what are my chances?

[jlm013085]

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Hello to all,

I will be applying to medical school next spring and here is my story:

I am 24 yrs old and I come from a family with only three college graduates (including myself) and I've had to work since I was thirteen, and i continued working fulltime while attending community college fulltime. Needless to say my grades struggled during the first two semesters (academic probation). I kept at my schooling and raised my gpa to 2.78 and transferred to a four-year college. while at my current school, I maintained a:

-3.6 gpa as a chemistry major and math minor (i still have four classes to raise my gpa)
-four years of research
-2 at my school, 1 at John's Hopkins, 1 at Univ. of Michigan (I have letters of rec from each institute)
-3+ years of working in clinical environment (i also have letters of rec from numerous physicians that I have worked with)
-Sigma Xi (research honor society)
-mentor
-Orgo tutor
-3 research conventions + 4 posters
-possible publication

what are my chances of getting into med school ( ihave not taken my mcat yet)

 

[Stratego]

We'd need to know your overall GPA including all courses from both schools, and your BCPM GPA (all bio, chem, physics, and math). Did you repeat any classes? Did you get a C or lower in any prerequisite?

Your ECs look terrific, BTW.

 

[camaras2480]

Also, have you taken practice MCATs? Give us somethin to work with! 🙂

 

[jlm013085]

In my community college:
physics 1-B+
physics w/calc 2-B+
gen chem 1-B
gen chem 2-A
calc 1 & 2-B/B+

In my current school:
calc 3-A-
diff eq-B+
orgo 1 & 2-A/A (labs-B/B)
bio 1 & 2-A/A (labs-A/A)
bio chem-A (lab-A)
Medicinal chem-B

Note: classes I received a B in, the professors offered to write letters for me

I didn't repeat any classes; also I took these classes in heavy loads while working, tutoring and mentoring and during my senior project

I have not taken a practice mcat exam. I'm taking the kaplan course this fall and studying all the way up until I take the exam next spring

tx for you input

 

[Stratego]

Try using this spreadsheet to get your GPAs: http://medschool.ucsf.edu/postbac/pdf/AMCAS%20GPA_Calculator%20Version%204%20Final.xls

 

[jlm013085]

BCPM = 3.6
cGPA = 3.64

 

[Stratego]

Above you said you have a 3.6 at your current school. Could you figure in the 2.78 that you earned at the first school, too, as this is what the application service will do, and we need similiar information to advise you. Or do you truly have a 3.6 including all grades at both schools (in which case you're in pretty good shape). Sorry if i'm not understanding what you mean to convey.

 

[jlm013085]

with my other schools' BCPM: 3.2-3.3

being that i graduated from my community college with a degree, will they still put them together or will schools see the drastic change in grades and course load and difficulty that i've taken over the years along w/ my etc's. even if they dont, i know that i've been through a lot in my life and i learned from it and was able to turn my life around and accomplished what people told me i couldnt do, so in the end i wouldnt change any of it for the world.

 

[jlm013085]

tx again for your input

 

[Stratego]

Yes, schools will be able to see your upward trend as the GPA is listed year by year, and then as an overall composite. This is true for the BCPM GPA also.

With a strong MCAT score (like 34-35), you will have a decent chance at allo med schools. With an MCAT of 28+ you will have a shot at DO med schools. If allo (MD) is your only goal, you could also consider an SMP (Special Masters Program) to show med schools you have what it takes (see Post-baccalaureate Forum for info).

Here is a link to a free MCAT test you might try to see what ballpark you'll be in: : http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/practicetests.htm . If it's not as high as you'd like, consider a classroom formal prep course to help you prepare.