How hard is it to get into medical school?
If you think that you want to become a doctor, you’ve got to do a serious evaluation of your competitiveness of getting into medical school. Getting accepted is hard. Real hard. Last year, only 44% of applicants to allopathic medical schools got accepted [1]. I’ll pulled some data from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings to give you an idea of what to expect.
First, you’ll have to make sure that your undergraduate GPA is comparable to other applicants. Your high school GPA doesn’t matter anymore. Further, any graduate work you do won’t offset bad grades from college. Next, you’ll have to take the MCAT. This test must be taken by everyone considering medical school. The exam consists of four parts: verbal, physical sciences, biological sciences, and writing. The first three subjects are graded on a scale from 1-15. The writing sample is given a letter score: J-T. When the first three parts are added together, you’ll get a score from 3-45. According to the AAMC, the average on each subject test is an 8, meaning that the average overall score is a 24.
Look at the table below:
The first data column shows that the average applicant is applying with a 27, three points higher than the national average for test takers. Already we see that some people have dropped out of the med school race with average numbers. Now look at the second column. Of people accepted to all medical schools in the country, their average scores were an additional 3 points higher than the people applying. Now look at the last column. I pulled this information from U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of medical schools. Of applicants matriculating to top 10 programs, their average MCAT was 4 points higher than all medical students combined. You’ll also notice that the GPA gets higher as one progresses from applicant-to-accepted-to-accepted at a top 10 program.
The story doesn’t stop there. In addition to having strong numbers, you’ll need to show admissions committees that you have “soft” skills, too. As far as I can tell, the most common extracurricular activities that admissions committees are looking for are research, volunteering, and clinical experience. You can’t fake your way through these. Signing up for a week-long summer trip through the Andes to tame the savages isn’t going to impress anyone if your parents paid for you to have a sheltered trip. You need to find a charitable organization and make a real, long-term commitment to serving others. The type of volunteering (or research for that matter) is of no concern to the admissions committee. So long as you can demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method, a familiarity with working with others, and a idea of how a healthcare setting functions, you should be fine.
There are lots of guides out there on getting into medical school. I’ll let you decide which is the best resource. The Student Doctor Network maintains a list of books on the subject.
P.S.:
Readers,
As I have already mentioned, I do not want this webpage to become an advice column on “What are my chances?” There are forums on the Student Doctor Network dedicated to this topic. I have closed this page to comments.
62 Comments
Comments are closed.
Half MD.com 
Tung said,
December 8, 2007 at 3:55 pm
I’m a pre-med student, but I started out late in the race and just started looking around the net for information. As a sophomore, my GPA is pretty much shot right now. I have also heard that medical schools do not accept D’s.
So my question you is what is your opinion of the path that a weak applicant should take? Also, are there fourms out there that have the same subject as your blog?
Thanks
halfmd said,
December 8, 2007 at 9:35 pm
For forums, start with the Student Doctor Network. As for the D’s, re-take the pre-med classes to get those grades up.
Bryce said,
June 23, 2008 at 4:04 pm
hey i am in my last year of pre- med and Ive made it through with an accumulative GPA of 3.877, and I got a 29 on my MCAT, I volunteered at my local hospital but that’s the only volunteer work i did. How are my chances of getting into a good medical school?
Thank you
halfmd said,
June 23, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Multiply your GPA by 10 and add your MCAT score. Anything above 65 is a good bet to get in somewhere. Just be sure to apply to more schools than you think you have to. Use the MSAR or the U.S. & World Report rankings to see where your numbers match up.
Dan Ruppel said,
June 28, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Hi, im about to begin school again at the age of 23. I have an associates in electronics and computer science. Im just curious about what anybody thinks as far as being to old to start med school. I will have to retake all of my classes over again due to the fact that I went to a private college for my first degree. I’ve always been interested and always loved the idea of being a doctor. Im just hoping that I make the right choice now. I figure if I dont do it now I will never have the oppurtunity again.
halfmd said,
June 29, 2008 at 11:08 am
23? You’re a young one. I have several classmates who started in their 30’s.
Dan Ruppel said,
June 29, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Im thinking I want to get into internal med, and maybe sub off of that into infectious disease. What field are you in? I have emailed so many different professor’s and never a response. Thank you so much for your time!
halfmd said,
June 30, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Be careful with trying to pick a specialty this early. The vast, vast majority of people charge their minds several times during med school. If you are interested in infectious disease, try emailing a microbiology professor instead. Although not clinically oriented, the information and research gained from such an opportunity might be useful.
jb said,
July 3, 2008 at 12:45 am
I am a reapplicant and have a lot of advice to give. I have a Master’s, 3.8 GPA and 30MCAT (all 10’s), 5 publications, 3 years research, 3 years volunteer work, tutoring, etc. The following is how I would list the importance of deciding factors for medical school acceptance:
1. Connections…if you have connections, numbers don’t matter, my friend got an acceptance into one of the top illinois med schools because of his uncle. He had a 3.4GPA and took the MCAT twice (24 and 29), has no research, no tutoring, and one volunteer activity for 1 year). I can probably fill this section up with how my other friends got in with connections.
2. Luck…most medical schools get a lot of apps, northwestern over 8,000, UIC over 10,000, Loyola over 9,000 etc. If you calculate that even 10% (underestimating) have at least a 3.5 and 30MCAT with some other EC activity, that’s about 1000 “worthy” apps, pretty hard to distinguish between these, so hope that the committee member reviewing your particular app is having a good day or likes something about you, which reminds me, make sure that your personal statement is very personal. Don’t write it like a resume, I have found (after talking with many advisors and admissions deans) that it is best to pick one or two experiences and show how those specific experiences influenced your life and led you to consider medicine as your LIFE, this way you are remembered by your unique experience and not by general experiences which everyone else probably has as well. Think about it, if i tell you that i care about people, that’s all you get from it – if you even take my word for it, but if I tell you that on the way to school i saw an lady with a flat tire on the side of the road, so i pulled over and fixed her tire in the pouring rain, not only does it show that i am a caring person (without ever having to explicitly state it), it also gives more to the reader. The reader could also infer that i am probably selfless and generous. So from this short anectode the reader gets much more, it keeps the reader engaged, and provides some imagery so that the reader can put him/herself there.
3. MCAT/GPA…obviously you need a good MCAT and GPA. You should really buy the MSAR for $25. It gives all the numbers involved with med school acceptances. Remember, whe it says median MCAT and GPA don’t freak out if you’re below because the median means 50% of accepted students have an MCAT/GPA above and 50% have below the listed values.
4. Volunteer….Make sure you do some volunteering in a hospital/clinic so that you can write about patient contact experience in your AMCAS experience section and have something to talk about in your interview. Along with this, try to do a little bit of humanitarian work such as serving in soup kitchens and homeless shelters. It provides the compassion and empathy schools are looking for. Anyone can say the care for others, but when you have specific experiences to write/talk about, it makes it that much more personal.
Unfortunately, I must get some work done now, but if i have time i will try to finish this post. Just remember, it is getting harder and harder each year, MCAT’s and GPA’s are rising and so is the application pool. Make sure you put your all into this the first time you apply. Oh, and other’s are right, it’s never too late. I have several friends in their late 20’s and early 30’s applying to medical school this year. Remember this is your entire future, so don’t get lazy. Go Big or Go Home!!!
good luck everyone
halfmd said,
July 4, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Good points. I would also add “Apply early” to the list.
Suna Wang said,
July 14, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I am a biochemistry major and have GPA 3.0, and have done some works in hospital. Do I have a chance get in a medical school if my MCAT score is over 32.
halfmd said,
July 15, 2008 at 4:15 pm
If you’re asking if there is a chance that someone with a 3.0/32 could possibly get in somewhere, then yes, you can. However, you need to be aware that a 3.0 is going to hit an adcom like a brick. Also, I can tell from your writing that English is not your first language. I think that you’re going to run into trouble when you start writing your essays.
As far as your hospital work, how involved were you? How much time did you spend in the hospital? And what were your responsibilities? Did you really get a 32 on the MCAT, or is that your guess at this point?
I think the biggest immediate concern is your GPA. You could raise it by a few tenths of a point if you entered a post-bacc program.
tom said,
July 16, 2008 at 10:22 am
Hi, My overall GPA is 3.5, while my science GPA is 3.8, my MCAT is a 27 and I also have a marked trend of improvement in GPA (from a 2.9 in my first 3 semesters) I also have 2 years of clinical research under my belt. What are my chances of getting in?
halfmd said,
July 16, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I really don’t want to turn this webpage into a What Are My Chances forum. A few C’s never hurt, but any D’s are definitely going to raise some eyebrows. Apply broad to get interviews.
James (HM 3rd Class) said,
July 24, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Hi, So I am leaving for the Navy very soon. I did eh ok in high school, but I am very determined in pursuing a career in medicine. I’m going into the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman (figuring this is as close as i can to medical officers/doctors while being enlisted) so would this help me “prepare” for a healthcare career? Would this be a good experience for volunteer work and being selfless to my devotion to save others? Also i plan on getting either my master’s or bachelor’s while i’m in…would that make a difference if i got the degree online/LDL/in the armed services? I mean I am 19 and starting my life…but c’mon! Medicine is ultimately intriguing to any wonderous, expanding mind. What do you pre-med / med students think of this plan? How about you doctors? Any advice would be gladly appreciated!
Landon said,
August 5, 2008 at 1:37 am
Hey.I am young,but I am very interested in being a Interventional Cardiologist.I am a 16 yrs old 10th grader,but as soon as I get out of high school I plan to go to UT Knoxville.Can you give me some tips on what to do my next few years preparing for med school?I have very high grades,and I am a very responsible student.I have the money and grades to be one.I am a very determined person,and I have planned many years of my future out.Adults tell me that I shouldn’t worry so much about what im going to be,but I want to be prepared.I just need any help you can give me.Thanks so much!
halfmd said,
August 5, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Please tell me that you’re joking.
Landon said,
August 6, 2008 at 6:25 pm
No I am not joking.I have the highest grades.I was valedictorian.I need some info on what to do to help prepare for pre med.What do I need to do?I am NOT joking.I am really focused on my future.Please help!
rakeon said,
August 7, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Hey HalfMD, I’ve created a flow chart just for this purpose of assessing your competitiveness. Hopefully, you won’t mind me posting the link here.
john said,
August 16, 2008 at 9:34 pm
hi halfMD,
i have a undergraduate degree in biology but my gpa only 2.9 because i just wanted to get a job when i finished school. Later i found out chiropractic cured my migrane headache completely. So i finished my chiropractic gpa around 2.7. Later, i found out that patients need more than just spinal manipulation. So i decided to go to med school now which i started to enroll in the master program because my undergraduate school was not good enough. i completed the master degree with 3.8 GPA sport health science. the question is if medical school looks at my master gpa more or undergraduate gpa or chiropractic gpa.
Dadrian L. Johnson said,
October 9, 2008 at 10:48 am
Im a senior at Hallsville High that is strongly concidering a profession in the medical field, more specificly, Pediatrics. Im concerned with how hard it is to actually get into medical school, and become a doctor. If anyone has any advice or comments inform me. My email is Dadrianlj@aol.com. Thanks.
halfmd said,
October 9, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Dadrian, find a book on getting into medical school. Which one you use doesn’t matter because they all essentially give the same advice. Read it to get a starting point on how competitive getting into medical school is. From there, you should be able to form questions that are more specific to your case. The short of it is that only 50% of people who apply to medical school will get in. You’ve got to have high grades, a high MCAT score, and appropriate extracurriculars such as clinical experience, volunteering, and leadership.
Bill said,
October 11, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I would also like to get an opinion on my chances of acceptance to med school. I have a B.S. degree with a focus in Biochemisty and Molecular Genetics. My overall GPA was 3.46 and my science GPA was 3.35. I graduated with honors. I also received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and did a 3 year Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University. I have authored or co-authored 11 manuscripts in the fields of cancer and immunology, of which I am first author on 8 of the papers, all with impact factor of 3-10. My MCAT score was 29. I have presented posters at several international conferences and have advised several med and graduate students. Thanks.
Dylan said,
October 11, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Hi, I’m a high school student in San Diego and sports are my passion. Ever since I was young, I’ve dreamed of being the Chargers team doctor. I’ve gotten great grades in high school, excellent standardized test scores along with strong extracurricular activities, all adding up to a good change of being accepted into a great college (preferably U. of Notre Dame). My questions are, should I be looking at a lot of other colleges and which ones have strong pre med courses? Also, to obtain a sports doctor position, what kind of path do I have to take after my pre med courses in a four year degree?
I know this forum is more about Med School, but if you could answer these questions it would be a real help.
halfmd said,
October 12, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Readers,
As I have already mentioned, I do not want this webpage to become an advice column on “What are my chances?” There are forums on the Student Doctor Network dedicated to this topic. As for the best pre-med school, there is no such thing. So long as you go to a hard program and take the pre-reqs, you’ll be fine. If you’re going to fight me and demand to know the names of the best pre-med universities, then look at my post on the subject. As far as sports medicine, there are two routes: surgical and primary care (non-surgical). The surgeons are orthopedists (really competitive). The primary care docs come from either emergency medicine or family practice. Don’t worry about picking a specialty now as your mind will likely chance many times. I wanted to do sports med, too, but found ortho to be incredibly boring.
Rahul said,
October 15, 2008 at 12:40 am
What about Caribbean medical schools? I was a 26-year-old laid-off electrical engineer, too broke to volunteer, and too burnt-out to take the MCAT. I did take premed courses at a local community college and did very well. I’m just graduated from basic sciences, and am studying for the USMLE 1.
George Peters said,
October 20, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Hi, I was just wondering how large a factor what medical school plays into getting a residency and job where you want. I realize getting into Harvard Med is a bigger deal than say Oakland University. But when you say apply to as many school as possible, is it simply the money issue that would prevent you from doing that, or is getting into a below average medical school that bad of a thing.
Sarah Jibbs said,
October 24, 2008 at 10:17 pm
My friend is studying to be a doctor just for the money. She’s so not gonna get in. Good luck to all of you!
Mark said,
October 28, 2008 at 1:01 am
Im in a life sciences program at u of toronto.One thing people should take in consideration is the cost of the whole process. Where are you going to get such funds and will it destroy you financially later in life? Going into debt seems to be the staple but what happens if you don’t want to be a doctor all of a sudden (life changes)? Sure you will be able to pay for it as a doctor but you should be 100% commited in the first place. Just my two cents.
Daniel said,
November 2, 2008 at 2:29 am
Hey halfmd,
I started my first year of college in the mind set of just becoming a graphic designer, I then realized, I could be so much more. I am starting a pre-med track along with my graphic design major. Would choosing to stay in this major effect my chances of getting into medical school? by the way, i want to become an anesthesiologist 🙂 thanks!
Tiana said,
November 4, 2008 at 3:15 pm
My situation is similar to Daniels. at the moment i am doing my second year of A levels (in the UK) I’m studying Media,Graphic Design and Photography, however, i really miss doing scientific subjects and would like to be able to study medicine and keep the graphic design aspect as a hobby or something i return to later in life. I’m worried that even if i took more A levels in Biology and Chemistry, med schools are more keen to accept the kind of students that have planned on being in medicine from a very young age and will see my previous A levels as a sign of me being unfocused.
Brenna said,
November 20, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Hi! Great article. It was very informative and the comments have been helpful as well. I’m majoring in Neuroscience and I have about 4 years of school left to go, so I’m picking my extracurriculars early. I will be volunteering at a psych hospital (I’m 70-30 on psych-neurology as far as what I want to specialize in). Aside from that, would tutoring and, say, an officer spot in the chemistry club suffice? I’m aiming to have my gpa at around 3.8 if possible, but I know that strong extracurriculars can make all the difference.
Biraj said,
November 24, 2008 at 1:53 am
Hi, I am a sophomore in High School
I know I am really young to be thinking about med school, but it is my dream and alway has been my dream to be in the medical field.
What classes should I take, and does my gpa really matter right now?
n00b said,
December 3, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Hey, I’m a junior in high school, and it seems that no one will answer the kids’ questions. Next year, I plan on attending Texas A&M University and majoring Biomedical Engineering. To prepare yourself for the rigorous demands of a pre med track, here are some helpful tips for high school kids:
1 Take as many AP classes as you can handle (Let’s hope you will be able to handle all the AP courses). Be sure to make A’s in all of them. You need to prove to yourself that you can have at least a 3.5 without weight. Try and “clep out” of those tedious Comp., Lit., Gov. and Eco. classes so you can focus your attention on the sciences.
2 Volunteer at a hospital. You’ll be doing mostly busy work, but it’s helpful to be in a medical environment.
3 Be sure to network. When I volunteered at a hospital, I was either socializing with the surgeons I worked with or watching and soaking up all the information I could. I was able to sit in on three surgeries, I shadowed a doctor, I got to examine organs, and I was able to pick up on a few helpful terms.
4 Start learning the body parts and functions now. Memorize the easy but monotonous information now. That’s one thing you wont have to worry about in college and med school.
5 Get involved. By getting involved, it will be easier to force yourself to do those pesky but necessary things you must do to be admitted into medical school.
5 Come to the realization that you will be unable to go out every weekend and party/constantly socialize. You’re trying to be a med student, not a business major. Believe me, I wish I had realized this two and a half years ago. If you don’t enjoy studying, then perhaps you should rethink your choice of career path.
6 Don’t loose focus.
I hope this helps!
Zach Wilson said,
December 5, 2008 at 7:11 am
Thanks for your posts. I read your articles semi-religiously, and it’s nice to have an honest, real-world voice describing the reality of medical school and residency. Keep it up.
Hey, I’m sorry to contour to the “can I get into med school?” trend, and I know you said not to ask, but I’m a little curious as to your opinion of my specific situation. My first year of school I was a math major, very unfocused and uninspired, and received a couple D’s and an F, dropped some of my courses and was put on academic probation. Since then I’ve realized my passion for medicine, got my act together, and have had a 3.8 GPA, along with some humanitarian volunteer experience, some time working in a hospital, and a 32 MCAT. However, my cumulative GPA took a hit from my first year (only a 3.39). What are my chances, considering I have some blemishes on my record, but have had immense noticeable improvement since then?
Thanks again, and keep posting.
Mike Radanovich said,
December 16, 2008 at 2:04 am
Hello, first of all thank you for this informative post. I am a school student and really considering doctor as my career. In my first year of high school I really messed up my grades and my GPA is bad, So I am going to a community college for about 2 years and then complete the other 2 in UCLA. Meaning that I will take my pre-med classes in UCLA. Is this a problem because I will not take general courses in UCLA?
Kashfin said,
December 17, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Just a heads up, med school apparently like people with double majors. So if you are pre med and are also pursuing a degree in photography, it just makes you stand out more. They like the diversity 🙂
Jeffrey M. Yount said,
January 9, 2009 at 12:16 am
I am a twenty-one year old starting my first year as a pre-med student structuring my schedule around classes such as biology of the human body, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and psychology. My advisor doesn’t seem to be seasoned enough to ask questions regarding course structure for pre-med students. If you could offer any assistance such as; classes to take, recommended medical schools, or MCAT preparation they would be greatly appreciated. My overall goal is to indulge in the twelve year journey to become an ophthalmologist. I am under the impression you must become a general MD then specialize in ophthalmology which includes an additional four years, correct? I am just needing a little confirmation that I am on the right track with courses and such to ensure a good shot at medical school. Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon.
Jeffrey – MI
Half M.D.: Go to this website to answer all of your questions.
Younas said,
January 14, 2009 at 11:11 am
Hello there,
Right now I’m majoring on Concentrating in RESPIRATORY THERAPY in four year college, my GPA is around 3.4 and I’m preparing to MCAT test soon. My question to you is how hard it get Medical school with Respiratory Degree.
Thanks
Real MD said,
January 16, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Look none of you clowns are getting in so give up. If you dont know what you wanna do, certainly don’t be a doctor. If you don’t have the motivation and drive of a wild tiger, you won’t make it past day one.
Joe schmie said,
January 22, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Just get good grades and high scores. It’s all just memorization…
pre MeD said,
January 23, 2009 at 2:19 am
I wish I could erase the crap out of my brain, that i don’t need, to make space for all the information I’ll need in Med School. Too bad they don’t make external brain drives…
medaholic said,
January 26, 2009 at 3:44 am
1) Picking a major – choose a concentration you will enjoy AND that you can get good grades in
2) GPA – keep it high. Be consistent, don’t slack and it will pay off.
3) Give medicine a lot of thought before you decide to go for it.
Shane M said,
February 4, 2009 at 10:31 am
Is it better to have a pre-med degree or something different from everyone else (I.E. Youth Studies and Health Sciences)? And if you can not find a med school that will accept you, what can you do with a pre-med degree? And how vital is it to go to a university compaired to a small college?
Half M.D.: Major doesn’t matter. A pre-med degree won’t help you with anything other than becoming a lab tech. See here for information on your third question.
Jane K said,
February 22, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Hello,
I’m in my Junior year of High School at a college prep school and i have almost a 3.9 GPA. I’m about to take the ACT and i’m currently looking into colleges. For a lot of my life I’ve wanted to become a pediatrician. Now that i’m actually looking seriously into the difficulty of entering medical school I’m a little hesitant. I know pediatrics is what i’m interested in but i’m afraid i won’t be the cream of the crop and make it into medical school. What would you recommend as a major to lead me to medical school? Are there good options with these majors if i don’t make it into medical school or will they be a waste of time?
Megan said,
February 22, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Hi! I’m a sophomore in college right now. I’ll be 25 in April, I have five children, and my husband is active duty army. I was wondering how important volunteer work is. As you can imagine with five children (three of which I adopted) and full load (16 hours) it’s hard to figure out how I can fit anything else in with school, kids, husband’s deployments, pre-med club, etc. I have a 4.0 GPA. Any advice? Is it a really important to have volunteer experience??
Megan said,
February 22, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Jane K,
I am a chemistry major. I would recommend Chemistry because it includes almost all of your pre-med requirements and if you don’t make into medical school it is a very useful degree.
kathy said,
March 17, 2009 at 8:55 pm
If i received a D+ in an elective math class, will that significantly alter my chances of getting into med school?
Nate said,
March 30, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Hi, I’m a first year undergraduate in a University in Canada right now. The year is about to end and my estimated GPA is about a 3.0 to a 3.6, most likely a 3.3 or 3.4. Unfortunately, I vastly underestimated first year and used my high school study methods, where I literally did no assigned work, skipped 90% of all my quizzes, procrastinated every assignment and even exam studying only the night prior. When I’ve finally had an epiphany, I’ve realized that it’s too late for me to pull my GPA back up this year.
Even if I somehow end up with a 4.0 GPA for the next two of my undergraduate years, I will end up with a 3.7ish GPA. I’ve heard that some med schools have GPA cut offs of 3.85 (especially for medical schools in Canada). I had originally aimed for specifically Cambridge and Chicago’s med schools but now I am having major doubts about getting into either. On top of that, my GPA may have hindered my ability to be accepted into a second year research program, further limiting my chances pf being accepted into a medical school.
With all that being said, is there still a chance for me at being accepted into a prominent medical school given that I apply in my third or fourth years as an undergraduate? This given that I aim for at least a 3.9 GPA for my following undergraduate years and an above-average MCAT score.
bryan said,
April 2, 2009 at 8:38 pm
IM 39 YEARS OLD WITH A FAMILY. I HAVE A 2 YEAR DEGREE IN ELECTRONICS BUT FINALLY IN THE SITUATION TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND WANT TO GO PREMED. ALSO IM OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW IF YOUR NOT REALLY DRIVEN WITHOUT ANY DOUBTS DONT TRY IT . THIS HAS REALLY DRIVEN ME FOR PERSONAL REASONS BUT WHAT I REALLY WORRY ABOUT IS WHAT I CANT DRIVE MYSELF PAST AND THATS MY AGE WITH STILL 2 YEARS LEFT FOR MY UNDERGRADUATE.
Mike said,
April 10, 2009 at 5:15 pm
I have a mcat of 29M with a breakdown of 7V 11P 11S, and a GPA of 3.91
Do I have a chance of getting into medical school with such a low verbal and essay?
Do you recommend I take the MCAT again? I have taken it once before and scored a 26M so I am not sure I can do much better.
Calah said,
April 14, 2009 at 6:19 pm
So, is it better for a girl to be a doctor or nurse? Nurses make less, for doing the same thing. But, doctors have to go to school for soooo long. Is it worth it? What if u want a family? After you graduate, are doctor and nurses working hours that different, especially if u want a family? Please help as much as you can! Thanks 🙂
Half M.D.: Doctors and nurses most definitely do not do the same thing. You should take some time to actually read up on what their jobs entail.
Phuong said,
April 27, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Calah, and others,
I think that if you truly wanted to be in the medical field, gender doesn’t matter. I rather be a doctor, because they make more, and it seems more fun anyways (BTW I’m a girl). I also thought that being in school to be a doc, you’ll get out at 30 years old or something. and that sucks….but i think that most doctors, have families, and most of them meet their loved ones while in school or something. That’s what i want to do, i would find a guy i like while in school. And don’t give up your dreams, cause my LATIN teacher wanted to be a doctor, but she didn’t want all the work cause she was already in a relationship, so she became a teacher instead. NOW, she said she wished she could turn back the clock, and become a doctor, cause it’s her dream. She told me “don’t get married a/f high school, cause it will hinder your chances.” hope that helped anyone reading this…..
Sam said,
May 7, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I am a double major in Economics/Finance and Management/Marketing. However, I am also trying to take the pre-reqs for medical school. I will have over 160 hours when I graduate in 2 years, and I will have completed these hours in just 4 years. My GPA is currently 3.7, and I plan on keeping it at that level. I go to school year round, and take full courseloads everytime. To what extent will these facts help me get into medical school? Will my application stand out, etc?
sha said,
May 7, 2009 at 3:14 pm
hey,
This site has been really informative, though none of the above seems familiar to my current situation. I am currently involved in research work, mostly cancer and have not chose my masters degree program (as it will be funded under the research grant).The choices I have now are masters degree in molecular biology, physiology, molecular medicine (to name a few)
I had a cgpa of 2.89 for my degree in biomedicine. I was wondering if there was any way that any of the masters degree program listed plus strong MCAT score would make it possible for me to enter med school?And are there any other requirements that I should consider ?
Thanks in advance!
Brittany said,
May 10, 2009 at 11:31 pm
At this moment I’m having difficulties in deciding my major. I’ve already completed two years at a community college for my Associates of Science. Initially I made my major in architecture, but this has changed. I really love helping people and learning about the human anatomy. Well right now it’s about to be summer and college admissions are closing. What should I do? I’m really looking into practicing medicine, but is it too late? I’m 20 and am graduating with a gpa of 3.5. What university in Texas would you reccomend for studies in medicine? This is not an admittance question, but rather do you get lost in this competiveness for your acceptance into med school? Do you essentially evolve into this maniac that strives to just have the correct amount of points on your gpa and MCAT? I really would like to strive for my goals but not stress my self to the bare end. Do you feel that this may be a career that is worth me striving for? I know you don’t know me, but with the little bit of information I have provided, do you believe I would need to be prepared for ultimate stress?
Renee said,
May 13, 2009 at 11:11 pm
How do med schools calculate gpa? My first 2 years I was at a community college and now I am at a 4-year university. My courses transferred over but when I apply to med school will they look at my gpa from just the 4-year university or the community college as well?
C'mon... said,
May 15, 2009 at 12:23 am
Guys, stop it.
HalfMD has already stated the uselessness of plaguing the page with endless requests for assessment of medical school eligibility.
Use your common sense, do some research, and figure it out for yourself. If you can’t, then maybe medical school isn’t for you.
Understood said,
May 25, 2009 at 1:58 pm
As a cancer survivor and a current cosmetologist i have recently decided to further my education because i am not being challenged enough anymore. Ive grown bored in this type of beauty industry. So lately i have been thinking about going back to school and going premed. I am very inerested in dermatolgy but realize through reading this that i could change my mind later into it. The more i read about med school and what not the more excited i have become because i have nothing but self confidence and i am really looking forward to being competive and being accepted into med school. I love a good challenge and always put my all into whatever crosses my path and i keep succeeding and this is going to be my next succession.
Proud Mom said,
May 29, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Hi,
My daughter is a pre med student (going into third year) as of now GPA 3.9………Has been working in a hospital 2yrs (working hands on with patients….Volunteer EMT for Volunteer FD…..Planning to take MCATS next year…..Any other suggestions……Thanks
Proud Mom
Half M.D.: You could start by cutting the umbilical cord.
Proud Mom said,
May 30, 2009 at 12:12 am
Half Md,
I disagree with you…. But you are entitled to your own opinion….
Kristen said,
May 30, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Hey everyone! I’m a little concerned about med school. I am taking general chem right now in a four week summer session and its not going so well. By not going so well, I mean I will be kissing my professor’s feet if I get a C. It’s much more likely that I’m getting worse than a C. I have been a military medic for seven years and worked in the ER and EMS for about eight years. I have a 3.6 GPA, never had a bad grade until now! I am also vice president of a student organization and vice president of an honors society. I am scheduled to take the MCAT in September. I need some honest feedback from people who know, how is this poor chem grade going to affect my chances of getting into medical school? Medicine is my life! I love it more than anything and I would be miserable doing anything else. I’m trying so hard and I can’t seem to get a good grade in this class!!! Am I in big trouble?