Average GPA, good but unbalanced MCAT

[unhappytnt]

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I am applying both MD and DO this cycle. Here are my stats:

3.62 sGPA (with one retake. Chem C+/C to A/A-)
3.71 cGPA
12 VR, 8 PS, 12 BS. 32O

-Bio/Neurosci/German triple major
-200+ hours of volunteering
-30 hours of shadowing
-Good letter of recs
-Did 1 year of research. Also worked as a summer intern at a research lab
-Leadership positions in my frat and various other campus organizations

What schools do you think I should apply to? I am a NY resident so obviously all state schools but I'd appreciate input on what other non-NY public schools and private schools I should apply with my stats.

And also, how much will the 8 in PS hold me back, both for MD and DO schools? Does it warrant a retake? (I really hope not

Thanks everyone! Much appreciated

 

[TriagePreMed]

8 is the cutoff at most MD schools. 7 would be the cutoff for Osteopathic. I would apply with those numbers if I were you.

 

[Catalystik]

I am applying both MD and DO this cycle. Here are my stats:

3.62 sGPA (with one retake. Chem C+/C to A/A-)
3.71 cGPA
12 VR, 8 PS, 12 BS. 32O

-Bio/Neurosci/German triple major
-200+ hours of volunteering
-30 hours of shadowing
-Good letter of recs
-Did 1 year of research. Also worked as a summer intern at a research lab
-Leadership positions in my frat and various other campus organizations

What schools do you think I should apply to? I am a NY resident so obviously all state schools but I'd appreciate input on what other non-NY public schools and private schools I should apply with my stats.

And also, how much will the 8 in PS hold me back, both for MD and DO schools? Does it warrant a retake? (I really hope not

With a 3.71/32, you might check into these schools for "fit":

Rochester, MCW, Miami, Einstein, UMaryland, Georgetown, UConn, Loyola,
UKentucky, UWisc, Rush, Tufts, Cincinnati, Jefferson, Virginia Tech (newer, research focus), Temple, Albany, GWU,
Toledo, Wake, NYMC, Vermont, Hofstra (newer)
Wayne, Wright, Drexel, Tulane, MSU (high OOS tuition), Oakland (newer in MI), Penn State (requires a research thesis),
VCU.

Try to get your formal shadowing to at least 40, but ideally 50 hours before you apply.

 

[unhappytnt]

With a 3.71/32, you might check into these schools for "fit":

Rochester, MCW, Miami, Einstein, UMaryland, Georgetown, UConn, Loyola,
UKentucky, UWisc, Rush, Tufts, Cincinnati, Jefferson, Virginia Tech (newer, research focus), Temple, Albany, GWU,
Toledo, Wake, NYMC, Vermont, Hofstra (newer)
Wayne, Wright, Drexel, Tulane, MSU (high OOS tuition), Oakland (newer in MI), Penn State (requires a research thesis),
VCU.

Try to get your formal shadowing to at least 40, but ideally 50 hours before you apply.

Thanks for the list Catalystik! I will definitely consider these when applying. Thanks a lot

Since you didn't say anything about it in your post, I am just gonna assume that the 8 in PS is OK in the context of two 12's 😳 But since I am a paranoid pre-med I'll ask again: Should I retake?

 

[unhappytnt]

8 is the cutoff at most MD schools. 7 would be the cutoff for Osteopathic. I would apply with those numbers if I were you.

Thanks! I didn't know there was a cut off per se. But now that I do, I don't know how I feel about applying with a borderline score on PS 😀

 

[ppfizenm]

Thanks! I didn't know there was a cut off per se. But now that I do, I don't know how I feel about applying with a borderline score on PS 😀

Make sure you check the MSAR and try not to apply to schools where your PS score falls out of the range.

 

[Catalystik]

Since you didn't say anything about it in your post, I am just gonna assume that the 8 in PS is OK in the context of two 12's 😳 But since I am a paranoid pre-med I'll ask again: Should I retake?

Make sure you check the MSAR and try not to apply to schools where your PS score falls out of the range.

I think you're fine to apply as you are. Ppfizenm's idea can keep you from applying to too many schools that might not consider you, but walk on the wild side and include some bottom tenth percentile for VS of 9, as some schools don't look at subscores at all (like Commonwealth and EVMS), and others post no minimums (eg, FIU, Oakland, Colorado). You might ferret out some others like this with phone calls or by checking websites.

 

[alexrgross]

I think you're fine to apply as you are. Ppfizenm's idea can keep you from applying to too many schools that might not consider you, but walk on the wild side and include some bottom tenth percentile for VS of 9, as some schools don't look at subscores at all (like Commonwealth and EVMS), and others post no minimums (eg, FIU, Oakland, Colorado). You might ferret out some others like this with phone calls or by checking websites.

Your numbers are good enough to apply, taking into consideration the selection factors metioned by this Cat guy 😉 and while you are on the phone with schools asking about fit you might want to tell your #1 choice if you are interested in EDP...

 

[TriagePreMed]

Thanks! I didn't know there was a cut off per se. But now that I do, I don't know how I feel about applying with a borderline score on PS 😀

As I understand, it's not official and people with lower scores have gotten in, but it is a general rule for judging if you must retake or not.