Chances of getting into MD program?

[MBH0421]

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Hi Everyone,

I'm brand new to this website, so I apologize if I'm posting in the incorrect place or what not. I have read many forums from this site but none were similar enough to my situation. I was hoping I could get a few opinions on what my chances might look like if being accepted into MD programs this year (2015 entering class)

I am 24 (well, will be on Wednesday), female, Caucasian
My undergrad was in Microbiology from Ohio State
cumulative gpa: 3.1, science gpa: 3.1 AMCAS BCPM: 2.85
graduate school: University of Akron, Health Care Management MBA gpa: 3.9
I have 2+ years in clinical research, lots of volunteering and extra curricular activities (Relay for Life committee member, community service volunteer, hospice volunteer, special olympic soccer coach, etc). I worked part time in most of my undergrad. After graduate school, I worked as a Microbiologist at Nestle for a little while and then accepted a position at OSU in research. I worked for Ohio State Ophthalmology as a clinical research assistant (worked with 36+ studies) before getting into graduate school. I have undergrad research in otolaryngology as well.
I am taking the MCAT in three weeks from Thursday. I'm worried I won't do too well ( I am a poor standardized test taker, at least to date).
I have KILLER recommendation letters though. A few are:
Chair/Director of Harvard Otolaryngology (did research with him for a year while he was at Ohio State and a close family friend),
Emeritus professor/chairman/former dean of Ohio State medical school admissions board (worked with him in ophthalmology research),
OSU chair of ophthalmology (research),
Director and Chair of Neuroophthalmology and oculoplastics at OSU,
a teacher from my graduate program and
a science teacher from undergrad who I volunteered with.

I'm very nervous that I will not get into any of the schools I applied to, after so many forums I've read -- and additionally, that I possibly picked the wrong graduate program. I was in between a science related graduate program and the Health Care Management MBA. My dad is the chair of otolaryngology at his practice and he had advised me this way, because he said he looks to hire doctors who have some idea of business because it is so important. I also asked all my rec letter authors (at least the ones who are medically related) and all of them said to go for the Health Care Management MBA program (actually, one of my rec letter authors was getting his Health Care MBA at harvard, so he strongly recommended it). So I followed their advise and did so. I'm doing very well in my program, but I'm so scared that the AMCAS 2.85 is going to kill me. I'm aware my undergraduate gpa is low -- looking back, I certainly would've taken undergrad more seriously. Will my 3.9 in a non-science graduate program help? Should I be taking science classes as well?

I have applied to 14 MD programs. My application was verified 8/20/14. I have received a few secondaries, although I know that doesn't mean too much, considering some schools automatically send them to you. I am applying to 5 Ohio schools and 9 private schools outside of Ohio.

Thank you for your input, I appreciate it!

 

[ridethecliche]

Graduate GPA won't help.

I think your chances are pretty slim for this cycle per AMCAS charts for GPA and MCAT scores and their relative acceptance.

LOR's don't make up for bad grades.

Had your 3.9 been in a post bacc, things could have been different. No idea what your MCAT is, however 8/20 verification is already starting to be late for the cycle.

 

[QofQuimica]

Without an MCAT score, it is a waste of time for anyone to speculate on your chances, but I would strongly recommend against applying this cycle at all if you're just taking your MCAT in September. This would mean your app would be complete very late in the cycle, putting you at a significant disadvantage in terms of getting interview invites and acceptances.

Your ECs sound fine. Your grad school performance is fine. You have excellent research credentials. However, you will almost certainly need to broaden your list of schools, even if you have a stellar MCAT, and especially if you don't have an upward trend in your grades. Applying to 14 Midwestern schools including all state schools is reasonable for an Ohioan with strong ECs and average to above average stats. With a 3.1 GPA, that isn't going to be you. I'd suggest applying to more like double that number, focusing on schools in the Midwest. If you have a sub-30 MCAT score, you should give serious consideration to applying to at least half a dozen DO schools as well. And either way, again, you should plan on applying for the entering class of 2016.