2025-2026 School List Advice

[krc78]

Nontrad working for the past 8 years as a software engineer, now preparing AMCAS and AACOMAS. More info:

• Age: 30
• Education: Graduated with BA in Computer Science/Math from Ivy League university in 2017, 3.46 cGPA. Couple C's in math classes that I didn't take seriously. Took ~21 post bacc credits over last 3 semester (bio 1/2, orgo 1/2, biochem), 4.0 GPA. Using AP credits for the other prereqs. From online calculators my total cGPA and sGPA are ~3.56.
• MCAT: Took 05/09, from FL average expecting 520
• Clinical volunteering: ~250 hours, 150 hours in a hospital, 50 hours as an EMT at events, 50 hours in hospice care
• Non-clinical volunteering: ~350 hours, mostly at the same place
• Shadowing: ~65 hours, 45 in person in various ERs, 20 through virtual shadowing
• Extracurriculars: Was president of an organization responsible for reducing food waste on campus in junior/senior year of undergrad (maybe it should be classified as non-clinical volunteering, not sure)
• LORs: 3 from post-bacc science professors, 1 from MD I shadowed, 1 from a past engineering manager. Expecting at least one of the post-bacc letters and the ex-manager letter to be strong, not sure about the others.
• Work experience: 8+ years as an engineer at large companies, 15K+ hours
• Research: None, but planning to start very shortly after AMCAS submission

I live in NYC (NY resident) and my priority is proximity to the city (ideally within ~2 hours). I'm mostly applying MD and I'm concerned that I won't be a competitive applicant given the GPA, lack of research, and just how competitive many northeast schools are. Here's what I have so far:

• Albert Einstein (NY, MD)
• Columbia (NY, MD)
• Hofstra Northwell (NY, MD)
• Mount Sinai Icahn (NY, MD)
• New York Medical College (NY, MD)
• NYU Grossman (NY, MD)
• NYU Long Island (NY, MD)
• Stony Brook (NY, MD)
• SUNY Downstate (NY, MD)
• Weill Cornell (NY, MD)
• NY Institute of Technology Osteopathic Medicine (NY, DO)
• Touro College of Osteopathic - Harlem (NY, DO)
• Rutgers (NJ, MD)
• Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson (NJ, MD)
• Hackensack Meridian (NJ, MD)

Do I have a realistic chance for the MD schools, or should I look to apply to more DO schools?

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[johnr42700]

It's difficult to say without an actual MCAT score. Your GPA is a little low for many of the schools on your list, and having no research prior to submission is very difficult to get past. If you're intent on submitting this cycle, I would expand your list to schools outside of just the NY area. Make sure to polish your narrative about transitioning to medicine.

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

Many of the schools you listed prefer applicants with a lot of research, so IDK how many bites you're going to get. If you want to be a doctor, expand your geographical range and return to the city for residency or as an attending.

 

[krc78]

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, I was concerned that my odds are slim at the MD schools on my list. Within the next year, I'm confident I could get some research experience and more post-bacc credits (it's nice that I have a 4.0 GPA in my post bacc, but it's only 21 credits - so not a ton of evidence of an upward trend). Maybe that would raise my cGPA/sGPA to >3.6. I chose to apply this cycle because it felt like all the other parts of my app were solid, and it's hopefully competitive enough for DO.

 

[Faha]

Post your actual MCAT score here in the future when available.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Check with the schools on your list about their policy on AP's. The fact you took those courses 10+ years ago in high school might be a little concerning though you did well in subsequent coursework. But how long ago was this, or was this covered with your postbac? What did you do for non-clinical volunteering for 350 hours?