Future Plans and Premed School Search

I just finished my 2nd year at UC Berkeley, and I currently have a 3.84 overall GPA, and 3.9 science GPA in the Chemical Biology major. So far I have finished 2 semesters of general chem, 2 semesters of ochem, 2 semesters of lower div bio, 2 semesters of math, 1 semester of statistics, 2 semesters of english, 1 semester of psychology, and 1 semester of upper div bio. This coming fall semester, (as for my premed requirements) I will be taking 1 biochemistry and 1 upper division biology class. I did not select MCB as my major (the most common premed major) since I believe I do better in the more computationally intensive Chem classes than in pure memorization Bio classes (somehow got screwed by a B+ in Bio 1B). I am planning on taking the MCAT this fall, and believe I can score reasonably well. I volunteer at UCSF, and I also will be working in a research lab at UCSF this coming summer and fall. I am currently in a club that helps raise money to send medical supplies to developing nations struck by disaster, such as India and Peru. I will also be an Orientation Leader for the incoming fall class. I have work experience as a tutor, and pay for part of my expenses through this job.

I am asking about any potential holes in my current profile. I know one major issue is my lack of good recommendations. So far, my best faculty relationships have been with two TAs, one in math and the other in intro biology. I presume it is much better to get a letter from a professor than it is to get a letter from my TA. Another issue could be the fact that I received A- in both semesters of ochem.
I am also asking about future plans. I plan to graduate early in Spring 2020, and apply in the summer of 2020, taking a gap year. I am not sure this is a wise choice, since most premeds take the full four years to further strengthen their coursework. I also want to inquire about potential medical school choices that are realistic for me. Ideally, I would want to get into UCSF, but realistically, that goal may be unlikely, although I will certainly give it my all in attempting to reach it. Most importantly, I want to know what UC Medical schools are a good match for me.

Pre-meds should assume that all medical schools worth attending are either reaches or high reaches. A typical medical school applicant applies to 15 to 30 medical schools (expect to spend at least $7,500 on the application process, according to https://career.berkeley.edu/Medical/AppCost ). About 60% get no admissions, and most of the rest get one admission.

I do understand that the odds of getting in an individual medical school are very low, and that I will need to “spray and pray”. I am using “match/reach” as a relative term. I apologize for any confusion.

Assuming you continue at same academic level in upcoming year, don’t worry about the two A-s (or B+), your GPAs are competitive. Since Berkeley doesn’t offer a committee letter; med schools typically want 3 LORs usually with two from science profs, one from a non-science prof…Profs should be those who you had a class with.

Interested in hearing @WayOutWestMom’s thoughts

Why sit for the MCAT this fall already if you are planning a gap year? Only take the MCAT when you have prepped significantly and achieved the score you want in practice.

Do you have research experience? Are you planning that for your gap year?

Most successful applicants from Calif end up at med schools outside the state. It doesn’t matter which UC meds are a “good match”…you’d be applying to ALL of them plus probably 20+ other med schools.

Only take the MCAT when you’re prepared to get a strong BALANCED score.

With your 3.84 cGPA and 3.9 sGPA from UCB, you are competitive for most med schools. Coupled with a high MCAT (like 520+), then you will be golden for top schools. Top schools expect strong research, in addition to high stats. UCSF is a reach for everyone. LORs are better from professors, not grad students (TA, which is a drawback for huge state schools). Don’t rush to take MCAT until you’re truly ready (practice test scores in expected range). Are you a CA resident?

@blazingninja

  1. Don’t see any potential hole in your profile so far. Continue what you are doing/planning and maintain the good GPA.
  2. Take MCAT During semester break in Dec/Jan after doing A,B, C below
    A. Complete Biochem
    B. Practice few full exams
    C. Is Genetics covered in any of the 3 Bio courses you have done/planned to do?
  3. If you plan to take gap year, there is no rush to do MCAT.
  4. There is no harm in applying in 2020-21 cycle also if you sure you will be graduating in spring 2020. But you must plan to take MCAT on or before Mar/April 20 for sure in this case.
  5. If you are CA resident, apply to all public (except UR if you not a resident of that area), USC, Stanford.
  6. You also need to apply to wider variety of schools outside CA both public and private.

Don’t attach any wish / emotion to any particular school because it is as good as trying to determine which slot machine will yield the jackpot. Revisit school list after MCAT score is out and your GPA after fall semester. GL.

  1. Excellent academics so far. (Have you taken physics? That's a requirement everywhere.) Couple that with a strong MCAT and you'll be competitive stats-wise for any school in the country.

2.) UCSF is a research intensive med school. You’ll need some strong lab-based or clinical research to be competitive for it. I’m not sure one summer plus one quarter will be enough.

  1. Clinical volunteering? How much and type? Physician shadowing? Have you done any primary care shadowing?

  2. Fund raising isn’t the right kind of community service. It’s remote and sanitized. Adcomms expect in person, hands on volunteering with the disadvantaged. This is a big hole in your application. Find a local organization that does outreach in your home community and start volunteering with it on a regular basis. Do it ASAP.

RE: LORs

Hopefully you’ll make a personal connection w/ your PI next year and will be able to get a LOR from him/her.

TA letters carry very little weigh with adomms because they are basically a peer letter. If at all possible, try to have the professor for the class co-sign any TA letter.

BTW, it’s OK if a professor’s letter is perfunctory because the prof doesn’t know you well. Tons of students have been admitted with LORs that basically say " John Does was student in my XX class. He earned and A grade and was an excellent student. "

RE: early graduation

Start planning right now how to use your gap year productively. Assess your ECs and see where you’re lacking. A research assistant position if you need more research exposure. A medical scribe/CNA/MA/patient advocate/AEMT etc position if you need more clinical experience & shadowing.

@WayOutWestMom Is it ok to take Spanish as Pass/No Pass class my Son is a sophomore and is in a premed path? Thanks

@Calgal1

Assuming he’s not a Spanish major/minor, taking it P/F won’t be an issue…

@WayOutWestMom Thanks for your input.