URM (half Hispanic/half Kurdish)
Completed undergrad dual major Neurobio and Psych and MPH in states
undergrad overall GPA: 3.69
sGPA: 3.60
grad GPA: 3.88
Born in NY, though English was my fourth language also diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia since I was a child but never received K-12 since the school was understaffed. I started to receive and got accommodations in college and then on MCAT
Extracurriculars:
During Undergrad
ED Volunteer Coordinator - 500+ hrs in NYC hospital for peds and adults, eventually teaching new volunteers and worked on the implementation of new policies to improve pediatric care.
Co-found/president of an academic society for undergrad neuro students coordinated speakers to discuss ongoing research and help students improve their research experience.
Neonatal research - 1000+ hrs (2 paper publications, 3 national presentations at pediatric conferences, 6 posters)
Neuro research - 1000+ hrs (1 primary author publication, 2 presentations one at global neuro conference, 4 posters)
Shadowing: 200 hrs in a pediatric clinic for uninsured and illegal immigrants in Southern California
Tutored high school students in biology and math
Then traveled abroad and saw how bad healthcare was in other countries and decided to a 6 yr foreign medical school in the middle east during which I became an EMT there and while in school worked on transport to help critical patients from terror attacks but 3 yrs in my dad got really sick and he lived in the states so I returned to help out before I could finish and been helping out him out since that was two years ago
Once he felt better enrolled in an MPH program and volunteered at a nonprofit safety net organization where I implemented an outreach program to ensure Medicaid patients with chronic conditions were able to get needed care also worked for a top ten hospital system working in faculty development for GME programs and came up with and implemented a new strategy to improve resident teaching which helped me get a summer job at an MD school in NY working for the deans of undergrad med ed, clinical experience, and integration and worked on seven projects, created listservs of preclinical and clinical deans as well as Step 1 and 2 prep info from over 154 LCME allopathic schools and in the process on working on 4 publications (2 of which I'm the first author) from those projects as well as designed and created posters and presentations for an array of the faculty that were presented at national conferences in under eight weeks while continuing to work in faculty development and became a select member of a wellness committee in charge of 1000+ residents and created and hopefully piloting a novel initiative to strengthen teamwork and resilience and lower moral injury). This summer was productive with the exception of the MCAT.
The issue is I tried taking the MCAT (once a year ago and twice this summer) with my highest score being 495 which is horrible I know and school I worked with at a loss since can't accept it and I understand but got three LoRs from the different deans. Already sent apps to DOs (which I'm hoping for) but haven't heard back and slim to none shot to any MDs but sent Casper and AMCAS to a handful of schools but asking any advice what my chances are anywhere, recommendations to added schools? thoughts? know many schools have policies but willing to start from scratch Day 1. any insight will be much appreciated, resilient to be a doctor and hopefully can get back into it.
