Hi Everyone! Please Review my application : )

[she____atomizes]

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Hi I am just curious what my chances are of getting in a US med school. I am a white female going to school in North Dakota. My first year was horrendous I got a 2.0, I think it was due to the adjustments I had to make to college life. As of right now I have made up the classes I did poorly in and I should graduate with a 3.6-3.7cum. I have around 1000 hours of volunteering through school activities and hospice. Also, I have about 500 hours of med shadowing and research experience. My MCAT is a 34, but I am debating on retaking it.


Thanks for any advice you guys have I really appreciate it!

[jameslynton]

Think your chances are excellent! Would apply to at least 16-20 schools. Would not retake MCAT a 34 is a good solid score.

[she____atomizes]

Originally Posted by jameslynton

Think your chances are excellent! Would apply to at least 16-20 schools. Would not retake MCAT a 34 is a good solid score.

So my chances aren't ruined, because of my bad start of a yearish? maybe a bad year and a half?

Also, I am a psych major. Do you think that will inhibit my chances? From what I've been reading it shouldn't hurt me at all. The thing I don't understand is why! if two people (one being a psych major and the other a bio major) both have a gpa of 3.8 and the same mcat why they'd pick the psych major.

[clover899]

that's very good! Oh and just because your a psych major doesn't ruin your chances at all. It only adds diversity actually. As long as you did all the courses required by medical schools and did well then you should be accepted in at least one (probably more, I don't know for sure yet)

[Compassion MD]

You should be okay. Have you taken some upper level science courses? They might help to if you can get As in those to show you are able to handle them.

Keep up the good work!

[she____atomizes]

yea ive taken most of the upper science courses and aced all of them...
my only problem classes were my generals bc i was bored

any advice? i reallllly dont want to go to an island school.

[swimchick]

Medical schools like to see applicants who have a solid, upward trend in their GPA. If you stay on track and finish with your 3.6+, I think you stand a solid shot at admission to a U.S. school, especially if you've nailed your upper division science classes.

After grades, your letters of recommendation and personal statement are very important. Make sure your letters tell admissions committees something unique about you, they want to know the person behind the stats. Your personal statement must be solid and error free. Get your family and friends to read your statement and see what they think. If you have the money, I suggest sending it to an editing service. I took advantage of such a service and my statement went from good to fabulous.

My other piece of advice is to apply broadly and put effort into your secondary statements. Think of them as a "pre-interview." Also, be honest in your responses. This is where you give admissions committees the chance to learn more about you, while you convince them that they want to interview you.

My final piece of advice: apply early! By early I mean: submit your AMCAS as soon as you can (but make sure it is error free) and aim for a 2 week turnaround time on your secondary applications. With med school admissions, the early bird gets the worm.

In all honesty, I think you are going to do fine. You're a chick with good grades, fantastic ECs and an MCAT score that most people would sell their kidney for. I wish you all the best!

[olek]

Originally Posted by she____atomizes

if two people (one being a psych major and the other a bio major) both have a gpa of 3.8 and the same mcat why they'd pick the psych major.

That's simply nonsense. If anything, they'd pick the BIO major.

[swimchick]

Originally Posted by olek

That's simply nonsense. If anything, they'd pick the BIO major.

Not necessarily true. There is evidence out there stating that science majors do slightly better in the preclinical years, but humanities students perform slightly better in the clinical rotations (and these years are the most important in terms of matching into a good residency). Overall, there is no statistically significant difference in the performance of either group. Consequently, med schools do not have a preference for science or non-science majors.

Med schools like well-rounded applicants (and this includes diversity of coursework). If anything, I'd give the advantage to the psychology major (provided all other aspects of the application are competitive).

[FOID]

i agree with swimchick. med school wants a well rounded students.