MD AA URM - 25 MCAT - 3.13cGPA, 2.90sGPA =/

[1Doc2BeHopefully]

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[gyngyn]

Your best chances are the HBCU's and your state schools. If a parent is a physician, you are actually at a disadvantage in some ways since you had educational opportunities more consistent with better grades and scores.

 

[1Doc2BeHopefully]

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[claduva94]

Hey SDN!
Right now, I just finished getting 80 hours of shadowing (haven't listed it on my AMCAS yet, waiting until I'm verified) and I'm applying to clinical research positions to gain a bit more patient interaction experience prior to interview cycles and such.

What do you mean by this? You cannot update your AMCAS after you submit. Also those pending experiences are doubtful to substantially increase your chances. Definitely focus on the HBCU's.

 

[gyngyn]

Yeah, I figured as much. Do I have a fighting chance at some of the others with the pending clinical research and volunteering added in over the next couple months?

And I was afraid of the whole parents thing, didn't know if that would count for or against me. Kinda sucks that it's the latter.

I haven't seen these scores fly for a doctor's kid (even the rare AA male) at my school. It's not likely that the numerical issues will be offset by EC's at the non mission-based schools.

 

[Goro]

No medical school will be doing you any favors by admitting you if you can't handle a medical school curriculum. So far, you have yet to show that. My school has rejected URM applicants with numbers like yours.

Strongly suggest a SMP.

 

[1Doc2BeHopefully]

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[1Doc2BeHopefully]

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[1Doc2BeHopefully]

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[gyngyn]

But, outside of the HBCU's, what do you think my chances are at VCU, Louisville, Penn State, or Indiana? Those are my Top 4 that aren't just blatant reach schools.

Weak, but not zero. Let us know what happens. It will help us counsel others in similar circumstances.

 

[Goro]

Again, while you might think you can handle medical school, you haven't proven it.

All due respect, I don't think I need the favor. I have an unstated sob story for the GPA, but nobody cares about sob stories so I left it out. As far as the MCAT, I practically just walked in and took it the first time (I understand that this should probably never be admitted in public) and the second time, the PS section was just very difficult - that much I'll admit. Still, I don't hold any reservations about my ability to perform in medical school, my only worry is getting in.

 

[V5RED]

Basically that from my AMCAS, you can't tell that I've done shadowing or have clinical experience. I was under the impression that I could update it later, but if not, I imagine secondaries will ask what I'm doing with the gap year and I'll just speak on it there.



Understandable. But, outside of the HBCU's, what do you think my chances are at VCU, Louisville, Penn State, or Indiana? Those are my Top 4 that aren't just blatant reach schools.

Are you saying you literally have zero clinical experiences/shadowing listed on your primary?

Maybe the ADCOM members that already posted can address your best option to get those across. I don't know how effective it will be to write them on your secondaries, and some secondaries are just bubble check things with no place to add such experiences. Maybe an update letter could work. My first thought was you might need to withdraw your application, fill it out properly, and resubmit it.

 

[1Doc2BeHopefully]

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[V5RED]

I mean, I figured I couldn't post experiences I didn't have at the time. I imagine there has to be some way to state that I gained these ECs during my gap year. The secondaries that I've gotten have all asked what my plans were for the time being, but in the case that they don't ask, I guess you're right and I wouldn't know where to go next. Nonetheless, I don't believe withdrawing my application would be ideal, because it would more than likely lead to delays which will ensure that I don't gain admittance. With an application like mine, applying early will serve me well, so that's not something I'm willing to do. But, given that they don't ask, I don't know exactly what I'm supposed to do. Maybe I'll find some smooth way to include it into another question presented.

Are you saying you had zero clinical experience/shadowing prior to applying?

 

[1Doc2BeHopefully]

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[claduva94]

From undergrad? Nope. In high school, I volunteered at a hospital regularly, worked at a clinic (for many years), and did a little shadowing, but all that happened in high school. That's why in undergrad, I chose to focus on research because that was something I hadn't experienced up until that point. Felt stupid to speak on the high school ECs, so I left them out.

High school ECs generally aren't meaningful for med school applications anyway. But without clinical experience or shadowing on your application you will not be competitive unfortunately because you haven't shown that you know what you are getting into.

 

[1Doc2BeHopefully]

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[gyngyn]

I disagree. Under that logic, then nothing I do during my gap year actually matters - I doubt that's entirely true. Besides, interviews are given on the bases of your secondary and your LORs, I thought. If I can explain the shadowing and clinical work in the secondary, I think I'll be okay (well, for the schools that I match up for anyway).

Tell us how it goes.

 

[1Doc2BeHopefully]

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[AlbinoHawk DO]

All due respect, I don't think I need the favor. I have an unstated sob story for the GPA, but nobody cares about sob stories so I left it out. As far as the MCAT, I practically just walked in and took it the first time (I understand that this should probably never be admitted in public) and the second time, the PS section was just very difficult - that much I'll admit. Still, I don't hold any reservations about my ability to perform in medical school, my only worry is getting in.

2.9 sGPA (with legacy) and poor judgment, yet you "don't hold any reservations" about doing well in med school? You're going to be auto-reject at many places.

 

[deleted480308]

i'm sorry but a 2.9 and a low retake mcat makes all of those "reach schools", you should reconsider the wisdom of goro's advice

 

[candbgirl]

And gyngyn. Both are members of the Adcom at their schools. They give good advice.

 

[chemguy79]

I'm always confused why some people come to SDN asking for advice, yet they completely ignore all of the feedback that is sent their way.

 

[Aerus]

I disagree. Under that logic, then nothing I do during my gap year actually matters - I doubt that's entirely true. Besides, interviews are given on the bases of your secondary and your LORs, I thought. If I can explain the shadowing and clinical work in the secondary, I think I'll be okay (well, for the schools that I match up for anyway).

The point of a gap year is to be able to include your extracurricular activities that you were involved the year before. So if I took an extra year off after graduating, then I can include my senior year activities. If I didn't take a gap year, I can't talk about my senior year activities. Yes, you can mention your pending activities, but that's not a strong app.

You have basically zero clinical experience, a weak GPA, and a low MCAT retake. Your chances at medical school aren't 0 (when is something ever 0?), but you would be taking a huge risk for a very low possibility of return by applying with the application you have now.

 

[UTMaverick]

Thanks to all that responded

 

[SkipJunior]

So this response is not a contribution to the thread above, I did not want to start a similar thread.
So I am basically soliciting honest opinion from adcom's and senior contributors.

I am a non-trad student, class of may 2015, born and raised in Africa, first attempt at college several years ago (2000) got me flat grades, an F and 3 C's, back at college 2010-2014, 120 credits, 1 C, 5 B's all others A, no W's
My gpa is as follows.

BCPM 3.26 AO 3.76 Combined: 3.46....

Experience..6 yrs military, 1 year Combat deployment as a Medic, 4 years as nurse-work weekends while in school ....over 10,00 real patient care clinical hours... 300 volunteer hours (200 in a Afghan) , possible spring 2015 research, tutor, financially supporting parent and siblings in Africa and my family in US plus other "stuff" I've done as an adult etc.... EC's are not my issue BUT the MCAT is
Took this exam twice, ok failed flat. V/P/B 1st 04/06/08,,,, 2nd attempt 09/06/06
Decided to apply anyway, not sure if I belong to URM but checked box anyway, frankly I don't consider myself URM because its a privilege to live in America compared to where I come from. I couldn't even bring myself to fully describe my circumstances in my PS let alone this thread.

Schools app sent to
All Texas including UNT (DO)
Morehouse
Rutgers
USUSH
Anyway should I just forget med school and think graduate school, or is there a little glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel? what chances do I really have? seriously?

I think your chances are low of receiving even a single interview invite but you've applied already so just sit back and see what happens. If you want to re-apply next cycle, definitely retake your MCAT and score 26+ for MD and DO schools.

 

[deleted480308]

I think your chances are low of receiving even a single interview invite but you've applied already so just sit back and see what happens. If you want to re-apply next cycle, definitely retake your MCAT and score 26+ for MD and DO schools.

Agreed, use the time during this app season to do more mcat prep...you might need it. Did you apply DO?

 

[claduva94]

ECs are great and would really help you if your foot were in the door. But your MCAT is preventing that from happening. I echo the above poster in suggesting that you consider DO. But I'd still suggest you work to raise that score to even be competitive there.

 

[UTMaverick]

Yeah applied DO in Texas, but I think the members above are correct that maybe I should spend sometime and prepare a whole lot more.
Thanks again for the input.

 

[Piratenation87]

With a GPA hovering around 3.00 and a MCAT under 30....0 chance. Im a AA male, opted for a post bac and my number are slightly higher than your at 3.2 and 27 MCAT....do yourself a favor and do a post bac to separate yourself from these numbers.