What are my chances?

[aggcn3]

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First off I apologize for writing what is probably the millionth "can I get into med school" that you guys have read. I just, as all of you are, am very hopeful to gain admission one day and want to do everything possible to make myself a good candidate. A little about myself I am currently a Junior Biological Engineering student (Biomedical Emphasis area). I started undergrad in the Nuclear Medicine Tech. program so the degree is going to take me 5 years to complete. By the end of the fall semester of my 5th year (when I will apply) my GPA should be somewhere in the 3.4-3.55 ballpark. I am also planning on taking the MCAT at the end of this upcoming summer. Over the summers between my junior-senior year of high school as well as senior-freshman and freshman-sophomore years of college I worked at a camp for kids and adults with mental and physical disabilities. The last two years of that I served as a Cabin leader which meant I was in charge of not only the campers, but also a group of fellow staff members. Last summer I worked in a lab at the med school for a guy who has been a fairly big professor at both Johns Hopkins and University of Chicago. He is on the front line of research of the PBEF protein which he has linked to everything from cancer to Alzheimer, to heart disease. I have continued to work part time for him through this school year, and I will be working for him full-time this summer and once again part time into the force-able future. This research is something I greatly enjoy so hopefully keeping up with it will help make me a better candidate. There is also a high likelihood of getting published in the next 2 years as well...do med schools view publishing in high regards? When it comes to letters of recomendation I will be getting one from the guy who's lab I work in (he's an MD/PhD...does this help?) as well as the dean of my biological engineering program who I have become very close too over the last year and a half or so.

My questions are;
-What can I do to make myself an exceptional applicant?
-Will med school's weight my lower engineering GPA vs. those with higher GPA's in non-engineering majors?
-I have always wanted to be an Oncologist, although I am not quite sure if I would want to do general oncology or pediatric oncology (the residencies/fellowships to my knowledge are the same length for either). How competitive is Oncology? I know it's not a ROAD specialty and frankly I don't really care because I can never do any of those 4 and be happy. But is getting into Oncology cut throat or is it fairly lax?
-Next the schools I am looking into are all here in the midwest and not top schools. I am looking into; University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Kansas, University of Iowa, University of Oklahoma, and St. Louis University when it comes to MD programs. Also I am looking into Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T Still, and Oklahoma State when it comes to DO programs. Are my chances good for these schools with around a mid-3.4 to low 3.5 GPA and the possibility of an MCAT somewhere in the mid-30s?
-Finally my family is currently in the process of tracking my family back a few generations (my great grandmother) to the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma to make us eligible for more scholarships since it has been hard putting me through school and my younger brother will be in college soon as well. Although I wish that applying as a Minority student wouldn't make a difference and schools would take the best candidates, after applying for undergrad I have learned that admissions definitely isn't fair. Will this also help in applying to med school? I know it won't hurt, but is there a big push for minorities in med school just like there is for undergrad?

Thank You very much in advance guys. I once again apologize for posting something you guys have seen plenty of. I look forward to becoming a productive member of sdn. 🙂

 

[Sammich117]

There's a whole 'what are my chances' section that probably already has most of the answers you're looking for.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=418

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Yes and no. While i personally believe that if your a engineering major your going to get some leway. The data doesn't show any trend or anything which shows that engineers can get away with a lower gpa. Unless you love engineering or are a 3rd year student, i'd pursue a easier major.

btw someone move this to the what are my chances section. MOD PL0X

 

[ksmi117]

Moving to the What Are My Chances? subforum.

Shocking, eh? 😛

 

[Catalystik]

See bolded responses:

Over the summers between my junior-senior year of high school as well as senior-freshman and freshman-sophomore years of college I worked at a camp for kids and adults with mental and physical disabilities. The last two years of that I served as a Cabin leader which meant I was in charge of not only the campers, but also a group of fellow staff members. High school experiences are only included if the activity continued into the college years. It looks to me like this has evolved into a Leadership activity, too. It is not however a clinical experience, unless you worked with the nurse/doctor providing therapeutic interventions of some sort.

Last summer I worked in a lab at the med school . . .This research is something I greatly enjoy so hopefully keeping up with it will help make me a better candidate. ...do med schools view publishing in high regards? Research is well regarded in the med school application process. Publications are golden.

When it comes to letters of recomendation I will be getting one from the guy who's lab I work in (he's an MD/PhD...does this help?) as well as the dean of my biological engineering program who I have become very close too over the last year and a half or so. A letter from your research advisor is expected. That he knows you very well is an added benefit. The letter will carry more weight.

My questions are;
-What can I do to make myself an exceptional applicant? High GPA, high MCAT, strong leadership (peer leadership is preferred), and strong community service-nonmedical. Having some unique experience or achievement in sports, artistic endeavors is very helpful. This is above and beyond the expected clinical experience, physician shadowing, and research > 2 years(for highly-selective, strongly research-oriented med schools). Teaching experience is desirable also.

-Will med school's weight my lower engineering GPA vs. those with higher GPA's in non-engineering majors? No. Well to be more accurate, most schools don't.

-I have always wanted to be an Oncologist, although I am not quite sure if I would want to do general oncology or pediatric oncology (the residencies/fellowships to my knowledge are the same length for either). How competitive is Oncology? Getting into an internal med or peds residency is easy. Getting a Heme-Onc fellowship is very competitive (but not the most competitive available). Doing research in this arena, even now, would help you.

-Next the schools I am looking into are all here in the midwest and not top schools. I am looking into; University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Kansas, University of Iowa, University of Oklahoma, and St. Louis University when it comes to MD programs. Also I am looking into Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T Still, and Oklahoma State when it comes to DO programs. Are my chances good for these schools with around a mid-3.4 to low 3.5 GPA and the possibility of an MCAT somewhere in the mid-30s? A 3.5 for MD schools is below the median of 3.65 for those accepted and above the median for acceptees to DO school of 3.45. A very strong MCAT (33-35) score can compensate for a low GPA to some degree at MD schools. It won't compensate for a low BCPM or sGPA. For DO schools, an MCAT is the upper 20s is enough.

-Finally my family is currently in the process of tracking my family back a few generations (my great grandmother) to the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma . . . Will this also help in applying to med school? If you are a card carrying member of the Cherokee nation, you may apply as an underrepresented minority, which will help you. It will be even more helpful if you've been involved culturally or with tribal traditions/concerns/establishments in any way. Then it can even turn into a golden ticket. It would negate the effect of your lowish GPA.

 

[aggcn3]

Sorry for not putting this in the "What are my chances?" section I didn't see it. Also thanks for the answers Catalystik. Another question is what about MD/PhD programs? Would I be able to get by with doing an MD/PhD and then a residency in either internal medicine or pediatrics and then do cancer research. Also what are the salaries for these positions will it be more like PhD's in the 80K range or like normal Pediatricians/Internists in the 150K range?

 

[Morsetlis]

3.5 GPA is not gonna get you into MD/PhD (but you're welcome to do a PhD after you get your MD).

 

[Catalystik]

I wouldn't consider this my area of expertise, but other SDNers have given the impression that MD/PhD programs tend to be much more competitive (stats-wise) to get into than MD-only programs (ie, a 3.55 won't cut it). You won't need the PhD to do clinical research anyway. And if you aren't involved in direct patient care, your salary would be much lower. It is the nature of oncology specialists to be constantly involved in multicenter trials. Whether you are affiliated with a big medical center or not, you could stay involved in research.

Hopefully others will come along and give you additional input. You could also look at the Physician Scientist subforum further down on the list.

 

[Catalystik]

3.5 GPA is not gonna get you into MD/PhD (but you're welcome to do a PhD after you get your MD).

Or before. A PhD would make a very nice EC.

 

[Morsetlis]

Or before. A PhD would make a very nice EC.

I worked for a year with a Swiss guy who obtained his MD, then did his PhD separately, then moved to the US, then started working for $60k/year researching. Somehow along the way he got board certified and "there's people walking around whom I have removed spleens from".

Clinical medicine isn't for everyone. You may regret ever doing that PhD after all the effort you put into it (you might not want to start med school).