I will be applying to both MD and DO this coming cycle, but prefer MD. My stats are low, but ECs are good.
Here are some relevant info: *Asian Louisiana resident *Graduated in May 2013 *Worked full time for a year after graduation in a research lab and then quit work to take informal post-bac classes at small, local state school *I plan to apply to LSU-NO (top choice), which has a 32-hour post-bac rule which replaces my undergrad GPA with my GPA from 32 hours of post-bac. *Post-bac in Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 *I will have taken 3 years off between undergrad and med school if I get in this coming cycle. *I have strong ties to Texas and would love to apply there, but with my stats it would be nearly impossible to get in.
Stats
UNDERGRAD: cGPA of 3.37, sGPA of 3.05
POSTBAC (all science):
-16 hours in Fall 2014: 4.0; so uGPA incl. post-bac: cGPA of 3.44 and sGPA of 3.24
-16 hours in Spring 2015: IF I manage another 4.0 this semester, cGPA of 3.5 and sGPA of 3.37
MCAT * 12/06/14: PS9/V10/BS10 (29)
-will likely take the new 2015 MCAT because one of my two state medical schools will only take that one for this coming cycle
ECs
*Worked for three years in a research lab, resulted in 2 publications (1 shared first author) and an amazing LoR from my PI
*Great leadership and volunteering experiences (I can elaborate if you want, but the most significant and extensive was my work with adults with various intellectual and developmental disabilities)
*ER Scribe for less than a year
*Some others, but not as significant
*I didn't do as well in undergrad because I was too caught up in ECs. So during my post-bac year I didn't do anything but take classes. I hope that wasn't a mistake.
Other These are experiences I believe are important in shaping who I am, but I will not exploit these as reasons for wanting to become a physician.
*I come from a very hard-working family. My parents are immigrants and have worked 7 days a week for the past 30 years. I may or may not have been "forced" to work at the family business for 5 or so years at their gas station. I did meet many great people because of it, developed essential interpersonal skills, and learned a great deal of values and life lessons.
*While my parents worked, I was raised by my grandmother who also dedicated her life to caring for my uncle, who is mentally ******ed. (Hence, my own work with the community of disabled adults.)
*My older brother was involved in an accident during my last undergrad semester that resulted in a severe traumatic brain injury. Dealing with this situation, including his dramatic personality change, has been one of the most difficult challenges I have yet to face.
*My other grandmother passed away this past semester. She was the heart of my relatively large family.
Lots of information, I know, but I wanted to give a comprehensive background so hopefully I can get as much help and advice as I can. My current plans are to take more classes this Spring semester and get some LORs. I also need one from a DO to apply to DO schools. I think I can get a committee letter from the school I am taking post-bac classes at. No idea what to do after this coming semester though. Thanks in advance for your time and help!
Here are some relevant info: *Asian Louisiana resident *Graduated in May 2013 *Worked full time for a year after graduation in a research lab and then quit work to take informal post-bac classes at small, local state school *I plan to apply to LSU-NO (top choice), which has a 32-hour post-bac rule which replaces my undergrad GPA with my GPA from 32 hours of post-bac. *Post-bac in Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 *I will have taken 3 years off between undergrad and med school if I get in this coming cycle. *I have strong ties to Texas and would love to apply there, but with my stats it would be nearly impossible to get in.
Stats
UNDERGRAD: cGPA of 3.37, sGPA of 3.05
POSTBAC (all science):
-16 hours in Fall 2014: 4.0; so uGPA incl. post-bac: cGPA of 3.44 and sGPA of 3.24
-16 hours in Spring 2015: IF I manage another 4.0 this semester, cGPA of 3.5 and sGPA of 3.37
MCAT * 12/06/14: PS9/V10/BS10 (29)
-will likely take the new 2015 MCAT because one of my two state medical schools will only take that one for this coming cycle
ECs
*Worked for three years in a research lab, resulted in 2 publications (1 shared first author) and an amazing LoR from my PI
*Great leadership and volunteering experiences (I can elaborate if you want, but the most significant and extensive was my work with adults with various intellectual and developmental disabilities)
*ER Scribe for less than a year
*Some others, but not as significant
*I didn't do as well in undergrad because I was too caught up in ECs. So during my post-bac year I didn't do anything but take classes. I hope that wasn't a mistake.
Other These are experiences I believe are important in shaping who I am, but I will not exploit these as reasons for wanting to become a physician.
*I come from a very hard-working family. My parents are immigrants and have worked 7 days a week for the past 30 years. I may or may not have been "forced" to work at the family business for 5 or so years at their gas station. I did meet many great people because of it, developed essential interpersonal skills, and learned a great deal of values and life lessons.
*While my parents worked, I was raised by my grandmother who also dedicated her life to caring for my uncle, who is mentally ******ed. (Hence, my own work with the community of disabled adults.)
*My older brother was involved in an accident during my last undergrad semester that resulted in a severe traumatic brain injury. Dealing with this situation, including his dramatic personality change, has been one of the most difficult challenges I have yet to face.
*My other grandmother passed away this past semester. She was the heart of my relatively large family.
Lots of information, I know, but I wanted to give a comprehensive background so hopefully I can get as much help and advice as I can. My current plans are to take more classes this Spring semester and get some LORs. I also need one from a DO to apply to DO schools. I think I can get a committee letter from the school I am taking post-bac classes at. No idea what to do after this coming semester though. Thanks in advance for your time and help!
