(cGPA 3.76, MCAT 28) Chances of getting into MD/DO school - please help!

[ash118]

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Hi All,

I understand that this question has been asked many times before, but I will honestly appreciate any advice/opinions I get. I graduated from undergrad in May 2010 with a BS in Biological Sciences with a cGPA of 3.76, many after school activities, and MCAT score of 28.

During my senior year, I applied to some allopathic schools (without seeing my MCAT score) and was denied acceptance from the few that I heard back from. Also during this time, I unfortunately experienced family and personal crisis, which prevented me from retaking my MCATs again or reapplying.

My dream and passion of being a doctor is still strong today, but I will not be able to apply until atleast late 2012-early 2013. In this time, I have still been volunteering at hospitals, working at non-profits, and helping my family.

What I want to know is what are my chances with my current stats in MD vs DO schools? Should I retake the MCAT in the next year in hopes of improving my score (I have waited due to lack of time and money so far)? What else can I do during this time to show both types of schools that I am still serious about being a doctor?

Also, I am recently married and though my husband is very supportive of my dreams, I worry about our future due to my dream of being a doctor. Are there any MD/DO schools that are good for family life?

(I apologize if any questions are repeats from previous posts - I'm new to these forums and still learning to search properly).

Thank you very much for your help in advance!

 

[n3xa]

Hi All,

I understand that this question has been asked many times before, but I will honestly appreciate any advice/opinions I get. I graduated from undergrad in May 2010 with a BS in Biological Sciences with a cGPA of 3.76, many after school activities, and MCAT score of 28.

During my senior year, I applied to some allopathic schools (without seeing my MCAT score) and was denied acceptance from the few that I heard back from. Also during this time, I unfortunately experienced family and personal crisis, which prevented me from retaking my MCATs again or reapplying.

My dream and passion of being a doctor is still strong today, but I will not be able to apply until atleast late 2012-early 2013. In this time, I have still been volunteering at hospitals, working at non-profits, and helping my family.

What I want to know is what are my chances with my current stats in MD vs DO schools? Should I retake the MCAT in the next year in hopes of improving my score (I have waited due to lack of time and money so far)? What else can I do during this time to show both types of schools that I am still serious about being a doctor?

Also, I am recently married and though my husband is very supportive of my dreams, I worry about our future due to my dream of being a doctor. Are there any MD/DO schools that are good for family life?

(I apologize if any questions are repeats from previous posts - I'm new to these forums and still learning to search properly).

Thank you very much for your help in advance!

Where did you apply to the first time around?

 

[flodhi1]

Hi All,

I understand that this question has been asked many times before, but I will honestly appreciate any advice/opinions I get. I graduated from undergrad in May 2010 with a BS in Biological Sciences with a cGPA of 3.76, many after school activities, and MCAT score of 28.

During my senior year, I applied to some allopathic schools (without seeing my MCAT score) and was denied acceptance from the few that I heard back from. Also during this time, I unfortunately experienced family and personal crisis, which prevented me from retaking my MCATs again or reapplying.

My dream and passion of being a doctor is still strong today, but I will not be able to apply until atleast late 2012-early 2013. In this time, I have still been volunteering at hospitals, working at non-profits, and helping my family.

What I want to know is what are my chances with my current stats in MD vs DO schools? Should I retake the MCAT in the next year in hopes of improving my score (I have waited due to lack of time and money so far)? What else can I do during this time to show both types of schools that I am still serious about being a doctor?

Also, I am recently married and though my husband is very supportive of my dreams, I worry about our future due to my dream of being a doctor. Are there any MD/DO schools that are good for family life?

(I apologize if any questions are repeats from previous posts - I'm new to these forums and still learning to search properly).

Thank you very much for your help in advance!

You have an extremely good chance at DO schools but I honestly don't know about MD schools. MD schools have a lot of variables such as personal statement, what state you reside in, LORs and ECs. Honestly, I feel like with your stats MD schools might just be a crap shoot. I have seen some with your stats or worse get interviews but I have also seen kids with 3.6s and 30+ get absolutely nothing. Good luck with whatever you do

 

[GoZags]

It is a crapshoot, I got 3 interviews with a 26S last year, with 1 Defer and 1 Waitlist which both ended up being declined acceptances but my EC's are competitive and I think my PS was strong. But it does depend heavily on your state of residence etc. and also APPLY EARLY! Thats where I screwed up and am kicking myself for it now...but will probably end up better in the end because I re-took MCAT getting scores tomorrow hoping for an improvement

 

[dragonfly99]

I think you should definitely retake the MCAT, but try to make sure you get a higher score this time. Your score was not terrible but it's low for an MD school. Yes, please share some of the schools you applied to before. Also, know that your state of residence will affect things. For example, if you are in California then a 28 MCAT is low, but if you are in Arkansas you would probably have a shot at their state school with a 28. I would think that DO schools should be on your list to at least consider, especially if there are some nearby. It's at least worth looking in to.

I don't think being married should deter you, but I do think that when you interview you'll be able to get a feel of how schools treat students who are married and/or with kids. My medical school was definitely not very easy to deal with if one had kids/babies...especially if female. However, many schools are much friendlier in that regard and do not expect people to do med school and nothing else. There aren't any "easy" med schools but there are certainly easier versus harder ones. How hard you work over your lifetime as a doctor also has a lot to do with what specialty you end up in, which will be something you'll have at least some choice about. Psychiatrist or physical med/rehab doctors spend a lot less time working than a trauma surgeon or neurosurgeon, for example.

 

[MathewsMD]

I would say retake the MCAT but make sure you prepare yourself even better this time for it. Your marks seem great for a DO school, but if you want to become a MD, a little higher MCAT scores would help. Also, which MD schools are you thinking of applying to?