<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>I am about to enter my third year of college (my first year was at Michigan State, GPA 3.0, my second year onwards was at/will be at Michigan, GPA so far 2.8, currently on the rise). I sincerely believe I can get it up to a 3.5 or so in the next two years. Part of the reason is that I've had a lot of problems back home, and I am also on the executive board for the lacrosse club and I do research at a microbiology lab so I'm pretty busy. I am likely getting a letter of rec from a heart surgeon I have shadowed sporadically. I am also expecting a pretty high MCAT score, as I've gotten close to 30 on my practice tests and I haven't even taken most of the classes needed for the test (with prep classes, let's approximate a 35 or so). </p>
<p>So my overall question is: where should I apply? I want to optimize my chances and go to the best school I can, so I'm willing to take some long shots, but I'm looking for decent schools more in the range of my abilities. Suggestions? Thanks all!</p>
<p>Less than a 3.5 GPA overall and your chances at any US medical school are minimal.</p>
<p>You have chosen to give your studies a low priority.</p>
<p>I’m assuming my GPA will be around a 3.5 by the time I apply.</p>
<p>3.0 freshman year, 2.8 sophomore year. You would need a 4.0 in your junior and senior year to get a 3.5 cumulative GPA. How do you plan to do that? You will apply at the start of you senior year. Even with a 4.0 junior year, that would give you a 3.27 cumulative GPA. Do you plan to drop lacrosse?</p>
<p>I’ve been taking extra semesters in the spring/summer which have been helping to drag my GPA up.</p>
<p>And yes, I think lacrosse is distracting me so I am probably dropping it next semester.</p>
<p>If you can get a 3.5 and a 35 with some research and hopefully a publication or two under your belt, I believe you will get into a U.S medical school within 1 or 2 rounds of applications. However, to maximize your chances in becoming a physician, don’t hesitate to apply to D.O schools as well. Though they are still highly competitive, your GPA will be less of an issue when vying for spots at some of their programs.</p>
<p>Thank you HelloNelly, your comments are the most constructive I’ve received yet. This is probably a dumb question but will it help any that I go to U of M? I am told the rigor of Michigan classes is a plus to med schools, and I think Michigan is one of the top 10 “pre-med schools”. I’m obviously not banking on this heavily but I’m trying to accummulate little plus points where I can to offset the tragic GPA gap.</p>