<p>I just want to get into any med school the offers a MD program. I would preferably like to stay in the city, New York City, but I guess Long Island New York is okay too. Schools in NYC are:
- Columbia
- NYU
- Cornell
- SUNY Downstate (state university)
- Albert Einstein
- Mount Sinai
I have 3.4 GPA in Biomedical Engineering.
I attend Columbia University.
I have a 37 on the MCAT.
I have some research experience and volunteer experience in the city and overseas.
I live in New York state and I am a main chair of a cultural club.</p>
<p>Thank you for any advice you have. Do you think I have a decent shot? I know my GPA is crap, but can you blame me? It's engineering. Will the fact that I go to an Ivy factor into anything at all? Thank you all, guys. Much appreciated.</p>
<p>You got a decent shot. Apply to more schools…but you have a decent shot. Columbia might buy you a couple of tenths, Bio Engineering may get you a little more. Is your 37 your only take on the MCAT? If so, that sure helps diminish the effect of that 3.4. If the rest of the app looks good, I think with a realistic list, you’ll get in a MD program somewhere.</p>
<p>BTW, six schools is not a realistic list. ;)</p>
<p>Yes…apply to more schools.</p>
<p>Here are the stats for P&S. And I third the rec to apply to more schools, many many more schools.</p>
<p>[Admissions</a> Office | College of Physicians and Surgeons](<a href=“http://ps.columbia.edu/education/admissions-office]Admissions”>Admissions | Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons)</p>
<p>I heard from others that they do not choose engineering because of high probability of lower GPA. Engineering is by far the hardest major. I have been there. Your MCAT is awesome though, hopefully somebody will give you slack for GPA mostly because of engineering, not Columbia. I believe you have a shot, appy to wide range of schools.</p>
<p>And you have a huge advantage in comparison to others. You actually will have a valuable UG degree that can lead to a nice job. UG degree in Bio means practically nothing.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. I really can’t go outside the city because I have to take care of my parents but we’ll see what happens.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This would be an awfully good reason for applying ED to schools that offer it.</p>
<p>OP, what about Stony Brook?</p>
<p>[School</a> of Medicine | Stony Brook University Medical Center](<a href=“http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/som/]School”>http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/som/)</p>
<p>“This would be an awfully good reason for applying ED to schools that offer it.”</p>
<p>-There is no applying ED to Med. School. Yes, you apply as early as possible, if that is what you mean.</p>
<p>^
Miami, there are med schools that do ED. I don’t have a MSAR to look up what percentage of them do, but I remember seeing quite a few of them.</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/requirements/edp/[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/requirements/edp/</a></p>
<p>Lots of med schools have ED, though IDK which in NYC. OP, could you give us more details on how much you take care of your parents and the circumstances that would prevent you from leaving.</p>
<p>*Thanks guys. I really can’t go outside the city because I have to take care of my parents but we’ll see what happens. *</p>
<p>What do you mean? How will you “take care of your parents” while in med school? What is it that they need you to do for them? Will you have time to “help them” while in very-time-demanding-football? </p>
<p>Also… you still need to apply around, because what will you do if you don’t get into ANY local schools? If you apply around and get accepted to one local, then that’s fine, but what if you don’t get accepted to ANY nearby schools?</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, I admire children who help out their parents. But, then you’ll face the same issue with residencies. Do you have any siblings? Do you have extended family? Can you move your family with you?</p>
<p>Sorry if I was unclear. Thank you all for your responses. </p>
<p>@plumazul, Stonybrook is an option but commuting there seems like an impossibility. I’m definitely considering it though (I just hope they consider me).</p>
<p>@mmmcdowe and GA2012MOM, Cornell offers ED but applying early to one school makes the applications to all other schools pretty late.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids You bring up very good points. I didn’t even consider the future, with residency, up until now. It’s nothing all that serious but it’s just that they’re getting older and they’re not as able to take care of the house, our belongings, and most importantly themselves as well as they used to before. I pretty much watch over them now. Thanks for your suggestions - I’ll see what my brother can do.</p>
<p>* It’s nothing all that serious but it’s just that they’re getting older and they’re not as able to take care of the house, our belongings, and most importantly themselves as well as they used to before. I pretty much watch over them now. Thanks for your suggestions - I’ll see what my brother can do. *</p>
<p>Can I ask how old your parents are? Are they asking for you to “take care of them”?</p>
<p>I just don’t see how a med student will have time to take care of “the parents” and to take care of their home. If they’re not invalids then they should be doing these things themselves.</p>
<p>Do you live at home now? Do you commute to school?</p>
<p>following up on what mom2 said-</p>
<p>My daughter attends medical school in the same city I live. She lives 20 minutes away. Even as a first year–when her obligations are relatively light (no clinical rotations, no research)–her schedule is jam packed and she simply does not have the time to be of significant help to me. I’m lucky if she has time to return phone calls!</p>
<p>I understand the pressures that come from having older parents. I’m dealing with my 85 year old mother and it is a strain. But the kind of assistance an elderly parent needs–errand running, transport and help at doctor’s appts, major household upkeep & chores, dealing with insurance companies etc—med students simply do not have the time to do.</p>
<p>If your parents need help beyond small things, then it’s time to call upon siblings, neighbors, public service agencies (try the local Office on Aging) or paid household help. Perhaps it’s even time to consider relocating them to somewhere other than their house.</p>
<p>Medical school is very rigorous. You won’t have enough time to take care of your parents. If needed, you can send them to an assisted living facility and have them take care of your parents.</p>
<p>Is it just me or is everyone missing out on the fact that assisted living facilities may be too costly for someone who has a kid going into med school? Plus, I for one know the struggle in finding a well priced and well maintained nursing home. I’ve been to the most down troughted places and also to one of the most elegant places. All in all I would rather prefer that the OP consider about keeping parents well under a relative or sibling. Not only is it cheaper but it also keeps them close to family. So please don’t choose the option of dropping them in a nursing home, as I’m sure that the reason why you are not considering that too much is because of the money issue and the work alloted in allocating a preferred facility. Yes, the facillity will keep you less worried and all in terms of their health and meal, but if you can have someone closer look after them with equal care that would be good. I’m sure that they are not as old and most of the people I do see in rich facilities are usually in their 80s and 90s. If that is your situation, then I guess I would recommend a living facility. But still, there is the need to feel homey under even the best of conditions if you are far from the people you know.</p>
<p>I agree that assisted living places are very expensive and may not be affordable.</p>
<p>I’m not sure that the parents are at the point of needing such care.</p>
<p>It sounds (to me) that this is an immigrantfamily that just has some kind of tradition that kids stay nearby in order to help out with chores/whatever. </p>
<p>It doesn’t sound like they’re sick/invalids or anything…it sounds more like a “cultural obligation” where parents may have unrealistic expectations for their adult children.</p>
<p>I think the day to depart a little from parents may just be med school. In response to the “cultural obligation” that mom2collegekids has mentioned, I don’t think that it would be the ultimate thing that the OP is basing his options for med school upon. But I do sense that a little bit as well. In terms of helping out with the chores, maybe that isn’t what the parents may be worried about. They might be more comfortable with seeing their children altogether and safe under their sight everyday than having to have one or many spread out far and beyond their residence. Additionally, having to commute from home is (let’s face it) much more convinient and cheap than living far away and having to pay for airfare from traveling back and forth to see the parents and living in an apartment and paying $700-800/month. Perhaps this is the situation or perhaps it isn’t.</p>
<p><<is it=“” just=“” me=“” or=“” is=“” everyone=“” missing=“” out=“” on=“” the=“” fact=“” that=“” assisted=“” living=“” facilities=“” may=“” be=“” too=“” costly=“” for=“” someone=“” who=“” has=“” a=“” kid=“” going=“” into=“” med=“” school?=“”>></is></p>
<p>Is it just me or is everyone missing out the fact that instead of sending the parents to assisted living facilities, he could stay and help his parents at the cost of failing medical school? </p>
<p>I am not the one who has to make this decision. The OP does. Who knows, he may be wealthy enough to afford assisted living. Do you know his parents’ income?</p>