3.5 gpa w/ postbac, 510 MCAT WAMC/School List

[chiquita_banana]

Hi everyone! I am a reapplicant this cycle looking for a review of my app as well as some feedback on my school list. This past cycle I applied to 6 schools, received 2 II to my in-state MD's, and was waitlisted at both... ): Definitely plan on working on my interview skills! Additionally, since my app last cycle I completed 23 DIY post-bacc credits in upper level science courses with 3 more credits in progress at the time of app submission. I also increased my non-clinical volunteer hours by about 100 hrs and clinical(paid) hours by 2000 with my full time job.

Background:
AZ resident, 25 y/o F, 1/2white 1/2 mexican, graduated 2022 BS in Neuroscience minor in Biochemistry from public state school
Last year GPA: cgpa 3.45, sgpa 3.27
Post bac GPA: 4.0 (23 credits, 3 more in progress)
This year GPA: cgpa 3.55, sgpa 3.45
MCAT: 510 (127/126/127/130)

clinical/paid: 6000 hrs CRC across primary care and pediatric oncology, 2000 projected

also worked as a CNA in highschool so did not include in W/A bc but did write about it in my PS as my introduction to medicine.

non-clinical/paid: 3500 hrs food service in college, 1000 self-employed/business owner (eyelash tech)

Research: 1000 neuropharmacology lab in college, 1 pub (mid-author), 2 posters, 2nd place poster award

non-clinical volunteering: 50 hours school for deaf and blind, 100 hrs public health (food banks, vaccine clinics, etc), 75 hrs homeless outreach, 50 animal shelter

+ a couple hobbies and an academic club in college

Strong focus on compassionate care and research initiatives .

5 LORs (1 academic from post bacc, 3 clinical from physicians at CRC job, 1 from lab PI)

Current School list (all MD):
University of Arizona - Tucson
University of Arizona - Phoenix
Creighton - Phoenix Campus
Albany
TCU
Rosalind Franklin
Drexel
Eastern Virginia
Quinnipiac
Dartmouth
Georgetown
Kirk UNLV
Temple
Loma Linda
Medical College Wisco
NYMC
Oakland Beaumont
Penn State
Rush
Thomas Jefferson
Tulane
SUNY Downstate
UCLA
UCSD
Colorado
UIC
University of Kansas
Miami Miller
University of Wisco
Wayne State
Wright State

Some of these are painfully obvious reaches, but you miss 100% of the shots you don't take... right!? *sobbing*

Yes, I know I should include DO.. My plan is to give it one more shot this cycle with MD and if no luck I will apply DO next cycle! As much as I would love to start school tomorrow, I have a well paying and stable job atm and my partner is currently in med school. So, we agreed if I have to work for an additional year while he finishes up it's not a terrible situation.

Thank you in advance for reading all this and providing any thoughts you have. 🙂

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Clarify; you were interviewed at both UArizona campuses. Where did you also apply? Did you get feedback on your last attempt?

I don't get Kansas on your list if you are an Arizona resident unless your childhood was based in Kansas. They heavily favor in-state ties. Check out all your options as an OOS applicant: for example, Wright State takes only Ohio applicants. I don't know why you have UIC.

You should include the DO schools in Arizona. They have a ton of seats, and your chances would be good to get in. Pride is useless if you don't have an offer.

 

[chiquita_banana]

Clarify; you were interviewed at both UArizona campuses. Where did you also apply? Did you get feedback on your last attempt?

I don't get Kansas on your list if you are an Arizona resident unless your childhood was based in Kansas. They heavily favor in-state ties. Check out all your options as an OOS applicant: for example, Wright State takes only Ohio applicants. I don't know why you have UIC.

You should include the DO schools in Arizona. They have a ton of seats, and your chances would be good to get in. Pride is useless if you don't have an offer.

Hi! Thanks so much for the feedback. I have not been rejected from either UA yet, just waitlist purgatory lol, so I have not been able to request application feedback. The other 4 schools unfortunately did not offer applicant feedback.

Good to know about the OOS schools. I only included Kansas and UIC bc I have good friends there and seemed to fall within the lower end of the stat ranges. Probably will remove those if thats the case!

I apologize if I came off prideful, that was not my intention. I just wanted to express MD is my goal so I am willing to be patient to get there, as of right now. Ofc, open to including DO in the future if that seems to be my best option! AZ particularly is pretty congested with medical schools (5 just in Phx) so I have heard from current students that the DO students typically have less opportunities when it comes to research partnerships and local mentors/clerkships. Not sure if you have any insight on that, but I would love to hear your advice!

 

[wysdoc]

If your partner is still in med school and the two of you want to end up in the same location, wouldn’t it make a lot more sense to see where they get residency next spring and then apply?

 

[chiquita_banana]

If your partner is still in med school and the two of you want to end up in the same location, wouldn’t it make a lot more sense to see where they get residency next spring and then apply?

It's definitely a tricky situation, no doubt about that! We've had a lot of conversations and agreed that being in the same location isn't our top priority right now. What matters most is that I get into a decent program, and he matches with a really strong one (he's honestly way more impressive than I am, haha). We're both comfortable with doing long distance for a while, with the shared understanding that we're working toward a future together, whether thats in 2 years or 6.

This cycle, I really want to give it my best shot. I'm planning to apply to more than just six schools and show an upward trend with my improved grades. I guess what I’m trying to figure out is, are my goals for this cycle completely delulu, or do they sound at least somewhat realistic?

 

[wysdoc]

These schools take few OOS applicants
SUNY Downstate
EVMS
U Kansas

UIC is very expensive for OOS, but other Chicago area schools might be better
Chances at the UCs with a 510 MCAT are low

 

[chiquita_banana]

These schools take few OOS applicants
SUNY Downstate
EVMS
U Kansas

UIC is very expensive for OOS, but other Chicago area schools might be better
Chances at the UCs with a 510 MCAT are low

I didn't know that about UIC but just looked at their website and OMG! Thanks for the warning. Will do another comb through of my OOS school list. Thanks so much!!

 

[Faha]

You have several State public schools on your list that admit few non residents with your stats and no connection to the state. Rush expects far more non clinical volunteering hours than you have.
I suggest these schools with your stats:
Arizona (Tucson and Phoenix)
Arizona State (when it opens)
Creighton
Rosemary
TCU
Alice Walton
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Belmont
NOVA MD
Wake Forest
Methodist (when it opens)
Virginia Commonwealth
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Ponce (St. Louis)

 

[chiquita_banana]

You have several State public schools on your list that admit few non residents with your stats and no connection to the state. Rush expects far more non clinical volunteering hours than you have.
I suggest these schools with your stats:
Arizona (Tucson and Phoenix)
Arizona State (when it opens)
Creighton
Rosemary
TCU
Alice Walton
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Belmont
NOVA MD
Wake Forest
Methodist (when it opens)
Virginia Commonwealth
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Ponce (St. Louis)

Thank you!!