3.6sGPA, 3.7cGPA, 25Q

[Mahones]

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New to the forum so sorry if I'm doing this wrong, but...

I have a 3.6 sGPA, a 3.7 cGPA, I got a 25Q on the MCAT, but I am retaking in August to get that up. I am a FL resident.

Is it a waste to apply to any MD schools? I figured I'd at least apply to FSU since thats my home school and I am a resident, and hopefully my MCAT score will go up. I want to release my application ASAP for a better shot at getting in, but I dont want to shoot myself in the foot if I end up having to reapply next year. Would it be stupid to release my application before I see my next score and just apply later? Or should I maybe try to change my test date?

What about DO schools? any advice on specific schools that I might be a good match for? I'm not as familiar with the DO schools so any advice would be helpful.

EC's: Nothing too special except maybe one of my research projects, or my travel experience: .....A couple research lab experiences, a medical trip to the Kenya slums for a summer, Taught some english in Thailand, for part of a summer, shadowing this summer, misc. honor society functions and volunteering (such as AED and what they support), tutoring, Summer non medical jobs, and volunteering for a program that reaches out to the kids of the city where I go to school which takes up a bunch of time (like 3 nights a week), referee job during school, and other hobbie/misc. EC.

Thanks for any input!

 

[MiniMoo]

The majority of schools operate on a rolling basis so retaking your MCAT so late would put you at a disadvantage. Your score wouldn't be released until September, and your applications wouldn't be complete until after that. With many applicants applying earlier now, your app would be at the bottom of a large pile.

Additionally, I see a problem with your ECs. Do you have any local clinical volunteer experience where you work directly with sick people? If not, that's a very big hole in your application. Most people volunteer about 4-5 hours/week for at least a year prior to applying. Also shadowing is important as well. Ideally you would find at least 3-4 different physicians in different specialties to shadow for at least a total of 40-50 hours.

Your non medical volunteering may be sufficient. What is AED? I automatically think Automated External Defibrillator, but I'm pretty sure thats not what you meant. 😛

So taking all of the above into consideration, I would probably recommend you take a year off to beef up your ECs and prepare to really rock the MCAT. Then apply early in June of next year to maximize your chances. The lack of relevant clinical ECs are really what hurt you the most and would make it difficult to get an acceptance to both MD and DO programs.

 

[stayclassy]

New to the forum so sorry if I'm doing this wrong, but...

I have a 3.6 sGPA, a 3.7 cGPA, I got a 25Q on the MCAT, but I am retaking in August to get that up. I am a FL resident.

Is it a waste to apply to any MD schools? I figured I'd at least apply to FSU since thats my home school and I am a resident, and hopefully my MCAT score will go up. I want to release my application ASAP for a better shot at getting in, but I dont want to shoot myself in the foot if I end up having to reapply next year. Would it be stupid to release my application before I see my next score and just apply later? Or should I maybe try to change my test date?

What about DO schools? any advice on specific schools that I might be a good match for? I'm not as familiar with the DO schools so any advice would be helpful.

EC's: Nothing too special except maybe one of my research projects, or my travel experience: .....A couple research lab experiences, a medical trip to the Kenya slums for a summer, Taught some english in Thailand, for part of a summer, shadowing this summer, misc. honor society functions and volunteering (such as AED and what they support), tutoring, Summer non medical jobs, and volunteering for a program that reaches out to the kids of the city where I go to school which takes up a bunch of time (like 3 nights a week), referee job during school, and other hobbie/misc. EC.

Thanks for any input!

As a fellow FL resident, your best options are FSU, LECOM and Nova.
Unfortunately that MCAT score prevents you any chance at any other schools. Good luck on your retake.

 

[Mahones]

do LECOM and Nova have resident preference even though they are private?

 

[PureMotivation]

do LECOM and Nova have resident preference even though they are private?

LECOM and Nova will have very little residential preference if any at all. Good luck man, I just graduated from FSU, accepted at Nova, rejected off waitlist at FSU. Still wait listed at Creighton and would like to go there. I'm still pretty bitter at FSU med for not taking me lol

 

[tmntdonjuan]

New to the forum so sorry if I'm doing this wrong, but...

I have a 3.6 sGPA, a 3.7 cGPA, I got a 25Q on the MCAT, but I am retaking in August to get that up. I am a FL resident.

Is it a waste to apply to any MD schools? I figured I'd at least apply to FSU since thats my home school and I am a resident, and hopefully my MCAT score will go up. I want to release my application ASAP for a better shot at getting in, but I dont want to shoot myself in the foot if I end up having to reapply next year. Would it be stupid to release my application before I see my next score and just apply later? Or should I maybe try to change my test date?

Thanks for any input!

As long as you know you can make 30+ on the retake I would go for it. I retook the test in August 2009 and got a 30+ which was instrumental in my application this past cycle.

 

[Catalystik]

A summer of international clinical experience should not stand alone for either MD or DO med schools. You need experience with US patients and US medical environments to have a solid application. Aim for 60-80 hours (split among 2-3 docs, of which one is primary care, and ideally, including a DO physician) of shadowing before you submit.