Expert: buzzard - 8/11/2004

Question
I will be transferring to a 4 yr. university next fall and am trying to figure out what schools I should apply to.  I am a Psychology major and am not your typical transfer student.  I graduated  in 1998 and have been working as an Admin. Asst. and started my own event planning company.  These reasons have contributed to a less than perfect GPA (with a tough courseload) and I am just now to the point of having enough credits to be a Junior Transfer.  I have about a 3.21 GPA and average test scores on the SAT and SAT II tests.  My ultimate goal is to go on to Medical School and want to get into a great undergraduate program that will allow me the opportunity to compete for a spot at the top medical schools in the country.

Any help you can offer is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Christine Gray

Answer
I'm sorry!  I answered this question a few days ago, but didn't do it right so you've been left without an answer!  

If med school is your goal, I have to be candid, your GPA is a problem.  You really need to pour it on for the next four semesters!  Also, you are going to need a great MCAT score.  Are you familiar with the MCAT? In order to get a great score there, most students benifit from having had a number of biology and chemistry courses, as well as an MCAT prep course - at your college or from a test prep company.

As for choosing a college, you need to ask a lot of questions about med school placement rates.  If you encounter a school with an impressive placement rate, you need to then ask this question: "What does it take for you to support my application to medical school?" Some colleges have a GPA requirement (often 3.8) in order the faculty members in traditional pre-med courses to write letters of recommendation for you.  Those letters are crucial! You need to find a college that will work with you on applying to med school even if your GPA is not fantastic  Not all schools will be willing. If you visit a college, ask for a meeting with the pre-med advisor.

Again, to be totally honest with you, you may have a hard time getting admitted to a "great" undegtraduate program and to one of the "top medical schools". Bear in mind that people who attended the lowest medical schools still become doctors and still practice medicine. I hope you prove me wrong... but this is what I have observed through the years.

Best of luck to you!