MD & DO 505 mcat, 3.6 cGPA 3.37sGPA

[cobras22]

Hi everyone,

As it is about application time I wanted to send out a feeler as to where I stand and what are some schools I should have in mind.

Stats
-Ohio resident white male
-Pharmaceutical science major
human nutrition minor
-505 MCAT
-3.63 cGPA
-3.6 sGPA AACOMAS
3.37 bcpm GPA (got a bad grade in calculus the first semester of freshman year) "ignoring" calculus my bcpm pa would be ~3.53
-Co-author on a publication in leukemia research
-1000+ hours as pharmacy technician
-60 hours shadowing both MD and DO
-50 hours clinical volunteering
-100 hours volunteering in an emergency room
-1 week spent on a medical mission trip to South America
-50 hours volunteering with inner city elementary school kids
-High school baseball coach for four years
-Mission trip coordinator for 1 year
-1 year as an organic chemistry tutor
-President of a club at my university
-Shift manager of a golf course

I know the calculus grade from freshman year brings my BCPM gpa down significantly but I don't want to let a non-science class be the reason why I don't apply to MD schools, but it is something I used as a lesson as I adjusted to college and have been showing an upward trend since then. I am pretty run of the mill in terms of stats but I appreciate any suggestions, I am interested in either MD or DO schools and the location doesn't matter. Thanks!

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[Faha]

You are competitive for any DO school so apply to at least 10 schools and you should receive several interviews.For MD apply to all your OH schools ( except Case ) and consider schools such as:
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
Penn State
Quinnipiac
Albany
New York Medical College
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Rosalind Franklin
Loyola
St. Louis
Creighton
California Northstate
Any private MD schools that open in 2017 (Seton Hall, Roseand, Henricopolis, etc.)

 

[cobras22]

You are competitive for any DO school so apply to at least 10 schools and you should receive several interviews.For MD apply to all your OH schools ( except Case ) and consider schools such as:
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
Penn State
Quinnipiac
Albany
New York Medical College
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Rosalind Franklin
Loyola
St. Louis
Creighton
California Northstate
Any private MD schools that open in 2017 (Seton Hall, Roseand, Henricopolis, etc.)

Thanks for the reply, is there any benefit for being a first generation college student? What are your opinions on doing early decision to schools?

 

[Faha]

Early decision is a bad idea except for applicants that have very high stats. First generation college student may help a little but unlikely.

 

[gyngyn]

For MD apply to all your OH schools ( except Case ) and consider schools such as:
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
Penn State
Quinnipiac
Albany
New York Medical College
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Rosalind Franklin
Loyola
St. Louis
Creighton
California Northstate
Any private MD schools that open in 2017 (Seton Hall, Roseand, Henricopolis, etc.)

CA Northstate had the option to make federally insured loans available to it students and chose not to do so. This has never happened before.
The LCME's decision to provisionally accredit this school was mis-informed. I cannot recommend this school.

 

[Goro]

Ditto.

CA Northstate had the option to make federally insured loans available to it students and chose not to do so. This has never happened before.
The LCME's decision to provisionally accredit this school was mis-informed. I cannot recommend this school.

 

[Petrichor1]

CA Northstate had the option to make federally insured loans available to it students and chose not to do so. This has never happened before.
The LCME's decision to provisionally accredit this school was mis-informed. I cannot recommend this school.

What? Is this school trying to run its students over by private interest debt?

 

[gyngyn]

What? Is this school trying to run its students over by private interest debt?

Not just trying. Doing it.
Because they had been operating the Pharm School for the requisite number of years, they had the option to make federally insured loans available to their first year class and chose not to do so.

 

[Petrichor1]

Not just trying. Doing it.
Because they had been operating the Pharm School for the requisite number of years, they had the option to make federally insured loans available to their first year class and chose not to do so.

that's just evil...changing my mind up now about this place. Forget accreditation, that price tag and loan option is reason enough to not apply.

 

[cobras22]

CA Northstate had the option to make federally insured loans available to it students and chose not to do so. This has never happened before.
The LCME's decision to provisionally accredit this school was mis-informed. I cannot recommend this school.

Thanks for the reply, do you agree with Faha about the schools that I would have the best chances at? Is there anything that I should watch out for or be prepared to explain, while applying or if I get an interview?

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks for the reply, do you agree with Faha about the schools that I would have the best chances at? Is there anything that I should watch out for or be prepared to explain, while applying or if I get an interview?

Is the 505 your only MCAT?
@Faha's list is targeted toward schools with a history of accepting people with your stats. That is a good way to start. You need to refine your list by also looking at the class size, the number of applications, the geography and mission of the schools. For example, Drexel gets almost 15K applications, Netter gets about 5K. You need to use all available info to make a list that gives you the best chance at interviews. You're a researcher! An example of a mission match for you (research) without the huge number of aps is Wake.

Other new schools may be a reasonable bet, even if CNU cannot be recommended.

Come back with your results and we will be happy to take a look.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Thanks for the reply, do you agree with Faha about the schools that I would have the best chances at? Is there anything that I should watch out for or be prepared to explain, while applying or if I get an interview?

Your chances will far and away be best with the programs in your state. You're lucky to have multiple state schools that accept applicants with stats in your range(assuming the 505 is only your MCAT).

Start your list with NEOMED, Toledo and Wright State. Your sGPA is low for NEOMED(and most of their class is taken through special programs which makes it low yield even for IS applicants) but you do have a shot at generating a II at Toledo or Wright State with a well written application. Go through MSAR and look at the schools Faha identified as well. When you go through MSAR use 28 as your MCAT. With a well written and compelling app to the right 12-15 OOS schools, even though they will be much lower yield than Toledo or Wright State, you could still potentially net another II or two.

If you have strong reason to believe you can improve your MCAT significantly(ie 512+) that's another avenue to potentially pursue. Do not retake however unless you have such a good reason to believe you can significantly improve(a 505 followed by say 507 puts you in a worse position than you are now). But a 511+/32 type score on a retake would push you from "potentially competitive" to significantly more likely to be competitive at Toledo and Wright State.

 

[cobras22]

Your chances will far and away be best with the programs in your state. You're lucky to have multiple state schools that accept applicants with stats in your range(assuming the 505 is only your MCAT).

Start your list with NEOMED, Toledo and Wright State. Your sGPA is low for NEOMED(and most of their class is taken through special programs which makes it low yield even for IS applicants) but you do have a shot at generating a II at Toledo or Wright State with a well written application. Go through MSAR and look at the schools Faha identified as well. When you go through MSAR use 28 as your MCAT. With a well written and compelling app to the right 12-15 OOS schools, even though they will be much lower yield than Toledo or Wright State, you could still potentially net another II or two.

If you have strong reason to believe you can improve your MCAT significantly(ie 512+) that's another avenue to potentially pursue. Do not retake however unless you have such a good reason to believe you can significantly improve(a 505 followed by say 507 puts you in a worse position than you are now). But a 511+/32 type score on a retake would push you from "potentially competitive" to significantly more likely to be competitive at Toledo and Wright State.

Thank you for the information. 505 is my only MCAT and I wasn't planning on taking it again simply because I hope it will be enough, nor could I see myself pulling off a 511+. My science GPA is low because I took calculus freshman semester and really struggled through that (how would most medical schools look at this?) I have contemplated retaking it but that would put a lot more work on my plate. Do schools ever "ignore" the math portion of BCPM when making their decisions? is 12-15 MD schools and 10 DO schools a wide enough net to cast in terms of hoping for interviews? Lastly, I do not understand what "II" in the context that you use it. Thanks again!

 

[CHoge25]

Thank you for the information. 505 is my only MCAT and I wasn't planning on taking it again simply because I hope it will be enough, nor could I see myself pulling off a 511+. My science GPA is low because I took calculus freshman semester and really struggled through that (how would most medical schools look at this?) I have contemplated retaking it but that would put a lot more work on my plate. Do schools ever "ignore" the math portion of BCPM when making their decisions? is 12-15 MD schools and 10 DO schools a wide enough net to cast in terms of hoping for interviews? Lastly, I do not understand what "II" in the context that you use it. Thanks again!

II means interview. Your net is definitely wide enough for DO.... for DO - OU-HCOM should give you an interview, and with 10 schools a couple OOS should give you some love. For MD- best bet is Toledo or Wright State, and NEOMED if you are from one of those schools up in the NE. pick your MD schools very closely (schools you fit mission statement + fall within range) and you may be able to snag an OOS MD if you're lucky

Also - I do not know what your career aspirations are, but if primary care/rural health is something you are interested in, STRESS this in your secondaries to NEOMED/Wright State... they eat that stuff up =D... Goodluck!

 

[GrapesofRath]

1) (how would most medical schools look at this?)

2) Do schools ever "ignore" the math portion of BCPM when making their decisions?

3) is 12-15 MD schools and 10 DO schools a wide enough net to cast in terms of hoping for interviews?

4) Lastly, I do not understand what "II" in the context that you use it.

1) One bad math grade from freshmen year will not kill your app or close to it.

2) No

3) You should be able to get interviews with that kind of list, particularly from DO schools.

4) II= Interview Invite.