I am a junior, my gpa is a 3.6 c and a 3.3 science, my main problem is my orgo chem where I got a C and then a C+ in orgo 2, my other grades are A's and maybe 2 B+'s, I;ve been doing alzhiemr's research for the past year and a half, went to peru on a public health campiagn, been volunteering in different events (NY cares, etc) and shadowed a doctor. I also started a tutoring business altho I don't know if this is something to submit to medical schools. If I raise my gpa to a 3.7 what kind of Mcat score do I need to get into a M. D. school in the U. S.?
Where do I stand?
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Realize your junior year GPA will be weighted the most. Your C's in Orgo will hurt you I hate to say, but you can redeem yourself on the MCAT. Aim for over a 30, but if you really want to show them your potential bust over a 34. You have very good research/volunteering it looks like.
Also don't underestimate how important your interview is, a lot can be made or broken with that.
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I would strongly consider retaking the Orgo classes. C's are acceptable at most schools, but they definitely look bad on pre-med pre-reqs. Other than that, your app looks strong. With a 29-31, you start having a shot at some schools; with about a 34-36 you look very competitive at most schools and have a shot almost anywhere.
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A lot of people would suggest repeating the Orgo classes and getting at least a B. However, there are folks on SDN who've been accepted without doing so (but report having a lot of explaining to do). An option is to prove you can get an A in a higher level chemistry course, like Biochem (which I'd highly recommend takining before med school anyway). Many schools allow you to substitute biochem for a second semester of Orgo, BTW. A good reason to consider retaking would be if you didn't understand the material well enough to do great on the MCAT.
I think you'll need way more clinical experience than what you've listed. Admissions committees need to see that you have a basis for deciding on medicine as a career, and an understanding of what being a physician entails. Many applicants have hundreds of hours of volunteering or work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or hospice (or other). Also consider shadowing more than one type of specialist. The research sounds great. Listing a business you started is good as it demonstrates leadership, another important category. Tutoring shows leadership, too. The Peru experience is interesting and makes you look well-rounded, but did you work face-to-face with patients, educating them perhaps, or anything that would make it a "clinical" experience? Keep up your other humanitarian volunteering, as that is important, too.
Assuming you are a US citizen, you should be fine with an MCAT of 30, but higher is always better, of course, and increases the number of schools willing to consider you.
I think you'll need way more clinical experience than what you've listed. Admissions committees need to see that you have a basis for deciding on medicine as a career, and an understanding of what being a physician entails. Many applicants have hundreds of hours of volunteering or work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or hospice (or other). Also consider shadowing more than one type of specialist. The research sounds great. Listing a business you started is good as it demonstrates leadership, another important category. Tutoring shows leadership, too. The Peru experience is interesting and makes you look well-rounded, but did you work face-to-face with patients, educating them perhaps, or anything that would make it a "clinical" experience? Keep up your other humanitarian volunteering, as that is important, too.
Assuming you are a US citizen, you should be fine with an MCAT of 30, but higher is always better, of course, and increases the number of schools willing to consider you.
My father also happens to be a doctor so if I shadow him does that look legit/ count as more shadowing? In Peru I was face to face with patients almost every day, I did a variety of work there including dentistry, general health (where locals would come for random conditions), and some blood work too. I'm thinking about going to a similar program in Argentina this summer - but am wondering if it is worth it? I'm also a chem major so I'm going to be taking anayltical and physical chemistry next semester - would that be enough?
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The general opinion is that clinical experiences with relatives are suspect. It would be better to line up some shadowing (maybe with dad's help) with one of his colleagues.
Your Peru experience sounds excellent as a clinical experience. I did something like that myself several times, and found that it's a lot easier to be directly involved in patient care in third world countries. I think it's worth it if you have the funding, and no similiar clinic situation is available at home (like a free clinic).
I think (and it's just my opinion) that Analytical and P Chem would be fine if your Cs were in Gen Chem, but it's not an upper level chem course that builds on what you learned in Orgo and proves you mastered it (the way Biochem sorta does). Other's opinions might vary, but you'd still need to get an A in the subject to redeem yourself.
Your Peru experience sounds excellent as a clinical experience. I did something like that myself several times, and found that it's a lot easier to be directly involved in patient care in third world countries. I think it's worth it if you have the funding, and no similiar clinic situation is available at home (like a free clinic).
I think (and it's just my opinion) that Analytical and P Chem would be fine if your Cs were in Gen Chem, but it's not an upper level chem course that builds on what you learned in Orgo and proves you mastered it (the way Biochem sorta does). Other's opinions might vary, but you'd still need to get an A in the subject to redeem yourself.
