Requesting advice on going into Medical School. Basically, all my questions at once.
I would greatly like to get into a Medical school and become a MD just as much as the next pre-med. student. However, I am not really sure of what my 'realistic' chances are for it. I am currently attending a Cali. Community College, (1st year student), earning an Associates before I transfer to a UC/CSU. [ I would have gone from High School to CSU immediately, but I did not apply to any because I was nearly sure I was going to do a gap year abroad, but I didn't and found out well after the college application window.]
I am currently a International Relations (Poli Sci) major. Generally a C/B (occasional A) student, I study very little. I am pretty sure if I discipline my self to actually set time aside and study, It would be more B/A gpa. I heard that if you're below a 3.3 gpa you shouldn't even bother applying. Any truth?
In High School, I did tons of extra-curricular's, I.E. Varsity sports (captain for two years), Exchange Program, Several Community service clubs doing something nearly every weekend. I've heard that college EC's play a big role into applications. Is this true? and should I pursue them or focus more on grades/mcat?
Another thing that I am concerned about is that I am a Non-Sci. Major group. My reasoning on why I do not wish to change it is that In the long run, If I am turned down from Med. Schools with a Science degree, It would be of little use to me as I have near to no interest in that field other than the possibility of practicing medicine. Therefore, I would like to use it (my poli sci major) as a back up. Will a non-sci. major greatly decrease my chances? I still plan on taking several "pre-med courses", Chem, Bio, Physics, Calc, Anatomy,etc. And just use them to fill my elective requirements as Poli Sci isn't a very science demanding field. I've also read that they focus on Sci GPA vs regular GPA more. Is this true?
I also would greatly appreciate advice on the MCAT. I understand that it is very demanding, Many more times demanding than the SAT, (scored 1820 with little study prep. took it twice). My current plan for it is to have about 6-9 months of study-prep. before I take it. I am also thinking about hiring a tutor just for it in the coming weeks before I take it. I've also heard there are several MCAT prep courses during certain times of the year. Can anyone tell about the quality of them? Do they make a difference? Ideally, I would like to achieve about a 30-33. Is that very competitive considering my previous background I have laid out? And all in all, if you read what I have written (thank you), Any idea on my chances for getting into a Medical School in the US.
Many thanks in advance for anyone that took the time to read this and answer my questions. It means a lot.
I would greatly like to get into a Medical school and become a MD just as much as the next pre-med. student. However, I am not really sure of what my 'realistic' chances are for it. I am currently attending a Cali. Community College, (1st year student), earning an Associates before I transfer to a UC/CSU. [ I would have gone from High School to CSU immediately, but I did not apply to any because I was nearly sure I was going to do a gap year abroad, but I didn't and found out well after the college application window.]
I am currently a International Relations (Poli Sci) major. Generally a C/B (occasional A) student, I study very little. I am pretty sure if I discipline my self to actually set time aside and study, It would be more B/A gpa. I heard that if you're below a 3.3 gpa you shouldn't even bother applying. Any truth?
In High School, I did tons of extra-curricular's, I.E. Varsity sports (captain for two years), Exchange Program, Several Community service clubs doing something nearly every weekend. I've heard that college EC's play a big role into applications. Is this true? and should I pursue them or focus more on grades/mcat?
Another thing that I am concerned about is that I am a Non-Sci. Major group. My reasoning on why I do not wish to change it is that In the long run, If I am turned down from Med. Schools with a Science degree, It would be of little use to me as I have near to no interest in that field other than the possibility of practicing medicine. Therefore, I would like to use it (my poli sci major) as a back up. Will a non-sci. major greatly decrease my chances? I still plan on taking several "pre-med courses", Chem, Bio, Physics, Calc, Anatomy,etc. And just use them to fill my elective requirements as Poli Sci isn't a very science demanding field. I've also read that they focus on Sci GPA vs regular GPA more. Is this true?
I also would greatly appreciate advice on the MCAT. I understand that it is very demanding, Many more times demanding than the SAT, (scored 1820 with little study prep. took it twice). My current plan for it is to have about 6-9 months of study-prep. before I take it. I am also thinking about hiring a tutor just for it in the coming weeks before I take it. I've also heard there are several MCAT prep courses during certain times of the year. Can anyone tell about the quality of them? Do they make a difference? Ideally, I would like to achieve about a 30-33. Is that very competitive considering my previous background I have laid out? And all in all, if you read what I have written (thank you), Any idea on my chances for getting into a Medical School in the US.
Many thanks in advance for anyone that took the time to read this and answer my questions. It means a lot.