Chances as IS Texas Applicant? High MCAT (524) Low GPA 3.49 w/ upward trend hoping to stay IS but also looking for OOS schools

[im_angxious]

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Hi everyone,

I submitted my TMDSAS application around 2 weeks ago and I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on what my chances are. I would like to stay in the Houston area so McGovern and Baylor are my first choices even though I know its a stretch. Basically I was a biomed engineer my first three semesters of college and I really did not like it so I switched to bio/psych and as a result my last two years I had a 3.9+ with As in a bunch of hard upper level bio courses but my performance sucked my first two years with a 2.8 average. Overall 3.49 cGPA, 3.25 sGPA. My MCAT was killer and I am stoked about my score but I know Texas schools tend to favor GPA.
I imagine most of you will suggest doing a DIY-postbac but I was dual credit in high school and I graduated as a double major so as a result I have nearly 200 credit hours. Doing the math my GPA would go up less than .1 from 24 credit hours over two semesters so do not think it would add much to my application. Currently I am starting my gap year where I am working as a scribe while also doing research under a doctor in the Houston Medical Center, but beyond that can anyone give me some guidance or reassurance that I have a decent chance to stay in state? I will list my other ECs below

750 Hours of research across two labs + starting research in med center. Defended senior thesis and was nominated for most outstanding thesis award.
250 hours non-clinical volunteering, split between a holiday toy drive and 3D printed prosthetic hand assembly for children
200 hours shadowing a neurologist and I have an opportunity to shadow an ocular plastic surgeon towards the end of the year
Director of Campus reps for a startup - managed campus reps across the country, not medical related but good leadership
Treasurer/Housing manager for fraternity, pulled fraternity out of 10k of debt and kept the house in order, again good leadership
Treasurer of Student org - we built/designed 3D printed prosthetics for children
VP of IFC - Worked with chapters below GPA thresholds to create academic plans to raise gpa
Hobbies include Rubik's Cube speed solving, snowboarding, & weightlifting
Graduated from the school honors college with the highest degree awards
White Male & Father was an alumni of UTMB

Also, for the sake of being honest. I had a IA around a year ago involving public intoxication during a football game. I was 21 but the school still wanted me to complete an alcohol awareness course

McGovern & Baylor are my top choice, staying close to Houston and in Texas is important to me but I will obviously go anywhere that accepts me.

If you have any recommendations for OOS schools that are close to Texas and favor high MCATs let me know!

 

[thegrind33]

Longsom favors high mcats and will forgive s low gpa

 

[im_angxious]

Longsom favors high mcats and will forgive s low gpa

Do you know if there are any other schools in Texas like that?

 

[thegrind33]

Do you know if there are any other schools in Texas like that?

I mean you have a 524, I think all tx schools will cut you a lot of slack for your gpa

 

[im_angxious]

I mean you have a 524, I think all tx schools will cut you a lot of slack for your gpa

Right, and that is what a lot of people have told me. I guess I am just a bit neurotic because my GPA is below the 10th percentile for every school but RGV. It also sucks because there is not a whole lot I can do about it at this point. Would you happen to know of any good OSS schools for my situation? Thanks for responding btw.

 

[thegrind33]

Right, and that is what a lot of people have told me. I guess I am just a bit neurotic because my GPA is below the 10th percentile for every school but RGV. It also sucks because there is not a whole lot I can do about it at this point. Would you happen to know of any good OSS schools for my situation? Thanks for responding btw.

USF is the first oos school that comes to my mind in terms of high mcat loving and forgiving on gpa

 

[DokterMom]

I think you'll be fine given your upward trend, tough starting major and killer MCAT. (Congratulations!)

Rumor has it that McGovern discriminates against applicants who do not apply to ALL of the Texas schools, so if you've omitted some, add them in now as a safety measure. The odds of your getting in nowhere seem pretty slim...

Since you're completing the AMCAS anyway for Baylor you might also want to spend a few minutes considering some of the 'super high stat' OOS schools. How would you feel about Wash U vs. Long if it came down to a choice like that?

 

[im_angxious]

I think you'll be fine given your upward trend, tough starting major and killer MCAT. (Congratulations!)

Rumor has it that McGovern discriminates against applicants who do not apply to ALL of the Texas schools, so if you've omitted some, add them in now as a safety measure. The odds of your getting in nowhere seem pretty slim...

Since you're completing the AMCAS anyway for Baylor you might also want to spend a few minutes considering some of the 'super high stat' OOS schools. How would you feel about Wash U vs. Long if it came down to a choice like that?

To be honest that would be a very tough decision for me. My Dad told me that regardless of what medical school I get into I will get out whatever I put in and the prestige or name of the school should not be a huge decision. Obviously I want to still go to a good school, but my entire network is in the Houston area. I am not scared of living somewhere else as I have multiple times in my life but I spent all of my undergrad in Houston and the medical center is amazing. The decision I guess would involve me weighing cost + distance versus prestige.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Rumor has it that McGovern discriminates against applicants who do not apply to ALL of the Texas schools, so if you've omitted some, add them in now as a safety measure. The odds of your getting in nowhere seem pretty slim...

Is it just a rumor?

Do other TX schools feel the same way?

 

[DokterMom]

Annecdotes only. No data that I'm aware of.

 

[DokterMom]

I have no idea -- Just repeating what is really no more substantial than gossip.

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

With two years of 3.9 in upper level science classes, you do not need a postbacc. Duke, Columbia, Vandy, and WashU like either high MCAT scores, reinvention, or both. These are somewhat long shots with your GPA, but if you want to apply OOS it’s worth a shot. Good luck!