<p>I'm have a 3.635 MCPB GPA and a 3.79 regular GPA at the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University with a double major in Biomedical engineering and Biology. My MCPB gpa is low because I had a rough 1st semester of college; failed calc 3 during 1st semester freshman year. I retook it however and got an A. My MCAT score is a 33.</p>
<p>What are my chances? Let's just say my extracurricular is very good. I'm in a bunch of clubs and I've done cancer biology and cell signaling research for the past 6 years and have published a paper.</p>
<p>I'm just worried that my MCPB gpa is too low for a top tier school. I really screwed up 1st semester freshman year, but have doe everything in my power to right that. I'm not sure it's enough...</p>
<p>My brother-in-law’s father has served on the admissions committee at a top 20 (primary care and research) med school, and he says that a 3.5 GPA from ANY school, regardless of top-tier, can get you into his school. Considering it was your first semester at university and subsequently got an A while retaking the course, I would not worry about it. You will get into med school – whether it is your top choice is hard to say, but you should be fine. Don’t worry.</p>
<p>Your stats are excellent. I think your initial stumble freshman year can be overlooked, and even though people say adcoms don’t care about difficulty of major it still should be noted that you’re a BME major at Duke.</p>
<p>You might have a shot at Duke, which is notorious for doing odd and unpredictable things with its own undergrads. I think UCSF is a longshot, more because of the MCAT score than the GPA. It depends on the paper, I suppose.</p>