MD WAMC -- 3.62 GPA -- 514 MCAT

[druidcookie]

Hey everyone. I am on my first year of a two year post-bacc research fellowship at the NIH and looking to apply to MD schools this upcoming cycle. I understand my GPA is not stellar but am hoping my MCAT can somewhat compensate as well as my ECs. Also could potentially retake the MCAT to get my Bio/Biochem score up from a 127.

1. cGPA and sGPA: 3.63 & 3.49 (C in physics II dragged sGPA down)
2. MCAT 514: 128/130/127/129
3. Residency: Virginia (also qualify for MA residency through parents/where I grew up)
4. Race: White
5. Education: University of Richmond – BS Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with Honors, Minor in History
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer)
   1. 300 hours as a COVID screener and patient escort (during summer 2020)
   2. 30 hours and counting as a hospice volunteer interacting directly with patients
7. Research experience and productivity
   1. Undergraduate research fellow during junior and senior year, including the summer between. ~750 research hours. Presented a poster at a large international conference, a poster at my undergrad's student symposium, and gave a talk in front of the BMB department. Was awarded two summer fellowships based on grants and won the "BMB Senior Research Award" from the department. I completed a senior thesis on my research to earn an honors degree in BMB.
   2. Post-bacc research fellow at the NIH. ~1000+ research hours. Invited to participate in the elevator pitch competition at my institute's annual conference as well as present a poster. No publications yet but I expect to be on at least one by the end of 2024.
8. Shadowing experience and specialties represented
   1. 20 hours with a urologic oncologist
   2. 10 hours with a pulmonary and critical care specialist
9. Non-clinical volunteering
   1. 150 hours as a Big in Big Brothers Big Sisters
   2. 200 hours as a member of Best Buddies working with people with IDD
   3. 50 hours as a text line crisis counselor
   4. 30 hours as a meals on wheels deliver driver
   5. 30 hours at hospital child care department
10. Other extracurricular activities
    1. Present, VP and events coordinator of Best Buddies chapter on campus during undergrad
    2. President and VP of Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter on campus during undergrad
    3. Honor council and conduct council member during undergrad
    4. Introduction to Molecular Biology TA
    5. Running (ran 2 marathons in 2022 and have 2 scheduled in 2023)
11. Relevant honors or awards
    1. BMB Senior Research Award
    2. 2x Summer research fellowships during undergrad
    3. Graduated with honors for senior thesis and GPA
12. Anything else:
    1. LOR’s from 2 science profs (knew me well enough; wrote good enough LOR's to get NIH job) + 1 history prof (knew me well) + undergrad research PI + post-bacc research PI.
    2. *Hopefully* a compelling narrative of working with vulnerable populations (kids from underserved areas, people with IDD, the elderly) + love of science as shown through research and TA.
13. School List
    1. UMass
    2. UMiami
    3. Boston University
    4. Emory
    5. Ohio State
    6. VCU
    7. Temple
    8. Dartmouth
    9. Wake Forest
    10. Brown
    11. EVMS
    12. U of Wisconsin
    13. Georgetown
    14. Drexel
    15. Tufts
    16. George Washington
    17. Thomas Jefferson
    18. Virginia Tech
    19. NYMC
    20. UVM
    21. Tulane
    22. Medical College of Wisconsin
    23. Creighton
    24. Albany Medical College
    25. Quinnipiac
    26. FIU
    27. Geisinger Commonwealth

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[Mr.Smile12]

You need a boost in your clinical hours. More time in hospice (you list just 30) AND more time shadowing doctors especially in primary care roles (also listing just 30). More interactions with doctors and patients.

 

[Faha]

Your clinical exposure hours are low and will limit your chances for interviews. You need another 20 hours of physician shadowing (preferably primary care) before you apply. 30 hours of clinical volunteering is low and you should accumulate another 150+ hours before you apply. Some of the schools you are applying to (for example Georgetown and Creighton) are looking for applicants with many hundreds or thousand of hours of clinical exposure.
IF you accumulate those hours I suggest these schools:
VCU
EVMS
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Wake Forest
NOVA MD
Tulane
TCU
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
Oakland Beaumont
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Hackensack
New York Medical College
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Vermont
UMass
Belmont (when it opens)