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Second year applying, how strong is my application


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Hey guys never posted on one of these forums. I would like to share my stats and have people generally discuss if i'm a strong applicant. 

-Human biology degree from SUNY Albany (New York): 3.25gpa

Chem1- C+

Chem1 lab- B

Chem2- B

Chem 2 lab- C

Bio1- C+

Bio1 lab- B-

Bio2- C+

bio2 lab- C+

Genetics- B+

Orgo- A-  no lab

Biochem1- A  no lab

A&P1 w/lab- A

A&P2 w/lab- A

Microbology- A-  no lab

Stats- A  

 

-1870hours as a ER tech at a level 1 trauma center

-200 hours volunteering in PT/ER

460 hours volunteering as EMT-B

-640 hours as Nursing Assistant in cardiology unit at Stony Brook hospital.

-20 hours shadowing PAs

 

GRE

verbal 143

quant- 151

analy- 3.5

 

As you can see my GPA&GRE is my weak point and my HCE is somewhere average.

Last year when I applied it took me months to fill out the CASPA application (Albany messed up sending transcripts 3x) and ended up becoming verified in September to 9 schools.

 

This year im applying to twice the amount of schools and i'm way ahead of my game about to apply within the next two weeks. Ive done my research and created a spread sheet in excel looking at over 150 programs, taking into account prereqs-gpa-HCE-students accepted-GRE. I have knocked it down to 30 programs that best fit me, half of which require GRE. With my stats how many schools do you recommend applying to? Im from long island New York and don't mind moving to anywhere in the US. I plan on taking upper level sciences over the summer/fall/spring to better myself for next cycle if this one doesn't work out. Im welcoming all advice and discussion and very much appreciate it. 

 

 

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Are your classes listed in the order you took them? If so, your are showing a positive trend. It may be worthwhile to look info schools that take the last 60 hours as your GPA is still somewhat low.

 

GRE scoring is different than when I took it, so I can't really offer much there. I know at my program, the GRE was one of the least important parts of your application. But it obviously still plays some role in evaluating applicants.

 

Your experience is solid. Keep accumulating hours.

 

Good luck!

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You might want to consider not applying to programs that require the GRE.  Colloquially a 300 is the goal for the GRE score...if you have less than that you may get auto/computer filtered.

 

Your GPA is on the lower end (not impossible bc it IS greater than a 3.0) but you have quite a few C's in there - some schools have requirements for the pre-reqs on minimum grade -you'll want to check those.  The program I'm in requires that you have at least a B- in all pre-reqs....so that alone would rule you out.

 

And while your HCE is in the average range, someone with your grades and GRE should really be aiming for stellar HCE to compensate.

 

Personally I don't think I'd spend the money to apply (to 30 schools!) this year and instead use that money to take more classes and earn more HCE.  You are not a *strong* applicant.  You are an average to below average applicant.  Throwing more applications into the ring won't necessarily improve your chances the way a better GPA, better GRE, and more HCE would.

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Do you guys recommend taking over general chem or bio, or taking upper levels of classes like immunology- phram- pathophysiology 

 

Both.  Taking new, upper level courses will raise your GPA more but you may need better than Cs in the gen chem/bio if programs require it.  Check the programs and see what their pre-req grade minimums are.  

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