"What are my chances?" Threads

[msu16]

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Does anyone know if a 3.3 is an alright gpa for a mechanical engineering undergrad????








Moderator Note: Split from original thread due to digression of topic.

 

[guitarguy09]

Hey guys, this is the first time I've ever seen this site. Pretty cool stuff. This is kinda a long post, but if you could bear with me I'd really, really appreciate it.
So yeah, all this is new to me, and I'm applying to DO and MD schools right now. Could someone tell me what my "chances" are for MD and DO schools? Here are my numbers

UCLA undergrad (psychobio major) 3.4 gpa, 3.3 science
UCLA grad (biomedical physics) gpa 3.6
MCAT V11 P10 B9 Q

Experiences:
-hospital volunteering
-ridiculous amount of community service
-currently the chief medical physicist of ucla's veterinary radiation oncology
-3 clinical rotations, including stereotactic spinal radiosurgery
-IMRT, IGRT, immunoradiotherapy thesis research

I read somewhere on this forum that schools like to focus on undergrad gpa's because they don't know how "hard" grad classes are? Do they look at it on a program by program basis at least?? I mean the biomedical physics program at ucla was friggin' rough for me! It's one of 10 AAPM accredited programs in the entire nation and I thought I was gonna lose my mind my first year here haha.
But anyway, any feed back about my chances for med or do school would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!!! 🙂

You have good chances of getting into an allopathic (M.D.) school. Of course this also depends somewhat on other factors like your personal statement, letters of recommendation, and state of residence. But if you just look at your numbers you are in good shape to get interviews. Once you get to the interview, the interview becomes a pretty significant part of your application. Best of luck!

 

[markboonya]

wow a sticky for this topic! now i dont feel bad for asking what my chances are. here goes:

overall: 3.34 (berkeley, but unfortunately a cali resident too)
science: 3.15
upward trend: 3.7 average for last 2 years in alot (alot = 35 semester units) of upper division biological sciences
mcat: 32, 10v 11p 11b
EC: TA x 2 subjects, shadow x 2 doctors, patient history intake for homeless, leadership in community service fraternity, leadership in table tennis club (good stories for each)
application: submitted this week (kind of late i know)

will this get me an interview at any MD school in the united states? mdapllicants says no and msar says no. someone here say yes. i feel that i am borderline to the max. otherwise its off to osteo for me.

 

[TheMightyAngus]

Does anyone know if a 3.3 is an alright gpa for a mechanical engineering undergrad????

Not if you want to go to med school. Most likely you need to do a post-bac.

 

[msu16]

Not if you want to go to med school. Most likely you need to do a post-bac.

Thanks for responding. Do you know that it would not be ok for sure, esp. for an engineering undergrad. The only reason I am wondering is because I have talked to one of the advisors at MSU who is also on the admissions board for MSUCHM, and he said that being an undergrad engineer major with a 3.3 is alright. I was just wondering if anyone else had heard anything about being and engineering undergrad. Also, what about for DO??

 

[nutmeg1445]

msu16-
Read some of the previous threads on this. Many people have gotten into MD programs without even a 3.3 whether or not it is for engineering. If 3.6 is the median with a standard deviation of ~.3 (http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2004/2004mcatgpa.htm) then that puts you within one standard deviation of the average. If all your other stats are good you should be able to get into a MD program although maybe not top 25 (but I wouldnt necessarily give up on that either). For DO you should be very competative (again assuming that all your other stats are good). Good luck from a fellow engineer.

 

[mev]

Grow up on the lectures about what people are and aren't allowed to talk about in this thread. This is a public conversation. EvoDevo, you had some good advice and an interesting point from the beginning about whether people should just do their own research. But a thread entirely devoted to bitching about people who like to consult others for advice about medical school is a dead end. Obviously a lot of people want to ask other people's opinions. Especially on a forum site devoted to TALKING ABOUT APPLYING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL.

 

[Sundarban1]

Grow up on the lectures about what people are and aren't allowed to talk about in this thread. This is a public conversation. EvoDevo, you had some good advice and an interesting point from the beginning about whether people should just do their own research. But a thread entirely devoted to bitching about people who like to consult others for advice about medical school is a dead end. Obviously a lot of people want to ask other people's opinions. Especially on a forum site devoted to TALKING ABOUT APPLYING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL.

Agreed, why sticky this thread if you tell people they cant ask the question? I think its great this way because it haults the "what are my chances" traffic on the board.

 

[Sundarban1]

PS. Why not leave this as a sticky?? So helpful for others..just leave it!

 

[gujuDoc]

Grow up on the lectures about what people are and aren't allowed to talk about in this thread. This is a public conversation. EvoDevo, you had some good advice and an interesting point from the beginning about whether people should just do their own research. But a thread entirely devoted to bitching about people who like to consult others for advice about medical school is a dead end. Obviously a lot of people want to ask other people's opinions. Especially on a forum site devoted to TALKING ABOUT APPLYING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL.

What people are annoyed by is not people asking opinions, but people who refuse to do some of their own research and then ask for a second opinion, or those expecting you to do their research for them (ala 10094 asking someone to type out the entire MSAR because he/she was too lazy to buy one for themselves)

 

[venez]

you are so right mev. this forum should allow "what are my chances...."etc questions. if you are so offended--then here is a thought - don't read it. i am an adult. i do not need others telling me what i can and cannot post. so....what are my chances
MCAT 25 P
SCI-3.65
Non-Sci-3.64
Psychology Major
RN in ED for 4 years (With ACLS certification)
Volunteer with activities in my two son's classes (kindergarten and preschool)

I applied early decision to Penn State Hershey.

 

[Noway]

you are so right mev. this forum should allow "what are my chances...."etc questions. if you are so offended--then here is a thought - don't read it. i am an adult. i do not need others telling me what i can and cannot post. so....what are my chances
MCAT 25 P
SCI-3.65
Non-Sci-3.64
Psychology Major
RN in ED for 4 years (With ACLS certification)
Volunteer with activities in my two son's classes (kindergarten and preschool)

I applied early decision to Penn State Hershey.

MCAT scores?

 

[gujuDoc]

you are so right mev. this forum should allow "what are my chances...."etc questions. if you are so offended--then here is a thought - don't read it. i am an adult. i do not need others telling me what i can and cannot post. so....what are my chances
MCAT 25 P
SCI-3.65
Non-Sci-3.64
Psychology Major
RN in ED for 4 years (With ACLS certification)
Volunteer with activities in my two son's classes (kindergarten and preschool)

I applied early decision to Penn State Hershey.

I'm assuming you are a Penn resident. Also, how are the requirements for EDP??? I would say the rest of your application looks solid, but you might want to bring up your MCAT at least 2-3 points. However, being that you are a nurse.....

That might work in your favor. I don't know about Penn, but in Florida, a lot of the nurses who've been able to meet the minimum of 24 and who have had a 3.9 post bac gpa, have gotten into schools somewhere in the state. Miami and USF especially like non trad students.

The only down side with being a penn resident is that I've heard from another penn resident that they don't have any school that takes 99% of their own residents. Hence, it is a bit more tougher to get into their schools.

 

[Sundarban1]

What people are annoyed by is not people asking opinions, but people who refuse to do some of their own research and then ask for a second opinion, or those expecting you to do their research for them (ala 10094 asking someone to type out the entire MSAR because he/she was too lazy to buy one for themselves)

If everyone had MSAR there would be no use for SDN. Thats a lame excuse.

 

[Jbienven]

I'll chime in here...

I have the MSAR, I've done the research, I feel semi-comfortable w/ my chances of getting in...and I just want some second opinions....

I am a Louisiana resident, applied EDP to LSU-NO (Avg GPA = 3.6 science/cum...Avg MCAT = 28)

I am at Tulane University, I have a 3.29, and a 34 on the MCAT.
(the suggest 3.5 and 30 on the MCAT, but I was told it could only help my chances at LSU-NO, and not hurt, if I were to apply early).

My GPA was a 2.9 after 3 semesters...(mainly because of B-'s...only 1 C). No excuses, I didn't know how to study. My junior year BCPM was a 3.78, my Junior year GPA a 3.67.

Check out my MDapplicants link in the signature, tell me what you think my chances are.

 

[gujuDoc]

If everyone had MSAR there would be no use for SDN. Thats a lame excuse.

Not true at all. MSAR is used for the purpose of looking at schools, SDN is for the purpose of asking actual students their experiences with interviewing at schools and first hand knowledge of exact profiles and what not that got them in.

 

[gujuDoc]

I'll chime in here...

I have the MSAR, I've done the research, I feel semi-comfortable w/ my chances of getting in...and I just want some second opinions....

I am a Louisiana resident, applied EDP to LSU-NO (Avg GPA = 3.6 science/cum...Avg MCAT = 28)

I am at Tulane University, I have a 3.29, and a 34 on the MCAT.
(the suggest 3.5 and 30 on the MCAT, but I was told it could only help my chances at LSU-NO, and not hurt, if I were to apply early).

My GPA was a 2.9 after 3 semesters...(mainly because of B-'s...only 1 C). No excuses, I didn't know how to study. My junior year BCPM was a 3.78, my Junior year GPA a 3.67.


Check out my MDapplicants link in the signature, tell me what you think my chances are.

I don't know how EDP works at that particular school, like if there are specific cut off marks that you need to get into EDP. (USF has 3.7 and 30 req for EDP). But judging from your profile, if you applied to a broad range of schools, I'd think you'd have a chance of getting in somewhere decent. Since you are a La. state resident, I'd say that works in your favor. But again, and this is just my personal opinion, if in your shoes, I'd probably opt to apply the regular way but to a very broad range of schools since it is so crapshoot.

Of course, though, I also don't have any marriage or children to worry about that would cause me to apply only one place. Those who only applied to one school, were generally those that were married or had some serious family issue that prevented them from leaving to another city. But I knew of a few who did and got in.

The other thing I'll say is that if you don't get in this time around, consider doing a Special Masters Program like the one's at Rosalind Franklin, Georgetown, BU, etc. Those programs will give you a chance to take 1st year med school classes and show that you can handle it. I wish you luck, but because I don't live in La, and have not talked with others who have lived there I don't know much about the specifics of their EDP program. Hence, I only base my info on the averages and what you have given me.

 

[Jbienven]

I don't know how EDP works at that particular school, like if there are specific cut off marks that you need to get into EDP. (USF has 3.7 and 30 req for EDP). But judging from your profile, if you applied to a broad range of schools, I'd think you'd have a chance of getting in somewhere decent. Since you are a La. state resident, I'd say that works in your favor. But again, and this is just my personal opinion, if in your shoes, I'd probably opt to apply the regular way but to a very broad range of schools since it is so crapshoot.

Of course, though, I also don't have any marriage or children to worry about that would cause me to apply only one place. Those who only applied to one school, were generally those that were married or had some serious family issue that prevented them from leaving to another city. But I knew of a few who did and got in.

The other thing I'll say is that if you don't get in this time around, consider doing a Special Masters Program like the one's at Rosalind Franklin, Georgetown, BU, etc. Those programs will give you a chance to take 1st year med school classes and show that you can handle it. I wish you luck, but because I don't live in La, and have not talked with others who have lived there I don't know much about the specifics of their EDP program. Hence, I only base my info on the averages and what you have given me.

From what I know, the cutoffs are pretty much non-exsistent. I know someone who got in EDP w/ a 26 on the MCAT, he had a 3.98...but I know they don't cut off just because one area is stronger/weaker than the other.

Thanks for your opinion, its always nice to hear what other people think.

 

[TheMightyAngus]

Thanks for responding. Do you know that it would not be ok for sure, esp. for an engineering undergrad. The only reason I am wondering is because I have talked to one of the advisors at MSU who is also on the admissions board for MSUCHM, and he said that being an undergrad engineer major with a 3.3 is alright. I was just wondering if anyone else had heard anything about being and engineering undergrad. Also, what about for DO??

I'm assuming you want to go to an allopathic med school. I suggest applying to your state med schools while concurrently taking post-bac science courses to raise your GPA. That way you are indicating that you are trying to improve your application and can show them your grades if you happen to be put on hold or waitlisted. If you don't get in and have excellent post-bac grades, you will be in a much better situation for the next application cycle. Also, is your MCAT score above 30? Adcoms often overlook a low GPA if you have a good MCAT score.