What are my chances of getting into Medical School?

[Saleemrodman1]

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The schools I'm looking to apply to for Medicine are...

1. UC Irvine
2. UCLA
3. NYU
4. USC
5. Columbia University
6. UCSF
7. University of British Columbia (Canada)
8. University of Toronto (Canada)
9. University of Alberta (Canada)

As a backup...I'm also applying to these schools of Dentistry

1. UCSF
2. University of the Pacific
3. USC
4. NYU
5. UCLA

I have not taken either exams yet but these are some of my accomplishments/attributes:

*3.51 GPA Overall
*3.60 Science GPA
*Medical Brigade Member
*Did a Medical Brigade to Honduras
*Did voluntary orphanage work in Ghana
*Volunteered in a Hospital and volunteered for 100 hours
*Multilingual
*Job Shadowed in a Dental Clinic

I am also looking to do an internship and possibly clinical research work. The only thing that is keeping concerned is my GPA. How can I increase my chances in Medical School? That is actually my number one goal and sometimes I feel like giving up, but I know I have to fight it.

 

[red doctober]

Are you Canadian? I would say don't apply to UCI if you're not a CA resident. I'm not sure about the selectivity of the Canadian schools, but for the US ones, you'd be applying way, way too top heavy. Also, I don't know how schools would react to your applying both to their med and dental schools or if they'd even realize it.

 

[Saleemrodman1]

I'm a California resident. I want to eventually practice in Canada though.

 

[Goobs]

I don't think you can apply to those medical schools and expect a good outcome with that gpa.


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[Saleemrodman1]

Okay if it's not good enough then what about for:

UC Davis
UC San Diego

Where else can I apply?

 

[red doctober]

Just keep in mind that your list has 4 of the most selective schools in the country, and any CA school is going to be crazy competitive. Your list should be about 20-25 schools long and should include many that are ranked above 30.

 

[Saleemrodman1]

I see what you mean. I just don't want to end up at a school that is so bad that I am not able to find work after graduation.

I'm looking at:

MD (#1 Priority)
DO (I just don't like the schools that offer this degree)
DDS (My last option)

 

[Goobs]

I see what you mean. I just don't want to end up at a school that is so bad that I am not able to find work after graduation.

I'm looking at:

MD (#1 Priority)
DO (I just don't like the schools that offer this degree)
DDS (My last option)

Thats not quite how MD schools work...any US MD school will set you up for success.

 

[Aerus]

The schools I'm looking to apply to for Medicine are...

1. UC Irvine
2. UCLA
3. NYU
4. USC
5. Columbia University
6. UCSF
7. University of British Columbia (Canada)
8. University of Toronto (Canada)
9. University of Alberta (Canada)

As a backup...I'm also applying to these schools of Dentistry

1. UCSF
2. University of the Pacific
3. USC
4. NYU
5. UCLA

I have not taken either exams yet but these are some of my accomplishments/attributes:

*3.51 GPA Overall
*3.60 Science GPA
*Medical Brigade Member
*Did a Medical Brigade to Honduras
*Did voluntary orphanage work in Ghana
*Volunteered in a Hospital and volunteered for 100 hours
*Multilingual
*Job Shadowed in a Dental Clinic

I am also looking to do an internship and possibly clinical research work. The only thing that is keeping concerned is my GPA. How can I increase my chances in Medical School? That is actually my number one goal and sometimes I feel like giving up, but I know I have to fight it.

Nonono. Your list is way too top heavy. Apply more broadly. It's very very likely you will get rejected from all of those schools. You need OOS schools, not just California and top 20's. ANY MD/DO school will get you a job. You need to get your head out of the mindset that only top schools are good. ANY MD/DO school will help you become a doctor.

How extensive is your abroad volunteering in Ghana and Honduras?

You need to shadow doctors, as well. Not just dentists.

Other than that, it will be impossible to gauge your chances too much without an MCAT score.

 

[Redpancreas]

The schools I'm looking to apply to for Medicine are...

1. UC Irvine
2. UCLA
3. NYU
4. USC
5. Columbia University
6. UCSF
7. University of British Columbia (Canada)
8. University of Toronto (Canada)
9. University of Alberta (Canada)

As a backup...I'm also applying to these schools of Dentistry

1. UCSF
2. University of the Pacific
3. USC
4. NYU
5. UCLA

I have not taken either exams yet but these are some of my accomplishments/attributes:

*3.51 GPA Overall
*3.60 Science GPA
*Medical Brigade Member
*Did a Medical Brigade to Honduras
*Did voluntary orphanage work in Ghana
*Volunteered in a Hospital and volunteered for 100 hours
*Multilingual
*Job Shadowed in a Dental Clinic

I am also looking to do an internship and possibly clinical research work. The only thing that is keeping concerned is my GPA. How can I increase my chances in Medical School? That is actually my number one goal and sometimes I feel like giving up, but I know I have to fight it.

You're going to have to take the MCAT for us to know:

26-27: Apply DO IMO and a couple low tier MDs

28-29: Apply to a couple MDs but keep DOs as safeties

30-31: Apply to a LOT of lower tier MDs and some mid tiers.

32-33: Apply to mid-tier MDs and some lower tier MDs.

Your schools are actually surprisingly ambitious for your GPA and ECs right now. Do you plan to get a 33-35+ on the MCAT? Why Columbia?
I don't mean to discourage you but there are so many mid-tiers and lower tiers out there you should be considering as well. Dream high but also make sure you have some assurance. Your stats aren't bad but the GPA doesn't seem Top TIer quality without a superb MCAT to match. I don't know about Canadian schools.

My advice to you is to look at these threads for people with similar stats and see where they are applying

 

[Nissan GTR]

I see what you mean. I just don't want to end up at a school that is so bad that I am not able to find work after graduation.

I'm looking at:

MD (#1 Priority)
DO (I just don't like the schools that offer this degree)
DDS (My last option)

It doesn't matter what school you go to...what matters is how well you do on the board exams.

 

[Goro]

With those numbers Columbia (and the rest of the ivies) and UCSF are out of reach.

You might have best luck (IF can can score >33 on MCAT) with

UCI
UCR
UCD
USC

Any low-medium tier MD program
Any DO program (TUCOM-CA and Western will take you in a heartbeat.



1. UC Irvine
2. UCLA
3. NYU
4. USC
5. Columbia University
6. UCSF
7. University of British Columbia (Canada)
8. University of Toronto (Canada)
9. University of Alberta (Canada)

As a backup...I'm also applying to these schools of Dentistry

1. UCSF
2. University of the Pacific
3. USC
4. NYU
5. UCLA

I have not taken either exams yet but these are some of my accomplishments/attributes:

*3.51 GPA Overall
*3.60 Science GPA
*Medical Brigade Member
*Did a Medical Brigade to Honduras
*Did voluntary orphanage work in Ghana
*Volunteered in a Hospital and volunteered for 100 hours
*Multilingual
*Job Shadowed in a Dental Clinic

 

[Saleemrodman1]

I found these schools that seem to mid-tier to low-tier

NYU, Drexel, Brown, Georgetown, and Boston. Surprisingly, three or four of these schools are Ivy league. Is there a specific list I should look at? This is where I got the list:

http://www.residentphysician.com/Medicalschool_rankings.htm

 

[Goobs]

I found these schools that seem to mid-tier to low-tier

NYU, Drexel, Brown, Georgetown, and Boston. Surprisingly, three or four of these schools are Ivy league. Is there a specific list I should look at? This is where I got the list:

http://www.residentphysician.com/Medicalschool_rankings.htm

MSAR. Those schools are going to be rough with your stats. NYU, Georgetown, and Brown are a bit of a reach and Drexel/BU have >10,000 applications a year.

 

[deleted314957]

I see what you mean. I just don't want to end up at a school that is so bad that I am not able to find work after graduation.

I'm looking at:

MD (#1 Priority)
DO (I just don't like the schools that offer this degree)
DDS (My last option)

any U.S. MD or DO school will get you a residency and a job.

 

[Goro]

You really need to geta copy of MSAR to see more accurate data. Now, my copy iis for 2010-11, but for Brown as an example, the avg GPA is 3.8, and avg MCAT is 35 (11/12/12). NYU is equally highly competetive.

So, aim a bit lower.

I found these schools that seem to mid-tier to low-tier

NYU, Drexel, Brown, Georgetown, and Boston. Surprisingly, three or four of these schools are Ivy league. Is there a specific list I should look at? This is where I got the list:

http://www.residentphysician.com/Medicalschool_rankings.htm

 

[Saleemrodman1]

how low should I go? Honestly I don't like many of the lower schools, but I may not have any other choice. Would a GPA boost to 3.60 open any more doors?

 

[Saleemrodman1]

does it matter?

 

[mcloaf]

how low should I go? Honestly I don't like many of the lower schools, but I may not have any other choice. Would a GPA boost to 3.60 open any more doors?

Dude you don't even know what the lower schools are. Your concern about not being able to find a job after graduation from a mid/low tier school makes it pretty obvious you have done zero research about this. Have you taken the MCAT?

 

[Saleemrodman1]

yes I prefer to go to a mid tier school. I have done a little research but I'm not sure if it's better to apply to a mid to low MD or DO

 

[Alejandro]

Two things. First, cut that dental crap out. As much as med students trash on dental students all the time to joke around, it's disrespectful to have dental as a "backup". I want my future dentists to be those who actually care about dentistry, not because they are med school cop-outs, drop-outs, what have you. Dentistry is not designed to be a backup for medicine.

You choose either dentistry or medicine. Don't play both.

Beef up on your activities. You need to show why you want to be in medicine. I feel like reading from your posts that you really don't have any intrinsic desire to go into medicine other than "I NEED TO MAKE SURE I HAVE A JOB". You're trashing on schools that aren't even bad, AND furthermore, you don't appear to have done your homework on what makes a school bad or good. Most, if not all US MDs get a job. I don't see the issue.

Do realize that there are tens of thousands of people who would DIE to get into some of the "low-tier" schools that you disregard. I'm sorry, but with your stats, you're not in a position to even start talking about these schools that way. Do your homework.

 

[Saleemrodman1]

I reall appreciate your feedback, Alejandro. Actually, I do not trash on Dentistry or have it as a backup because I need to land somewhere if I miss Medicine. Actually, I was intrigued by Dentistry before Medicine. My main goal was Dental School. However, by being exposed to Medicine, going on a Medical Brigade, and speaking to physicians, I gained interest in Medicine. I then made it my goal to go into the Medical field. I then realized I wasn't very competitive but decided to try anyway. That's when I pit Dentistry as an option as well.

About the low-tier schools, being able to find a job is something I will worry about because people told me that going to a low tier school isn't worth it. I would be honoured to go to a Med school even if its low tier. The thing is, I don't like where many are located. I'm from California and I prefer the schools near me.

 

[red doctober]

Beggars can't be choosers.

 

[Saleemrodman1]

Yeah I know

 

[Saleemrodman1]

What are some schools that an applicant such as myself consider? Anything specific?

 

[Saleemrodman1]

Oh just another note, I'm about to be a Junior in my undergrad so I still have time to improve my gpa.

 

[red doctober]

You need to take your MCAT and get your score before picking out schools.

 

[mcloaf]

Oh just another note, I'm about to be a Junior in my undergrad so I still have time to improve my gpa.

Improve your GPA, maintain some clinical and non-clinical volunteering commitments, see if you can find a leadership position on campus, and look to get involved in some medically related research with a professor on campus.

Also, I asked before but you didn't answer, have you taken the MCAT yet? That will play a big role in how competitive an applicant you are.

 

[Saleemrodman1]

No not yet. I haven't completed Organic Chemistry yet so I can't take it.

 

[mcloaf]

Then as said above, without an MCAT score there's no real way to determine your competitiveness. Focus on the things listed for now and worry about schools when you're closer to applying.

 

[Saleemrodman1]

Okay thank you very much 🙂