Hi everyone, sorry for the extremely long post, but I would really appreciate some feedback and advice. Thanks in advance!
Although Ive never been great at studying, it really caught up with me in undergrad. I sought help during the second semester of my junior year at the counseling and psychological services, and according to the diagnostic tests, it seemed that I met the symptoms for ADHD. I then saw a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with ADHD. The medication I was prescribed helped me for a period of time, but then I hit my tolerance and did not want to increase the dosage because of the side effects. I discontinued my medication after a few months and attempted to further improve my studying habits by working on my time management skills so I could study and keep up with my classes.
I know I performed poorly in undergrad, but I would like to know if my Masters GPA will help me at all and how it will factor into my application. Do I have a chance at MD or should I only apply DO? What else can I do to improve my chances? Assuming my MCAT studying goes well and I am able to get a 32-33, will I have any luck with my application?
Planning to apply June 2014
Male, Asian, Michigan Resident
Graduated from University of Michigan in 2012
Majored in Neuroscience, Minored in Spanish and Medical Anthropology
Undergrad cGPA: 3.262
Undergrad sGPA: 2.825
MCAT TBD (will not take until consistently scoring 30+ on practices)
Activities from Undergrad:
Programmer for 1.5 years
Lab Assistant for 8 months
ICU Volunteer for 2.5 years
Pre-Med Club for 1 year (fundraising, volunteering at senior living home and others)
Research Assistant for 2.5 years (poster presented at American Association for Cancer Research)
Shadowed a Psychiatrist at a large hospital for about 25 hours
Physiology Masters GPA: Currently 3.56, should be 3.67 upon completion of Masters (2 Bs, rest are As)
Have been working in a lab this past year, completing research thesis this summer
Will be volunteering at free clinic and another hospital starting next month
Planning to shadow more (primary care and a few other specialties)
Hobbies:
Chess (competed in state-level and national competitions during high school, few awards)
Black belt in Choi Kwang Do
Trilingual
Although Ive never been great at studying, it really caught up with me in undergrad. I sought help during the second semester of my junior year at the counseling and psychological services, and according to the diagnostic tests, it seemed that I met the symptoms for ADHD. I then saw a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with ADHD. The medication I was prescribed helped me for a period of time, but then I hit my tolerance and did not want to increase the dosage because of the side effects. I discontinued my medication after a few months and attempted to further improve my studying habits by working on my time management skills so I could study and keep up with my classes.
I know I performed poorly in undergrad, but I would like to know if my Masters GPA will help me at all and how it will factor into my application. Do I have a chance at MD or should I only apply DO? What else can I do to improve my chances? Assuming my MCAT studying goes well and I am able to get a 32-33, will I have any luck with my application?
Planning to apply June 2014
Male, Asian, Michigan Resident
Graduated from University of Michigan in 2012
Majored in Neuroscience, Minored in Spanish and Medical Anthropology
Undergrad cGPA: 3.262
Undergrad sGPA: 2.825
MCAT TBD (will not take until consistently scoring 30+ on practices)
Activities from Undergrad:
Programmer for 1.5 years
Lab Assistant for 8 months
ICU Volunteer for 2.5 years
Pre-Med Club for 1 year (fundraising, volunteering at senior living home and others)
Research Assistant for 2.5 years (poster presented at American Association for Cancer Research)
Shadowed a Psychiatrist at a large hospital for about 25 hours
Physiology Masters GPA: Currently 3.56, should be 3.67 upon completion of Masters (2 Bs, rest are As)
Have been working in a lab this past year, completing research thesis this summer
Will be volunteering at free clinic and another hospital starting next month
Planning to shadow more (primary care and a few other specialties)
Hobbies:
Chess (competed in state-level and national competitions during high school, few awards)
Black belt in Choi Kwang Do
Trilingual