Where should I apply?

[neoncandle]

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OK folks, I scored really well on the MCAT... 35Q
PS: 10
VS: 11
BS: 14!

My GPA is not as stellar... I have a 3.6 overall and a 4.0 science GPA. What happened is that I didn't really care about my grades when I was a younger person and when I decided to be a doctor, I turned it on. Luckily, I hadn't taken a single science course. I have a degree in Marketing and really only the basic science requirements (I have what you need).

Where do you think I should apply?

I am applying to all the Texas schools, but I am thinking about these, too:
Baylor Medical College 1.15
Boston University 2.95
Brown University 2.82
Creighton 2.96
George Washington 3.86
Georgetown 1.36
Harvard .12
Johns Hopkins .27
Loyola (Stritch) 3.90
Mayo .27
Northwestern 1.37
Stanford 1.78
USC 2.00
Yale 1.46

The numbers are from that program that predicts, but I don't know the reputations of these schools and I was hoping someone out there could help.
I am 24... not too old for a nontrad, but that degree in Marketing isn't screamibng pre-med, I know.

Tiffany

 

[W222]

Are you fishing for compliments? This is really a ridiculous post since anyone with a 35Q should know that they have a good chance of getting in. Also, you dont know the reputations of these schools? Seven of them are world class, top schools. Are you kidding? Obviously you must be a marketing major because you are trying to sell us a lump of BS.

 

[skypilot]

Can you apply to Brown now? Or do you have to go through Dartmouth?.

If it weren't for all the Texas schools I would say your list is top heavy with reach schools. If you like Boston you have a better shot at Tufts than BU.

 

[skiz knot]

You need to wait a few years and improve your GPA by doing a Post Bacc. You should also try to improve your MCAT to at least a 39. A few years in the peace corps should also be completed if you wish to have a slightly above average chance of being accepted to a carribean medical school.

 

[W222]

I cant agree more with the advice that SKIZ NOT gave. The Peace Corps is a great idea. You also may want to get a couple first author papers in Nature or Science (should take a couple months). Best of luck.

 

[neoncandle]

Shut up! Really, I had no freakin clue this was going to happen and I really hadn't considered ANY hard schools. If you think I am joking, I am not. I had never taken a science class before last July and to be honest I thought I was the biggest airhead. I mean, I am a MARKETING major. I guess I am wondering if anyone else thinks I should go "balls out" and apply to the hard schools. Are they going to take me seriously?

 

[skypilot]

They will take you seriously but they may or may not admit you. There is no guarantee with the top tier schools as they have lots of applicants with your stats.

If you got plenty of money apply to all of them! But as long as you apply to all the Texas schools you are pretty much a lock to be in somewhere unless you blow all your interviews. 🙂 Again, I am not sure if you can apply to Brown and you have a better shot at Tufts.

 

[skiz knot]

Shut up! Really, I had no freakin clue this was going to happen and I really hadn't considered ANY hard schools. If you think I am joking, I am not. I had never taken a science class before last July and to be honest I thought I was the biggest airhead. I mean, I am a MARKETING major. I guess I am wondering if anyone else thinks I should go "balls out" and apply to the hard schools. Are they going to take me seriously?

If you are too much of an "airhead" to notice the sarcasm in the people's posts, then maybe medicine isn't for you. I think it is painfully obvious that you have very good stats that are inline with what are in the range for those accepted at these schools. You should be willing to go "balls out" to find the medical school that is right for you, not the ones that are ranked highest in US News. It has been posted eleventy million times that you should only apply to schools that you would consider going to, and that you should apply to a mix consisting of a few "reach" schools, "good chance" schools, and "safety" schools. You should alsoi read up on what these schools have generally wanted in the past in terms of EC's. I don't remember if you mentioned anything about EC in your original post.

 

[gujuDoc]

No offense, but you must be an airhead, if you don't realize that most people would die for a 35Q on their MCAT and a 3.6GPA, because those are killer stats that will get you in most places. They are close to the Harvard averages

Harvard's average is 3.8 and 35Q.

You gotta be kidding me to ask such a question as are these good stats??? They are stellar and most people would love to hold your stats and be you right now.

Actually, a Marketing degree will make you look different instead of the same as all the other science and bio majors.

 

[MNgrrl]

OK, OK, to the OP - I'm sure you realize how your post sounds to those of us that didn't get a 35, and don't have a 4.0 science gpa...we're just jealous... 😳

While I would say you have an amazingly good chance at getting in provided your ECs and LORs are good, I personally would take 1 or 2 of the very top ones, and replace then with slightly lower tier private schools. For example, do a little more research into those schools and see if there are a couple you aren't likely to attend based on location, cost, etc. Then see if there are a couple others that might be a better fit.

Some of the more salient ones I might take out would be BU (for the same reason another poster suggested), Georgetown, USC. I would think about adding Pitt.

Also, you can't apply directly to Brown unless you were in the BA/MD 8 year program, or are MD/PhD, or were in a linkage program. Otherwise you have to apply through Dartmouth.

Congrats on your amazing scores!

 

[neoncandle]

Ok.. I am ridiculous.. you are right. I am going to be fine. I will figure this out. I just want to get stuff out this week and I feel like I have a lot of stupid decisions to make. And, I am not really this sensitive most of the time.. I know people would kill for a 35Q... and I think that is absolutely ridiculous. A 29-30 would have been just fine, even for the top schools in Texas. And, Dartmouth/Brown isn't really even an option... I guess I thought it might be a reach school from the PR book with all the schools in it. I did have some good advice from some people and I do appreciate that. I am almost embarassed of my scores and don't even talk about them with friends here since my best friend (who I studied with every day/hours a day) got a 24. Thank you for letting me get that out in the open... now I will go on and be my normal, level-headed self. After all, even with a 35Q, I am probably just going to someplace normal in-state where I will be perfectly happy and fine.

 

[gujuDoc]

Ok.. I am ridiculous.. you are right. I am going to be fine. I will figure this out. I just want to get stuff out this week and I feel like I have a lot of stupid decisions to make. And, I am not really this sensitive most of the time.. I know people would kill for a 35Q... and I think that is absolutely ridiculous. A 29-30 would have been just fine, even for the top schools in Texas. And, Dartmouth/Brown isn't really even an option... I guess I thought it might be a reach school from the PR book with all the schools in it. I did have some good advice from some people and I do appreciate that. I am almost embarassed of my scores and don't even talk about them with friends here since my best friend (who I studied with every day/hours a day) got a 24. Thank you for letting me get that out in the open... now I will go on and be my normal, level-headed self. After all, even with a 35Q, I am probably just going to someplace normal in-state where I will be perfectly happy and fine.

Aww!!! You'll be fine where ever you choose to go. Do you own a copy of the MSAR?????????? It is a great resource to deciding where to apply, not just based on numbers, but also based on curriculum, deadlines to apply, number of out of state applicants taken etc.

That will help in your in your decisions.

Also, don't know your extracurricular's but if you have done stuff to distinguish yourself and prove your interest in med school, then you should be ok.

 

[Mr Reddly]

I'm in a really bad mood right now, and probably should not post... but I'm going to anyway.

I hate the comment "maybe medicine isn't for you". It seem to be applied everywhere and is usually used simply as a putdown for not having the same opinion on something as the person making the comment. For instance, "What? You have a C in Calc 5? Maybe medicine isn't for you."... or "gee, you only have 150 hours of volunteer work, well maybe medicine just isn't for you." It's as though if you are not some picture perfect image of perfection (ok, that was redundant), then maybe medicine just isn't for you. (ie, you aren't good enough for medicine... But I am... because I'm perfect... and I'm better than you.) ... It's just that I have been told this numerous times by people who are not giving unbiased opinions, but are using it against me in an argument to let me know how undeserving I am.

As for the OPs scores... They aren't that special. It looks like she got lucky in Bio. And I don't believe a 35 really means all that much. I should know, I've applied with both a 31, and a 35 (similar gpa to the op) with similar results. The key (IMHO) is all the other BS you need to do/have in addition to GPA/MCAT. With that said, the OP is lucky due to her residency. She doesn't have to worry about relocating to other side of the US and going massivly indebt ... unless she wants to.

 

[Mr Reddly]

Go here

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/

 

[cpb80]

OK folks, I scored really well on the MCAT... 35Q
The numbers are from that program that predicts...

Where can I find this "program" that you speak of?
Clueless
Chris

 

[exmike]

that "program" just plugs in your GPA and MCAT. It sucks, dont use it as your guide. Anyone on SDN can tell you that GPA/MCAT is at best a rough gauge.

OP why did you BOLD your bio score?

 

[cpb80]

that "program" just plugs in your GPA and MCAT. It sucks, dont use it as your guide. Anyone on SDN can tell you that GPA/MCAT is at best a rough gauge.
QUOTE]

Thanks for the "heads up" exmike

 

[neoncandle]

Ok, this is the deal... I went back to school last July after my sister had a horrendous car wreck in May (we are talking coma, serious brain injuries, + other stuff). I didn't really know I had a 4.0 and a 35Q in me until I tried. I can't believe how much of an underachiever I was. If anything, my score should give everyone hope that if you study, it can be done. I studied my ass off... 8 hrs a day plus a full load of science class with labs and I did what others told me couldn't be done.. I took Chem 1 last summer, Chem 2 and Ochem 1 together in the fall with Bio 1 and Phys 1 with the labs, and the rest of my prereqs this spring... So, without any sciences in my life starting in July, I got ready for an MCAT the following April and took care of my sister while she was in rehab.. If you know any brain injured patients you would understand that is no minor feat. Yesterday I said some stupid things, but I was awestruck at myself. That sounds bad, I know, but some of us got a good surprise on the 15th and I am happy about that. My best friend got a 24 and we studied together.. so go figure. My problem is that I don't have research experience... not really sure how I could have fit that in considering everything. I only volunteer once a week. The only good thing is that I am going to be working full-time in the ER starting next week (for the physicians... at their hip). I won't have time to fit biochem in, but I will have first-hand experience of what being a doctor is actually like. The schools might punish me a little for that, but I can read the books before I get there so... oh well. I have been so scared for the last year of not getting in anywhere that I made sure that I did everything as perfectly as I could... And now that I might even have an option of deciding where I want to go, I guess I am just surprised. For those lucky enough to have gotten to do really cool stuff, or those who actually knew they wanted to be a doctor before last year, kudos to you. This is all new to me. I didn't even know any doctors before my sisters accident.. I thought they were infallible, super-people... I got to learn that they are not.

 

[W222]

If you are sincere then I apologize, yet if you have been here in the forum a while you would realize there are alot of people who post stuff like your to brag, ect. I would say the next thing you should seriously do is to get some experience in the medical field to make sure you want this. Nothing worse then getting there to find out you hate working around the sick. I am being serious with this post. Try volunteering in an ER, hospice, free clinic, anything.

 

[DrRads101]

I don't think those stats are that amazing. You may get in a few top schools but it's always a gamble with these applications. The stats are only good enough to get you considered at good schools--the rest of your application and whether you fit is where it comes down to. Please realize that most people that apply to the top schools have those stats or better--so you don't have any advantages. I had 3.93 GPA at UNC and a 35S MCAT with 1 year full time hospital work experience, and was very surprised how many places I got rejected or waitlisted from. My stats were above the average for even the very top schools, but it doesn't matter since there are other HUGE factors that they consider, not the least of which whether you are a good fit for the school and are an in-state applicant who truly loves the school. Like Harvard will never admit you no matter what your stats if you are applying there just because it is "Harvard," and the same goes for other places.

And wherever you fall into the average doesn't matter IMO. For instance, Northwestern, where I am going, only admits 5% of its applicants. And who knows maybe 50% of the applicants are within range of their "average" for their incoming class's stats. It's whether or not you fit in at the school and with the school's missions that will even get you an interview. It's not necessarily that "oh I have the average GPA/MCAT at this school so I should get in." Who knows maybe half of the applicants have those averages, you know what I mean? I mean most of these schools have 5-8% admittance--that means that they only admit about 1 in 20 students. I would fully admit that there could have been 10 or so of those 20 applicants that may have had better or as good as stats as I did.

 

[neoncandle]

I do volunteer in the ER. When my sister was in the ICU, I saw young and old patients die. I have gotten to observe medical researchers from UT Southwestern doing neurology research. Unfortunately, they only hire medical students to be their assistants.

I don't mind sick people... I don't mind fat people.. I don't mind smelly people.. I think blood is cool, if someone can be healed. I spent probably more than 200 hours in the hospital with my sister.. maybe more. I have changed her diapers (and she is 20). I love people.

Anyway, I gotta get back to memorizing all the muscles in our body.

I would delete my first posts, post-MCAT, but I guess I am keeping them around so I can laugh at myself later.

And, I know my scores aren't that stellar. I am a recovering under-achiever and things keep getting better. I was only thinking of applying to a few reach schools because maybe they wouldn't mind having some diversity. And I don't want to aim too low, because that would be stupid too.

Thank you for those who actually gave good advice. I am outta here until February. I got sh&t to do.

Peace out,
Tiffany