Advice?

[Botan]

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So I've been looking around and getting confused, since I'm getting mixed information from different people.

Sorry for the text wall. I'm aiming for allopathic btw. I am considering applying to DO as well this cycle but am worried about the residency discrimination I keep hearing about. :/ I need to do more research though.

My stats are on the low side - ~3.5 cGPA with strong upward trend (screwed up sophomore year and then starting pulling it back together later...3.65 - 3.8 Junior yr, 3.7 - 4.0 Senior yr, 1 yr post bac at CC with 4.0 taking anatomy, stats, psych, econ). sGPA should be something like 3.45, display the same trend as cGPA. Not URM 🙁 more like ORM 🙁

I had a 30Q on the MCAT (8 PS 10 BS 12 V...the PS could be better).

Strong ECs - did 1 yr study abroad taking masters level classes in an Asian language, speak multiple languages, several large scholarships (one is kind of prestigious, the other is more unknown), 9 months of research (3 at one chem lab, 6 at a neuroscience lab at the local med school), internship in China was completely clinical and was full time for 3 months (~480 hours) with additional hours of shadowing in the states (~20). Now working as a EMR tutor with a local company (32 - 42 hours/wk) and volunteering, will start two new volunteering positions and scribe work within the next month. Lots of leadership in various student associations, involved in student associations throughout my undergrad.

I DO mention being gay in my applications. I know this is controversial, however it directly relates to some of the volunteering I did (HIV/STD prevention). Two schools said they liked that and I should include it. What say you?

Wrote a pretty bad personal statement for the first cycle. Wasn't complete until late Sept/early Oct, had one interview with local medical school (there is only one). Just rejected, no wait list.

First off, I wanted to know whether my GPA is too low. Posts on SDN and advice from other people have mentioned that the GPA is on the low side and I'm wondering if I can just get away with taking more post-bac classes, perhaps upper-division ones at the local university? I am opposed to an SMP because I'd like to stay close to family/bf and the costs are quite high.

Second, should I retake my MCAT? I think that I can do better and could probably hit a 32+ if I just up my PS to a 10 and maybe do a bit better on the BS. I didn't study verbal at all, so I think that if I studied some more I might be able to break the 12. I'm concerned that if I retake the MCAT, I would need time to study (probably earliest test date I could deal with would be September) and I would be applying with my old MCAT of 30Q. Can I submit, be complete, send in my secondaries and re-update schools with a new MCAT score? Is this really risky?

I got one piece of feedback from a med school that rejected me, saying I was a very interesting candidate and I should just apply earlier. Outside of this, what else can I/should I do in this gap year? Should I even apply again? Should I do an SMP? I'd love your opinions.😍

And maybe I'm a ****ty interviewer. What should I do to improve this?

 

[DrMidlife]

Sorry for the text wall. I'm aiming for allopathic btw. I am considering applying to DO as well this cycle but am worried about the residency discrimination I keep hearing about. :/ I need to do more research though.

The next time you apply to MD school you need to have your best possible app, and you need to submit it in June. For US MD, you should let the 2013-14 app go by and aim for June 2014 with everything you've got.

You're in good shape to apply to DO school this year if you decide to pursue that. Don't listen to anybody who isn't a practicing DO about the DO stigma. Any medical path you decide to pursue, you can do it as a DO. That includes prestigious paths, surgical paths, academic paths, rural paths, urban paths, subsubsubspecialty paths. The only barriers to your medical career as a DO are from lack of preparation or deficits in social skills.

My stats are on the low side - ~3.5 cGPA with strong upward trend (screwed up sophomore year and then starting pulling it back together later...3.65 - 3.8 Junior yr, 3.7 - 4.0 Senior yr, 1 yr post bac at CC with 4.0 taking anatomy, stats, psych, econ). sGPA should be something like 3.45, display the same trend as cGPA. Not URM 🙁 more like ORM 🙁

3.5 isn't keeping you out of med school, particularly not with an upward trend, unless you're in California. But doing a postbac at a community college is a mistake. Can you do classes at a university, maybe through extension?

I had a 30Q on the MCAT (8 PS 10 BS 12 V...the PS could be better).

My vote would be for you to plan a retake before next April so you're ready to reapply next June. Get all your scores up over 10.

I DO mention being gay in my applications. I know this is controversial, however it directly relates to some of the volunteering I did (HIV/STD prevention). Two schools said they liked that and I should include it. What say you?

I'd assume that being out wasn't a factor in your last admissions cycle, given your late app, your stats, and how you describe your presentation.

But in general I'd be surprised if your orientation is relevant to your med school app. Straights do HIV/STD too. It may be distracting to adcoms or creating more work for them - do you want to be "the gay one" or do you want to be "the one that did the China thing who speaks 9 languages"? For med school apps, the point is to get into med school, not to be part of a movement.

That said, let me be clear that you're coming into the profession at a time where you can enjoy a stunning downturn in discrimination. My med school is deep in the southern heart of don't ask don't tell, and the walls are down. Way down. We had a supportive, capacity crowd at a transgender panel recently.

Wrote a pretty bad personal statement for the first cycle. Wasn't complete until late Sept/early Oct, had one interview with local medical school (there is only one). Just rejected, no wait list.

So it's clear what you need to do, correct? Get your med school app together as if you care about getting in. Find faculty and physicians to review your app materials - not friends or family or classmates, you need people who will give you the negative feedback you need to improve. Apply the day AMCAS opens. But again, not this year. You aren't ready to apply again, not in 2-6 weeks.

First off, I wanted to know whether my GPA is too low. Posts on SDN and advice from other people have mentioned that the GPA is on the low side and I'm wondering if I can just get away with taking more post-bac classes, perhaps upper-division ones at the local university? I am opposed to an SMP because I'd like to stay close to family/bf and the costs are quite high.

Your GPA is too high for an SMP. A good SMP is a Hail Mary pass that costs $50k. I like that you've kept taking classes.

But staying close to bf/family isn't under your control for the next decade. You can't control where you get into med school or where you get into residency. Make friends with this and be proactive about educating your loved ones about the facts of medical education, before it hurts your relationships.

Second, should I retake my MCAT? I think that I can do better and could probably hit a 32+ if I just up my PS to a 10 and maybe do a bit better on the BS. I didn't study verbal at all, so I think that if I studied some more I might be able to break the 12. I'm concerned that if I retake the MCAT, I would need time to study (probably earliest test date I could deal with would be September) and I would be applying with my old MCAT of 30Q. Can I submit, be complete, send in my secondaries and re-update schools with a new MCAT score? Is this really risky?

It's May 11 and you're asking should I retake the MCAT, with AMCAS opening in a couple weeks. That is completely crazy. On average, MCAT retakes result in the same score or lower. You need to do work to raise your score, and you can't get that work done and have an early app this year.

Edit: and no, you can't take the MCAT in September and get a fresh review of your app. You need to submit a complete app, early. 55% of the 45,000 applicants to med school every year get rejected. Get yourself out of that pile.

I got one piece of feedback from a med school that rejected me, saying I was a very interesting candidate and I should just apply earlier. Outside of this, what else can I/should I do in this gap year? Should I even apply again? Should I do an SMP? I'd love your opinions.😍

And maybe I'm a ****ty interviewer. What should I do to improve this?

I wrote a lengthy, detailed response to these questions that you'll find in this forum's FAQ.

Best of luck to you.

 

[gmcguitar4]

I agree with not mentioning being gay in your application if you are just trying to put it in there just to state it. If you think it will hurt your application or if you think it will benefit your application by using it in a certain way, then use that information as such.

Also, as for taking courses at a CC as opposed to a 4 year university. It really doesn't matter IMO. Some people may live 5 hours from the nearest university or can't afford to take courses at them. As a result, their only option is to take courses at a CC..adcoms understand this. Maybe if you were aiming for a top 10 school they would take that into consideration a little more because they are so competitive but overall it shouldn't make any barriers for you.

If you are dead set on MD, don't apply this cycle and start studying for the MCAT + drafting your personal statement for next year. Also, keep building up your ec's. You CAN'T rush this process. You want to present the best application you possibly can.

If I were you, I would apply this cycle to DO schools and my state MD with some other low-mid tier MD's. Being a DO will probably hold you back from the top ACGME residencies, but you will have access to all DO residencies(just about every specialty you can think of) and low and mid level MD residencies. I have met DO's who were the chiefs of their department in top NY hospitals(Bellevue for one) and that were just great PCP's. The stigma against DO's is largely an SDN thing. It exists out there but it won't create any major barriers. A good doctor is a good doctor.

 

[Goro]

You heard wrong; my student match very well into MD residencies. With the coming merger, there will no longer be any difference in DO vs MD residencies anyway.

well this cycle but am worried about the residency discrimination I keep hearing about. :/ I need to do more research though.

3.5 with upward trend is good for low-mid-tier schools

My stats are on the low side - ~3.5 cGPA with strong upward trend (screwed up sophomore year and then starting pulling it back together later...3.65 - 3.8 Junior yr, 3.7 - 4.0 Senior yr, 1 yr post bac at CC with 4.0 taking anatomy, stats, psych, econ). sGPA should be something like 3.45, display the same trend as cGPA.

The imbalanced score might be hurting you.

I had a 30Q on the MCAT (8 PS 10 BS 12 V...the PS could be better).


It's Ok to mention it, but I'd steer clear of schools in rural areas, like, say, PikesvilleCOM, or the Catholic universities.

I DO mention being gay in my applications. I know this is controversial, however it directly relates to some of the volunteering I did (HIV/STD prevention). Two schools said they liked that and I should include it. What say you?

Bad choice. The more eyeballs on your writing, the better.

Wrote a pretty bad personal statement for the first cycle.

Se above.

First off, I wanted to know whether my GPA is too low.



Might be worth it. See how one application cycle goes. Just make sure you fully are ready to take the test.

Second, should I retake my MCAT? I think that I can do better and could probably hit a 32+ if I just up my PS to a 10 and maybe do a bit better on the BS. I didn't study verbal at all, so I think that if I studied some more I might be able to break the 12. I'm concerned that if I retake the MCAT, I would need time to study (probably earliest test date I could deal with would be September) and I would be applying with my old MCAT of 30Q. Can I submit, be complete, send in my secondaries and re-update schools with a new MCAT score? Is this really risky?

You got a valuable piece of advice there.

I got one piece of feedback from a med school that rejected me, saying I was a very interesting candidate and I should just apply earlier.


Your ECs are fine, might be best to take 1-2 more classes and boost the GPA. Do not think an SMP is worth doing at this time.

Outside of this, what else can I/should I do in this gap year? Should I even apply again? Should I do an SMP?

Ahh...practice! And not with your friends. If you're working, contact the HR people and see if they can help. Contact your schools' career center and ask their advice. Go through the interview feedback of SDN and see what kind of questions are asked. Tip: we do NOT liked canned answers.


And maybe I'm a ****ty interviewer. What should I do to improve this?[/QUOTE]