good MCAT and SMP, low GPA School list

[thekain91]

Please help make recommendations for schools where I will be competitive. I'd like to go back to California if possible.

Undergrad: Tufts
Major: Chemistry
Gpa: xx (c) xx(s)
SMP: Top one with no formal linkage
SMP GPA: 4.0 so far (working on second semester)
Mcat 1: xx
Mcat 2: xx

EC: tons. i'm on point-i have some unique leadership and volunteering along with two years of bench research at top research institution and one year of clinical research and a ton of physician shadowing.

I'm not URM. I am from California. I'm applying to MD and DO.

Thanks!

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[velodork]

AAMC MSAR is your friend!

https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/requirements/msar/

And there aren't very many CA DO schools, so just go for it.

 

[Love4many]

You will get in MD straight just make sure you have a Kick ass personal statement highlighting your drive and perseverance

 

[thekain91]

AAMC MSAR is your friend!

https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/requirements/msar/

And there aren't very many CA DO schools, so just go for it.

Hi thanks- i have the MSAR but unfortunately i'm not a traditional applicant in a normal situation so I'm not sure the MSAR data will give me the whole story i'm looking for. My GPA is way under all of the 10th percentile stats of every school so I'm looking for schools that care more about MCAT and SMP- unfortunately SMAR doesn't flag those for me.

 

[velodork]

Yeah I'll also be applying to some CA schools. My GPA is a bit better than yours but still very average, still havent taken the MCAT. I am also a non-trad. I personally plan on applying to UCR, UCLA, and UCD. UCR is close by and they heavily favor students in the area. I have heard that UCLA is one of the few CA schools that really reviews the entire app, which is what I'm banking on because it is so competitive. UCD seems to take students with slightly lower stats as well which is why it made my list. Also Western and Touro for DO. Good luck!

 

[thekain91]

UCLA has been taking more non-trad applicants the last five years. By non-trad I mean that they are excellent students who happen to do something different before going to med school- they still have very high stats. I really wouldn't count on a genuinely "holistic" review from any of the UC's. Also UCD has lower stats but heavily prefers URM and rural applicants. I'm not trying to be a downer- just being honest.

 

[thekain91]

gyngyn, would you, by any chance, like to add your two cents? 🙂 Basically I'm getting the feeling I'm not going to get an MD acceptance in California.

 

[Red Lobster Actual]

OP, I was in a similar situation. So long as you have DO experiences as well I'd bet money on you for getting into DO schools in the Southwest or California. You should also look into PCOM, I've heard only awesome stuff about that school. 🙂

MD's...I would remain pessimistic. Feel free to shotgun all of them if you have the resources. However, of the classmates from my SMP that received interviews and offers from California MD schools, they already possessed good/stellar numbers prior to attending the SMP.

Apply broadly and out of state. Try to be wary and not to fall into that honeyed trap of assuming your EC's will outweigh your numbers. There are plenty of Californians with unique leadership, volunteering, research, etc. and also possess high GPA and MCAT. There will always be a bigger fish. Especially in California.

I apologize if my post is a downer but I want to keep you grounded so you don't lose an application year to hubris. A classmate of mine (did really well in the SMP, top 10% of class) had the "Cali or Ivy" mentality. Nothing this year...nothing at all.

But DUDE! Great job on the 4.0 and keep that nose glued to the textbooks and power point slides. You'll be a doctor before you know it. I'm rooting for ya!

 

[thekain91]

Thanks- I'm really not interested in Ivys- I'm not deranged, I have no expectation of getting into a California school, but I would like to know here my distant shots are. I just happen to have a genuine and legitimate interest in serving the underprivileged population of California because they are a vital part of my community and, like most Californians, I am also an immigrant. Also I have no DO experiences...I will get on that.

 

[Red Lobster Actual]

I just happen to have a genuine and legitimate interest in serving the underprivileged population of California because they are a vital part of my community and, like most Californians, I am also an immigrant.

Ah...look into UC Riverside's medical school

 

[thekain91]

Yes I'm familiar with them and am hoping I will have somewhat of a chance, even if distant.