Apply this cycle? Any School to try as a NYS resident?

[armynontrad]

I became U.S. citizen recently, which makes me eligible to apply for US medical schools (was on a working visa).

My background:
a foreign bachelor degree
U.S. Master degree in Computer Sciences
premed prerequisites(GPA:3.98) from a NY state school
More than 90 US Credit Hours
Volunteered at Emergency Department for more than 150 hours
Shadowed Emergency Attending for 50 hours. etc

I work full-time as a programmer for a couple of years, while serving in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Combat Medic Specialist.

For the first MCAT, I didn't do many practices but only a content review , studied after work for 3 months, and only got 492.

Should I use this score to apply for some DO schools, not sure if I can reach any MD with such low score?

Or should I just focus on taking MCAT again, and apply in the next cycle?

Any suggestion is welcome.

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[emergencydancing]

Definitely do not apply to MD with a 492, especially this late in the cycle. You're probably not in great shape for DO either. From your writing and grammar I gather reading comprehension is not your strength which is not a great sign for your MCAT prospects.

 

[armynontrad]

Definitely do not apply to MD with a 492, especially this late in the cycle. You're probably not in great shape for DO either. From your writing and grammar I gather reading comprehension is not your strength which is not a great sign for your MCAT prospects.

Thanks for your candid feedback. I am not strong in reading comprehension. But I will keep up the practice.

If I fail to get into any school now, would a reapplicant be less favorable in the next cycle application?

 

[GreenDuck12]

Thanks for your candid feedback. I am not strong in reading comprehension. But I will keep up the practice.

If I fail to get into any school now, would a reapplicant be less favorable in the next cycle application?

You should not apply to any MD programs at the moment because of your very low MCAT score. Your score is low enough that it will most likely trigger an automatic rejection for being below minimum MCAT score (usually around 500). It would be better for you to only apply once you have earned a much higher score.

 

[armynontrad]

You should not apply to any MD programs at the moment because of your very low MCAT score. Your score is low enough that it will most likely trigger an automatic rejection for being below minimum MCAT score (usually around 500). It would be better for you to only apply once you have earned a much higher score.

Not even any DO school?

I thought military service can be helpful in the application.

 

[GreenDuck12]

DO admission statistics / competitiveness is outside my wheelhouse so I won't comment on whether or not you should apply to DO programs.

Link here for DO admissions with a page listing MCAT scores (roughly 2000 applied with a MCAT score in your range and 214 were accepted)

https://www.aacom.org/docs/default-source/data-and-trends/2018-aacomas-applicant-matriculant-profile-summary-report.pdf?sfvrsn=28753a97_14

Military service can be very impactful to have in one's background as it demonstrates commitment, service, selflessness, etc. But a 492 MCAT corresponds to the 22nd percentile of all test takers. A low MCAT score is interpreted as a sign that one may have difficulty passing licensing exams in the future. With regards to a retake, I would recommend finding a class or working with a private tutor to work on reading comprehension strategies and to incorporate more practice passages/exams into your preparation.

 

[Faha]

You could receive interviews at some DO schools with a MCAT of 498 or higher. So you will need to retake the MCAT but do not retake until your practice scores are consistently over 500.

 

[Goro]

Not even any DO school?

I thought military service can be helpful in the application.

Your MCAT score is lethal for DO as well. Even LUCOM has standards. Your score puts you int he risk zone of failing out of med school and/or Boards.

I thank you for your service, but no med school is doing you any favors by admitting you when you're an at-risk student.

 

[armynontrad]

Your MCAT score is lethal for DO as well. Even LUCOM has standards. Your score puts you int he risk zone of failing out of med school and/or Boards.

I thank you for your service, but no med school is doing you any favors by admitting you when you're an at-risk student.

Thanks for your candid feedback. In retrospect, I was in a rush and wasn't ready to take the MCAT.

I will study hard to improve the score instead of wasting efforts in application.

 

[corbse]

I became U.S. citizen recently, which makes me eligible to apply for US medical schools (was on a working visa).

My background:
a foreign bachelor degree
U.S. Master degree in Computer Sciences
premed prerequisites(GPA:3.98) from a NY state school
More than 90 US Credit Hours
Volunteered at Emergency Department for more than 150 hours
Shadowed Emergency Attending for 50 hours. etc

I work full-time as a programmer for a couple of years, while serving in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Combat Medic Specialist.

For the first MCAT, I didn't do many practices but only a content review , studied after work for 3 months, and only got 492.

Should I use this score to apply for some DO schools, not sure if I can reach any MD with such low score?

Or should I just focus on taking MCAT again, and apply in the next cycle?

Any suggestion is welcome.

With the amount of experience you have, have you considered PA school?