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[Frigidcold]

You need way more DO schools with that MCAT score.

 

[Fluidity of Movement]

You need many, many more schools on your list. And as an aside, tutoring is generally not counted as volunteer work but under 'education'. You have a nice application, the MCAT is definitely an issue but not a disqualifier. You can look at the MSAR tables to see your overall chances for your particular gpa/mcat.

 

[Putkernerinthehall]

I don't believe UF or Miami would even be worth your applying. Maybe add 10-12 DO schools from around the country.

 

[Fluidity of Movement]

im assuming the cause of MCAT right? the rest of my app is competitive, or no?

if you had a 512 mcat you would generally be in the main pool of applicants though your cGPA is slightly above average/median overall.

 

[Fluidity of Movement]

https://www.aamc.org/media/6091/download

 

[theoceanman]

I’m not an expert advisor but those MD schools, on average and median with quartile, are much farther above than your MCAT score by a lot (FSU being the lowest at a 506/507 MCAT score usually, varying year by year).

Your sGPA is average at FSU, but below average by quite a bit at places like USF/UF/UCF.

Overall with your current MCAT, if you’re not retaking it and holding off on this cycle, it would be very realistic to apply broadly to DO schools, and you would hardly apply to MD schools given that there isn’t anything community-service related that would meaningfully impact your application’s mission statement.

 

[theoceanman]

Tutoring isn’t considered community service hours and apparently does not impact your application heavily as it’s a frequent flyer in most applicants.

Your application currently lacks community service such as food bank, Salvation Army, crisis line support, etc. You would need to show commitment to helping the underserved or a specific population of people when you apply to schools so that these schools get a sense of purpose from your application. This is what will differentiate you from pursuing medicine versus a PhD!

 

[Fluidity of Movement]

Overall with your current MCAT, if you’re not retaking it and holding off on this cycle, it would be very realistic to apply broadly to DO schools, and you would hardly apply to MD schools given that there isn’t anything community-service related that would meaningfully impact your application’s mission statement.

Indeed. Given their age most applicants take a gap year, so we can assume that OP hasn't had one. A gap year with a strong MCAT and more community service could put them as a top applicant 🙂 They seem to be interested in cards possibly surgery so they may benefit from targeting MD schools.

 

[chilly_md]

im assuming the cause of MCAT right? the rest of my app is competitive, or no?

Depending on who you were coaching, your non-clinical volunteering lacks any involvement with underserved communities.

And tutoring is not really volunteering, there is a teaching tab on AMCAS.

 

[Calizboosted76]

I would say that UF, FSU, Miami, and UCF are all reaches.

I would definitely add ACOM to your school list. If staying close to Florida is a goal ACOM is about a 6.5 hour drive to Orlando.

 

[Fluidity of Movement]

>>> i was just coaching kids in 6th-10th grade, on bettering there shooting forms in basketball and improving their overall skills

And that's awesome! But you are most competitive for lower-mid tier schools which generally favor applicants who work with underserved populations.

At least according to the MSAR, you still have around a 40% shot at MD schools. But school selection and being able to answer the secondaries etc can be difficult if you don't have the experiences in your app.

 

[theoceanman]

thx for the reply yep I have not taken a gap year yet. Btw wdym by "They seem to be interested in cards possibly surgery so they may benefit from targeting MD schools". If i were to work on my mcat to get it in the 505-510 range, and work more with the underserved would I have good enoigh app for MD or a competitive app for DO?

Well cardiology is a fellowship following IM residency and usually you want to go to a university-affiliated program for a better chance of marching into cardiology as that’s a really competitive field (I think 60-70% chance?)

 

[theoceanman]

OP you should still wait to hear from one of our experts


And that's awesome! But you are most competitive for lower-mid tier schools which generally favor applicants who work with underserved populations.

At least according to the MSAR, you still have around a 40% shot at MD schools. But school selection and being able to answer the secondaries etc can be difficult if you don't have the experiences in your app.

Wholeheartedly agreed, I’m only an incoming first-year medical student 😂

 

[Fluidity of Movement]

thx for the reply yep I have not taken a gap year yet. Btw wdym by "They seem to be interested in cards possibly surgery so they may benefit from targeting MD schools". If i were to work on my mcat to get it in the 505-510 range, and work more with the underserved would I have good enoigh app for MD or a competitive app for DO?

Just looking at your ECs it seems that you had some interest in cardiology so that was an assumption by me! many apologies.

My main takeaway is I always advocate for gap years especially in younger students, it helps not only with your app and financial aid, but good for your overall human development and mental health. But it's definitely a personal choice and just my personal opinions (which aren't worth much!)

 

[Fluidity of Movement]

Well cardiology is a fellowship following IM residency and usually you want to go to a university-affiliated program for a better chance of marching into cardiology as that’s a really competitive field (I think 60-70% chance?)

It's still very much doable as DO but having more options is always better. You can still match into an academic IM as DO. I'm blanking on CT matches though. Either way, MD is definitely a +1.

 

[Calizboosted76]

Just keep in mind, matching into anything competitive is going to be hard regardless of if you go MD or DO. MD schools typically have programs associated with them so you are able to get involved with research much easier. However if you are a "Go-getter", then you will be fine going either route.

 

[Faha]

I suggest these DO schools with your stats:
NOVA
LECOM-Bradenton
ACOM
VCOM (all schools except Monroe)
CUSOM
UIWSOM
TUNCOM
LMU-DCOM
WVSOM
UP-KYCOM
PCOM (all schools)
Your chances are low for MD schools with your MCAT of 502. You could try Florida State, NOVA MD, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Central Florida.

 

[Fluidity of Movement]

Hopefully OP isn't too discouraged ^-^ You've clearly worked very hard and have a nice app! It's really just a matter now of shooting your shot or taking some time and going for it next year. I think you would get a good amount of attention from DO schools with almost a 3.9gpa!

 

[theoceanman]

Yep, good luck OP! Hoping to see the two letters after you name in the near future! : )

 

[Fluidity of Movement]

As a sidebar, this is the MSAR data for roughly your GPA, but this does not account for ECs and mission fit:

It would be up to you if you want to go through the entire application effort alongside trying to cram in more service hours, which is frowned upon but better than not.

Or if you just want to be a physician, DO is a very viable option for you now, especially since you can take the summer to further improve your application (or even retake the MCAT if you can get a 507 or better). Applying September+ for DO is totally fine.

 

[Calizboosted76]

nah im not discouraged I like when people keep it 100 and don't add bluff to make me feel better lol. appreciate all ur help!

Keep that attitude. You got this. Im at a DO school and got in with sub 3.0 GPA and 506 MCAT because of my upward trend.
As of now my application is set up to apply neurosurgery (which we had someone match year before last). You just have to not expect opportunities to be readily available. Networking is key in medicine and is essential in the DO world when dealing with competitive specialties. If you have any questions about DO schools you can DM me.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

You ask for brutally honest... well, here's tough love for you. I save the brutally honest to those who refuse to take expert advice to heart. 🙂

You should focus on DO programs. I see no sign of a mission fit in what was disclosed, so there's no way to handicap your chances at any MD schools (and frankly DO schools too) to try to beat the GPA/MCAT grid odds.

Furthermore, I don't see any non-clinical community service showing service orientation. Coaching basketball demonstrates that you are really competent at basketball (since you were on an AAU team). Chemistry tutor presumes you were really good at chemistry. Nothing you describe (wish there were much more detail) shows your altruistic service orientation with the community in the form of humbly serving others: food distribution, shelter work, job placement services, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation.

Even in the hours estimates, I just don't see anything the OP is really passionate about that I can advocate to the rest of the screening committee to move for interview.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I'll add the AACOMAS GPA MCAT grid: 60% applicants similar to your GPA/MCAT matriculated to a DO program between entering class 2019 and 2021.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Wdym by mission-fit? Like the ECs I have dont fit the mission statement of most schools? if so r u referring to my lack in non-clinical volunteering?

Read

What Does it Mean to Make Sure You “Fit” with a School’s Mission?

It's important to learn what your desired school's mission statement is and explore how it fits your medical career goals.

students-residents.aamc.org

Watch

 

[Calizboosted76]

Interesting! So basically my app does not fit the mission statement of many schools and I need to work on finding ECs that fit the mission statement of most schools I'm applying to, this can include community service as most schools want students who work with the underserved? Also im a little confused when you said "I just don't see anything the OP is really passionate about that I can advocate to the rest of the screening committee to move for interview", id say im pretty passinate about basketball i mean im a coach and a player/captain on a team with many hours devoted to those activities, and I also i am passionate about cardiology as I am a secretary for a cardiology club, a volunteer in that department, and have done research on it. So im just curious is there a better way i can portray those passions?

So, it is great that you play basketball/are passionate about it but why go to medschool then? Why not try and get into the NBA? Those aspects of your application just show that you are different from other applicants with your hobbies. It doesnt show the dedication to the underserved population or the want to be a primary care doctor, or whatever else a medical school wants to see their applicants have.

The cardio stuff is great but that doesnt align with a mission statement that I am aware of. Getting some activities where you are helping the less fortunate (soup kitchen, handing out narcan supplies, volunteering with an organization that helps abused children, etc) should help be able to bring your application into the realm it needs to be with respect to the EC's aspect.

 

[Calizboosted76]

Maybe see if your cardio club can do a BP event with local homeless shelters where someone who is competent takes individuals blood pressures or helps them in some way that is cardio related (give them information on heart health and how they can strive to achieve it through diet and exercise etc). Head up an event like that and it would be a great talking point to add to your application showing you serve the under-severed in a specialty that you are highly passionate about.

 

[Calizboosted76]

But try and do more than just one event. Consistently helping the underserved as much as you can may help align your app with some mission statements from schools.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

So basically my app does not fit the mission statement of many schools and I need to work on finding ECs that fit the mission statement of most schools I'm applying to

I only see a WAMC. We don't have your app. You offer extremely minimal information for others to logically come to this conclusion. You need to work on actually telling us information that will help us assess your chances. ECs alone aren't your problem.

I'm just answering your question wdym mission fit, right?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

yes i guess ur right i mean i didn't really give a description on each activity for you guys to see if it relates back to medicine. I il prob end up taking a gap year to work on my mcat and other ECs and post a more detailed WAMC to give a better outlook on how my actual app would look like but thx for keeping it 100 tho

We're always trying to help you out. If you were trying to start med school at 20, understand you can give yourself more time. Get involved and be comfortable being uncomfortable.