<p>Hi everybody,
I am a rising junior studying molecular-cellular biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who plans on pursuing an MD/PhD after graduation. However, I believe that my entrance to a good medical school may be hindered by two problems.
First, I was not originally planning to pursue medicine. I spent my first two semesters at UIUC undecided (previously I was considering architecture), and GPA reflects that. In spite of receiving a 3.55 and 3.85 respectively for my last two semesters, my GPA still remains at a low 3.45 from a B/B+ average freshman year. They say that medical programs look at improvement, and every semester since I've arrived I have improved, but nevertheless raising my GPA substantially (say, to a 3.7) will be difficult if even possible.
Second, I have very little volunteering experience. It is said that pre-med students should have participated in over 100 hours of documented volunteering, and personally I only have a few hours of community work, none of which are well documented. I am beginning to realize I don't know how to find volunteering opportunities. Now that I am already halfway through my undergraduate career, I really need to begin working. </p>
<p>I do have, to my defense, an internship in toxicology research, and I plan on participating in further research on campus. I am also fairly confident in my ability to score well on the MCAT. Yet, I worry that these two factors will detract severely from an otherwise good application. What should I do?
Sincerely,
Fufufu</p>
<p>If you are a native of Illinois, there are many choices and if you do well in MCAT you may stand a chance. You also have the opportunity to try to finish MS before applying.</p>
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<p>Why? Can you answer this question in a convincing manner? How much research have you done? Applying MD/PhD is all about the research. You need years of it. You need to fully understand it. Should you get interviews, you will be grilled by top scientist to explain what you’ve done and why. You need to be fully committed to the physician/scientist path. </p>
<p>For the future, cannot change the past, no matter what is the plan, it is worthwhile to try your best. So, it is NOT your plan that prevented you from receiving As, but your attitude.<br>
No personal experience, just have been reading here that MD/PhD is much harder to get into than just MD. Why you would not consider just MD? And talking “late”, the oldest in D’s Medical School class when they started first year, was 46 y o. You do not sound like you are in your 40s. What is your actual problem? It is not clear from your post.</p>
<p>Plumazul is right…why MD/PhD??? why not just MD??</p>
<p>As to only applying to MD program: </p>
<p>S ended up with overall/science GPAs under 3.20 at end of freshman year. He worked hard over next 3 years. Although he did not get straight As during these 3 years he did manage to pull his overall/science GPAs up and did very well on MCAT. As he is from crazy competitive CA, it was necessary for him to apply OOS. Last year he graduated from med school and will be starting his second year in residency next month in CA. So you still can overcome these problems. However you’re some ways off from having an “otherwise good application.”</p>
<p>Although your GPA is moving in the right direction, to get your GPA up to a more competitive level you’ll probably have to finish college first, maybe even pursue some additional educational opportunities (e.g. MS), and then apply to med school as opposed to applying after your junior year. You just can’t be “confident in my ability to score well on the MCAT,” you actually have to do well on MCAT. As to volunteering, research, etc , what are you waiting for? In addition to MD pathway, don’t overlook DO pathway. Good luck.</p>