What schools should i be applying to

[ponybreeder4]

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Hi guys..so im just wondering, for someone with my stats...what schools should i apply to to have realistic chances

Cali resident
top 20 undergrad
- 3.3 GPA/3.0 science ( i know these are gonna hurt me real bad)
- over 300 hours volunteering
- leadership positions in 2 on campus club one secretary the other volunteer chair
- participation in summer program for those interested in rural medicine/serving underserved populations
- 2 research positions- one done for a quarter the other for 2 quarters..getting a publication out of that
- shadowing various specialities
- work with patient affairs to get feedback from patients about residents
- tutoring program for teens from disadvantaged backgrounds
- play in university philarmonic, private violin recitals
(MCAT not yet taken)

 

[202781]

Hi guys..so im just wondering, for someone with my stats...what schools should i apply to to have realistic chances

Cali resident
top 20 undergrad
- 3.3 GPA/3.0 science ( i know these are gonna hurt me real bad)
- over 300 hours volunteering
- leadership positions in 2 on campus club one secretary the other volunteer chair
- participation in summer program for those interested in rural medicine/serving underserved populations
- 2 research positions- one done for a quarter the other for 2 quarters..getting a publication out of that
- shadowing various specialities
- work with patient affairs to get feedback from patients about residents
- tutoring program for teens from disadvantaged backgrounds
- play in university philarmonic, private violin recitals
(MCAT not yet taken)

Take the MCAT and ask later, that is the only way we will really be able to guess.

My feeling is that you will not have much of a chance for a medical school unless you get in the 97% of all MCAT test takers (35+ or so)

You may have a chance at Osteopathic school though if you get a 28+

 

[funkymunkytoes]

Take the MCAT and ask later, that is the only way we will really be able to guess.

My feeling is that you will not have much of a chance for a medical school unless you get in the 97% of all MCAT test takers (35+ or so)

You may have a chance at Osteopathic school though if you get a 28+

That (the bolded) is bogus. You won't need a 35+ to get into med school. But he is right in saying that we can't answer your question until you take the MCAT.

 

[aznb0y129]

That (the bolded) is bogus. You won't need a 35+ to get into med school. But he is right in saying that we can't answer your question until you take the MCAT.

I think he said that because the OP is a Cali resident and has a 3.3 cum/3.0 sci GPA.

 

[Dr Lyss]

I think he said that because the OP is a Cali resident and has a 3.3 cum/3.0 sci GPA.

Yea i would definitely take a shotgun approach. If you can afford it, apply to at least 20 schools. make sure they are mixed (not all low ranking, now all high ranking) & I would apply to some DO schools for good measure. Good luck

 

[funkymunkytoes]

I don't think the OP is limiting himself/herself to Cali schools.

 

[aznb0y129]

I don't think the OP is limiting himself/herself to Cali schools.

Even so, seeing as matriculant averages nationally are 3.6/30, a 3.3 GPA is going to warrant an MCAT score closer to 35 to compensate.

 

[silas2642]

Hi guys..so im just wondering, for someone with my stats...what schools should i apply to to have realistic chances

Cali resident
top 20 undergrad
- 3.3 GPA/3.0 science ( i know these are gonna hurt me real bad)
- over 300 hours volunteering
- leadership positions in 2 on campus club one secretary the other volunteer chair
- participation in summer program for those interested in rural medicine/serving underserved populations
- 2 research positions- one done for a quarter the other for 2 quarters..getting a publication out of that
- shadowing various specialities
- work with patient affairs to get feedback from patients about residents
- tutoring program for teens from disadvantaged backgrounds
- play in university philarmonic, private violin recitals
(MCAT not yet taken)

Need an mcat score in order to give you any kind of answer. If you score really, really well then you may have a chance at some US allopathic schools (unless you're a URM; sorry, I'm going to get flamed, but that's the truth). If you have a mediocre mcat score, then consider an smp to compensate for the gpa or osteopathic schools/Caribbean. If you choose to apply to osteo, I'd definitely apply to allo too because you never know what might happen. This is a weird process. But study hard for that mcat.

 

[Jolie South]

moving this to "what are my chances?"

 

[dwc929]

Hi guys..so im just wondering, for someone with my stats...what schools should i apply to to have realistic chances

Cali resident
top 20 undergrad
- 3.3 GPA/3.0 science ( i know these are gonna hurt me real bad)
- over 300 hours volunteering
- leadership positions in 2 on campus club one secretary the other volunteer chair
- participation in summer program for those interested in rural medicine/serving underserved populations
- 2 research positions- one done for a quarter the other for 2 quarters..getting a publication out of that
- shadowing various specialities
- work with patient affairs to get feedback from patients about residents
- tutoring program for teens from disadvantaged backgrounds
- play in university philarmonic, private violin recitals
(MCAT not yet taken)

Even with an amazing MCAT score (much easier said than done), it might be difficult. I was in a similar position coming out of undergrad and ultimately decided not to take my chances and I went through an SMP program instead. To my knowledge, I don't know any ~3.0 GPAs from CA getting in w/o extra schooling so far. But if you decide to go for it now, best of luck!

 

[ponybreeder4]

more opinions please!

 

[hal9000]

more opinions please!

Gun it for the MCAT dude. Have you taken a look at the school selection spreadsheet? Play around with different MCAT numbers... and see what schools work for you.

 

[scbradfo]

"Even so, seeing as matriculant averages nationally are 3.6/30, a 3.3 GPA is going to warrant an MCAT score closer to 35 to compensate"

What?! This is my first time posting here...I've been skimming these threads ever since I started applying to med schools, and replies to these posts scared the hell out of me. 🙂

Don't let reported GPA/MCAT averages get you down (though using them to weed out the schools that would be a waste of money applying to is helpful). 3.3 cum/3.0 science GPA was about what I had when I applied. MCAT 31. There's hope!

Definitely study for the MCAT, but do you have a premed advisor at your school? They'd be able to offer you more substantial advice to put together a killer application--don't underestimate the value of a really good personal statement and letters of recs for your secondaries. Your extracurriculars, research, and volunteer work are impressive; use them!

Best of luck!

 

[drizzt3117]

"Even so, seeing as matriculant averages nationally are 3.6/30, a 3.3 GPA is going to warrant an MCAT score closer to 35 to compensate"

What?! This is my first time posting here...I've been skimming these threads ever since I started applying to med schools, and replies to these posts scared the hell out of me. 🙂

Don't let reported GPA/MCAT averages get you down (though using them to weed out the schools that would be a waste of money applying to is helpful). 3.3 cum/3.0 science GPA was about what I had when I applied. MCAT 31. There's hope!

Definitely study for the MCAT, but do you have a premed advisor at your school? They'd be able to offer you more substantial advice to put together a killer application--don't underestimate the value of a really good personal statement and letters of recs for your secondaries. Your extracurriculars, research, and volunteer work are impressive; use them!

Best of luck!

Keep in mind the OP is a CA resident so they can't fall back on their state schools.

 

[scbradfo]

Keep in mind the OP is a CA resident so they can't fall back on their state schools.

That's what other schools are for.

 

[drizzt3117]

That's what other schools are for.

Take a look at the Reapplicants (MD/DO) forum. It's disproportionately populated by CA residents. Applying broadly and a good MCAT will help but it's tough coming out of CA.

 

[scbradfo]

Take a look at the Reapplicants (MD/DO) forum. It's disproportionately populated by CA residents. Applying broadly and a good MCAT will help but it's tough coming out of CA.

I'm curious as to why that is, actually. I understand that schools give preference to residents of that particular state, but is there something about CA residents in particular that makes them less likely to be accepted out of state? Schools usually ask on their secondaries if you are a resident of THEIR state, but that's it. I'm tempted to believe that the large number of CA residents on the board you mention may have something to do with the fact that CA schools are ridiculously competitive, but also that CA is just a really big state (and supplies more applicants).

I was, as far as schools were concerned, a resident of absolutely nowhere (I'm an Army brat and grew up in Korea); I'm doing my undergrad in California. I was able to get 8 interviews/acceptances...the fact that I wasn't a resident didn't seem to hurt me that badly, and there are some schools that accept larger numbers of out of state applicants.

 

[drizzt3117]

I'm curious as to why that is, actually. I understand that schools give preference to residents of that particular state, but is there something about CA residents in particular that makes them less likely to be accepted out of state? Schools usually ask on their secondaries if you are a resident of THEIR state, but that's it. I'm tempted to believe that the large number of CA residents on the board you mention may have something to do with the fact that CA schools are ridiculously competitive, but also that CA is just a really big state (and supplies more applicants).

I was, as far as schools were concerned, a resident of absolutely nowhere (I'm an Army brat and grew up in Korea); I'm doing my undergrad in California. I was able to get 8 interviews/acceptances...the fact that I wasn't a resident didn't seem to hurt me that badly, and there are some schools that accept larger numbers of out of state applicants.

One reason is because schools want diversity in their classes, and don't want every single OOS in their class to be from CA. There's about 2200 CA residents that matriculate into med school, about 1000 in CA and ~1200 students that matriculate in other states, and 4937 total CA applicants. Basically there's just a ton of CA applicants, so schools who are interested in having their classes have OOS students from states other than CA tend to be somewhat selective.