Do you think I have a shot?

[thatoneguy3]

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Hey everyone! I was wondering if anyone would be able to give me some kind of support on whether or not I can actually make it into medical school at some point.

Background: I am a first gen, Puerto Rican, Illinois resident who graduated with a 3.4 gpa overall (I never actually sat down and calculated sGPA but I think its around 3.4), 502MCAT.

I did do a lot of volunteering and shadowing during undergrad, ranging from about 160 hours at a hospital, 100 hours tutoring 4th and 5th graders in math and reading, pre medical societies, habitat for humanity, 2 years of lab research (one year I technically count as an internship because it was through the hospital and that is what paperwork I had to fill out before), A LOT of shadowing hours in the PICU and department of neurology (I shadowed a MD and a DO and both agreed to write me a letter), worked as a caregiver at a memory care facility for two years (full time in the summers) and in my time off I am currently scribing.
As far as strengths go I think my activities put me in good shape and advising told me my activity statements/personal statement are good to go. Letters of rec I feel like should be fine, GPA and MCAT shouldn’t be too bad (I know they’re slightly below average) but I feel like I can definitely get in somewhere! I definitely want to apply broadly, so does anyone have any good suggestions (I’m going to apply to the one in Illinois no matter what just because it’s close to home)?

 

[pilsburydocboy]

Have you considered the Puerto Rican medical schools? Assuming you are fluent in Spanish, and you have strong ties to the island it is worth considering. From my knowledge they generally have easier admission standards, but still have full US LCME accreditation. I would start there, I have no idea the residency implications or if they have an expectation for you to practice on the island. Do some digging, might be worth it!

Stateside MD schools would be really tough with you GPA and current mcat. You are in within range for DO schools. My advice would be apply broadly this upcoming cycle to DO , everything regional. I can't post links because I'm a new member, but search this "Enrollment by College of Osteopathic Medicine and State of Legal Residence", yes it is outdated but it really helped me figure out in state biases and worked for me.

If this is accurate your MCAT is on par and you GPA isn't too far off, for Puerto Rican schools.

PUERTO RICO

Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences 3.68 Old MCAT Minimum – 21

New MCAT Minimum – 494

New MCAT Average - 499

San Juan Bautista School of Medicine Minimum - 2.75

Average - 3.65 Old MCAT Minimum - 20

New MCAT Minimum - 492

New MCAT Average – 496

Universidad Central Del Caribe School of Medicine 3.67 New MCAT Minimum – 490

New MCAT Average - 495

University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine

3.74 New MCAT Minimum - 490

New MCAT Average - 502

 

[thatoneguy3]

Thank you so much! Honestly I am not 100% fluent in Spanish so that might be a limit there but I'll definitely look into it. At this point I was mainly thinking DO schools, and so far I have though of schools I'm in "range" for, but assuming they like all my statements and letters of rec are good I think so far this might be a good list. If anyone else has any other suggestions let me know! Thank you for that chart by the way! It really helped.

Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University

Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine

A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicin

Campbell University: Jerry M Wallace College of Osteopathic Medicine

Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University

Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Pacific Northwest University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

niversity of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (all campuses)

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

 

[pilsburydocboy]

IMO in the absence of grade replacement a 3.4 is pretty solid. Also don't forget as a 1st generation Puerto Rican, your URM status should give you a slight bump. With applying that broad, I'd be very surprised if you don't get at least a few interviews.

 

[Magus5454]

Thank you so much! Honestly I am not 100% fluent in Spanish so that might be a limit there but I'll definitely look into it. At this point I was mainly thinking DO schools, and so far I have though of schools I'm in "range" for, but assuming they like all my statements and letters of rec are good I think so far this might be a good list. If anyone else has any other suggestions let me know! Thank you for that chart by the way! It really helped.

Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University

Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine

A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicin

Campbell University: Jerry M Wallace College of Osteopathic Medicine

Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University

Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Pacific Northwest University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

niversity of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (all campuses)

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

DMU.

 

[Orlandoc]

Thank you so much! Honestly I am not 100% fluent in Spanish so that might be a limit there but I'll definitely look into it. At this point I was mainly thinking DO schools, and so far I have though of schools I'm in "range" for, but assuming they like all my statements and letters of rec are good I think so far this might be a good list. If anyone else has any other suggestions let me know! Thank you for that chart by the way! It really helped.

Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University

Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine

A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicin

Campbell University: Jerry M Wallace College of Osteopathic Medicine

Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University

Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Pacific Northwest University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

niversity of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (all campuses)

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

.

 

[Coltuna]

Make sure you apply EARLY and pre-write your secondaries!

THIS

 

[Goro]

Hey everyone! I was wondering if anyone would be able to give me some kind of support on whether or not I can actually make it into medical school at some point.

Background: I am a first gen, Puerto Rican, Illinois resident who graduated with a 3.4 gpa overall (I never actually sat down and calculated sGPA but I think its around 3.4), 502MCAT.

I did do a lot of volunteering and shadowing during undergrad, ranging from about 160 hours at a hospital, 100 hours tutoring 4th and 5th graders in math and reading, pre medical societies, habitat for humanity, 2 years of lab research (one year I technically count as an internship because it was through the hospital and that is what paperwork I had to fill out before), A LOT of shadowing hours in the PICU and department of neurology (I shadowed a MD and a DO and both agreed to write me a letter), worked as a caregiver at a memory care facility for two years (full time in the summers) and in my time off I am currently scribing.
As far as strengths go I think my activities put me in good shape and advising told me my activity statements/personal statement are good to go. Letters of rec I feel like should be fine, GPA and MCAT shouldn’t be too bad (I know they’re slightly below average) but I feel like I can definitely get in somewhere! I definitely want to apply broadly, so does anyone have any good suggestions (I’m going to apply to the one in Illinois no matter what just because it’s close to home)?

Chances best at DO schools and U ILL. Add SIU IF you're from southern ILL.