MD & DO Chances/School app list?

[MedicalGuy_101]

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Hi all! Looking for some help on my chances and reasonable school application list!

Long story short, did not perform well first time around in undergrad, mostly due to mental health issues which are now resolved. Was actually kicked out of my highly ranked public school. Fortunately took no science classes during that phase. Spent 2 years working, then went back to the same school and majored in Biochem. Because I took 3.5 years of classes during phase I, cGPA cannot realistically be raised to a reasonable level. When I returned, I took 19 creds of science every semester so it was hard to get perfect grades, but I did fine, save that I got a C- in genetics.

-cGPA: 2.63
-sGPA: 3.5
-GPA in the 2 years when I returned to school: 3.45
-Have about 30 hours of shadowing and my primary objective in the next 6 months is immense shadowing and clinical volunteering time. I'm setting up to do about 25 hours of this per week, so I will end up with plenty of time.
-Spent one year doing cell biology and organic chem research; self-funded with several grants
-Have strong rec letters from professors able to speak to my intelligence, the fact that I underwent a massive personal change, have strong interpersonal skills, and that I'm a good researcher. Also from former and current employer outside of the sciences.

Have not yet taken the MCAT but have practice-tested repeatedly between 522 and 526. (I kick myself every night before I go to bed for screwing up undergrad.)

Of note, I am 27 years old and am a URM (Hispanic and Native American, though no tribal affiliation.) I live in Michigan.

I'm figuring with these stats, I'm far more than likely going DO, which I'm not at all opposed to. Of course, I'll still throw my hat in at in-state MD programs, but no expectation there. But I'm interested in any feedback you all can give on how my stats will be seen, how I can effectively craft my essays around this, any extra work I could do in the next 6 months that would be seen favorably, and what schools I should apply to OOS, if any.

 

[precisiongraphic]

If (a) you get a 522+ and (b) are indeed URM then many MD programs are viable choices for you. (Not all Hispanics are URM - are you of Mexican descent? And tribal affiliation without membership may only be an asset in the context of Low SES and/or service to URM communities which I'm not sure if you have or not.)

My opinion - I think you'll have a good chance at Michigan State, Wayne State and maybe even UMich if (a) and (b) are true. There are other schools that "reward reinvention" as @Goro says. Look at Dartmouth. Perhaps Ohio State, NYU.

Post after you get your MCAT. And for sure add DO schools too - I think you might have your pick of those.

Hi all! Looking for some help on my chances and reasonable school application list!

Long story short, did not perform well first time around in undergrad, mostly due to mental health issues which are now resolved. Was actually kicked out of my highly ranked public school. Fortunately took no science classes during that phase. Spent 2 years working, then went back to the same school and majored in Biochem. Because I took 3.5 years of classes during phase I, cGPA cannot realistically be raised to a reasonable level. When I returned, I took 19 creds of science every semester so it was hard to get perfect grades, but I did fine, save that I got a C- in genetics.

-cGPA: 2.63
-sGPA: 3.5
-GPA in the 2 years when I returned to school: 3.45
-Have about 30 hours of shadowing and my primary objective in the next 6 months is immense shadowing and clinical volunteering time. I'm setting up to do about 25 hours of this per week, so I will end up with plenty of time.
-Spent one year doing cell biology and organic chem research; self-funded with several grants
-Have strong rec letters from professors able to speak to my intelligence, the fact that I underwent a massive personal change, have strong interpersonal skills, and that I'm a good researcher. Also from former and current employer outside of the sciences.

Have not yet taken the MCAT but have practice-tested repeatedly between 522 and 526. (I kick myself every night before I go to bed for screwing up undergrad.)

Of note, I am 27 years old and am a URM (Hispanic and Native American, though no tribal affiliation.) I live in Michigan.

I'm figuring with these stats, I'm far more than likely going DO, which I'm not at all opposed to. Of course, I'll still throw my hat in at in-state MD programs, but no expectation there. But I'm interested in any feedback you all can give on how my stats will be seen, how I can effectively craft my essays around this, any extra work I could do in the next 6 months that would be seen favorably, and what schools I should apply to OOS, if any.

 

[MedicalGuy_101]

If (a) you get a 522+ and (b) are indeed URM then many MD programs are viable choices for you. (Not all Hispanics are URM - are you of Mexican descent? And tribal affiliation without membership may only be an asset in the context of Low SES and/or service to URM communities which I'm not sure if you have or not.)

My opinion - I think you'll have a good chance at Michigan State, Wayne State and maybe even UMich if (a) and (b) are true. There are other schools that "reward reinvention" as @Goro says. Look at Dartmouth. Perhaps Ohio State, NYU.

Post after you get your MCAT. And for sure add DO schools too - I think you might have your pick of those.

I am of Mexican descent - that being said, I should be clear that despite being 1/4 mexican and 1/4 native american, I am racially white. I would not describe myself as having been very disadvantaged; the only time I've experienced racism is when people see my last name without having met me. (strangely, they often admit to the racism upon meeting me...things like "oh that's a pleasant surprise, I expected you to be a mexican." I will never understand how people think this way and are not ashamed of it.) No idea how that would be seen by adcoms. I appreciate the optimism on umich; I'll try just because it would be so life changing, but definitely expect my rejection letter from there 😛

Thanks for the resource on reinvention schools; I will definitely research them. Any OOS DO schools you'd recommend I look into?