3.3 GPA, 513 MCAT- SMP needed?

[Zach123!]

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I have a 3.3cGPA and 3.3sGPA, scored a 513 on the MCAT. I have 1,600 paid clinical hours, 200 non clinical volunteer hours, and 250 hours of shadowing between an MD ENT, MD Neurosurgeon, and MD CT surgeon. I will be getting a LOR from 2 of those MD surgeons and a DO anesthesiologist that I work with, as well as 2 science professors. I’m not an URM and currently live in FL but ideally would like to go to a medical school in TN/NC/VA. I would like to apply to:

MD:
UCF
USF
FAU
FIU
FSU
NOVA MD
University of South Carolina
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
University of Texas Southwestern (Dallas-huge reach..)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech
EVMS
University of Tennessee (favorite)
Wake Forest (also favorite)

DO:
WV-COM
Liberty University COM
University of Pikeville KCOM
University of the Incarnate Word COM
OK-state COM
NOVA DO

I am really aspiring to be a pediatric ENT, which is a competitive field. So with the merger coming in 2020, I feel like MD is what I really need to be in order to compete for the competitive pediatric fellowship. Should I pursue an SMP and take 2 years to complete and then apply? Or are my statistics good enough for some MD schools?

 

[deleted853360]

I would not apply to any SC medical schools unless you have close ties to the state.

 

[candbgirl]

Did you use the MSAR to develop your list? Are the schools on your list OOS friendly? Are your GPAs >10thpercentile?

 

[Faha]

These schools accept very few non residents with your GPA and no connection to the state:
University of South Carolina
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
University of Texas Southwestern (Dallas-huge reach..)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech
EVMS
University of Tennessee (favorite) (only matriculated 14 non residents a year ago)
You should add U Florida. You are competitive for all DO schools on your list.

 

[Zach123!]

These schools accept very few non residents with your GPA and no connection to the state:
University of South Carolina
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
University of Texas Southwestern (Dallas-huge reach..)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech
EVMS
University of Tennessee (favorite) (only matriculated 14 non residents a year ago)
You should add U Florida. You are competitive for all DO schools on your list.

I am considering going to VCU and getting a M.S. there, allowing me to qualify for VA residency. Since most of those schools favor the bordering states as well (ex: University of Tennessee also favors residents in NC, SC, VA, GA). But I feel like UF would be out of my range, isn't their average GPA much much higher?

 

[Zach123!]

I would not apply to any SC medical schools unless you have close ties to the state.

Would getting a Master's at the Univ of South Carolina help enough to potentially get me in with my gpa? Assuming I do well in the Master's.

 

[candbgirl]

MD schools don’t really count Masters degrees when figuring GPAS. DO schools do. Or do you mean a SMP? SMPs are expensive and high risk-high reward. If you think you can get a +3.7 GPA, otherwise it’s game over forMD. THAT might be an option especially if there is heavy linkage. Be careful of thinking a year of school will qualify you for residency. Check and double check before you make a move.

 

[Faha]

I am considering going to VCU and getting a M.S. there, allowing me to qualify for VA residency. Since most of those schools favor the bordering states as well (ex: University of Tennessee also favors residents in NC, SC, VA, GA). But I feel like UF would be out of my range, isn't their average GPA much much higher?

Your chances for a MD school are better as a Florida resident. Being a resident of Virginia for one year does not give you any advantage for any neighboring state public schools.

 

[Goro]

I have a 3.3cGPA and 3.3sGPA, scored a 513 on the MCAT. I have 1,600 paid clinical hours, 200 non clinical volunteer hours, and 250 hours of shadowing between an MD ENT, MD Neurosurgeon, and MD CT surgeon. I will be getting a LOR from 2 of those MD surgeons and a DO anesthesiologist that I work with, as well as 2 science professors. I’m not an URM and currently live in FL but ideally would like to go to a medical school in TN/NC/VA. I would like to apply to:

MD:
UCF
USF
FAU
FIU
FSU
NOVA MD
University of South Carolina
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
University of Texas Southwestern (Dallas-huge reach..)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech
EVMS
University of Tennessee (favorite)
Wake Forest (also favorite)

DO:
WV-COM
Liberty University COM
University of Pikeville KCOM
University of the Incarnate Word COM
OK-state COM
NOVA DO

I am really aspiring to be a pediatric ENT, which is a competitive field. So with the merger coming in 2020, I feel like MD is what I really need to be in order to compete for the competitive pediatric fellowship. Should I pursue an SMP and take 2 years to complete and then apply? Or are my statistics good enough for some MD schools?

With your GPAs, I can't recommend MD schools unless you have a steep rising trend for at least the past two years.

You're fine for any DO school. I can't recommend Touro-NY, Nova, Wm Carey, LUCOM, for different reasons. MSUCOM? Read up on Larry Nasser and you decide. LMU has an accreditation warning, which concerns me.

If you're boning for the MD, ace an SMP.

 

[Zach123!]

MD schools don’t really count Masters degrees when figuring GPAS. DO schools do. Or do you mean a SMP? SMPs are expensive and high risk-high reward. If you think you can get a +3.7 GPA, otherwise it’s game over forMD. THAT might be an option especially if there is heavy linkage. Be careful of thinking a year of school will qualify you for residency. Check and double check before you make a move.

Aren't SMP's just Special Masters Programs? Like a Master's in Biomedical Sciences? Or a M.S. in Medical Sciences?

 

[Zach123!]

With your GPAs, I can't recommend MD schools unless you have a steep rising trend for at least the past two years.

You're fine for any DO school. I can't recommend Touro-NY, Nova, Wm Carey, LUCOM, for different reasons. MSUCOM? Read up on Larry Nasser and you decide. LMU has an accreditation warning, which concerns me.

If you're boning for the MD, ace an SMP.

What's wrong with NOVA? If I go DO, they are being considered. But it's not that I'm stubborn and set on going MD, but with the merger in 2020 and my desire to get into a competitive surgical field, I feel like being a DO would put me at a big disadvantage. Won't the merger just hurt the DO schools when it comes to match %??

 

[candbgirl]

From US News:

“SMPs are one- or two-year graduate degree programs designed with a premed student in mind. Schools that offer SMPs understand that most students will be enrolling to strengthen their application to medical school. As such, they design the programs to replicate aspects of medical school, including having students take courses along with first-year med students and sit for national medical exams.”

You’re given an opportunity to show ADCOMS you can compete with medical students successfully. If you don’t do well (3.6+) your chances at a med school acceptance are just about over. That’s why people say they are high risk-high rewards. They are also expensive. So no they aren’t just a masters program. They are specifically designed programs !