<p>What would be the stats for a student with a 50% chance of matriculation at any medical school? Like GPA wise, volunteer, research, mcats, course selections, etc</p>
<p>I guess what i’m trying to ask is what should we aim for? What should we do in our undergraduate years to get into med school? What should we do to stand out?</p>
<p>I don’t like the question the way it is phrased…at least in regards to the 50% segment - there are a lot of things that are considered including URM status, and state of legal residence that can ultimately push the odds at some schools very high, but keep them relatively low at others…</p>
<p>In general, I’d say that competitive applicants are those with the following:
[ul]
[<em>]3.6 or higher overall GPA
[</em>]3.4 or higher BCPM GPA
[<em>]30+ MCAT score - with relatively equal scores on the subsections (going 12,13,5 is NOT good)
[</em>]Shadowing with one doctor several times or several doctors once each (can’t give you a very good answer as to what is “enough”)
[<em>]Volunteering SOMEWHERE, with a hospital environment slightly better (but not much).
[</em>]Research for probably at least one summer - could be biomedical or not. Unique research by the student - not just assisting by washing glassware - is preferable.
[<em>]Campus involvement in at least 2 organizations - much much more preferable to have attained a leadership position in them, for as long as possible
[</em>]Course selections - just make sure you’ve fulfilled the requirements.
[/ul]</p>
<p>Keep in mind that at some schools just meeting this criteria will get you laughed out of the room, while at others, you may be one of the stronger candidates.</p>
<p>A lot of what is “enough” will depend largely on how significant of an experience you have while being a part of anything above. Like volunteering at the hospital is great, but is not more worthwhile than being a mentor for a grade schooler if being a mentor is going to be far more meaningful for you. Sometimes it may just come down to your ability to “sell” the interviewer on why or how you did something. </p>
<p>For example, I got asked specifically on my lack of research. I explained that I had looked into several opportunities, but as a sociology major/bio minor I couldn’t find something that fit with my diverse interests. While I had taken several courses that did combine my interest in humanities with those in science (Sociology of Health, Illness in Literature, and environmental sociology to name a few) I couldn’t find significant research opportunities, and didn’t want to pursue something just to mark it off the checklist.</p>
<p>As for standing out, simple - do an extraordinary job in any of the above categories. I’d caution that GPA is probably the least impressive “extraordinary” accomplishment unless you quadruple major with a 4.0 in four years. Great research, being super involved (or a leader/officer in many different organizations), or phenomenal MCAT can all be ways to stand out. Other things include just doing interesting things - I was a counselor at Space Camp the summer after my freshman year, which has always been an interesting conversation starter (and something that I plan on using well into my residency interviews). I also think I might have talked about my experience that Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute as part of my leadership experiences. It’s unique, plus I got a scholarship to go, so it sounded interesting and prestigious…again, sometimes it just comes down to how you “sell” yourself.</p>