Hi everyone !
I recently applied to 15 schools (10 DO schools and 5 in states MD schools, FLORIDA) for this application cycle of 2020. Some quick stats...
MCAT : 499 (44th percentile)
Chem/physics: 125 54%
CARS : 122 23%
Bio: 125 51%
Psych: 127 70%
Overall Bachelors of science in nursing GPA : 3.25
Cumulative with transfer credits: 3.52
Science (prerequisite) GPA: 3.67
Now.. i know my MCAT score is not the greatest. Obviously I only applied to schools where my score was above their minimum requirement and close to their average. My GPA is explainable, the nursing school I went to had a different grading scale (A was >93, B was >85 and a C was >70) so most of my numerical grades would sit in the A-B range on a normal grading scale. I did well in all of the medical school required classes, like chemistry, organic chem, bio chem and physics.
I had a few people read over my essays and personal statements, which were said to be fine. Most of my answers were geared towards my nursing experience and why i want to switch to MD/DO
I managed to get 2 professor LOR (which i haven't worked with in years ) and a DR i use to work with and my supervisor (Nursing Sup.)
I have been working as a nurse for 4+ years. So clinical experience .. I have plenty. I did not put official shadowing, because i have been working as a nurse.
I do not have the classic application since I have been out of school for so long, so I felt like a lot of the questions and recommendations did not fit me well because i am not currently in college or recently left. Even if I did "research" in college, would it even matter now 5 years later? I had done lots of "leadership" type things in college which i felt silly adding because they were 6 or so years ago.
I have essentially no preference to where I go to school
Here are the schools i applied to
DO: A.T still, AZCOM, Edward via (carolina and virginia campus), Campbell, CA Health science, Rocky Vista (CO and UT), Touro (nevada), Western Uni (pacific NW) and Nova.
I filled out secondary apps for all schools, received a "no invite for interview" for all except Western and CA Health science (waiting to hear if i can get an interview )
MD: FIU, FSU, USF, UCF and UF
Have filled out secondary for all except UCF (didnt meet min MCAT of 500) and have not heard back about interviews for any MD school.
I am not to hopeful about getting in this cycle. I am wondering what i should do for next cycle?
Should i get an application coach? help read my essays and collect LORs? Fluff up my current experience ?
I know many people say "just retake the MCAT"... that test scares me (testing anxiety). i studied HARD for 5 months, reading, taking full practice exams and questions. (granted i was finishing up my last prereq, and working full time). I would still be working full time if i did decide to study again (but no more classes). I am worried about doing worse!
Should i email some of the schools i was rejected from and ask what was wrong with my app? (how do you format that, has anyone else done that?)
What do my peers suggest? and please remember i am not a "traditional" applicant, I have my BSN and have been working bedside nursing critical care for 4+ years.
I recently applied to 15 schools (10 DO schools and 5 in states MD schools, FLORIDA) for this application cycle of 2020. Some quick stats...
MCAT : 499 (44th percentile)
Chem/physics: 125 54%
CARS : 122 23%
Bio: 125 51%
Psych: 127 70%
Overall Bachelors of science in nursing GPA : 3.25
Cumulative with transfer credits: 3.52
Science (prerequisite) GPA: 3.67
Now.. i know my MCAT score is not the greatest. Obviously I only applied to schools where my score was above their minimum requirement and close to their average. My GPA is explainable, the nursing school I went to had a different grading scale (A was >93, B was >85 and a C was >70) so most of my numerical grades would sit in the A-B range on a normal grading scale. I did well in all of the medical school required classes, like chemistry, organic chem, bio chem and physics.
I had a few people read over my essays and personal statements, which were said to be fine. Most of my answers were geared towards my nursing experience and why i want to switch to MD/DO
I managed to get 2 professor LOR (which i haven't worked with in years ) and a DR i use to work with and my supervisor (Nursing Sup.)
I have been working as a nurse for 4+ years. So clinical experience .. I have plenty. I did not put official shadowing, because i have been working as a nurse.
I do not have the classic application since I have been out of school for so long, so I felt like a lot of the questions and recommendations did not fit me well because i am not currently in college or recently left. Even if I did "research" in college, would it even matter now 5 years later? I had done lots of "leadership" type things in college which i felt silly adding because they were 6 or so years ago.
I have essentially no preference to where I go to school
Here are the schools i applied to
DO: A.T still, AZCOM, Edward via (carolina and virginia campus), Campbell, CA Health science, Rocky Vista (CO and UT), Touro (nevada), Western Uni (pacific NW) and Nova.
I filled out secondary apps for all schools, received a "no invite for interview" for all except Western and CA Health science (waiting to hear if i can get an interview )
MD: FIU, FSU, USF, UCF and UF
Have filled out secondary for all except UCF (didnt meet min MCAT of 500) and have not heard back about interviews for any MD school.
I am not to hopeful about getting in this cycle. I am wondering what i should do for next cycle?
Should i get an application coach? help read my essays and collect LORs? Fluff up my current experience ?
I know many people say "just retake the MCAT"... that test scares me (testing anxiety). i studied HARD for 5 months, reading, taking full practice exams and questions. (granted i was finishing up my last prereq, and working full time). I would still be working full time if i did decide to study again (but no more classes). I am worried about doing worse!
Should i email some of the schools i was rejected from and ask what was wrong with my app? (how do you format that, has anyone else done that?)
What do my peers suggest? and please remember i am not a "traditional" applicant, I have my BSN and have been working bedside nursing critical care for 4+ years.
