Drafting school list - High practice MCAT Low GPA

[mayoformayo]

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[Mr.Smile12]

I have to submit a "realistic" draft of schools I am brainstorming for my prehealth committee. It's not binding of course, but I do want it to be kind of accurate as I prepare for this cycle.

I know it's not final, however my AAMC FL 1 was 518 (129/129/129/131) and I am 1.5 months out from the exam. I will be studying full-time until I take it.

Major: Arts/humanities
cGPA: 3.7+
sGPA: 3.5+ MD 3.48 DO
--> Sharp upward trend in rigorous science courses and all other classes. Only last 3 semesters were straight A's b/c graduated a sem early.
Other: 1st gen immigrant, not URM or ORM
State: PA - shoutout to no state school! lol
Research: 2 peer-reviewed clinical publications including 1st author, low hours of wet lab experience
Clinical volunteer: 500-600 hr
Non-clinical volunteer: ~70 hr...will be doing full time after MCAT and bring it up before I apply
Employment: Tutoring writing
Shadowing: ~100 or so in a variety of specialties
Other ECs: Don't wanna be too revealing but very unique project that combines my major with underserved populations, writing award
LoRs: Likely cookie-cutter science profs + MD, likely excellent/unique one from humanities prof, could get a DO one if needed

Practice test scores are like fish tales. We don't put down bets until we see an official score.
Could you breakdown your clinical volunteer experience further? How much shadowing involved primary care? Any EC's that don't deal with your project that show you have a desire to work with those outside your own demographic or comfort zone?
Your project director is not a science professor? What about your peer-reviewed paper faculty supervisor? What do you mean "low hours" of wet lab experience, yet you have a first-author "clinical" publication?

 

[Goro]

@Goro How heavily DO do I likely need to go? I am doing a handful of NE ones like PCOM/NYITCOM/UNECOM but just so many are in rural/conservative areas which I don't prefer as a minority, but I know my GPA isn't ideal for MD

Impossible to answer without an actual MCAT score. I dob't do hypotheticals.

 

[mayoformayo]

Practice test scores are like fish tales. We don't put down bets until we see an official score.
Could you breakdown your clinical volunteer experience further? How much shadowing involved primary care? Any EC's that don't deal with your project that show you have a desire to work with those outside your own demographic or comfort zone?
Your project director is not a science professor? What about your peer-reviewed paper faculty supervisor? What do you mean "low hours" of wet lab experience, yet you have a first-author "clinical" publication?

Yeah I figured, aamc seem to be the most representative, so it's hopefully enough to know it shouldn't be too bad, fingers crossed 🙂 Mainly looking what to improve/what type of schools to at least give my committee and thought I'd throw that in

1. Bulk of clinical volunteer is with children's hospital & methadone clinic. All w/ direct patient contact
2. Majority of shadowing was primary care, but some ortho as well
3. My clinical volunteering was largely with underserved populations as well, in the areas surrounding my undergrad institution
4. Sorry, should've specified about research. Clinical (dry lab) research was heavy and where pubs are from. My (separate) wet lab research experience was not substantial.

My science professor letters are referring to ones who taught me in undergrad, as per our committee rec requirement of 2 letters. Research was not at my undergrad.

Should I add a LoR from the PI? I'm not really gunning for top research schools and she's since moved hospitals, but I can definitely reach out

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

Take more official AAMC practice tests under conditions approximating Test Day; that 518 certainly puts you in a good place. Good luck.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Yeah I figured, aamc seem to be the most representative, so it's hopefully enough to know it shouldn't be too bad, fingers crossed 🙂 Mainly looking what to improve/what type of schools to at least give my committee and thought I'd throw that in

We would be millionaires if we took a dime for each post we see applicants talk about how bad their official scores were even after taking all the practice AAMC FL's. Test anxiety is real.

LOR from your PI. I don't think AMCAS restricts your letters so much (I'm used to 3-4 total), so if the PI can give a strong letter addressing your professional potential as a physician, you should be okay including him/her, especially if he/she is a STEM professor. Ask the prehealth advisor.

 

[mayoformayo]

We would be millionaires if we took a dime for each post we see applicants talk about how bad their official scores were even after taking all the practice AAMC FL's. Test anxiety is real.

LOR from your PI. I don't think AMCAS restricts your letters so much (I'm used to 3-4 total), so if the PI can give a strong letter addressing your professional potential as a physician, you should be okay including him/her, especially if he/she is a STEM professor. Ask the prehealth advisor.

I get that. Just wanted to incorporate that I've put many (~5-6 months) into this exam and am in a good spot preparation-wise and capable of doing well. From friends and family who've taken it, it seems these are the most representative exam-wise. I will definitely not assume and keep working this next month to prepare well and hopefully salvage the GPA.

As for the PI, it was a few years ago and my interactions with her weren't really much beyond emails / her directing me with what to do. I think it would address my professionalism and work ethic well, but I am worried it will come off rather generic and not really showing anything more than the pubs already do. My advisor said it doesn't matter, so I've been on the fence about whether it's worth bothering her for it

 

[himalayansaltlamp]

I get that. Just wanted to incorporate that I've put many (~5-6 months) into this exam and am in a good spot preparation-wise and capable of doing well. From friends and family who've taken it, it seems these are the most representative exam-wise. I will definitely not assume and keep working this next month to prepare well and hopefully salvage the GPA.

As for the PI, it was a few years ago and my interactions with her weren't really much beyond emails / her directing me with what to do. I think it would address my professionalism and work ethic well, but I am worried it will come off rather generic and not really showing anything more than the pubs already do. My advisor said it doesn't matter, so I've been on the fence about whether it's worth bothering her for it

Do you think the post-doc/grad student you worked with would have good things to say? Maybe you can ask your PI to refer with them?

 

[himalayansaltlamp]

Yes, that's a good idea. Most of our correspondence was still over email as this was not in a lab so it's still limited, but between them there should definitely be enough for a LoR.

I worked remote for my research job, usually meeting with my supervisor every few weeks, but she was still enthusiastic about writing a letter -- so it doesn't hurt to try!

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

Get at least another 100 hours of nonclinical volunteering and if your MCAT scores are anything like your practice tests you should be a solid MD candidate. Good luck.