what do u think (repost)

[sylvamoon]

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really bad undergraduate grades (~2.5)
low MCAT score 24 (waiting on august)
Whole bunch of pubs. 2nd author science, numerous first author, second, and third authors?

 

[sylvamoon]

uh...yup!

 

[sylvamoon]

Did you mean for this to be in MSTP?

the whole point is, the poor grades can be explained. the august mcat is probably much better. the point is, i have always wanted mdphd, and i worked hard to demonstrate that i'm a good researcher. i think i've shown that (especially) through the science pub, and the others. i really want to know if they ever overlook grades. its been years since i graduated undergrad

 

[Ecthgar]

While your GPA may be able to be explained, the 24 MCAT really hurts you....
If I were you (and obviously I'm not), I would try to just focus on getting into a med school with an mdphd program (NOT MSTP) and then once in med school enter the phd...just my 2 cents.

The most important thing is to not give up......just change your strategy as needed.

 

[Dodohead]

the whole point is, the poor grades can be explained. the august mcat is probably much better. the point is, i have always wanted mdphd, and i worked hard to demonstrate that i'm a good researcher. i think i've shown that (especially) through the science pub, and the others. i really want to know if they ever overlook grades. its been years since i graduated undergrad

Sorry, didn't mean to sound jerky, I'm just used to seeing the "what are my chances" threads in pre-allo.

 

[dave613]

the whole point is, the poor grades can be explained. the august mcat is probably much better. the point is, i have always wanted mdphd, and i worked hard to demonstrate that i'm a good researcher. i think i've shown that (especially) through the science pub, and the others. i really want to know if they ever overlook grades. its been years since i graduated undergrad

The adcoms could understand that you're a good researcher, but still they really care about grades and MCAT. The grades and MCAT show that you have the perseverence and intelligence to make constructive research when you become a scientist. Yes, you have good publications, but in terms of adcoms and what they think,they will not like the fact that your grades are lower than average. What to do about that? i'm not sure, but if you scored in the mid 30's on the august mcat, then you shouldn't have a problem getting into programs.

Good luck though

 

[researchprof]

I am in the same boat as the poster. My April MCAT sucked because of the useless verbal. I have a pub in an international comp sci/cybernetics conference proceedings and have another one in the offing for Journal of Am. Chem. Soc.

I retook the MCAT in August; I still feel 50-50 about the VR--I feel pretty confident about the sciences, but still one cannot really tell. My GPA is around a 3.9 by the way. However I was wondering if it was possible to combine GRE scores with the MCAT for MD/PhD programs? I dunno, GRE VR is much better.

Well, if nothing here works I have decided to apply PhD and consider MD after--I am 19, graduating this year and have time to still be a researcher.

 

[tedrik]

19? that's awesome...as for combining your GRE verbal with MCAT verbal, well that would be pretty awesome too, but most programs don't even care if you take the GRE. Just hope that your studying paid off on the last test and remember that you still have plenty of time left if it didn't!

 

[Vader]

The grades and MCAT scores will hurt your chances. Perhaps your MCAT will go up though.

Have you considered a post-bac or masters program?

 

[sylvamoon]

yeah its the verbal section that really got me. i got a 6 on it. i think i have a shot at improving for august but you never know with these things.