OKay Just a little apprehensive

[VHSwimmer456]

Okay I am going to be a junior next yr and i have like a 3.5 GPA maybe a little lower. And I havent taken my MCAT’s yet. I am pretty involved with a cultural organization, work in a hospital as a PTaide, research and I will be volunteering at a coupld of places too. I guess I just mean to say I have done quite a few things medically related. I just want an honest opinion at which schools I have a shot at. Within my GPA my science GPA is not that great. Its like a 3.2. I plan on retaking some classes and brining it up but I am not sure if that is a good idea either. I just need advice at what I should do…I know I want to become a physician more than anything but i really dont want to waste another two years thinking I will get in when I possibly wont??? Just any advice would be great! THANKS!!

[y82benji]

You should also post this on the “Ask Admissions Consultants” thread.

Depending on your MCAT score, you could get into Harvard or you could get into Howard (not slighting Howard, just going on the fact that their “average admitted” stats are on the lower end). The average admitted student nationwide has a 3.5-3.6 GPA and a 29-30 MCAT. However, at Duke, Hopkins, and Harvard the average is about a 3.75-3.8 GPA and a 34-35 MCAT. In other words, for each school above that average, there’s a school below it. Just the same, for every applicant above that average, there’s an applicant below it. Your overall GPA keeps you competitive and while your science GPA is a little low, a strong MCAT would keep you competitive academically. Admission to medical school is not just based on numbers either – if you have strong involvement (and a solid desire to pursue medicine) that will add to your competitiveness.

Since your numbers aren’t fantastic, you should focus on three things: (1) performing well on the MCAT – take a 12 credit load in the spring so you can study for it if you can; (2) bring up your GPA during your junior year; and (3), answering your main question, just apply to plenty of schools (maybe 20, or more), including state schools. Most students with reasonably competitive numbers (like yours) don’t get in because they don’t apply to enough schools. Make sure to apply to plenty of schools outside the top 50 but apply to a few within the top 50 as well.

[y82benji]

Oh, as for the retaking of classes – all of your classes are reported on the AMCAS application so if you had C’s in organic chemistry or something even if you retake them you’ll have to put both the original and the new grade. I’ve been told by advisors that generally you shouldn’t retake classes unless you got less than a C in them unless it is a premed class (gen. bio, gen. chem, orgo, physics, calc, stat, english) and even then it is iffy. It is much better to take a higher level course in the same subject area and do well in that. You show you can handle that information plus that you can handle the more rigorous academic course at the same time.

Finally,
If you don’t get in, your shot at medicine is not over! Taking some graduate classes (even going for a Masters) will give you another opportunity to show that you are academically capable and give you a stronger application when you reapply in a year or two. I know when I interviewed, at least half of the people (if not more) I met were not coming straight out of undergrad.

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