I’m currently a sophomore at a prestigious LAC with a 3.4 overall GPA and a 3.44 sGPA. I have a solid amount of research, clinical, and volunteer experience and I plan on getting more. There is also a possibility that I will have one or two publications with the currentlclinical research internship I have now. I hold many leadership positions, am musically active, play intramural sports, and co-founded a humanitarian and activism organization that has reached speakers and groups internationally. I am planning on sticking with all of these ECs until I graduate.
If I score in the 90+ percentile on my MCAT and get my GPA up to say a 3.65+, do I still have a chance to go to a good med school? Say Duke or Vandy?
All medical schools are good… I would be honored to gain acceptance into any.
Focus on your GPA, MCAT scores and overall application ( volunteering etc). When the time comes… make sure to have an appropriate application strategy in place. I would not get hung up on certain schools.
In last reported cycle 59% of those that applied did not start anywhere. Getting into any US med school is quite the feat and can serve as a platform to get you into any area of medicine you might be interested in. Although med schools like upward trends your post has important “what ifs” that need to be changed to my GPA is this, my sGPA is this, my MCAT score/subscores are this before someone might be willing to offer an opinion on chances at any school, much less Vandy, Duke. Good luck.
You will need to average an A- for the next 2 to 2 1/2 years to pull up your GPA to the 3.55 range. To get closer to 3.7 will require almost all A’s. Your chances of admission to an Allopathic medical school will than depend on your MCAT score plus many other factors including state residency. Solid A’s from here plus a top MCAT score plus… with some luck could get you into one of the top medical schools.
Unless you are an URM, even with a 3.7 gpa and a Mcat around 215, your chances to get in Duke or Vandy SOM is not high. You should spend $30 to subscribe MSAR to find out your sweet spot in med school applications.
Duke or Vanderbilt, probably not, but worth a shot. Medical school, certainly! Try D.O. schools too. The curriculum is nearly identical with the same residency opportunities. The key is to get in and be happy you did. Flood the country with applications. All you need is just 1.