<p>So i’m entering my new school (PSU) as a Sophomore (I’m a transfer student this will be my first year at Penn State). My last school was a Jesuit school with a pretty hard course load. These are my grades. (freshmen year)</p>
<p>Gen Bio 1: A- 3 credits
Gen Bio 1 lab:b- 1.5 credits
Gen Chem 1: b 3 credits
Gen Chem 1: b 1.5 credits
Writing: A- 3 credits
American history: A 3 credits
Freshman seminar: A 1 credit </p>
<p>Semester 2 </p>
<p>Gen Bio 2: A- 3 credits
Gen Bio 2 lab: A 1.5
Gen Chem 2: A 3
Gen Chem lab: B 1.5
Public Speaking: A 3
Microeconomics: B+ 3
American history 2: A 3</p>
<p>My overall GPA was a 3.61 and I was on the deans list</p>
<p>I’m taking Calc 1 and 2 at Adelphi. I finished calc 1 today and received an A</p>
<p>I have a couple of activities and I’m an Eagle Scout. This summer I’m just working and taking these classes.</p>
<p>So just on grades alone, how am I for any med and D.O school.</p>
<p>You need to wait until you finish all the requirements such as General Physics and Organic Chemistry as well as getting an MCAT score but until then its looking fine so far.</p>
<p>Ask again in another year when you have a more complete picture.</p>
<p>Just to elaborate a little on the above post, part of the reason we can’t “chance” you here is because getting into med school is so so so much more than a GPA and an MCAT score (and neither of these are known yet!). In order to give you an accurate estimate, we’d have to not only know about your stats and your involvement (these two elements alone are a lot to interpret–does program matter? Major? School? Does GPA matter more than MCAT? What if they’re unbalanced? Should you retake the MCAT? How much does research matter? Volunteering? Shadowing? Leadership? What if you’re missing one? What if you’re missing multiple, but otherwise are spectacular?), but we’d also have to know about your writing skills, your interpersonal/communication/interview skills, how you crafted your application list, when you’re applying, what kind of life experience you already have, and a boat load of other factors. </p>
<p>It sure would be convenient if it were as easy as a set of numbers. But the thing is, it just isn’t that simple. There’s a lot more to being a doctor than being a smart kid, and most med schools nowadays are looking for the complete package. To make matters more complicated, the complete package your state school’s looking for might be totally different than what an elite school is looking for. And all that’s just for MD!</p>
<p>Wish we could be more help! My advice to you would be to take classes that are interesting to you and get involved with meaningful things. Then, if all the things you do point toward giving med school a shot, great–you should apply. But if they point toward something else, at least you won’t have wasted some valuable/awesome time as an undergrad working toward a career that really doesn’t fit you.</p>
<p>The strategy is always to do your best. It will not change if you have 4.0 or 3.61, it is the same for everybody who is planning to apply to Med. School. Pretty simple and straight forward.</p>
<p>Activities continued from high school in college are fair game. For my D that gave her the opportunity to write about projects started in high school that continued in college. Something special that ended in high school? Well, gee. What could we ever do that would make that fair game? Maybe volunteering as a scout leader ? Serving on a scout council? And when writing about that college activity I would find a way to mention my Eagle Scout project. But that’s just me. ;)</p>
<p>“Isn’t that something you earn in High school?”</p>
<p>Yes but you could put it on any medical, job or graduate school application. Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle scout. Its a very big accomplishment that many people hold in high honor.</p>
<p>If it ended in high school, I would be very careful about mentioning it. It certainly should not be listed along with college ec’s , honors, and awards. It was high school. The app doesn’t ask about high school activities, awards, and honors. High school valedictorian and all-state athletic status are big things, too but they should be ignored as well. ;)</p>
<p>I gave you a pretty direct way to use it. Do yourself a favor. Take the suggestion.</p>
<p>BTW, if you are forty and applying for a job, I think you’d want to lose it.</p>