MD & DO Former Student Athlete Currently Reapplying (Texas) What are my Chances?

[Slim8221]

Hi,

I am an African-American male that has just finished my 4 years of NCAA Div. I Track & Field career and received my undergrad in Biology. Although finishing all 4 years of eligibility is a big accomplishment, I know my academics paid the price. My science GPA is a 2.9 and a cumulative of 3.4. Unfortunately, I am unsure and seeking advise on whether I should try to reapply or take a year off before reapplying.

When I applied the first time my science GPA was 3.1 and had an MCAT of 23 (PS-9, VR-6, BS-8). I had no time to dedicate it to my MCAT due to classes like Physiology, Cell Biology, and biochemistry II, all while during track season in the Spring. I've had about 50 hours of shadowing, 40 hours of research, 50 hours non-clinical volunteering, an no clinical volunteering/internship.

The deadline for applying to Texas schools is Oct 1st, over 4 months from now. With having 20+ hours in my week back (not even including weekends) from not having athletics anymore, I feel I could make a strong application and MCAT score within the allotted time. I do not wish to take off a year if I do not have to. If not, I'll just take the year off and make an application that the schools will have no choice but to offer me an interview.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and I look forward to your opinions.

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[Goro]

The sGPA is likely to get you rejections all around. I suggest either retaking all F/D/C science coursework and applying to DO schools, or do a post-bac/SMP for MD schools.

We'd be doing you no favors by admitting you if you can't handle a medical school curriculum, which so far, you haven't shown you can.

Hi,

I am an African-American male that has just finished my 4 years of NCAA Div. I Track & Field career and received my undergrad in Biology. Although finishing all 4 years of eligibility is a big accomplishment, I know my academics paid the price. My science GPA is a 2.9 and a cumulative of 3.4. Unfortunately, I am unsure and seeking advise on whether I should try to reapply or take a year off before reapplying.

When I applied the first time my science GPA was 3.1 and had an MCAT of 23 (PS-9, VR-6, BS-8). I had no time to dedicate it to my MCAT due to classes like Physiology, Cell Biology, and biochemistry II, all while during track season in the Spring. I've had about 50 hours of shadowing, 40 hours of research, 50 hours non-clinical volunteering, an no clinical volunteering/internship.

The deadline for applying to Texas schools is Oct 1st, over 4 months from now. With having 20+ hours in my week back (not even including weekends) from not having athletics anymore, I feel I could make a strong application and MCAT score within the allotted time. I do not wish to take off a year if I do not have to. If not, I'll just take the year off and make an application that the schools will have no choice but to offer me an interview.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and I look forward to your opinions.

 

[Slim8221]

The sGPA is likely to get you rejections all around. I suggest either retaking all F/D/C science coursework and applying to DO schools, or do a post-bac/SMP for MD schools.

We'd be doing you no favors by admitting you if you can't handle a medical school curriculum, which so far, you haven't shown you can.

Thank you.

 

[DokterMom]

I agree with @Goro. Give yourself a year to improve your MCAT and rack up more A's in upper division science classes to show you're up to it academically as well as athletically. For an AA male Div I athlete, it won't take too much more, but give yourself the best chance you can --

 

[Slim8221]

I agree with @Goro. Give yourself a year to improve your MCAT and rack up more A's in upper division science classes to show you're up to it academically as well as athletically. For an AA male Div I athlete, it won't take too much more, but give yourself the best chance you can --

Thank you! Do you think it would be wise to pursue a master's since it would finish up right before med school starts?

 

[candbgirl]

Since you have been so busy how are your ECs? I'd do what Gora says and work on your clinical ECs and shadowing. One of the issues is that your sGPA dropped since your first application cycle. You really need to get thAt up as high as possible before you apply. You are thinking of going DO right?

 

[thegypsyqueen]

Not as wise as GPA repair. A high masters GPA is not as good as a higher uGPA due to grade inflation in graduate programs. You need to fix that undergrad sGPA and getting a masters will not do this as AMCAS separates the two.

Thank you! Do you think it would be wise to pursue a master's since it would finish up right before med school starts?

 

[Slim8221]

Since you have been so busy how are your ECs? I'd do what Gora says and work on your clinical ECs and shadowing. One of the issues is that your sGPA dropped since your first application cycle. You really need to get thAt up as high as possible before you apply. You are thinking of going DO right?

Thank you. Yes I am thinking of DO as well as MD. During my first cycle I was able to get about 40 hrs of shadowing, I volunteered in a research lab for a summer, and about 30 hours of community service. I'm currently applying to scribe positions.

 

[candbgirl]

But what about volunteering in a hospital? I think the ADCOMs will want to see you know what it's like working with sick people, know what you are setting yourself into,etc. Maybe you should take another gap year and work on your GPA and do some clinical ECs.keep trying for the scribe job but don't apply without grade repair and beefing up your ECs.

 

[Slim8221]

Not as wise as GPA repair. A high masters GPA is not as good as a higher uGPA due to grade inflation in graduate programs. You need to fix that undergrad sGPA and getting a masters will not do this as AMCAS separates the two.

Thank you! I was really unsure whether to consider that route.

 

[Slim8221]

But what about volunteering in a hospital? I think the ADCOMs will want to see you know what it's like working with sick people, know what you are setting yourself into,etc. Maybe you should take another gap year and work on your GPA and do some clinical ECs.

Unfortunately nothing volunteering in a hospital setting. I think I will take this year off to improve my application.

 

[onelastpuff23]

Wouldn't an SMP be ideal for this candidate? You can prove your chops and it can make up for any issues

 

[DokterMom]

Unfortunately nothing volunteering in a hospital setting. I think I will take this year off to improve my application.

Forget 'hospital setting,' especially in nice suburban hospitals. That's 'textbook' and for that reason, likely to have waiting lists of eager pre-med volunteers. Look for hospice, nursing home, memory care unit, adult day care, VA, inner city, AIDS clinic, etc. -- the kind of 'opportunities' that aren't so popular because they aren't so pleasant. Not only will you be able to start volunteering there much sooner, your work will be more meaningful to the people you're helping and also to the AdComs reviewing your application.

Regarding a Masters -- As @thegypsyqueen mentioned, grad program grade inflation is well-known and discounted for, so for med school admissions, a masters will be less persuasive than additional undergraduate work / grade repair. However, for NON-med school purposes, a masters degree does offer an additional, meaningful credential. So a tougher call... Being brutally honest with yourself here -- Without all the time your athletics required, are you confident you can pull off straight A's in upper division undergrad courses? If you can, a year or two of grade repair can make a huge difference. I you think you'd still get a few B's, then I'd suggest getting the MS credential.

And your MCAT? Still planning a retake? Be sure to leave yourself enough time for that --

 

[Catalystik]

Since you're from Texas, you'd want to do your utmost to qualify for their less-expensive DO and MD schools. Besides engaging in postbac coursework to prove your potential, as well as appropriate ECs and MCAT prep, you might consider this GPA booster program (a Biomedical masters rather than a traditional masters) in Texas which is more economical than many found elsewhere and has an excellent track record for redeeming mediocre undergrad grades: TCOM-affiliated program in Ft Worth: http://www.hsc.unt.edu/Education/gsbs/medicalsciences.cfm

TCOM is the only DO school that doesn't allow for grade forgiveness (where only the retaken grade counts toward the application GPAs) since it uses a different application system.

 

[Slim8221]

@Catalystik @onelastpuff23 Unfortunately I did apply to the Master's of Biomedical Sciences at TCOM and I did not get in. With deadlines having already passed for other universities' programs, I am having a difficult time finding another program available.

 

[Slim8221]

Forget 'hospital setting,' especially in nice suburban hospitals. That's 'textbook' and for that reason, likely to have waiting lists of eager pre-med volunteers. Look for hospice, nursing home, memory care unit, adult day care, VA, inner city, AIDS clinic, etc. -- the kind of 'opportunities' that aren't so popular because they aren't so pleasant. Not only will you be able to start volunteering there much sooner, your work will be more meaningful to the people you're helping and also to the AdComs reviewing your application.

Regarding a Masters -- As @thegypsyqueen mentioned, grad program grade inflation is well-known and discounted for, so for med school admissions, a masters will be less persuasive than additional undergraduate work / grade repair. However, for NON-med school purposes, a masters degree does offer an additional, meaningful credential. So a tougher call... Being brutally honest with yourself here -- Without all the time your athletics required, are you confident you can pull off straight A's in upper division undergrad courses? If you can, a year or two of grade repair can make a huge difference. I you think you'd still get a few B's, then I'd suggest getting the MS credential.

And your MCAT? Still planning a retake? Be sure to leave yourself enough time for that --

Yes I still plan on retaking on MCAT, they offer some tests in the fall so hopefully that will give me 3-4 months of really good studying.

 

[Catalystik]

@Catalystik @onelastpuff23 Unfortunately I did apply to the Master's of Biomedical Sciences at TCOM and I did not get in. With deadlines having already passed for other universities' programs, I am having a difficult time finding another program available.

I am thinking you need to engage in undergrad postbac work first, to show your potential. This need not be as a participant in a formal program. You can do it yourself by taking more university-based upper-level coursework in the upper-level Bio sciences.

Did you do this as mentioned on their FAQ page?

I just received a denial letter. What do I do now?

A: Our best advice is to make an appointment with our office for a file review. Based on the committee's comments, we can give you very specific advise for improving your application to our program for next year. We conduct file reviews in the month of June. Please contact[email protected]for an appointment.

 

[Slim8221]

I am thinking you need to engage in undergrad postbac work first, to show your potential. This need not be as a participant in a formal program. You can do it yourself by taking more university-based upper-level coursework in the upper-level Bio sciences.

Did you do this as mentioned on their FAQ page?

Thank you, I have just sent an email to schedule for a file review.
I also met with my pre-health advisor at my school to help plan out plan out my next steps while retaking courses. We found out I actually miscounted, my sGPA is currrently 3.11. I'm planning to take my MCAT in Nov-Dec, which will give me 4-5 months to prepare. I might potentially have a scribe position that I have applied for. As far as volunteering, I have yet to contact a hospice or nursing home until I find out my schedule with class and work (hopefully scribing). Does this sound like a good start and are there any other recommendations that I should look into?

 

[Catalystik]

Thank you, I have just sent an email to schedule for a file review.
I also met with my pre-health advisor at my school to help plan out plan out my next steps while retaking courses. We found out I actually miscounted, my sGPA is currrently 3.11. I'm planning to take my MCAT in Nov-Dec, which will give me 4-5 months to prepare. I might potentially have a scribe position that I have applied for. As far as volunteering, I have yet to contact a hospice or nursing home until I find out my schedule with class and work (hopefully scribing). Does this sound like a good start and are there any other recommendations that I should look into?

If you do get the scribe position it would be sufficient source of active clinical experience, so I'd suggest that for volunteering you pick a nonmedical community service that helps those in need, perhaps the same one with which you have the 50 hours, or similar. Texas schools seem to like that type of volunteering a lot, and I've seen Texas applicants rejected because they had none.

If you feel that too many work hours would impair your odds of getting great grades, then volunteering in a hospice, skilled-level nursing home, rehab center, free or low-income clinic, VS, etc is an adequate source of clinical experience provided you do ~3-4 hours weekly over at least a year. I'd still do some nonmedical volunteering in that case, anyway.

Did your advisor have other thoughts?

 

[Slim8221]

If you do get the scribe position it would be sufficient source of active clinical experience, so I'd suggest that for volunteering you pick a nonmedical community service that helps those in need, perhaps the same one with which you have the 50 hours, or similar. Texas schools seem to like that type of volunteering a lot, and I've seen Texas applicants rejected because they had none.

If you feel that too many work hours would impair your odds of getting great grades, then volunteering in a hospice, skilled-level nursing home, rehab center, free or low-income clinic, VS, etc is an adequate source of clinical experience provided you do ~3-4 hours weekly over at least a year. I'd still do some nonmedical volunteering in that case, anyway.

Did your advisor have other thoughts?

No, I they were along the same lines. Thank you so much!