Advice for a non-trad.

[NTF]

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Ohio State Resident.
cGPA: 3.35
scGPA: 3.50
Non-traditional candidate. Age: 35
UPENN 1991-1997 (cGPA 3.25, a few W's)
Stonybrook 1999 (took Orgo got A's)
CUNY 2003 (GPA 2.65, two unofficial W's due to medical emergency were counted as F's by AMCAS, a few education classes, no sciences)
OSU 2005-2007 (GPA 4.0, 11 courses, lots of sciences)
Graduated from UPENN in 2007.

MCAT - VR:11, BS:12, PS:11, R (2008)
VR:12, BS:11, PS:11, O (2000)

ECs:
- 3 years research in neonatal brain injury lab (1 co-authored conference abstract) - during undergrad at UPENN
- 1 year research in infectious disease lab at UPENN
- 4 years full-time research at spinal disease/trauma lab (3 co-authored journal articles)
- 1.5 years full-time research at joint disease/injury gene therapy lab.
- 1.5 years as inpatient nurse's aide at a major cancer hospital
- 1 year as teacher/teacher's aide at a public school
- 2 years volunteer at pediatric rehab unit
- 1.5 years volunteer at cancer hospital (helped start an art therapy program, teach origami to cancer patients)
- 3 years tutoring in public schools
- 1 year as volunteer psychology research assistant
- 50+ hours physician shadowing (addressed some in secondary essays, but rest I'll have to send update letters to schools)
- personally financed college career
- cellist (helped pay for school), guitarist.

LORs (Committee Letter from UPENN)
- 2 from MD researchers (PI's)
- 1 from DVM researcher
- 1 from Volunteer Supervisor
- 1 from Nurse manager at my current nurse's aide job
- 1 from professor at OSU.

AMCAS verified 6/30
AACOMAS verified 7/16
All secondaries out by 7/31
Committee Letter released 8/14

Schools:
- Ohio State
- University of Cincinnati
- Wright State
- University of Toledo
- NEOUCOM
- Case Western
- UPENN (for sentimental reasons)
- Temple
- Drexel
- University of Chicago
- Georgetown
- Emory
- Ohio University (DO)
- PCOM-GA (DO)
- PCOM-Philly (DO)

One "in" at Ohio State. Influential tenured clinical professor said he would call the admissions committee on my behalf if I got an interview.

So should I be shaking in my boots? I really hope to get in this year, but my attitude is to prepare for next years application cycle regardless. I'm going to take the GRE and try to get into an MPH program, and take additional courses starting Winter Quarter. I'm also going to try to volunteer at a lab at the cancer hospital I work at. Plus, more physician shadowing if I can wing it.

Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[sunny1]

I'm not much help, but did you consider the CCLCM program (kinda part of Case but a separate application designation)? I see you have a lot of research, and while there is a 5th year with their program, they now cover ALL tuition. I don't know what kind of shot it would be with your GPA, but your MCAT is good and you've obviously got great ECs as a nontrad. They supposedly look for "good fits" so perhaps it's worth a shot at least.

I used to work at Cleveland Clinic and I really enjoyed the atmosphere there. I know a few of their current students.

 

[NTF]

I'm not much help, but did you consider the CCLCM program (kinda part of Case but a separate application designation)? I see you have a lot of research, and while there is a 5th year with their program, they now cover ALL tuition. I don't know what kind of shot it would be with your GPA, but your MCAT is good and you've obviously got great ECs as a nontrad. They supposedly look for "good fits" so perhaps it's worth a shot at least.

I used to work at Cleveland Clinic and I really enjoyed the atmosphere there. I know a few of their current students.

Honestly, I considered it but I thought my GPA was too low. It seems like an extremely competitive program given that it's tuition free and only has 32 spots. It's too bad, it actually seems like a program that would fit me really well.

 

[CCLCMer]

Honestly, I considered it but I thought my GPA was too low. It seems like an extremely competitive program given that it's tuition free and only has 32 spots. It's too bad, it actually seems like a program that would fit me really well.

If you think this school is a good fit for you, you should apply. CCLCM really cares a lot about fit, and we don't have strict MCAT or GPA cutoffs. It looks like you have a lot of volunteering, clinical experience, and research along with great letters of recommendation, so all of that will work in your favor. Your overall GPA is a little low, but your post bacc GPA is perfect. That will be taken into consideration by the adcomm. You really don't have anything to lose except for the time it will take you to write the extra essays. I think you should go for it.

If you have questions, PM me. I'm on surgery now, so I may not get back to you right away, but I'll be happy to answer any questions.