Advice please?

[RL356]

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I graduated a few years ago with a c3.18 gpa and a 3.2 sgpa. I need advice on what I should do to become a better candidate for medical school. I have less than two years of research,many volunteer hours and about 100 shadow hours. I will be a URM applicant.

 

[Cawolf]

Take undergrad science classes to raise your GPA and prioritize retakes of C or lower grades if applying DO.

In your other time, find a position where you can gain clinical experience.

Study for, and take the MCAT.

Apply - probably in 2017 for the class of 2022.

 

[RL356]

Take undergrad science classes to raise your GPA and prioritize retakes of C or lower grades if applying DO.

In your other time, find a position where you can gain clinical experience.

Study for, and take the MCAT.

Apply - probably in 2017 for the class of 2022.

Thank you so much!

 

[DoctorDrewOutsidetheLines]

Just fyi, there is a URM forum where people will be less inclined to say stupid things especially if you out yourself as a URM applicant.

That being said, PM me. Maybe I can help.

If you can do a post-bac, I'd highly suggest it. You want to bump up your GPA with science courses at a 4 year university and post-bac programs usually have linkages and/or a committee letter.

 

[Goro]

What community do you represent? And please don't say "Shaker Heights".

I graduated a few years ago with a c3.18 gpa and a 3.2 sgpa. I need advice on what I should do to become a better candidate for medical school. I have less than two years of research,many volunteer hours and about 100 shadow hours. I will be a URM applicant.

 

[TheVirg]

How open are you to applying DO?

 

[BluMist]

What's wrong with Shaker Heights? Would it be more appropriate to represent Cleveland instead? 😛

What community do you represent? And please don't say "Shaker Heights".

 

[Goro]

Do I have to reach through the electrons and smack you upside the head???

Some people are dense enough that when you ask them "what community do they represent"?, they answer their neighborhood, and not what ethnic group.

I wrote Shaker Heights to be different as I usually write "Brooklyn" or "the Bronx"

What's wrong with Shaker Heights? Would it be more appropriate to represent Cleveland instead? 😛

 

[RL356]

What community do you represent? And please don't say "Shaker Heights".

African American

 

[RL356]

How open are you to applying DO?

I am really set on MD, but DO is still an option.

 

[Goro]

OP, you're almost at the borderline where Adcom members may worry about if you can make it through med school. If you're boning for the MD degree, I recommend a SMP, ideally one given at a med school. Do well in this (GPA ~3.4+) and decently on the MCAT and you're in. Or, do a DIY post-bac by taking a year's worth of some upper level Bio courses.

The fastest route is by retaking all F/D/C science coursework and applying to DO schools.

You might want to take a crack at applying to the HBCs and your state school(s) while preparing for the SMP/post-bac, or by trying an app cycle and seeing how it shakes out.

 

[BluMist]

/dodge
I thought the 😛 would make it clear that it was tongue-in-cheek, and you just had to pick a community that I have a tangential personal connection with.

now back to regular programming...

Do I have to reach through the electrons and smack you upside the head???

Some people are dense enough that when you ask them "what community do they represent"?, they answer their neighborhood, and not what ethnic group.

I wrote Shaker Heights to be different as I usually write "Brooklyn" or "the Bronx"

 

[Goro]

Alas, humor doesn't travel well though the electrons, and the density of some SDNers (not you!!) has no minimum either..

/dodge
I thought the 😛 would make it clear that it was tongue-in-cheek, and you just had to pick a community that I have a tangential personal connection with.

now back to regular programming...

 

[RL356]

OP, you're almost at the borderline where Adcom members may worry about if you can make it through med school. If you're boning for the MD degree, I recommend a SMP, ideally one given at a med school. Do well in this (GPA ~3.4+) and decently on the MCAT and you're in. Or, do a DIY post-bac by taking a year's worth of some upper level Bio courses.

The fastest route is by retaking all F/D/C science coursework and applying to DO schools.

You might want to take a crack at applying to the HBCs and your state school(s) while preparing for the SMP/post-bac, or by trying an app cycle and seeing how it shakes out.

So basically I shouldn't apply in the 2016 cycle. I will begin searching for SMP programs and classes in my home state. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[Goro]

Good luck!

So basically I shouldn't apply in the 2016 cycle. I will begin searching for SMP programs and classes in my home state. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[GrapesofRath]

So basically I shouldn't apply in the 2016 cycle. I will begin searching for SMP programs and classes in my home state. Thank you so much for your help!

I wouldn't apply this coming cycle if that's what you are saying. For next cycle, I think I would give it a stab if you can get a decent MCAT score while at the same time doing a DIY post-bacc or applying to SMPs. If you don't get in the next cycle then, you can have a year of DIY post-bacc grades to boost your app next cycle or you can do an SMP and apply while doing the SMP. 3.2 is low but there is a long track record of URMS with 3.2's getting in so I would at least take a stab at an application cycle with a good list before resorting to an SMP which are meant to be last resort options.

 

[RL356]

I wouldn't apply this coming cycle if that's what you are saying. For next cycle, I think I would give it a stab if you can get a decent MCAT score while at the same time doing a DIY post-bacc or applying to SMPs. If you don't get in the next cycle then, you can have a year of DIY post-bacc grades to boost your app next cycle or you can do an SMP and apply while doing the SMP. 3.2 is low but there is a long track record of URMS with 3.2's getting in so I would at least take a stab at an application cycle with a good list before resorting to an SMP which are meant to be last resort options.

I was attempting to say I shouldn't apply in the 2016 cycle to enter with the class of 2021. I applied today to be a non-degree student at my state school for my DIY post-bacc. Thank you for your help!

 

[GrapesofRath]

I was attempting to say I shouldn't apply in the 2016 cycle to enter with the class of 2021. I applied today to be a non-degree student at my state school for my DIY post-bacc. Thank you for your help!

I would give it a go next cycle WHILE doing the DIY post-bacc. Out of the 160 who applied to MD schools with a GPA in the 3.0-3.2 range and a 27-29 on the MCAT, 59% of AA URMs were accepted. For 30-32 on the MCAT with that same GPA, 75% of people with those stats were accepted. Some of them did grade repair and the like, but still I think it is worth an application cycle to apply as is while improving your app while applying so if you have to reapply you'll have a better app. I really don't recommend doing an SMP unless you have no other choice, and that's not the case in your situation at all.

 

[RL356]

I would give it a go next cycle WHILE doing the DIY post-bacc. Out of the 160 who applied to MD schools with a GPA in the 3.0-3.2 range and a 27-29 on the MCAT, 59% of AA URMs were accepted. For 30-32 on the MCAT with that same GPA, 75% of people with those stats were accepted. Some of them did grade repair and the like, but still I think it is worth an application cycle to apply as is while improving your app while applying so if you have to reapply you'll have a better app. I really don't recommend doing an SMP unless you have no other choice, and that's not the case in your situation at all.

You have been a great help! Thank you!