MD & DO Chances + School list re-app (good mcat, bad gpa)

[Manzielf]

Third Cycle. Have been working on improving my application substantially since the last time I applied. Undergrad over 5 years ago.

CA/M/(URM UIM)
Bio/Phil double major
sgpa: 2.81
cgpa: 3.20
ggpa: 3.3
MCAT: 32, 35 (11/12/12) -both expired, 514 (128,127,130, 129)

Last time I received 2 II - rejections

Experiences since last time I applied

Shadowing new specialty- ~10h
Non Medical Volunteer ~140h
Research (current position) ~ 2000h +
- two pubs in the works, contributing to multiple projects
Med Volunteer ~120h

Older Experiences from last time I applied (undergrad and grad)
Med volunteer - ~200h
Employment Non med- ~3 years FT
Shadow ER/ Trauma- ~80h
Non Med Volunteer ~ 150h
Master's Thesis + Research ~800h
Undergrad Leadership - President & co-founder of a club
Undergrad TA - 450h
Undergrad Mex Volunteer - 250h

LOR: Undergrad, Grad, Employment, Research PI, Volunteer, MD

GPA is abysmal, had a rough patch (family related). Not an excuse, but I can't deny it didn't affect performance. I've focused on compensating in some way in other areas such as research which I truly enjoy. I am tying my community involvement (behavioral health/ CBT) and research as my motivation to pursue medicine/ being a self-directed learner.

School List so far:

MD (shooting for 40):
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
University of California, San Diego
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentristry
Pennsylvania State university college of medicine
Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center
Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Tufts University School of Medicine
University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
George Washington School of Medicine
Geisel School of Medicine Dartmouth
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Drexel University College of Medicine
University of California Riverside School of Medicine
Tulane University School of Medicine
University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine
Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
New York Medical College
Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin Unviersity of Medicine and Science
Eastern Virginia School of Medicine
Albany Medical College
University of Illinois College of Medicine
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
University of California Davis
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
University of Arizona College of Medicine
Meharry Medical College
California Northstate University School of Medicine
Howard University College of Medicine
Charles Drew UCLA

DO (10):
Arizona College of Osteopatic Medicine in Midwestern University
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University (CCOM)
Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMU-COM)
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus (VCOM-VC)
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYIT-COM)
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-COM)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM)
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine -California (TUCOM-CA)
Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (Western U/ COMP)

Applying very early. These schools are reaches GPA wise but my MCAT is competitive in any of them. Any advice/ school suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

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[Faha]

Which URM group are you a member of?

 

[Manzielf]

Mex-American

 

[Faha]

Case, Rochester, Tufts and Dartmouth are far reaches with your GPA and Meharry and Howard accept few Mexican Americans (mainly African Americans). For MD consider adding these schools:
Jefferson
Georgetown
St. Louis
Creighton
Medical College Wisconsin
Miami
any new schools that open for 2018 (Roseman, Seton Hall).
For DO add a few more schools such as ATSU-SOMA, RVU (both schools) UIWSOM.

 

[Manzielf]

Thank you. I'll make sure to add them to my list.

Would it be advisable to apply either Howard or meharry? Meharry seems to accept a Mexican Americans based on their demographic info from this current MSAR and last year's MSAR.



Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Faha]

Thank you. I'll make sure to add them to my list.

Would it be advisable to apply either Howard or meharry? Meharry seems to accept a Mexican Americans based on their demographic info from this current MSAR and last year's MSAR.



Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

I only see 4 Mexican Americans for Meharry which is a low number.

 

[Manzielf]

Thank you. I do have an additional question. I understand that it is very important to sell yourself and to focus on your strengths (both int he primary and secondary app). Some secondaries have an optional essay where you can tell them anything else they might need to know about you.

Would it be advisable to address my gpa in this section? I was thinking about giving some context, emphasize that it's not an excuse, and describewhat I've done to deal with those situations (coping skills)/ how I've been committed to self-directed learning (research, switching jobs to go back to academics, continued MCAT performance years after graduation). OR should I just use the space to focus on the latter and simply allude to my undergraduate gpa? Or is it better to just leave this section blank?

Thanks in advance.