Will research help out with low stats

[el799]

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it’s looking like my stats won’t be great (dunno about Mcat but gpa at ~3.6) will exceptional research be a major helper to research schools when I apply? For reference here is my research.

7 pubs in peer reviews journals
Of these
3 were first author
3 were middle author one of which in Science
1 low author


4 posters including 1 national convention.

 

[So worde]

it’s looking like my stats won’t be great (dunno about Mcat but gpa at ~3.6) will exceptional research be a major helper to research schools when I apply? For reference here is my research.

7 pubs in peer reviews journals
Of these
3 were first author
3 were middle author one of which in Science
1 low author


4 posters including 1 national convention.

The research you've done will definitely help your application but it won't pull you all the way through to get an acceptance. Just make sure to study extremely hard for the mcat and do the absolute best that you can in order to give med school another reason to be wowed by your application!

 

[Catalystik]

Will research help out with low stats
it’s looking like my stats won’t be great (dunno about Mcat but gpa at ~3.6) will exceptional research be a major helper to research schools when I apply? For reference here is my research.

7 pubs in peer reviews journals
Of these
3 were first author
3 were middle author one of which in Science
1 low author


4 posters including 1 national convention.

Great research will not bail out a low GPA, but your GPA isn't that bad. What is your BCPM GPA?

 

[5yewy5r]

Wow that is quite incredible actually... not sure if it will save you for the top top schools, but if you crush the MCAT (>518) and have a nicely rounded app otherwise, I think you may fare well with mid and even upper mid tier schools

 

[Stellaartwa]

Agree with others. Good research will not make up for bad stats but your GPA isn't bad. Get a good MCAT and you could have quite the app going on. Congrats on being so prolific. It's not easy!

 

[965978]

I don’t understand the concept of one aspect of the application balancing out another.

Like if someone asks if scribing is sufficient for lack of shadowing, that actually makes sense.

But research shows long term commitment, ability to work with others, and to contribute to a project. Your MCAT shows your ability to thinking critically on your feet and your GPA shows your ability to handle coursework over a long period of time. A successful medical student needs to have all of these.

Physicians like Dr. House won’t be tolerated in real life. Being a genius doesn’t compensate for atrocious bedside manner.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

A good (517+, preferably 520+) MCAT and good ECs like Peace Corps, Teach for America, or Americorps might definitely make you competitive at top 20s with your 3.6. In fact, 300 hours each of clinical and nonclinical volunteering with a 520 or better might make you competitive at top 20s.

 

[5yewy5r]

I don’t understand the concept of one aspect of the application balancing out another.

Like if someone asks if scribing is sufficient for lack of shadowing, that actually makes sense.

But research shows long term commitment, ability to work with others, and to contribute to a project. Your MCAT shows your ability to thinking critically on your feet and your GPA shows your ability to handle coursework over a long period of time. A successful medical student needs to have all of these.

Physicians like Dr. House won’t be tolerated in real life. Being a genius doesn’t compensate for atrocious bedside manner.

Well, he can reassure adcoms that he is up to snuff academically with a strong showing on the MCAT. And a 3.6 gpa is not that bad, it's just below average... I think a 3.6/~518 with such outstanding research and no glaring holes in his app would be an exceptional applicant at most schools. OP will definitely stand out with his research alone, so it will be up to his writing if he can express how he is now ready to face medical school curriculum and become a doctor.

 

[Goro]

I don’t understand the concept of one aspect of the application balancing out another.

Like if someone asks if scribing is sufficient for lack of shadowing, that actually makes sense.

But research shows long term commitment, ability to work with others, and to contribute to a project. Your MCAT shows your ability to thinking critically on your feet and your GPA shows your ability to handle coursework over a long period of time. A successful medical student needs to have all of these.

Physicians like Dr. House won’t be tolerated in real life. Being a genius doesn’t compensate for atrocious bedside manner.

It's premed wishful thinking or ignorance of what medical education entails.

 

[el799]

Well, he can reassure adcoms that he is up to snuff academically with a strong showing on the MCAT. And a 3.6 gpa is not that bad, it's just below average... I think a 3.6/~518 with such outstanding research and no glaring holes in his app would be an exceptional applicant at most schools. OP will definitely stand out with his research alone, so it will be up to his writing if he can express how he is now ready to face medical school curriculum and become a doctor.

My only concern is I honestly don’t think I can realistically do a 518+. I think I’m decently smart but not smart enough for that (hence 3.6 even though I really try in all my classes). I’ve been offered a Ph.D candidacy at my institution now from my PI, but I really don’t wanna sit behind a computer (after my ~5 year Ph.D and ~4 year postodc) and do science research. I need to be on my feet seeing people (patients) and actively interacting to help those people out to be happy... at least I think

 

[ciestar]

I don’t understand the concept of one aspect of the application balancing out another.

Like if someone asks if scribing is sufficient for lack of shadowing, that actually makes sense.

But research shows long term commitment, ability to work with others, and to contribute to a project. Your MCAT shows your ability to thinking critically on your feet and your GPA shows your ability to handle coursework over a long period of time. A successful medical student needs to have all of these.

Physicians like Dr. House won’t be tolerated in real life. Being a genius doesn’t compensate for atrocious bedside manner.

Too bad it happens all the time and there are a lot of jerks in medicine.

 

[Rachapkis]

Adcoms are going to look at your grades, your MCAT, your research and your ECs. Of course, a strong research resume will help your application, but unless it is truly otherworldly, I would not see it as a cure-all for perceived gaps. All that you can do is: try as hard as you can, demonstrate your passion for caring for others the best you can, and let the chips fall where they may.

 

[Black_Wall_Street]

Nah not really! Kill the MCAT. I gone on 18 interviews, my research while extensive was talked about in one interview. Its a numbers game. Kill the MCAT.