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Originally posted by luvsnoHi,
I am a sophomore Biochemistry major and I am trying to decide whether or not to take a gap year to boost my resume before applying to medical school. After I complete my time volunteering at a hospital, I will have over 220 hours of clinical experience. I am also President of the Triathlon club and I founded a medical mission trip to Guatemala that I will be leading again this year. I have a good GPA and as long as I get a good MCAT score, I don’t think I need to take a gap year. Do you think this is okay, or does it usually significantly help applicants to take a gap year and do something exceptional? Right now, I feel like I haven’t done anything to make myself more unique and extraordinary. Do you think a gap year is necessary to distinguish me as an applicant ( or make myself more “mature” as some literature suggests)? If it is not significant to my resume, I am leaning towards not taking a gap year.
Thank you!Dear Luvsno,
Thanks for your inquiry. With all due respect, I would suggest to you that you think about this issue of a gap year, and all other questions regarding how to make your application stronger, in a different way. Your goal is to make yourself ready for medical school and to do the things you feel are most important to you. What do you want to do? Do you need more time to grow up? The place to find the answer is from within, not guessing what the committees are likely to want see on the application. There is wide variability on what applicants do and it’s all about making a compelling case that you are ready to start medical school. If you don’t feel you need an extra year, then don’t do it. Let us know if you would like our help with the application process.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
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Originally posted by bm223I graduated from an Ivy League in 2008 with a dual degree (biology and English) but my GPA was 3.25. My science GPA is even lower. I did not like the harder/lower sciences like chemistry/orgo/physics but got As in the biology classes I took. I have since gone on to graduate school, where my GPA is 3.74. I will likely have a master’s in biology soon.
My question is about what my chances might be for getting in, if I don’t have first-author papers (I have one second-author paper), or haven’t volunteered at hospitals. I have yet to take the MCAT but will hopefully do well on it (any estimates at how high my MCAT score should be?).
I am a good writer of essays (I think) and have some personal motivation for wanting to be a doctor (my father is afflicted with several diseases, and he raised me so I took care of him until college). Any input would be helpful. Thank you.
Dear Bm223,
Thanks for your inquiry. Of all the information you provide, the piece that i am most concerned with is the fact that you have not had any hospital, patient related experience. This is something you should start working on now. Most of all, working with patients will confirm, or disconfirm, in your own mind that you really want to be a physician. At some point in the coming months you will need to take the MCAT and shoot for a score at least in the low 30’s to be competitive at a number of mid-level schools. The quality of your application-personal statement and activities- will be important as well. Let us know if you would like our help.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
quote:
Originally posted by amandaeHi!!
I majored in Neuroscience and have a 3.5 GPA (hopefully a 3.6 after this semester.) I have had a job since I was 15, have done some research in an independent study class, have like 150 hours volunteering at a hospital ER, shadowed a surgeon full time for 2 weeks, have been in a sorority my whole undergraduate ( held 4 leadership positions) , volunteered in my church every Sunday for a couple of years, gone on a couple of mission trips, and have done some volunteering at the SPCA. Haven’t taken the MCAT yet.What are my chances of getting into a medical school??
Amanda Ellis
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for contacting us. It’s impossible to give you an answer without an MCAT score. But assuming you get, say a 32 or 33, your chances of getting some interviews to some schools should be pretty good. If you would like a more complete and precise our office, and for help on your application, contact our office.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
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Originally posted by javihelpI am a junior at University of Houston Major in ART : minor in biology (probably a chem minor) and I messed up my first two years with C’s and D’s I have raised my GPA up to a 2.8 and still have about 65 more hours left to take… When i calculate my grades I wont even make it to a 3.3 with all A’s at the end of my university career. I have voulenteer work under my belt (at hospitals and advocate programs), lots of free art shows and work for clinics and patients, shadowing doctors, good references. Through my stupidity of a being a wreckless college student I fear that I have destroyed any chance of getting into a U.S. Medical school. I am determined to become a doctor.
What are my chances of getting in with a low GPA of 3.0? ( assuming I recieve an okay MCAT score)
What can I do to help myself look more attractive to the admissions boards at Medical Schools?Dear Javihelp,
Thanks for your inquiry. Obviously there is no magic short term solution to make you ready for medical school admission. It will take time. The only real solution is to start today with a new attitude and determination to work as hard as you can and be the best student you can. Check out your study habits and get some support–find a good advisor to talk to and develop a whole to approach to learning. Take it one day and time, and don’t look up until next summer. Then see where you are. Once you start achieving higher grades there are always ways to accomplish your goals. But all that is in the future. For now, deal with where you are now. You can do it.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
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703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
Hello everyone!
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Best of luck on your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
President
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Originally posted by JaymezyuHi Guys,
Just wondering what my chances are with 2 more semesters left in college. Graduating Fall 2012
cGPA: 3.1
sGPA: 3.05
MCAT: 28
EC( basic undergrad research, philanthropy chair for frat ( raised $2000), working at optometry clinic right now)Any honest adivce is appreciated
Dear Jaymezyu,
Thanks for your inquiry. Honestly I doubt if you will be competitive currently for admission to U.S. medical schools. You may want to take a look at some of the post bac programs, particularly the M.S. programs in medical sciences. There are a number of good ones around, including Georgetown, Drexel and Boston University.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
quote:
Originally posted by BlueSkyI hope you’ll give me some insights on my unique situation:
I graduated from a private university
3.46 GPA
3.33 sGPA
22 MCATI went on to do a special postbacc program designed specifically for disadvantaged students. I took medical & graduate courses and was scored against med school average for a grade. Unfortunately, I ended up with 2.5 GPA from this program, making my cumulative GPA at this point is 3.3 GPA, 3.1 sGPA.
Someone suggested that I retake a Bio class that I took in freshman year (which I got a C in), an Orgo lab (which I also got C) and raise the MCAT to at least 24.
He also said it wouldn’t matter if I retook these courses at a community college (which I prefer because of cheaper price). But should I follow this advice or try to retake them at a 4-year college?
I want to become a primacy care physician.
I know I’m out of the range for MD schools; I only want to apply to D.O. schools.Numbers are the only factor that holds me back. According to my counselor, my clinical & volunteer experiences are “solid”.
Please tell me what other ways I can improve my application!!!
Any advice is appreciated.Dear BlueSky,
Thanks for your inquiry. My sense is that you still need to do more course work and show that you can perform at a higher level of academic performance. And I don’t think a community college will help you. You need to be at a respectable 4 year or graduate program where the course work is challenging. I am sorry I can’t be more specific. If you want a more thorough review of your situation, just contact our office about a one hour consultation.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
quote:
Originally posted by JulieCHi,
As of present, my MCAT is in low 20s so I think that’s the reason I didn’t get any good news from the medical schools that I applied to.
I want to retake the MCAT in April 2012 and take upper science courses to improve my chances next year.
But the problem is that I’ve been working for the AmeriCorps State (not healthcare related, in case you wonder) since August. I need to significantly increase my score but I honestly don’t think I could pull very good scores & GPA on top of working full-time. It’s not possible for me to cut my working hours to part-time.
So my question is, should I quit the AmeriCorps to focus on my studies? If I quit working full-time, I’ll seek a once-a-week volunteer position, shadowing or something else while I study.
When reapplication time comes, will admissions really really dislike the fact that I only worked for AmeriCorps for half a year?
Any advice is appreciated.Dear JulieC,
Thanks for your inquiry. In general from what I hear you saying, my sense is that you would be better off finishing out your year with AmeriCorps–quitting a commitment like this is not usually a good idea for all sorts of reasons. Can’t you spend your non-working time with Kaplan courses, etc, preparing for the MCAT for the following year? I suggest you NOT retake the MCAT until you are scoring in the low 30’s on your practice tests–otherwise you are just digging a hole for yourself. You can’t rush this process. Also you might check out post bac programs for the year after your AmeriCorp experience. But, be patient, work hard and take each day, one at a time.
Best wishes,Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885Keep up with us on:
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