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Originally posted by ta-ta-taI’m a rising sophomore at top-tier undergraduate school, but I’m already worried about being a competitive medical school applicant. I have around a 3.0 GPA, which I’m pretty sure can only increase (especially comparing my first semester grades to second) but I’m worried about the science GPA. I had a rough freshman year, beyond the adjustment that everyone has to make, which I would consider a factor but it’s not an excuse. I received a B- in biology (I had an A- as a midterm grade, but then something pretty devastating happened and hit this grade the hardest), a B in chemistry, but the grade that worries me is a C- in Calculus. I think my problem with Calculus was that I was inappropriately placed, just couldn’t keep up and didn’t realize it might be in my best interests to drop it. I know I can retake the Calculus, but how much focus will med schools place on the initial grade received? At this point I’m thinking maybe I should do a post-bacc program, but is this a pre-emptive decision?
Dear Ta-ta-ta,
Thanks for your inquiry. You still have three years of college left to get your grades up. So make each day count. At this point it’s very early to be thinking about long terms options, such as post bacs. Yes, they are available if you need to go that route. But you need to wait and see what your GPA is next year and the year after. To answer your specific question, AMCAS does not recognize grades for course taken the second time.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
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703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
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Originally posted by ButStillHopefulI have a 3.21 GPA and a 28 MCAT score (vr10 ps7 bs11), but I really want to get into a US MD school this cycle. What can I do at this point to increase my chances? Will a great personal statement and a few good letters of recommendation help me get an interview at all?
Dear ButStillHopeful,
Thanks for your question. You probably will not be competitive for most U.S. M.D. programs with your current numbers. You have several options including: 1) Apply to D.O. programs 2) Apply to a Caribbean school or 3) attend a post bac program and retake the MCAT exam to make yourself more competitive at U.S. medical schools. Let us know if you would like to have a more detailed analysis of your situation.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
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703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
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Originally posted by kareanraHello,
I am strongly considering applying to medical school, but my circumstances might preclude that. I have just completed my junior year at the University of Rochester, majoring in chemical engineering. Until recently, my plan was to get my B.S. and then go to graduate school for my PhD. While this is still a good option, I had a slight change of heart about a month ago after speaking with some med students. I have always been interested in a health-related career, but for some reason I didn’t seriously consider it until now.
I realize that I am at a disadvantage given how far into my bachelor’s degree I am. The only reason I am giving it serious consideration – with the hope that it may not be too late – is that I have already fulfilled all but two of the requirements for premed students (as dictated by my school). All chemistry, physics, and math courses are taken care of. Still, I am missing two semesters of biology, which is probably my biggest problem. I could easily take them next year and still complete my degree, but I believe schools need to see that I have completed the courses prior to the application deadline. Is there any recourse? Would they consider me if I took both classes next semester?
Another big consideration is the MCAT. Is it too late to register, and how long in advance do I need to start studying to be adequately prepared (I’m a very good test taker and I can learn material on my own fairly quickly)?
My last question I guess is whether I should bother applying at all, i.e. whether I have the credentials to get in. I have a decent GPA (3.73) and I did pretty well on the GRE (780Q/600V), although I doubt this will be considered. I am currently in a very competitive REU program in the dept. of chemistry at Harvard, and I did an REU last summer as well. I know this is a big leg up for grad school, but what about med school? Will this help me at all, especially in light of my peculiar circumstances? If nothing else, I can get a strong letter of recommendation from the professor I am working with.
So, my question is: Is it too late, and if not do I have any chance of being admitted? I am open to exploring other avenues as well. Thank you very much in advance, and sorry this was such a long post!
-Kyle
Dear Kyle,
Thanks for your inquiry. Based on the information you provide, it sounds like you have some strong academic credentials that would be the basis for a medical school application. But you will need much more, including volunteer and work activities that show you have a genuine interest in a career in medicine. My advice is not to consider applying now for the fall of 2012, and to complete your remaining prereqs next year. Then go on to think about more volunteer and work experience, MCATs, etc next year.
So I would suggest waiting at least one year before you consider applying to medical school and to reach a point where you know in your heart, and can demonstrate with evidence, that you are committed to entering the medical profession.
Hope this helps.
Best,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
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Originally posted by camisradI was very excited to find your website. I am currently in the process of applying and would like some opinions on my chances. Sometimes I can’t leave well enough alone and just relax and enjoy the wait, I have to get more info.
I have very good extra-curricular activities including nearly 1000 hours of work at a low income community clinic.
I scored a 38Q on the MCAT, a score which I was ecstatic to receive.
My only worry is that I struggled my first few years of my undergraduate studies. I didn’t really have much of a direction in my life and as such did miserably. In the end I was able to have a 3.7 science GPA and a cum 3.3 GPA, with some unfortunate semesters.
Will this prevent me from being accepted, I worry that my dumb past will haunt me forever.
Any input would be great!
Thanks
Dear Camisrad,
Thanks for your inquiry. You certainly have a great MCAT which should help your cause considerably. And you improving grades are also a plus. So, you should be competitive to a number of medical schools.
But you will need to have an effective personal statement that explains why you had some bumpy times during your early years of college. I would suggest that you contact our office and schedule a one hour consultation with one of our consultants. You would benefit from a more detailed analysis of your situation and also getting our help with your application.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
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Originally posted by spaz22I was wondering what my chances were to gain an interview at a medical school.
As an undergraduate I had a cumulative 3.10 grade point average with a major in History and minor in Biology. I went on to graduate school where I received a Master’s degree in Library Science with a 4.0 gpa. I have volunteer work with a local clinic that serves underinsured and people with no insurance where I act as an English-Spanish translator, help patients and do tasks assigned by the clinic; I also volunteer with a Breast Cancer organization for women who are unable to pay, and I also do volunteer work with the Humane Society. I am going to be taking the MCAT this fall and am aiming for at least a 30 (or an 11 average in each section) and will be retaking a few courses to improve my science gpa. One of my recommendation letters will be from my current supervisor at a library where I work as a librarian.
All the courses I’ve retaken I’ve been able to get As in, so it is my hope my science gpa will improve significantly.
Dear Spaz22,
Thanks for contacting us. Unfortunately I don’t think you have a very good chance of getting an interview with your current undergraduate GPA. Your master’s GPA, because it’s not in a scientific area, won’t help your chances. Neither will the A’s in courses you have retaken help your chances–AMCAS only accepts your first grade.
My sense is that you will have to do additional course work in the sciences, possibly a post bac program or master’s program, to show that you are ready to do medical school level work and can perform at a high level of academic achievement.
Hope this helps.
Best,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
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Originally posted by atrehan12Hello,
I am Akriti and recently graduated from college with a major in Biology and minor in Business and Biomedical Sciences & Technology. I am very much interested in attending medical school in the United States. I had a question regarding the prerequisites that are required for admission into medical schools. Few of the prerequisites I took in college, I had not excelled in. I was wondering if there is a possibility for me to retake those courses to show medical school that I have improved. How do medical schools look at courses that were retaken? Also, I am getting my masters degree in Tumor Biology where I will take courses like Biochemistry and molecular biology. I am getting the masters degree to show the medical school that I have improved from my undergraduate study. I would like to know will my masters degree help me in my application?
Dear Atrehan12,
Thanks for your inquiry. Retaking undergraduate courses for a higher grade won’t help your cause–AMCAS on looks at the first grade you made in a course. It’s good that you are doing a masters degree in a scientific area. If you make really good grades in that program and then do very well on the MCAT exam, your chances for medical school should be improved. It’s possible also that you might look at post bac programs in medical sciences.
Hope this helps.
Best,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
quote:
Originally posted by wsheltonquote:
Originally posted by atrehan12Hello,
I am Akriti and recently graduated from college with a major in Biology and minor in Business and Biomedical Sciences & Technology. I am very much interested in attending medical school in the United States. I had a question regarding the prerequisites that are required for admission into medical schools. Few of the prerequisites I took in college, I had not excelled in. I was wondering if there is a possibility for me to retake those courses to show medical school that I have improved. How do medical schools look at courses that were retaken? Also, I am getting my masters degree in Tumor Biology where I will take courses like Biochemistry and molecular biology. I am getting the masters degree to show the medical school that I have improved from my undergraduate study. I would like to know will my masters degree help me in my application?
Dear Atrehan12,
Thanks for your inquiry. Retaking undergraduate courses for a higher grade won’t help your cause–AMCAS on looks at the first grade you made in a course. It’s good that you are doing a masters degree in a scientific area. If you make really good grades in that program and then do very well on the MCAT exam, your chances for medical school should be improved. It’s possible also that you might look at post bac programs in medical sciences.
Hope this helps.
Best,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
Hello,
My chemistry grade is a D and I think I might take that course again because I want medical school to know that I did improve. Also, Are you suggesting that I also take a post-bacc program after my masters that could help my credentials? Do the Post-bacc programs from Drexel like the MSP or Georgetown SMP program help my application? I really want medical schools that my undergraduate performance will never be repeated again.
quote:
Originally posted by atrehan12quote:
Originally posted by wsheltonquote:
Originally posted by atrehan12Hello,
I am Akriti and recently graduated from college with a major in Biology and minor in Business and Biomedical Sciences & Technology. I am very much interested in attending medical school in the United States. I had a question regarding the prerequisites that are required for admission into medical schools. Few of the prerequisites I took in college, I had not excelled in. I was wondering if there is a possibility for me to retake those courses to show medical school that I have improved. How do medical schools look at courses that were retaken? Also, I am getting my masters degree in Tumor Biology where I will take courses like Biochemistry and molecular biology. I am getting the masters degree to show the medical school that I have improved from my undergraduate study. I would like to know will my masters degree help me in my application?
Dear Atrehan12,
Thanks for your inquiry. Retaking undergraduate courses for a higher grade won’t help your cause–AMCAS on looks at the first grade you made in a course. It’s good that you are doing a masters degree in a scientific area. If you make really good grades in that program and then do very well on the MCAT exam, your chances for medical school should be improved. It’s possible also that you might look at post bac programs in medical sciences.
Hope this helps.
Best,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
Hello,
My chemistry grade is a D and I think I might take that course again because I want medical school to know that I did improve. Also, Are you suggesting that I also take a post-bacc program after my masters that could help my credentials? Do the Post-bacc programs from Drexel like the MSP or Georgetown SMP program help my application? I really want medical schools that my undergraduate performance will never be repeated again.
Dear Akriti,
Not a bad idea to retake the course you made a D in. Apart from showing you can earn a higher grade, you also need to learn the material well. I am not sure if you will need to do an additional post bac after your master in tumor biology, but I would keep it open as a possibility. You may want to apply to medical school when you finish your current masters and see if you get any offers. If not, the next step would be to go on to the post bac programs, like the ones you mention.
Good luck,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
quote:
Originally posted by biochem1202I currently attend the University of Central Florida. Currently I have a 3.37 GPA. I am a attempting to be a quadruple major where I will receive 3 B.S. degrees in Chemistry, Biology, and Molecular and Microbiology and 1 B.A. degree in History. I have completed all the required requisites for my Chemistry and Biology degrees and am finishing up courses in my M&M and History degrees.
I have worked in a research lab for the past year where I was recently published as the third author in the Journal of Nanobiotechnology. My research was focused in using gold nanoparticles to aid in the detection of PSA biomarkers. I also worked as a tutor for 2 years at my local community college. I have gained 200 volunteer hours at my local hospital in which I was a transporter.
Currently I am shadowing a pediatrician where I have gained a total of 30 clinical hours. I was the treasurer of Phi Theta Kappa (an honors society) for a year. I was also the secretary of my student government association for a year. I am a member of the American Chemical Society, Pre-Med AMSA UCF chapter, and the Golden Key International Honor Society. I was also a student leader of my church when we went away for summer bible camps.
I am not a traditional student as I am 25 and will be 26 in December. Instead of going to college right out of high school, I decided to start my own business so that I could support my academic career. I currently own a truck driving business in which we deliver diesel, jet fuel, regular gasoline, and kerosene all over the state of Florida, and sometimes we travel to Georgia and Alabama.
I am currently scheduled to take my MCAT tomorrow. Depending on my MCAT score do you believe I would be a decent candidate for medical schools?
Biochem 1202,
Thanks for your question. You have a solid record. With a good MCAT score, you very well could be competitive, particularly in some of your instate schools.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
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703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
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