Advise is Very Needed About Applying to Med School

Med School Insiders
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Status
Not open for further replies.
jcanez2012

jcanez2012

Full Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2020
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
Members do not see this ad.
Hello everyone, new blood here. I really need some insight about my situation. Here are the stats:

26 year old male
bachelors and masters degree in biology
Cumulative GPA of 2.77, science is 2.75
Latest practice MCAT got me a 486
950 hours of volunteer work at a hospital

Now, I've been wanting to go to medical school for years and years now, but only until last year I've had serious doubts. I have to take the MCAT in July for the 2021 application and I'm applying to only U of A because they will use my masters GPA which is 3.56 luckily. I recently fell in love with Midwestern University, which requires a 2.75 GPA. I'm not gonna lie, I messed up a lot during my undergrad years. So my question is, do I even risk applying to a grand total of 3 schools because of this? Will I even have a chance? I have considered other careers that I would be just fine with, but for some reason I kept getting pulled into this field. The main reason I'm writing this all out is because no one else seems to understand my position, so I hope this forum will.
 
Where did you take the practice MCAT? 486 is 10th percentile, which is not competitive. Given your undergraduate GPA, you will likely need to have a high MCAT in addition to an SMP. Take a look here, this shows acceptance rate by MCAT and GPA:



What is U of A? I checked Arizona and I saw a 3.0 minimum undergrad GPA, but I might not be looking in the right place.
 
Based on your MCAT practice tests, you are at high risk for doing poorly and flunking out of medical school. Making a holistic review of your application might mean looking at your masters GPA but when considered along with your MCAT, you'd be considered to be at high risk and a medical school might not want to take a chance.
 
ihoop24 said:
They may see your masters GPA, however you mentioned that your latest practice MCAT score was a 486. I would not suggest taking the MCAT this year unless you're scoring 510+ on your practice exams.
Click to expand...
I'm studying for it right now, but I've never been able to do more than 495 on practice MCATs. How much longer should I study?
 
Wolvvs said:
Where did you take the practice MCAT? 486 is 10th percentile, which is not competitive. Given your undergraduate GPA, you will likely need to have a high MCAT in addition to an SMP. Take a look here, this shows acceptance rate by MCAT and GPA:



What is U of A? I checked Arizona and I saw a 3.0 minimum undergrad GPA, but I might not be looking in the right place.
Click to expand...
It's University of Arizona, the phoenix campus and the requirement is 3.0 GPA in either undergrad or grad degree with a MCAT of 495. So do you agree that I shouldnt apply?
 
LizzyM said:
Based on your MCAT practice tests, you are at high risk for doing poorly and flunking out of medical school. Making a holistic review of your application might mean looking at your masters GPA but when considered along with your MCAT, you'd be considered to be at high risk and a medical school might not want to take a chance.
Click to expand...
That's my biggest fear, flunking out after paying 60 grand and have nothing to do. Youre faculty so you must have seen students like me get in right?
 
I seriously hope your 486 is you taking a FL to scope it out. Not trying to be rude, but the people that get into med school usually have overall good stats, low gpa/high MCAT, high GPA/meh MCAT.... anything below 500 is well.... not good unless you have world changing experiences like let’s say saving the world from covid or curing cancer?
 
If you want a chance, try getting a decent mcat score 510+ and even then there’s no guarantee
 
jcanez2012 said:
That's my biggest fear, flunking out after paying 60 grand and have nothing to do. Youre faculty so you must have seen students like me get in right?
Click to expand...
That's the adcom's biggest fear, too, so there have to be really extraordinary circumstances that will make the adcom want to take a chance. I mean like someone who was recovering from a leg amputation as a freshman and had to drive through a hurricane to the MCAT testing site while the family home washed into the sea.
 
LizzyM said:
That's the adcom's biggest fear, too, so there have to be really extraordinary circumstances that will make the adcom want to take a chance. I mean like someone who was recovering from a leg amputation as a freshman and had to drive through a hurricane to the MCAT testing site while the family home washed into the sea.
Click to expand...
How can I get rid of this feeling/drive to keep trying? I can even be quoted saying "regardless if this is something you, at some point you have to do something else."
 
jcanez2012 said:
I'm studying for it right now, but I've never been able to do more than 495 on practice MCATs. How much longer should I study?
Click to expand...

I would highly recommend finding a private tutor for the mcat who can help you plan your approach and identify skill/content gaps.
 
jcanez2012 said:
How can I get rid of this feeling/drive to keep trying? I can even be quoted saying "regardless if this is something you, at some point you have to do something else."
Click to expand...
What sort of volunteer work have you been doing at the hospital? Do you have any other clinical experience? Have you considered other health professions?
 
If you truly want to do this then you will need to commit a couple years just to application repair. If you are scoring a 486 on practice tests after studying then I would bet there are knowledge gaps. I would work on the knowledge gaps first. This would probably be retaking prereqs since a 2.75 leads me to believe your prereqs probably aren’t all B or greater. Shoot for As on all retakes. Then after that take the MCAT once scoring comfortably 505+ for DO and 510+ for MD. Then once that is secured then finish GPA repair. This would probably be best with an SMP if you want MD or DIY for DO if you can get your stats to 3.25 or better. Then and only then would I apply. The minimum requirements listed on websites are not even close to the accepted applicant stats. There are thousands of phenomenal stat applicants every year that get rejected. From Adcoms eyes, why take the risk on you? You have to prove to them.
 
Wolvvs said:
What sort of volunteer work have you been doing at the hospital? Do you have any other clinical experience? Have you considered other health professions?
Click to expand...
I helped discharge patients, run the front desk. That's all I have and I have, pharmacy and cardiovascular science.
 
DO2015CA said:
If you truly want to do this then you will need to commit a couple years just to application repair. If you are scoring a 486 on practice tests after studying then I would bet there are knowledge gaps. I would work on the knowledge gaps first. This would probably be retaking prereqs since a 2.75 leads me to believe your prereqs probably aren’t all B or greater. Shoot for As on all retakes. Then after that take the MCAT once scoring comfortably 505+ for DO and 510+ for MD. Then once that is secured then finish GPA repair. This would probably be best with an SMP if you want MD or DIY for DO if you can get your stats to 3.25 or better. Then and only then would I apply. The minimum requirements listed on websites are not even close to the accepted applicant stats. There are thousands of phenomenal stat applicants every year that get rejected. From Adcoms eyes, why take the risk on you? You have to prove to them.
Click to expand...
I dont know how possible it will be to get up to a 3.25 GPA, I've actually done the math work and it would take me 6 years of full time classes to get barely a 3.0 if I got all straight A's. Plus studying and preparing for the MCAT, I mean I'll be in my early 30's applying.
 
jcanez2012 said:
I dont know how possible it will be to get up to a 3.25 GPA, I've actually done the math work and it would take me 6 years of full time classes to get barely a 3.0 if I got all straight A's. Plus studying and preparing for the MCAT, I mean I'll be in my early 30's applying.
Click to expand...
I would also seriously consider the RN/NP/PA route. Seems like it might be a good option if you wanted to get into healthcare and you are unable to achieve MD/DO.
 
I understand, I was just sharing that there other more attainable options with improvement if you do not reach the threshold of MD/DO
 
It's currently too low for NP or PA, although it might be possible to improve it. Another option would be an accelerated BSN program, if you do well in that the path to NP would open up.
 
Then do something about it or don’t. If you want to be a doctor, you’ll grind to make it happen. It won’t be easy but it can be done. From what I can tell, you want to reap the rewards without putting in the work. How else could you be remotely ok with applying with a sub 500 and not fathom applying in your 30s?
 
Sky138 said:
Then do something about it or don’t. If you want to be a doctor, you’ll grind to make it happen. It won’t be easy but it can be done. From what I can tell, you want to reap the rewards without putting in the work. How else could you be remotely ok with applying with a sub 500 and not fathom applying in your 30s?
Click to expand...
Dont be rude, you made your point.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

N
Med school list
Replies
14
Views
991
Nancy d-26
N
Y
Very low GPA, I Need Help!
Replies
19
Views
1K
yodascousin
Y
R
Need help about my competitveness as DO applicant
Replies
18
Views
1K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
T
  • Locked
WAMC - 524/3.95. Very low research, school list help
Replies
2
Views
1K
TXpremed01
T
D
  • Locked
WAMC Current Senior, applying in spring + advice on school list
Replies
3
Views
290
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
Top