am a junior in college right now and my grades are pretty bad(2.57). i tried improving but i still get crappy grades i am thinking of transfering to another "easier" school and still do pre med or should i stay my school? what else can i do besides give up? i am getting discouraged...any adivce would help

what school do you go to?

 

[insane]

the research, especially if you work hard and can get a good LOR out of the experience

Most likely i will do the research because its pretty close to my house and the PI in the company is known for his kick@$$ LORs

 

[LizzyM]

Hey guys, I have a question that's eating me up inside...

I am a 2nd year and was recently at a friend's dorm where there was drinking occurring. I was not drinking, but when the Resident Officers came, I was written up for simply being present (and of course, accused of alcohol consumption). I had a meeting with the Resident Supervisor and he determined that there was not enough information to implicate me in the offense, so he wrote that I was "Not held responsible".

I asked him if this would be on my student record and he said that it stays with me until the day I graduate, that if someone (such as med schools) were to do a background check, it would show up that I was accused but found not responsible for the alcohol violation. This doesn't go on my transcript or anything, but it stays with my student record. My question is whether I'm required to note this on the disciplinary action section of AMCAS and whether it will impact me in med school admissions? (I guess it's kinda like being a suspect in a crime and being found not guilty, but it's still on record that you were a suspect lol).

Sorry if this sounds like a paranoid post, but this is the first time it's happened to me and I wanted to make sure I didn't really screw myself over. I know everyone is going to say "don't worry, you'll still get in", and I realize that, but will this impact me for the really top schools or anything? Thanks in advance!

If you were to report this, I doubt that it would negatively effect your chances (but it might delay interview invites). On the other hand, does this rise to the level of an "institutional action". It does not seem as if the school took any action (you were not put on probation or suspended or required to take an alcohol education class or anything like that). I wouldn't fault you if you left it off, and I wouldn't hold it against you if you reported it on the AMCAS application.

 

[BAVAR]

howzat - was your post addressed to me ? Its a little hard to tell in this forum - If so, my husband is in school part time and he will graduate in 2010. We have a small baby and we have decided to take turns supporting each other through school. This will also give me another year to save up more money because we are going to be in debt for a loooooong time 🙂

nu2004- Thank you, I have also posted in the nonTrad thread (double post - oops). I have one good academic letter from a Prof who is also a surgeon. Do I need another one?

 

[Howzat]

howzat - was your post addressed to me ? Its a little hard to tell in this forum - If so, my husband is in school part time and he will graduate in 2010. We have a small baby and we have decided to take turns supporting each other through school. This will also give me another year to save up more money because we are going to be in debt for a loooooong time 🙂

nu2004- Thank you, I have also posted in the nonTrad thread (double post - oops). I have one good academic letter from a Prof who is also a surgeon. Do I need another one?

Bavar, yes it was addressed to you. It was a separate thread before they merged it with "What are my chances?" thread. Anyway, I see but good luck. You have awesome stats. You'll be fine. If I were you, I would just focus on some ECs and getting good LORs in order.

 

[xLoveNYx]

these are my stats:
Bio Major, Chem Minor

BCPM: 3.1
AO: 3.63
Cum: 3.31
(this includes a somewhat upward trend in my grades by semester)
1st-2.67
2nd-3.25
3rd-3.15
4th-3.81
5th-3.60

My ECs include:
2 years of research
1 yr tutoring
1 yr teacher assistant
1 yr VP and 1 yr president of my organization
6 months shadowing a doctor, 30 hrs/ month
Honors college

I am yet to take my MCAT, but have made a 23 and 25 on practice MCATs. I am also a URM. Does it look good for me applying for fall 09, is there anything I can do to up my stats or is it too late??

 

[Jolie South]

you have a good upward trend. have you taken the pre-reqs? if so what were your grades?

i'd say that you should really study for the mcat and try to score a 30+. you say that your practice tests have been 23 and 25. is this after studying/taking a course?

your ECs look ok. you have clinical exposure and involvement in several orgs.

 

[ToujoursMieux]

FL resident & URM status

GPA 3.6

Double major in Neuroscience and French with minor in Music Performance

MCAT 25S (VR 6, BS 9, PS 10)

Extra-curriculars:
Worked front desk of clinic for 3 years,
volunteered in 2 hospitals,
shadowed as part of summer Pre-health internship
currently submitting research paper for publication ,
play piano in nursing home once a week
radio DJ for my college's radio station
Orgo & Physics & music theory tutor for a semester, etc etc.


Due to a crappy MCAT score, I certainly don't mind the DO route or even the Caribbean route. Any opinions?

 

[Phoenix.]

GPA 3.6

Double major in Neuroscience and French with minor in Music Performance

MCAT 25S (VR 6, BS 9, PS 10)

Extra-curriculars:
Worked front desk of clinic for 3 years,
volunteered in 2 hospitals,
shadowed as part of summer Pre-health internship
currently submitting research paper for publication ,
play piano in nursing home once a week
radio DJ for my college's radio station
Orgo & Physics & music theory tutor for a semester, etc etc.


Due to a crappy MCAT score, I certainly don't mind the DO route or even the Caribbean route. Any opinions?

As you know, I already gave my advice in the "should I retake the MCAT" thread in the MCAT Discussion Forum, but wanted to point out that it's important to mention here in this Pre-Allo chances thread that you're a FL resident, and a URM, in order to get the most pertinent advice. Both of those factors are very important for your application chances.

 

[xLoveNYx]

Yea I've taken my pre-reqs:
Chem: C, B
Bio: B, A
Physics: B, A
O Chem: B+, B+

And no im yet to take an MCAT course, I just started reviewing material after my first practice test. It obviously didnt help much lol but I will take a course before my real MCAT

 

[Jolie South]

Yea I've taken my pre-reqs:
Chem: C, B
Bio: B, A
Physics: B, A
O Chem: B+, B+

And no im yet to take an MCAT course, I just started reviewing material after my first practice test. It obviously didnt help much lol but I will take a course before my real MCAT

ok, since your grades weren't the best, i would suggest taking some upper level science courses to prove that you can do well. i think that if you can do well up until 2009 you should have a shot. if you want to increase your chances, you could always go DO. since you haven't taken the mcat yet, it is kind of conjecture though at this point.

and yea, you might benefit from an organized course. i know a lot of folks on here did well studying on their own, but if you didn't really grasp the info the first time around, maybe a class would be good.

 

[deuist]

Haha, you hve to be a complete computer science geek to get this one, but the title 'The Not So Short Introduction To Getting Into Medical School' is based on the title 'The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX'. LaTeX is a programming/markup language that was used to typeset both of these books. Good to see more CS ppl getting into medicne (no pun...).

You're the first person ever to catch the meaning in the title. I learned LaTeX from Tobias Oetiker's book and am so grateful for his ability to explain concepts that I borrowed his title. By the way, I was physics, not computer science.

 

[x10694]

• SE Asian, IL resident, non-URM, ESL student,
• GPA ~3.8 both science GPA and non-science GPA.
• MCAT 32P (8V, 13P, 11B) not retaking it.
• Major: Econ and Phil (graduated within 3 yrs)
• Research: 2 summer internships, helped collect data for a grad student on his thesis (2 semester)
• Publications: 2 abstracts, one philosophy paper (2nd author)
• Work: various odd jobs in college, currently working full time as EMT-B since Jan
• EC: volunteer ESL tutor (2yrs.), soup kitchen volunteer (1yr.), Children Memorial Hospital volunteer ( ~20hrs), Rush Hospital Volunteer (since Nov 07 and still volunteering), shadowed a doctor abroad, deeply involved in a social justice student organization.
• LOR: One strong research letter, two strong non-science letters, two mediocre to strong science letters.
• Possible 👎 : accented English, 8V, fair but not the best communication skills, not applying through school's committee (missed my school's committee deadline which was quite early at Dec 3 07).

Above is my complete profile... i suppose i am quite well rounded and my chances at middle tier schools are pretty good according to most people and SDNers. My question is how many schools should I apply to have that "pretty good" chance? 20? 25? 30? At what number would it becomes excessively too many? And where shouldn't i apply?

 

[pride4jc727]

Hey guys,

I have posted up an MDApplicants profile. I was wondering if people can go visit it and give me comments, thoughts, concerns, and questions on it. At this point of the cycle, I applied to 16 schools and put in secondaries to 13 of them. Of the 13, I have 4 rejections, 3 interviews, and 2 waitlist notifications. I am still waiting from one more school. I had one interview in January and 2 in February. The one school that I am still waiting for had a backlog of applicants to invite and interview. One applicant even said that she has an interview as late as April 11. The adcom there meets 3x a month and I have been emailing the dean, admissions office, and my interviewer updates to my application. I just want to get as many comments on my app as to my chances and what I should in an eventual waitlist. If I don't get in, what should I do?

The link to my MDApplicant profile is to the left of this post underneath the eagles logo avatar. Hope to see some comments and thanks again for your input!!

 

[TheRealMD]

Why did BS drop 3 points? Specifically going from an 11 to an 8 is actually a LOT more questions to miss.

 

[pride4jc727]

Why did BS drop 3 points? Specifically going from an 11 to an 8 is actually a LOT more questions to miss.

I guess another to question to ask is how did PS increase three points and writing go up 2 letter scores? Honestly, with the PS and BS scores, they all to some degree emphasized a different area of each science. With PS, they tested more chemistry than physics the 2nd time around. With BS, I did not see any difference in difficulty other than there was more orgo chem. The first time was more emphasis on cell biology and genetics. So, I think there is a wide range on what was being tested.

Did you leave any comments on my app?

 

[ph1]

MCAT is way more important than GPA. So as long as you have good MCAT score (35+) and 3.0+ gpa, you can get in at least a lower-tier school.

Could you list few lower tier medical schools in US?

 

[ChubbyChaser]

MCAT is way more important than GPA. So as long as you have good MCAT score (35+) and 3.0+ gpa, you can get in at least a lower-tier school.

Could you list few lower tier medical schools in US?

They dont exist!!

State schools and Do schools tend to be easier to get into though.

 

[manickamosu]

General question:

For AMCAS, how is your science gpa calculated? For instance, if you are a bio or chemistry major, how does this factor in? Is it only the bare minimum pre-reqs that go into this calculation?

Also what goes into AO then? For example is biochem, anatomy, physiology go into BCPM or AO?

Thanks

 

[ChubbyChaser]

General question:

For AMCAS, how is your science gpa calculated? For instance, if you are a bio or chemistry major, how does this factor in? Is it only the bare minimum pre-reqs that go into this calculation?

Also what goes into AO then? For example is biochem, anatomy, physiology go into BCPM or AO?

Thanks

Science, is anything bio, physics, chem, or math related.

AO is everything else.

 

[watergirl1202]

my gpa is only 3.3
(god knows i tried, probably just not hard enough... you know life happens)
i do research, involved in club, work in the Er, volunteer and have other jobs too...

anyways, im taking my mcat this june so hopefully ill get a competitive score
my question is that im taking 2 years off before applying summer of 09
what do you guys suggest i should do during these 2 years to greatly improve my chances...?
thanks for reading

ps. I also have run 2 marathons already, do you guys think if i put that in my application, it would help?

 

[ChubbyChaser]

my gpa is only 3.3
(god knows i tried, probably just not hard enough... you know life happens)
i do research, involved in club, work in the Er, volunteer and have other jobs too...

anyways, im taking my mcat this june so hopefully ill get a competitive score
my question is that im taking 2 years off before applying summer of 09
what do you guys suggest i should do during these 2 years to greatly improve my chances...?
thanks for reading

ps. I also have run 2 marathons already, do you guys think if i put that in my application, it would help?

The only thing you should really concentrate on is getting that MCAT as high as possible. If you are able to go back to school and take some classes, go for it and bring that GPA up. I think everything you else has seems fine. I would put the marathons down, it shows lots of commitment.

A 30 and a 3.3 gives you an outside shot at your state school, if you have a friendly state, it also makes you competitive for DO programs, as well.

I would say a 33 and 3.3 would possibly make you competitve for a few more MD schools.

Good luck

 

[watergirl1202]

thanks for the peace of mind.... still what do you think i should do for TWO whole years? maybe something huge!!! i dont want to go to peacecorps..

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Continue what your doing, make some money, maybe get a masters if you want.

 

[alpha12]

Hey everyone. I'm going to keep it simple. I have a 3.1-3.2 gpa and im a sophomore. I can confidently say it is on the way up. I haven't taken the mcat yet and I'd like to go to an MD school in my home state in illinois.

Should I reconsider my options?

I'll go in to pharmacy if i have but i don't know if it will be easier because there are only 3 schools in all of illinois.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Hey everyone. I'm going to keep it simple. I have a 3.1-3.2 gpa and im a sophomore. I can confidently say it is on the way up. I haven't taken the mcat yet and I'd like to go to an MD school in my home state in illinois.

Should I reconsider my options?

I'll go in to pharmacy if i have but i don't know if it will be easier because there are only 3 schools in all of illinois.

You have a good number of state schools. Do you think you can pull it up to 3.4 by the time you graduate??

 

[nycbeatz]

I posted once before and didn't get a reply, so here is to trying again, i also made an MDapp which your free to comment on. Thanks guys

 

[Isis24]

UMDNJ schools and Connecticut accept very few OOS. about 2-2.5% are accepted. I know you said that it's a tentative list, but i hope you are aware that that's a LONG list of schools to apply to.

Your MCAT is great, your GPA..not so much. Is there an upward trend or a good reason for why it's not higher? Also, study really hard this semester...pull off a 4.0 if you can, and assuming that it's your 3rd year, you can pull your GPA up to about 3.3 (full course load?). And if you do that again in the fall...you get the idea. I know it's harder than it sounds, but if you got a 35 on your MCAT, and you have a 3.2, then you're probably just not studying hard enough...

I'm no expert by any means. I'm in similar situation, with a slightly higher GPA. but your ECs look good. No research...but i don't think it's a 'must'.

You must know this is coming...how do you feel about DO schools?

Whether you get in or not really depends on your LORs and PS. And interview, once you get there. Go for it, and good luck!

 

[nycbeatz]

UMDNJ schools and Connecticut accept very few OOS. about 2-2.5% are accepted. I know you said that it's a tentative list, but i hope you are aware that that's a LONG list of schools to apply to.

Your MCAT is great, your GPA..not so much. Is there an upward trend or a good reason for why it's not higher? Also, study really hard this semester...pull off a 4.0 if you can, and assuming that it's your 3rd year, you can pull your GPA up to about 3.3 (full course load?). And if you do that again in the fall...you get the idea. I know it's harder than it sounds, but if you got a 35 on your MCAT, and you have a 3.2, then you're probably just not studying hard enough...

I'm no expert by any means. I'm in similar situation, with a slightly higher GPA. but your ECs look good. No research...but i don't think it's a 'must'.

You must know this is coming...how do you feel about DO schools?

Whether you get in or not really depends on your LORs and PS. And interview, once you get there. Go for it, and good luck!

Ok so I'm in my year off

so as far as trend in gpa

1st=2.95
2nd= 2.5
3rd= 3.55
4th= 3.6

again my engineering school out ranks MIT

again i've worked every year to be able to survive, plus i was on a full merit-based scholarship

i am taking a few class now, i might be able to get it to a 3.3

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Cal tech??? The adcoms will definitely take that upward trend and difficult school into account.

 

[alpha12]

You have a good number of state schools. Do you think you can pull it up to 3.4 by the time you graduate??

Yeah, I think I can. It just seems like there aren't very many seats and too many applying. You got any schools you think would be willing to take a chance. Thanks for responding.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Yeah, I think I can. It just seems like there aren't very many seats and too many applying. You got any schools you think would be willing to take a chance. Thanks for responding.

Cant really tell without an MCAT score. A 3.1 is going to take a tremendous score to get into a MD school.

 

[Phoenix.]

Hey everyone. I'm going to keep it simple. I have a 3.1-3.2 gpa and im a sophomore. I can confidently say it is on the way up. I haven't taken the mcat yet and I'd like to go to an MD school in my home state in illinois.

Should I reconsider my options?

I'll go in to pharmacy if i have but i don't know if it will be easier because there are only 3 schools in all of illinois.

I think you're jumping the gun with thinking you need to reconsider at this point. If you have a definite upward trend and get 30+ on the MCAT AND the rest of your app is solid, I think you've got a good shot - especially at UIC as an instate resident. And if you don't live in the Chicago area (they seem to favor non-city denizens), you've probably got a good shot at SIU too.

I do know someone who got into UIC with a 3.2 gpa, 2.75 science gpa and a 32 MCAT, but they otherwise had a great app and a definite upward trend (with a great post-bac year). I also know some IL residents who got into UIC with a 27 on the MCAT. So there's definitely an advantage to having "friendly" state schools. Keep up the upward trend, related ECs, and I think you've definitely got a shot.

 

[alpha12]

I think you're jumping the gun with thinking you need to reconsider at this point. If you have a definite upward trend and get 30+ on the MCAT AND the rest of your app is solid, I think you've got a good shot - especially at UIC as an instate resident. And if you don't live in the Chicago area (they seem to favor non-city denizens), you've probably got a good shot at SIU too.

I do know someone who got into UIC with a 3.2 gpa, 2.75 science gpa and a 32 MCAT, but they otherwise had a great app and a definite upward trend (with a great post-bac year). I also know some IL residents who got into UIC with a 27 on the MCAT. So there's definitely an advantage to having "friendly" state schools. Keep up the upward trend, related ECs, and I think you've definitely got a shot.

What kind of extra curriculars do i need? Anything in particular that would hep my chances.

 

[Phoenix.]

What kind of extra curriculars do i need? Anything in particular that would hep my chances.

By all means, you should do something you're interested in, and hopefully passionate about. See your pre-med advisor if you have one. Research and publications (when possible) are always good (clinical through a hospital, or lab research probably through your school's science department/profs), but clinical experience is vital. Clinical experience could be volunteering at a hospital, a free health clinic, working as an EMT, or helping out in any number of community organizations. And shadowing is probably a good idea too. But hopefully you've also got some kind of interest or activity you're currently involved in that you're passionate about, whether it's a big brother/big sister mentoring/tutoring activity, college sports, canine rescue, volunteer trips to south america, or something else altogether. This should be a highly personal choice, and med schools want well-rounded individuals, not just clones. I've certainly seen secondaries that ask you to talk about a non-pre-med activity that you're passionate about, as well as talking about your most meaningful clinical experience.

 

[nu2004]

Hey everyone. I'm going to keep it simple. I have a 3.1-3.2 gpa and im a sophomore. I can confidently say it is on the way up. I haven't taken the mcat yet and I'd like to go to an MD school in my home state in illinois.

Should I reconsider my options?

I'll go in to pharmacy if i have but i don't know if it will be easier because there are only 3 schools in all of illinois.

you should forget about the numbers for a minute and think about what you really want to do. do you REALLY want to do pharmacy? it sounds like you don't REALLY want to do medicine if you're considering pharmacy. are you just trying to make your parents happy or make money?

not that making one's parents happy is a bad thing... but it can lead to bitterness down the road.

if you want to go to medical school, go for it! keep your grades up to show an upward trend and study hard for the MCAT. apply to every MD program in Illinois (SIU, RFU, UIC, Rush, NU, UoC, Loyola) and a few in neighboring states. you'll get in.

 

[alpha12]

you should forget about the numbers for a minute and think about what you really want to do. do you REALLY want to do pharmacy? it sounds like you don't REALLY want to do medicine if you're considering pharmacy. are you just trying to make your parents happy or make money?

not that making one's parents happy is a bad thing... but it can lead to bitterness down the road.

if you want to go to medical school, go for it! keep your grades up to show an upward trend and study hard for the MCAT. apply to every MD program in Illinois (SIU, RFU, UIC, Rush, NU, UoC, Loyola) and a few in neighboring states. you'll get in.

I really do want to want to go in to med but I keep getting the feeling that i dug a hole for myself by letting my gpa dip to 3.1 and i might not be able to compete for a spot in a med school because of that. If go in to pharmacy i would be settling for it. Not something that i would really want to do. I don't know if im being paranoid but some of these schools like siu accept 70 out a 1000 applicants.

 

[Phoenix.]

I really do want to want to go in to med but I keep getting the feeling that i dug a hole for myself by letting my gpa dip to 3.1 and i might not be able to compete for a spot in a med school because of that. If go in to pharmacy i would be settling for it. Not something that i would really want to do. I don't know if im being paranoid but some of these schools like siu accept 70 out a 1000 applicants.

Stop thinking about competing with everyone else, and just compete with yourself. Do the very best you can, and give it your all. IF you don't get in (at which time you'll be able to really evaluate things with your final gpa, MCAT & ECs), then you can consider your options.

It sounds like you're scared to fail. You're just going to have to take that risk, do your best, and try. No sense deciding a couple of years in advance that you're going to fail so why bother.

 

[deuist]

again my engineering school out ranks MIT

Med schools don't care what the ranking of your engineering school is. All they care about is your GPA. They don't care if the average Tech scores much lower than you. They don't care have well recognized your school is within the science and engineering community. Once you realize that, your application process is going to be a lot easier.

(Take it from me, I went to a top-ten program for grad school and got nothing but blank stares from people asking, "What's materials engineering?")

 

[Phoenix.]

Med schools don't care what the ranking of your engineering school is. All they care about is your GPA. They don't care if the average Tech scores much lower than you. They don't care have well recognized your school is within the science and engineering community. Once you realize that, your application process is going to be a lot easier.

(Take it from me, I went to a top-ten program for grad school and got nothing but blank stares from people asking, "What's materials engineering?")

Although I have heard of some adcoms/interviewers cutting applicants a little slack on their gpa if they're an engineering major.

 

[nycbeatz]

Med schools don't care what the ranking of your engineering school is. All they care about is your GPA. They don't care if the average Tech scores much lower than you. They don't care have well recognized your school is within the science and engineering community. Once you realize that, your application process is going to be a lot easier.

(Take it from me, I went to a top-ten program for grad school and got nothing but blank stares from people asking, "What's materials engineering?")

maybe, they didn't care because it had to do with grad school, and i think a 3.2 from a top tier school means something more than a 3.6 at a community college, thats my opinion, and maybe ill be in for a rude awaking, but there is lots of people on SDN with 3.6 who are trying to figure out a way to improve their MCAT, how good does that gpa look when they can't manage more than a 28. the mcat is supposted to be what allows an admissions person to compare two canidates on a standardized scale.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I think you will be given a little leeway with your GPA, if your university is as highly regarded as you think it is. However, I highly doubt that you will be considered the same as someone with a 3.6 from an average, run of the mill, state school.

 

[nycbeatz]

I didn't say anything about state schools i was saying a community college, regardless i agree with you, i'm not saying it doesn't have any weight in application, it for sure does, and it is the weakest part. But i have spoken to assistant deans of admissions and they say they understand that engineering is different. Now how much leeway it gives me is arguable. I've read LizzyM say .2 is that correct, who knows ::shrugs::

 

[deuist]

Look at the table on this website. You'll notice the average GPA's and MCAT scores for applicants and matriculants. Med schools---particularly the ones worried about their ranking in the U.S. News & World Report are looking for candidates with high numbers.