MD & DO 3.75 cGPA, 3.69 sGPA, 500 MCAT

[ozzyman987]

• Major: Biology (Evolution/Ecology)
• GPA: 3.75 cGPA and 3.69 sGPA (constant trend)
• MCAT: 500 (124/125/125/126)
• California resident
• URM Latino male
• Large public university/ D1
• Clinical Experience:
  • 300+ hours as an ED volunteer helping talk with patients and family members who need anything as well helping nurses with anything they need
• Research:
  • None at the moment - looking for somewhere to start
• Shadowing:
  • About 40 hours: an orthopedic surgeon
• Non-clinical volunteering:
  • 100+ hours giving tours at a space center (mostly class field trips)
  • 200+ hours tutoring URM elementary school kids
• Other extracurrilcar activities:
  • Teach a Sunday school class to 1st/2nd graders
  • Help coach a soccer team of middle schoolers
• Relevant honors/awards:
  • Dean's List 5 semesters

I wanted to know what are my chances at schools both MD/DO, maybe even get a school list of where I have a decent shot. I'm hoping to get some research experience soon as well as shadow a DO.

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[sparkysparkyboomman]

I don’t have the knowledge to supply a school list for you, but I had very similar stats/other (MCAT, GPA, hispanic, shadowing hours) and managed to get into my state’s MD school.


However, I know it can be very competitive in CA. Best of luck! You’ll get great input from people here.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

That's a lot of activities hours with children aside from your ED work. Is this enough variety for community service and insight into social determinants of health?

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[ozzyman987]

I don’t have the knowledge to supply a school list for you, but I had very similar stats/other (MCAT, GPA, hispanic, shadowing hours) and managed to get into my state’s MD school.


However, I know it can be very competitive in CA. Best of luck! You’ll get great input from people here.

Thank you!

 

[ozzyman987]

That's a lot of activities hours with children aside from your ED work. Is this enough variety for community service and insight into social determinants of health?

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I would like to think that it is especially at the elementary school because I am able to talk to some of the parents about their child's situation at home and how it affects their ability to work and interact in a classroom setting. However, if this seems like not enough variety I am open to volunteering at new places. What would you advise?

 

[Faha]

I suggest these schools with your stats:
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Albany
New York Medical College
Seton Hall
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
NOVA MD
Oakland Beaumont
Medical College Wisconsin
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
Creighton
TCU-UNT
California University
Kaiser
Loma Linda
UC Davis
UC Irvine
Also apply broadly to DO schools and I suggest these:
TUNCOM
UIWSOM
PCOM Georgia and South Georgia
ACOM
ARCOM
NYIT-ARKANSAS
MU-COM
UP-KYCOM
WVSOM
CUSOM
VCOM (all schools)
LECOM (all schools)
Apply in June and submit all your secondaries by July.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I would like to think that it is especially at the elementary school because I am able to talk to some of the parents about their child's situation at home and how it affects their ability to work and interact in a classroom setting. However, if this seems like not enough variety I am open to volunteering at new places. What would you advise?

I'm leaving it up to others to provide input. I can't argue that families with children, especially in underresourced communities is a big focus area. But there is also a lot of need for elderly populations, homeless and incarcerated, military/veterans, and rural. I want to see if others think there needs to be more breadth. I don't want to have the goalposts moved to the point where it is impractical for reviewing your file. Certainly teaching or helping the general public is desirable.

 

[ozzyman987]

I suggest these schools with your stats:
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Albany
New York Medical College
Seton Hall
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
NOVA MD
Oakland Beaumont
Medical College Wisconsin
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
Creighton
TCU-UNT
California University
Kaiser
Loma Linda
UC Davis
UC Irvine
Also apply broadly to DO schools and I suggest these:
TUNCOM
UIWSOM
PCOM Georgia and South Georgia
ACOM
ARCOM
NYIT-ARKANSAS
MU-COM
UP-KYCOM
WVSOM
CUSOM
VCOM (all schools)
LECOM (all schools)
Apply in June and submit all your secondaries by July.

Thank you so much for the list! Do you think my lack of research will have a huge impact on my application? Also do you have any opinions on what Mr.Smile12 said about not having much variety for community service?

 

[candbgirl]

Is tutoring included under the teaching list? If it is your nonclinical hours are really lacking. The field trips at the space center certainly are not service to the unserved/underserved in your community. I agree with @Mr.Smile12 you need to get out of your comfort zone and start interacting with people unlike yourself. Why are you so against trying something else? Does it make you uncomfortable to interact with the homeless, the elderly , vets, etc.? You will be dealing with all kinds of people when you are a doctor. ADCOMS want to see your altruism explained on your application and talked about with passion during interviews.
You also need some hours of shadowing with a primary care doc. As to research, I’d forgot about that. You won’t be applying to the research power houses so use that time filling in gaps in your application and spreading your wings a bit.

oh, are you fluent in Spanish? That’s always a nice addition on your app. What Hispanic group do you represent?

 

[ozzyman987]

Is tutoring included under the teaching list? If it is your nonclinical hours are really lacking. The field trips at the space center certainly are not service to the unserved/underserved in your community. I agree with @Mr.Smile12 you need to get out of your comfort zone and start interacting with people unlike yourself. Why are you so against trying something else? Does it make you uncomfortable to interact with the homeless, the elderly , vets, etc.? You will be dealing with all kinds of people when you are a doctor. ADCOMS want to see your altruism explained on your application and talked about with passion during interviews.
You also need some hours of shadowing with a primary care doc. As to research, I’d forgot about that. You won’t be applying to the research power houses so use that time filling in gaps in your application and spreading your wings a bit.

oh, are you fluent in Spanish? That’s always a nice addition on your app. What Hispanic group do you represent?

It’s not that I’m against trying out new things; I’m willing to try so I guess I just need to look around more. Do you have any suggestions as to where to start looking? I am very fluent in Spanish which is something I am going to mention in my applications because when I volunteer in the ED most patients are URM and prefer when I talk to them in Spanish. I represent Salvadorans.

 

[candbgirl]

Senior living centers, va homes, homeless shelters, soup kitchens; there are lots of people in need, you just have to look.And don’t forget the primary care shadowing. Besides being a good experience it the polar opposite of ortho.

 

[ozzyman987]

Senior living centers, va homes, homeless shelters, soup kitchens; there are lots of people in need, you just have to look.And don’t forget the primary care shadowing. Besides being a good experience it the polar opposite of ortho.

I will most definitely start looking. Thank you for the advice. I never thought that non-clinical aspect part of my application was lacking, but I get it. I also am in the middle of searching for a primary care doctor to let me shadow them so hopefully I’ll get started on that soon. Do you have any other advice for me?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I will most definitely start looking. Thank you for the advice. I never thought that non-clinical aspect part of my application was lacking, but I get it. I also am in the middle of searching for a primary care doctor to let me shadow them so hopefully I’ll get started on that soon. Do you have any other advice for me?

Focus on your hours and network with current students and admissions staff through AMSA and LMSA. You'll need their advice and support on your MCAT and application.

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