Big decision - requires advice

[harmonica]

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I've just submitted my 3rd allopathic application 2 weeks ago and in the past 2 years I haven't gotten any interviews at the ~7 schools I've applied to. Here's the crux of my problem - I went to a really competitive college and did a neuro major, both of which contributed to a BCPM GPA of about 2.7. I've been re-taking my pre-med req's and taking more upper level science coursework and by the end of this summer I will hopefully be up to about a 2.9 something. I'm also going to be starting my 2nd year of an MSPH in health econ at UNC-Chapel Hill in September. Also, this is year 2 of my MCAT eligibility; so next summer is my last application at most schools before I'd have to re-take the MCAT.

So, I know my science GPA is what's killing me - I have a 31 MCAT, tons of volunteering, strong recs, tons of clinical experience, etc., etc. The question is what to do about the GPA, and I think I have a few choices.

1)Take a leave of absence from grad school for a year and do only BCPM coursework; if I took another 10 classes this year my BCPM GPA would be up around a 3.2 something for next year's application. Then re-apply next summer with the higher GPA and finish my grad degree.

2)Do an official postbac program of some kind (UNC's dean of admission's opinion is that this is the only chance I have of ever getting into medical school anywhere).

3)Consider the DO option (PCOM maybe looks promising) this year or next year. I'm worried about the limitations this may present later - I know I'm interested in academic medicine and health econ research as a physician.

Also, any tips on maximizing the applications this year? I was thinking if I did take the leave from grad school, I might be able to update my application at a bunch of schools with science coursework from the upcoming fall semester.

What do you think?

 

[postbacker]

I've just submitted my 3rd allopathic application 2 weeks ago and in the past 2 years I haven't gotten any interviews at the ~7 schools I've applied to.

Applying to just 7 schools is a recipe for disaster for applicants with even far stronger grades than you have. What's up with that?

Med schools will fully expect you to have finished your masters program before matriculating in med school (to not do so is very frowned upon).

 

[RxnMan]

Applying to just 7 schools is a recipe for disaster for applicants with even far stronger grades than you have. What's up with that?

This cannot be overstated. The only way you will get an acceptance any time soon is by applying more broadly.

Med schools will fully expect you to have finished your masters program before matriculating in med school (to not do so is very frowned upon).

This is also true - you should finish your degree before matriculating.

 

[harmonica]

So this year I've applied to 15 schools; some I'm applying to for the 3rd time, some the 2nd time, and most for the 1st time. Are there any other schools to add? I cut Wake, Vermont, and Medical College Wisc because they said they wouldn't take any of my new grades from classes this summer.

Georgetown
George Washington
UNC
ECU
Emory
Virginia Commonwealth
Tufts
Boston University
Temple
Drexel
Jefferson Medical College
Rush
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
New York Medical College

Is finishing my MSPH this year really that important? Is it more important to finish that degree this year, than to take courses to improve my science GPA to a 3.2 for next summer? UNC's dean of admissions pretty much told me that the MSPH degree will never help me get into medical school.

 

[postbacker]

So this year I've applied to 15 schools; some I'm applying to for the 3rd time, some the 2nd time, and most for the 1st time. Are there any other schools to add? I cut Wake, Vermont, and Medical College Wisc because they said they wouldn't take any of my new grades from classes this summer.

Georgetown
George Washington
UNC
ECU
Emory
Virginia Commonwealth
Tufts
Boston University
Temple
Drexel
Jefferson Medical College
Rush
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
New York Medical College

Is finishing my MSPH this year really that important? Is it more important to finish that degree this year, than to take courses to improve my science GPA to a 3.2 for next summer? UNC's dean of admissions pretty much told me that the MSPH degree will never help me get into medical school.

Well he is correct that it will not help you much, but it is a double edged knife that also will hurt you if you apply without finishing the degree - med schools want nothing to do with applicants who bail out of graduate programs to attend medical school. I think the sooner you wrap up that degree, the better...

 

[RxnMan]

You never want to give the impression that you can't finish what you started. But you can interview and even be accepted before you finish your degree. You just need to have your degree before you start med school classes.

Look at other private schools. Get a MSAR. There are 125 schools in the US, and removing the ~40 or so state schools, you've still got a bunch to choose from. 15 schools is what a regular 30/3.6 applicant would apply to. [If you're going to make a serious go at this, you need to have numbers on your side.

 

[kidthor]

How about adding EVMS?

So this year I've applied to 15 schools; some I'm applying to for the 3rd time, some the 2nd time, and most for the 1st time. Are there any other schools to add? I cut Wake, Vermont, and Medical College Wisc because they said they wouldn't take any of my new grades from classes this summer.

Georgetown
George Washington
UNC
ECU
Emory
Virginia Commonwealth
Tufts
Boston University
Temple
Drexel
Jefferson Medical College
Rush
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
New York Medical College

Is finishing my MSPH this year really that important? Is it more important to finish that degree this year, than to take courses to improve my science GPA to a 3.2 for next summer? UNC's dean of admissions pretty much told me that the MSPH degree will never help me get into medical school.

 

[harmonica]

EVMS only takes a tiny number of out-of-state students, though, right?

 

[postbacker]

EVMS only takes a tiny number of out-of-state students, though, right?

Nope. The Virginia schools, all publics, take a big chunk OOS, much to the chagrin of instaters...

 

[efex101]

I agree completely with the posters stating that you need to apply to MORE schools. You are a below average (number wise) applicant and hence to maximize your chances you need to be thinking in the 20-30 range. The average GPA for accepted medical students is a 3.6 and the average MCAT is a 30...most of these folks apply to about 15 schools. So, someone with numbers below the average range need to DOUBLE the number of schools applied to. You also need to make sure you apply very very EARLY (AMCAS) *and* send back secondaries within DAYS of getting them. Again, this is super important for borderline applicants. The earlier the better.

 

[Orthodoc40]

Also consider VCU.

AND, you should do a little more research on DO schools and how UNlimited your possibilitites will be later. DO's are in every specialty including in academic medicine. There are some residency PROGRAMS that will be tough/not possible to get into, but there are NO SPECIALTIES you will be barred from. Read the DO/PreDO and the MENTOR forums - and check out the AACOM website.

Applying to a broad range of schools in your case should include DO schools, which will be much more understanding of your GPA situation.

A friend of mine applied to schools 4 times. It was finally when he took the stance that he didn't care where he had to go in the US to become a doctor that he got accepted. Reapplicants can help themselves by being less selective in where they are willing to go.