What do I need to do to improve my chances/what are current chances?

[tg375]

I am a chemical engineering major at UT Austin (ranked top 5 in country for ChemE) and my current GPA is 3.28 (a few bad grades in two ChemE classes and Diff EQ bringing it down the most) with a trend that started off well, decreased towards the middle, and is increasing again towards the end. I have yet to take the MCAT as I will be taking it early next spring. I will likely graduate a semester late (4.5 years due to getting behind on a couple engineering classes).
I (will) have about 150 shadowing hours from approximately 10 different specialties including watching surgeries (Open heart was the coolest) and approximately 200-250 volunteer hours split between clinical and non-clinical hours.

What are my current chances assuming an above average MCAT? What could I do to improve my application (besides a great MCAT, obviously.)

If there is anything else I can provide for y'all to give a better response, just let me know.

**Edit** As seen in my post below (#7), my sGPA without +- is a 3.39. This excludes engineering classes and DiffEQ but counts statistics(not sure if that is supposed to count) **

Thanks all

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[Siromas]

Hiya,

Fellow ChemE major from the lone star state here.

Frankly, and without an MCAT score, I'd say you currently have average to below average chances with a 3.28 GPA. A solid MCAT score is a very important at this point to get more eyes on your application.

As for advice on what you can do now:

1) Continue volunteering to establish long-term relationships with providers who can write you amazing LoRs
2) Finish out your classes strong
3) It's way too early to start writing a physical personal statement now, but begin to draft a story of "why medicine and not engineering" in your head. Lord knows I got asked about it in every interview I attended. Your answer should be complete, compelling, and non-cliche.

 

[Deleted member 737595]

I am a chemical engineering major at UT Austin (ranked top 5 in country for ChemE) and my current GPA is 3.28 (a few bad grades in two ChemE classes and Diff EQ bringing it down the most) with a trend that started off well, decreased towards the middle, and is increasing again towards the end. I have yet to take the MCAT as I will be taking it early next spring. I will likely graduate a semester late (4.5 years due to getting behind on a couple engineering classes).
I (will) have about 150 shadowing hours from approximately 10 different specialties including watching surgeries (Open heart was the coolest) and approximately 200-250 volunteer hours split between clinical and non-clinical hours.

What are my current chances assuming an above average MCAT? What could I do to improve my application (besides a great MCAT, obviously.)

If there is anything else I can provide for y'all to give a better response, just let me know.

Thanks all

I have no advice, only to say I have high respect for a 3.28 in an engineering major. Engineering majors have the toughest road for grades. GL

 

[878956]

you may want to switch majors. Otherwise, kill the MCAT to mitigate the low GPA.

 

[tg375]

Hiya,

Fellow ChemE major from the lone star state here.

Frankly, and without an MCAT score, I'd say you currently have average to below average chances with a 3.28 GPA. A solid MCAT score is a very important at this point to get more eyes on your application.

As for advice on what you can do now:

1) Continue volunteering to establish long-term relationships with providers who can write you amazing LoRs
2) Finish out your classes strong
3) It's way too early to start writing a physical personal statement now, but begin to draft a story of "why medicine and not engineering" in your head. Lord knows I got asked about it in every interview I attended. Your answer should be complete, compelling, and non-cliche.

That you for the response. I think my GPA can/should finish around like 3.4 by the time I apply. This would include ~3.7 last 3 semesters before applying.

From whom should I request LoR? I was thinking a doctor or two that I shadowed and a professor that taught my biochemical engineering class (if he’d be willing, he’s quite busy)

From your experience, what MCAT score would be required to overcome the low GPA? I am assuming something like 90+ percentile would be necessary.

Thanks again

 

[Goro]

I am a chemical engineering major at UT Austin (ranked top 5 in country for ChemE) and my current GPA is 3.28 (a few bad grades in two ChemE classes and Diff EQ bringing it down the most) with a trend that started off well, decreased towards the middle, and is increasing again towards the end. I have yet to take the MCAT as I will be taking it early next spring. I will likely graduate a semester late (4.5 years due to getting behind on a couple engineering classes).
I (will) have about 150 shadowing hours from approximately 10 different specialties including watching surgeries (Open heart was the coolest) and approximately 200-250 volunteer hours split between clinical and non-clinical hours.

What are my current chances assuming an above average MCAT? What could I do to improve my application (besides a great MCAT, obviously.)

If there is anything else I can provide for y'all to give a better response, just let me know.

Thanks all

Chances poor with that GPA for M.D., OK for DO.

Engage in service to others less fortunate than yourself.

 

[tg375]

Also, just calculated my sGPA (not including engineering classes or DiffEQ (should i count this??) but counting engineering statistics) = 3.31 using the +- scale but re-scaling it to just A,B,C,ect it is a 3.39. Many Texas medical schools re-scale it to take out the +- grading. I will be taking 16 hours next semester + 16-20 the semester before applying also so room to improve I would hope.

**I will add this information to the main post at the top**