Advice on Next Steps for Med School

[damonkirk]

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I’m looking for some advice on my chances and what steps I should take to strengthen my application for medical school.

• I decided a little late on pursuing medicine, so I had some rocky semesters in the middle just due to lack of care. I have a few F’s (mainly in non-science courses like history, and basic math courses where I just didn’t attend), but for the past year and a half I’ve had a 4.0 and plan to maintain that.
• I expect to graduate with around a 3.2–3.3 GPA.
• I scored a 524 on the MCAT after studying over the summer.
• I have over 1,000 hours of research experience (both clinical and non-clinical).
• Other context🙁not sure if it matters) I attend UCI, major in math, am URM, low-income background, and I speak Spanish, currently work as an EMT, California resident, and I plan on a gap year.

My main question is: Should I pursue an SMP/post-bacc, or do I have a realistic chance of getting into med school with my current profile, What would be my school list, What should I do that I am not doing to get into a good medical school?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

What do your prehealth advisors at UCI suggest? They have a better idea about interpreting your transcript for medical school admissions than what you have provided us, so it will help us to know what they think and why.

 

[candbgirl]

What do you mean when you say

• I have over 1,000 hours of research experience (both clinical and non-clinical).

 

[Goro]

Can you fill out a WAMC template?

 

[Hollow Knight]

You need volunteering experience and clinical experience (like hands-on patient care). Luckily you have time to get that done if you’re taking a gap year. Your MCAT is awesome.

The GPA is going to hold you back. Goro and others have more advice on that than me.

You could probably get into a DO school somewhere which isn’t a bad option at all depending on your financial background. But I’d worry about borrowing like $500,000 for medical school, try to get into a cheaper one than that.

There might be things you can do to raise your GPA. Again, not my wheelhouse, but even getting to a 3.5 or 3.6 would help you tremendously by getting you past some filters.

 

[damonkirk]

Stats:
cGPA: 3.30 (projected)
sGPA: 3.10 (projected)
MCAT: 525 (first attempt) - 132/131/132/130 (C/P/CARS/B/B/P/S)
State: California
Ethnicity: Hispanic/Latino (Mexican-American), bilingual Spanish speaker
Undergrad: UC Irvine, Mathematics major

Clinical Experience:
Clinical lab work with EEG (working directly with patients)

Research Experience:
1 non-clinical (cancer research)

Shadowing:
50 hours with neurologist
50 with urologist
50 with oncology

Non-Clinical Volunteering:
1,000+ hours at food bank
500 hours at school basic need center

Other Activities:
250 hours leadership/tutoring
250 hours tutoring underprivileged kids
750 hours emt

Gap Year Plans:Taking a gap year and considering SMP options
Note: huge upward trend so for 4.0, a few F's in random classes such as history I did not attended before I was interested in medicine
Questions:

1. Should I pursue an SMP during my gap year given my stats?
2. What schools should I target for my school list at my current stats?
3. Any other advice for strengthening my application?

 

[damonkirk]

Can you fill out a WAMC template?

just did would like to hear your advice on it

 

[damonkirk]

You need volunteering experience and clinical experience (like hands-on patient care). Luckily you have time to get that done if you’re taking a gap year. Your MCAT is awesome.

The GPA is going to hold you back. Goro and others have more advice on that than me.

You could probably get into a DO school somewhere which isn’t a bad option at all depending on your financial background. But I’d worry about borrowing like $500,000 for medical school, try to get into a cheaper one than that.

There might be things you can do to raise your GPA. Again, not my wheelhouse, but even getting to a 3.5 or 3.6 would help you tremendously by getting you past some filters.

How much would a 3.3 sGPA hold me back, and should I consider an SMP or master's program in your opinion?

 

[damonkirk]

What do you mean when you say

• I have over 1,000 hours of research experience (both clinical and non-clinical).

just created a WAMC would like to hear your thoughts on it

 

[damonkirk]

Welcome to the forums.

What do your prehealth advisors at UCI suggest? They have a better idea about interpreting your transcript for medical school admissions than what you have provided us, so it will help us to know what they think and why.

To be honest, most advice I've received from advisors—both pre-health and math—has been terrible and almost led me to make wrong decisions, which is why I'm turning to online advice. Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to try talking to another one. I also made a WAMC post and would love to hear your input on it.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

To be honest, most advice I've received from advisors—both pre-health and math—has been terrible and almost led me to make wrong decisions, which is why I'm turning to online advice. Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to try talking to another one. I also made a WAMC post and would love to hear your input on it.

Have you connected with any medical student organizations that mentor Latinx aspiring physicians, such as MiMentor? The UC medical schools do a lot of recruiting for Latinx applicants and preparing them for medical school, and many have recorded interviews with their admissions leadership (PreMedCC, MedSchoolCoach, Accepted, All-Access Med School Admissions, etc.). Have you connected with SNMA or LMSA chapter officers or been involved with national web-based programs/webinars?

Numbers are nice, but descriptions would be better. Have you participated in any pipeline programs, especially for Latinx students in STEM/health careers?

Where did you grow up in California? Were you awarded a FAP? Are you considering HPSP or NHSC? Have you looked into the UC-PRIME programs?

 

[Goro]

How much would a 3.3 sGPA hold me back, and should I consider an SMP or master's program in your opinion?

If you're seeking the MD, then go for a DIY postbac or SMP Otherwise, you're fine for DO with that GPA

 

[Goro]

Stats:
cGPA: 3.30 (projected)
sGPA: 3.10 (projected)
MCAT: 525 (first attempt) - 132/131/132/130 (C/P/CARS/B/B/P/S)
State: California
Ethnicity: Hispanic/Latino (Mexican-American), bilingual Spanish speaker
Undergrad: UC Irvine, Mathematics major

Clinical Experience:
Clinical lab work with EEG (working directly with patients)

Research Experience:
1 non-clinical (cancer research)

Shadowing:
50 hours with neurologist
50 with urologist
50 with oncology

Non-Clinical Volunteering:
1,000+ hours at food bank
500 hours at school basic need center

Other Activities:
250 hours leadership/tutoring
250 hours tutoring underprivileged kids
750 hours emt

Gap Year Plans:Taking a gap year and considering SMP options
Note: huge upward trend so for 4.0, a few F's in random classes such as history I did not attended before I was interested in medicine
Questions:

1. Should I pursue an SMP during my gap year given my stats?

It would really help us if we could see your year by year GPAs. Upward trends are always good, but a sing good year isn't enough.

1. What schools should I target for my school list at my current stats?

See answer to Q1. Also, we can't work with hypotheticals, as in your projected GPAs. So best to answer once you're done with UG.

1. Any other advice for strengthening my application?

Do what you love and love what you do. And congrats on that magnificent MCAT!

 

[Hollow Knight]

How much would a 3.3 sGPA hold me back, and should I consider an SMP or master's program in your opinion?

This is a bit above my pay grade :/

If you search “Goro’s guide for reinvention” that will have some good information in there.

Also hopefully other users will help you out