What should I do for next year? Please help, I am very confused.

[BlakeGriffinFan]

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Hi,

I posted a similar thread in What are my Chances but i think this post is more relevant here. I have already applied to medical school for the 2011 cycle and after more and more rejections, I am joining SDN for advice.

My GPA is at 3.25 and 3.126 Science GPA. I am in my last semester in college. I am a Microbiology Major. I am taking many classes right now: Genetics, Medical Mycology, Prokaryotic Biology, Seminar in the Practice of Medicine, and Plants and Society.

My GPA at the end of Sophomore Year was 2.89 and I had a 2.700 Science GPA then. I have worked very hard to bring it up while taking upper level Science Courses.

I took the MCAT last year and did much worse than I thought i would. I made a 27S (10B, 9V, 8P). I was expecting much better so I had already applied to med schools while improving my AMCAS GPA from 3.12 and 2.98 sGPA when I submitted in Spring 10 to where it is now.

I interviewed at Mercer (one of my state schools in GA) on November 2nd and haven't heard anything from them even after submitting my new grades that brought my grades up from 3.15 to 3.25. I haven't heard anything positive from any other schools.

I need advice on what I should do from here. I am currently looking into SMP's, and I am thinking of retaking MCAT in the Summer before that would start. What do people think? I'd appreciate any words of wisdom/feedback/advice from anyone. Thanks a lot

Also, I realize that DO and Caribbean are options out there, but as of now I am still hoping to get into a US MD School this year or the next before going through with those options. Thanks again.

Also, I believe I have decent EC's so far. I have gone on an ISL Medical Service Trip to Costa Rica and Panama, Volunteered at Hospice for 2 years, Shadowed a Urologist in Winter, Volunteered at the Georgia Migrant Farmworkers Clinic in the Summer, Worked with UGA Heroes, which is a club that raises money and awareness for children with HIV/AIDS (3 years), Indian Cultural Exchange (4 years), mentored a troubled middle school child for 2 years, participated in an after school program with underprivileged children to give them a safe environment to play and learn, AMSA with AMSA Mentoring Program for 2 years, was nominated and accepted for Leadership UGA last Fall, and Research for 1 semester.

I also forgot with my grades that I have made consecutive Dean's List for the first two times in college with GPA of 3.65 over the past 1.5 years and 3.77 and 3.75 the last two semesters with 4.0 in summer semester in between, albeit with less classes.

Not trying to boast because I do not have much to boast about with my grades, but just trying to give information on myself to help people give me opinions.

Thanks again.

 

[dragonfly99]

The low GPA and low MCAT are very likely the problem. Your last couple of years' GPA looks good, though. I would suggest that it's going to take you another couple of years to get to where you can get in, unless you get lucky (or you go to Caribbean or DO).

I think if your interest is getting in ASAP to an MD program, the quickest way would be to retake MCAT and get a higher score, and also try to make as close to 4.0 as you can from now on, and you may need to take more classes next summer and next fall to repair your GPA.

I think you should take a prep course and retake the MCAT, and try very hard to get your score up into the 30's. In the mean time, keep doing medical volunteer work...something more long term like hospital or clinic volunteering would be good I think. Otherwise, I think your extracurriculars are pretty diverse and they sound good. A little more physician shadowing wouldn't hurt.

The fact that you got an interview with the GPA and MCAT score that you have suggests that you had something the school was interested in (probably was your state residency plus your extracurriculars and upward GPA). I think you should hit all your state schools again next year, if you don't get in...if you do so with continued high bio grades and a higher MCAT score you might have a shot next year.

I think it's at least worth looking at DO schools as well for next year...you could cross-apply to MD and DO schools. I'm a cardiology trainee/fellow now and I can tell you there are a lot of DO's around and if you do decently well at one of the better DO schools I think it's better than trying to go to some foreign school.

 

[BlakeGriffinFan]

Thank you for your response dragonfly. I am signing up for Kaplan as we speak to try and improve my score. When you say I should take classes in the summer and fall what do you mean? I'm just confused because I will be graduating with Microbiology B.S. Can we stay and take classes anyways at school? Also, what is your opinion on signing up for SMP and applying while in the SMP? Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Johnny_D]

In addition to boosting your MCAT, you could interview for one of the post-bacc programs at medical schools that will help individuals with lower GPAs. I am from Drexel and I know they have one. You take 1st year medical school courses along side the medical students, with the exception of anatomy. If you do well, you will have a leg up on other applicants because they know you. I did not go this route, but several of my classmates did. I don't know if any of the schools in GA offer this, so you will have to do your research.

 

[BlakeGriffinFan]

Thank you Johnny. I just sent my application to the Drexel IMS Program so I am waiting to here back from them. I also am going to apply to the NYMC, UPenn, and BU postbacs as well!

 

[MIB6234]

Yeah your MCAT is a problem but your GPA is what is really holding you back. basically MD "unofficial" cutoffs are at 3.5.

POST-bacc is your best chance of getting into MD. But if you dont want to do that, bring your MCAT up and apply to DO.

 

[BlakeGriffinFan]

Yeah your MCAT is a problem but your GPA is what is really holding you back. basically MD "unofficial" cutoffs are at 3.5.

POST-bacc is your best chance of getting into MD. But if you dont want to do that, bring your MCAT up and apply to DO.

Thanks for the response. I am planning on retaking the MCAT this summer. I signed up for Kaplan, but not for the actual MCAT yet since I don't want to take it in May. I am hoping Mercer will give me an acceptance, but if not, I'll be prepared for MCAT hopefully. Also, I am applying to SMP's for the time being so I can try for MD schools.

 

[yamaraja808]

Thanks for the response. I am planning on retaking the MCAT this summer. I signed up for Kaplan, but not for the actual MCAT yet since I don't want to take it in May. I am hoping Mercer will give me an acceptance, but if not, I'll be prepared for MCAT hopefully. Also, I am applying to SMP's for the time being so I can try for MD schools.

I'll also add in something to this. Make sure you study other sources beside Kaplan as well. Try looking into Exam Krackers and The Berkley Review. I did not fair well on the MCAT after taking kaplan but did better on my 2nd attempt when I diversified my resources to study (I did the test 3 times but have done better on each time).