My chances at a top20 medical school??

Question

Sup everyone, if you guys could give me a realistic assessment and/or advice that'd be awesome.

- UPenn undergrad, maj Bioengineering

- 3.30GPA (3.9 last year), 40S mcat (1x)

Extracurriculars:

- vice president & comm service chair of my fraternity --> responsible for organizing our annual bone marrow drive in philadelphia

- worked at the hospital at Penn for 1yr, and children's hosp of phila for another

- 6 summers of research at NIH, 1 publ paper and presented at annual biophysics convention in Long Beach, CA

- Tutored in west phila for 2yrs, on exec board for org.

- shadowed orthopedic surgeon for 1 sem (class) + got a rec

- volunteered at THE joe frazier's boxing gym / competed in amateur for a yr (boxing's my hobby)

- other stuff: amsa, chinese student assoc., circleK, play alot of IM sports

- 6 solid/good recs

Please give me honest advice! i know i can get into an MD program somewhere but the ques is how high can i go. Im assessing my chances for top20 school

Answer 1

Call me nutty, but so long as the maximum on the MCAT is 45, your MCAT score is superb, no make that brilliant.  You have fine extracurriculars, and whatever concern you have about your GPA is largely counteracted by your MCAT score of 40.  When it comes down to what your chances are of placing in a top twenty school, it's really hard to say as there are a lot of variables that go into this, particularly considering that the number of applicants will surge in a "declining economy."  So long as you apply on time, interview reasonably well, I have a hard time imagining that you won't be viewed very seriously by top tier schools.  Even if you don't get into a "top-twenty" school, there are an awful lot of great schools which may not quite fit the "top-twenty" but will serve you well.  In my humble opinion, with your Undergrad School, rigours associated with your major, exceedingly high MCAT score that you'll land a spot in a school that you'll be comfortable with.

Answer 2

I tend to agree with skimmy, but your personal statement, motivation for medicine, interpersonal skills, and your interview are vital.  And it does help that we need minority physicians if that applies.  I would also be particular not just to go to a top school, but a top school that is a good fit for you.  This is more important than you think.

Answer 3

GPA is a bit low, but other than that, you look good. Are you Black or Hispanic? If so, you're a lock. Otherwise, think top 50.