MD & DO 29 MCAT 3.8 GPA

[KobeshouldbeaMD]

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Hey guys, so I'm not applying this cycle, but I will be applying next cycle(june 2014), I just wanted to get some feedback.
I'm an NJ resident
I took my MCAT in September
(11PS, 7VR, 11BS)
GPA: 3.82
science GPA is about the same, a little lower (like 3.77)
Philosophy major with minors in Biology and Psychology
ECs completed by the time I apply:
Volunteer at two hospitals ~ 100 hrs each
Shadowed about 10 physicians 1 of them for about 100-120 hrs and the rest about 20 hrs each
1 year Psych research
4 month clinical research--might get published (3rd author)
Many non-clinical EC's

I've always taken a heavy schedule (not one semester under 17 credits)
MD schools:
Rutgers-NJMS <-- Top choice
RWJMS
Cooper
Albany Med
New York Medical College
Drexel
Temple
Penn State
Jefferson
The CommonWealth Medical College

DO schools:
RowanSOM
NYITCOM
TOUROCOM
PCOM
LECOM

I'm only applying to schools close to home because I want to be able to come back once or twice a month by car.

Questions:
1) Is that 7 in verbal going to kill me?
2) Are there any more schools worth adding?
3) How are my chances with MD and DO?


Thank you in advance.

 

[MrTaco92]

That seems like a solid list so far. Maybe you should add Hofstra and Quinnipiac if proximity to New Jersey is one of your main priorities.

 

[KobeshouldbeaMD]

That seems like a solid list so far. Maybe you should add Hofstra and Quinnipiac if proximity to New Jersey is one of your main priorities.

Thanks for the advice, I actually overlooked Quinnipac, but thanks for the advice.


Bumppp! Any advice or feedback is appreciated.

 

[pyrrion89]

You seem like a solid candidate for the lower-tier MD schools. I'd add some DO as backup unless you hate DO. If you've too many short-term EC's I'd try to focus on your more long-term experiences... you don't want to appear too scattered or capricious.

 

[KobeshouldbeaMD]

Well, how do you feel about my list? Are those reachable schools? and no I don't hate DO at all and anyone who "hates" DO is clearly very confused regarding the Medical profession. Could anyone give me an answer for these questions though?

1) Is that 7 in verbal going to kill me?
2) Are there any more schools worth adding?
3) How are my chances with MD and DO?

 

[Goro]

For a lot of MD schools, yes. For most schools, a 7 puts you it not the <10% of the acceptee pool.

1) Is that 7 in verbal going to kill me?

Suggest investing in MSAR to strategically target those schools who have median #s like yours. You're below the 10% line for VR for Drexel, for example.

2) Are there any more schools worth adding?

Overall for MD, stick to low tier schools and all new schools (except Hofstra). You're fine for any DO program. Suggest adding the VA and PA COMs.

3) How are my chances with MD and DO?

 

[KobeshouldbeaMD]

For a lot of MD schools, yes. For most schools, a 7 puts you it not the <10% of the acceptee pool.

1) Is that 7 in verbal going to kill me?

Suggest investing in MSAR to strategically target those schools who have median #s like yours. You're below the 10% line for VR for Drexel, for example.

2) Are there any more schools worth adding?

Overall for MD, stick to low tier schools and all new schools (except Hofstra). You're fine for any DO program. Suggest adding the VA and PA COMs.

3) How are my chances with MD and DO?

What are possible ways to alleviate a bad VR score?

What are the other PA COMs? Isn't it just PCOM?

 

[orangeman25]

What are possible ways to alleviate a bad VR score?

What are the other PA COMs? Isn't it just PCOM?

If you decide to retake your mcat to improve your verbal score to a 9 or 10, I believe your chances will be quite good for mid tier MD schools

 

[Goro]

Concur. LECOM has two campuses in PA.

If you decide to retake your mcat to improve your verbal score to a 9 or 10, I believe your chances will be quite good for mid tier MD schools

 

[KobeshouldbeaMD]

If you decide to retake your mcat to improve your verbal score to a 9 or 10, I believe your chances will be quite good for mid tier MD schools

I've thought long and hard about retaking and it seems that the decision to retake is becoming more and more slim. Will being a philosophy major help cover the 7 in verbal, after all, philosophy is the synthesis of abstract concepts and learning how to reason through arguments and that kind of stuff.

 

[orangeman25]

I've thought long and hard about retaking and it seems that the decision to retake is becoming more and more slim. Will being a philosophy major help cover the 7 in verbal, after all, philosophy is the synthesis of abstract concepts and learning how to reason through arguments and that kind of stuff.

I don't think being a philosophy major will serve as compensation/justification. The rest of your application looks solid, and your gpa is really great. If your mcat were to improve to a 30 (via 2 points on verbal), your chances go from a 67% to an 82% for an MD acceptance (I got this info from aamc website).

It's obviously a tough position, so only retake if you know you can bring up verbal to a 9. I think you can do it though

 

[orangeman25]

I've thought long and hard about retaking and it seems that the decision to retake is becoming more and more slim. Will being a philosophy major help cover the 7 in verbal, after all, philosophy is the synthesis of abstract concepts and learning how to reason through arguments and that kind of stuff.

Oh sorry I misread your mcat to be a 28. Retaking a 29 if a tough decision, yeah. But if you improve that verbal it really does open doors for you

 

[KobeshouldbeaMD]

Oh sorry I misread your mcat to be a 28. Retaking a 29 if a tough decision, yeah. But if you improve that verbal it really does open doors for you

I was averaging 10-11 on EK verbal 101 man, it's just a shame that verbal was my problem. My sciences are pretty good, 11s are solid and I'm thankful for them and I don't want to risk:
1) losing my sciences
2) getting the same verbal score
3) both


Personally, my main goal is to be a physician because I know that I can genuinely change people's lives for the better whether that comes by MD or DO doesn't make a really big difference to me which is why I don't think retaking is necessary, do you think Med schools see past the 7 if provided with good LORs and a solid personal statement?

 

[orangeman25]

If you are fine with MD or DO, you will certainly be fine.

 

[Omppu27]

I concur with others that a 7 won't completely kill your MD chances, especially if you go LeBron status in your interviews.

 

[KobeshouldbeaMD]

I concur with others that a 7 won't completely kill your MD chances, especially if you go LeBron status in your interviews.

Well Lebron's a choker so I think I'd rather go Kobe status 😛


The real problem is getting the interview lol, looking at the MSAR, a lot of schools 10 percentile for verbal isn't as low as 7