Hello everyone!
Long time lurker, first time poster. I just wanted to throw my stats into the mix and see what kind of advice I can get from others regarding admissions chances and ways to improve.
First off, I realize my stats are pretty lackluster. MCAT (taken 8/2012) = 27O, cGPA = 3.37, sGPA = 3.38. As far as my GPA goes, it's pretty much locked in, since I graduated in Dec 2012 with a degree in Bioengineering. I got a 4.0 my last semester, but pretty much hovered around 3.3-3.4 in previous semesters. Note: the sGPA I calculated myself but I was not sure whether including classes listed as engineering (which make up the majority of my college courses) count as science or not. I am scheduled to retake the MCAT this May, since on my first one I went more or less cold turkey (bad idea I know but I couldn't afford decent study materials).
I guess I would be considered both URM and disadvantaged. I come from a low income household in a recognized medically underserved community. I'm a first generation, Mexican-Hawaiian college grad. Non-traditional in the sense that I'm applying for this upcoming cycle, effectively taking a year and a half off between undergrad and med school.
For clinical experience, I have been an ED volunteer for almost 3 years, an ICU volunteer for about 1.5 years. I shadowed a physician for a few days a week starting last November, and eventually turned my shadowing into a job as a scribe and research assistant for him (clinical trials). I've been working for him since January, and I get lots of direct patient contact. Altogether, I've clocked hundreds of hours of clinical, patient involved experience.
In research areas, I worked on an independent research project for about 8 months during school, but no publication came from it before I had to stop.
As for my extracurriculars, I'm an avid martial artist (including two years of competitive martial arts with my school's team), a musician and have performed at various events for clubs on campus, and a programmer (I've designed and built websites and now I'm working on an application for an EMR system). I also used to work for a student outreach program as a tutor and advisor, helping high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds graduate and go onto some sort of secondary education.
I'm planning to apply broadly to both MD and DO schools (I'm a CA resident so I know my stats aren't good for in-state schools).
So from my standpoint, I'm not sure if my clinical/research/work/extracurricular experiences are enough to make up for my low GPA and (until I retake) low MCAT. If anyone can offer some insight as to how competitive of an applicant I should consider myself, it would be much appreciated!
Thanks!
Long time lurker, first time poster. I just wanted to throw my stats into the mix and see what kind of advice I can get from others regarding admissions chances and ways to improve.
First off, I realize my stats are pretty lackluster. MCAT (taken 8/2012) = 27O, cGPA = 3.37, sGPA = 3.38. As far as my GPA goes, it's pretty much locked in, since I graduated in Dec 2012 with a degree in Bioengineering. I got a 4.0 my last semester, but pretty much hovered around 3.3-3.4 in previous semesters. Note: the sGPA I calculated myself but I was not sure whether including classes listed as engineering (which make up the majority of my college courses) count as science or not. I am scheduled to retake the MCAT this May, since on my first one I went more or less cold turkey (bad idea I know but I couldn't afford decent study materials).
I guess I would be considered both URM and disadvantaged. I come from a low income household in a recognized medically underserved community. I'm a first generation, Mexican-Hawaiian college grad. Non-traditional in the sense that I'm applying for this upcoming cycle, effectively taking a year and a half off between undergrad and med school.
For clinical experience, I have been an ED volunteer for almost 3 years, an ICU volunteer for about 1.5 years. I shadowed a physician for a few days a week starting last November, and eventually turned my shadowing into a job as a scribe and research assistant for him (clinical trials). I've been working for him since January, and I get lots of direct patient contact. Altogether, I've clocked hundreds of hours of clinical, patient involved experience.
In research areas, I worked on an independent research project for about 8 months during school, but no publication came from it before I had to stop.
As for my extracurriculars, I'm an avid martial artist (including two years of competitive martial arts with my school's team), a musician and have performed at various events for clubs on campus, and a programmer (I've designed and built websites and now I'm working on an application for an EMR system). I also used to work for a student outreach program as a tutor and advisor, helping high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds graduate and go onto some sort of secondary education.
I'm planning to apply broadly to both MD and DO schools (I'm a CA resident so I know my stats aren't good for in-state schools).
So from my standpoint, I'm not sure if my clinical/research/work/extracurricular experiences are enough to make up for my low GPA and (until I retake) low MCAT. If anyone can offer some insight as to how competitive of an applicant I should consider myself, it would be much appreciated!
Thanks!