<p>so guys this may sound really pathetic but here it goes</p>
<p>i just finished my sophomore year at northwestern university and my gpa is a 3.176. I know pretty damn disgusting. The thing is my grades have improved a lot since freshman year and if i continue to do so, i think i can get a 3.5 or slightly higher by the end of my junior year. </p>
<p>I'm also going to be doing some research work with a professor this summer</p>
<p>If i get really good MCAT scores, do you think i'm still competetive for med school? I live in ohio so I would like to go somewhere in ohio, preferably OSU med school</p>
<p>It looks to me like you need to be planning on applying during a gap year. You’ll need those strong senior grades to make up for your slow start. Source out some great rec’s, find something worthwhile to do during the gap year, and hammer that test. </p>
<p>And stop looking backwards. What’s done is done.</p>
<p>Hey, OH has lots of Med. Schools with OSU being on more selective side. Apply to all, like Wright state, Toledo, Cinci, others, you might have a chance. Your goal is mostly straigt A’s from now on and nailing MCAT. In regard to EC’s, all pre-meds have tons, it is hard to stand out in this area, just do all so that at least you have as much as everybody else. D. had Research for several years (wrote successful grant proposal, presented summary, but no published paper), very nice job as Chem prof. assistant for 3 years, several years of volunteering (some shorter, some very long), shadowing, and various non-medically related EC’s (sorority board,…etc.). All of her pre-med friends were just as busy with whatever EC’s they choose to get involved. All were accepted to OSU and other places in OH as well as OOS. Most will stay IS.
Yes, Curm is always right - look forward, no looking back, it will drag you down.</p>
<p>thanks guys. yea i think taking a gap year is the way to go. i’m a chem major so there still is time to boost my science gpa. yea i know, i should stop dwelling on the past but kinda hard not to haha. thanks for the replies.</p>
<p>so i’ve been hearing that 3.7 is like the average acceptance gpa for med schools? do you think a 3.5~3.6 at northwestern is good enough? not to sound pretentious or anything but northwestern is known for grading really tough in its science classes</p>
<p>Also it is almost impossible for you to get a 3.5.The best you can do is get all A’s and you will end up with a 3.45. That probably won’t happen but you still have a slight chance. If you are going to start taking this serious, get great ECs. Try to find a hook. Study hard (not necessarily early) for the MCAT and aim high. I believe if you try hard you will end up with a 3.3+. The rest needs to be their. Apply early and do well on essays. Try to major in psych or accounting as a back up if you dont make it, or plan to get a masters to increase stats.</p>
<p>and also what are some good EC’s anyways? i’m volunteering, shadowed a surgeon, tutored some people, working 400+ hours of research with a chemistry professor at my school this summer. what else can i do?</p>
<p>This is about average. Count on most of the people applying doing this level of work.</p>
<p>If you want to be competitive, and you don’t have out of this world stats, then your only option is to just absolutely stand out in terms of the “soft” factors of your application and cross your fingers that your numbers meet the thresholds you need to get your foot in the door. </p>
<p>No one here can tell you, “Oh, if you want to really stand out with your ECs, do this!” because stand-out ECs are going to require a ton of dedication, work, and authenticity on your part. Hopefully you’ve found something you’re passionate about as a result of the work you’ve done volunteering, researching, tutoring, shadowing, etc. The trick is to do something unique and impressive with it. </p>
<p>Finding a problem in your community (as a result of working/volunteering/etc in your community) and then doing something to fix it would be a good place to start.</p>
<p>Volunteering at your local free clinic is average. Volunteering for a summer in South America at a free clinic in a remote village is better. Raising money to start a clinic then traveling with a team to establish it then staying with docs to help run it for a year is stand-out.</p>
<p>Playing a club sport that does well at a national level is average. Playing a varsity sport and starting a league for special needs kids so they can learn to play too is better–and that could be a stand-out thing if it spreads to neighboring communities.</p>
<p>Volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club is average. Designing and implementing an after school program for minority youth at Boys & Girls Club so they can learn about opportunities for their future beyond basketball and rap, then getting your entire community behind you and attracting national attention for your work is stand-out.</p>
<p>Working at an adoption agency to help pregnant teens and teen parents find resources in your community is average. Developing programs for them to learn about their health, to learn how to communicate with their doctors, and to understand how to take care of their young children–then taking this basic model and applying it to senior citizens (with prescription medications), adults (with chronic illnesses), and children–finding support in your community and university, and then presenting these programs at national conferences, stands out.</p>
<p>Doing research and presenting a poster is average. Taking on an independent project, winning competitive scholarships and fellowships (think Goldwater, for example), publishing twice as an undergraduate (once for your project and once for one you helped design and analyze), and presenting your work at annual conferences is stand-out. </p>
<p>(I just profiled 10 of my friends and myself–didn’t make any of that up)</p>
<p>Essentially, you need to stand out. Leadership, charisma, creativity, and an entrepreneurial spirit make that easier. Most of all, it takes time and dedication. And if you’re just doing it to put it on your med school resume, you probably shouldn’t even bother–people will see right through that.</p>
<p>Getting straight A’s is very possible and more so in science classes vs. some electives (like Music or art where you compete with “major” people most of whom have extensive pre-college training in their respective fields). So, just study hard and SEEK HELP if you have slighest doubt about your understanding. Lots of people neglect the last, others who do seek help usually rip huge benefits, if nothing at least a boost of confidence. Also, working hardest in your science classes will help you with MCAT. Do not rely on name of yuor school, IMO. Also, D. has mentioned that taking MCAT right after finals has helped since at least some subject were very fresh in her memory. But it is personal preference. D. also did not need to review Gen. Chem. since she was an SI for Gen Chem prof for 3 years. Best wishes!</p>
<p>ok guys i just got my spring quarter grades back and i seriously effed up. B- in bio B in orgo and B+ in this intro to instrumental analysis class. damn. so my gpa is now 3.150. This probably changes things doesn’t it…</p>
<p>Now a days you basically have to have a 3.75+ to stand any chance at getting in anywhere. That is what a Dean of Admissions of a Med school told me.</p>