Grad student and need advice

[EMwanabe]

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So, for background sake, here's what I got:
3.27 cgpa / 3.17 sgpa / 32 MCAT (12 BS / 9 PS / 11 VB) undergraduate
3.08 gpa for MS in Biomedical Sciences at a med school I'm applying to, awaiting thesis defense on cellular research project to complete degree (hoping to finish before the end of 2015 pending forces outside my control)
LORs: 3x Ph.D science faculty from professors that worked with me on my thesis project and 1x DO
ECs: varied hours in EMT, non-medical volunteering (alpha phi omega), international lacrosse player
Currently employed as an ER tech with ~500hrs on the job, but not documented in this cycle
2nd time applicant, rejected after interview at one school
Schools applied: LECOM-Erie, UNECOM, VCOM-VA / SC, NOVA, CCOM, PCOM-PA / GA, and NYIT (in hindsight I should have applied to a few more lower-gpa tiered schools, but I was limited in cash and I was also worried about travel expenses for interviews not close to where I live or people I know in the above areas)
Currently in this cycle all supplementals are in and verified by early August except two schools that had problems with my LORs and weren't verified until mid-September.

Obviously I do not have competitive gpa stats with my cgpa just barely above minimums and my sgpa making me "underdawg" status, but I wasn't screened out or rejected anywhere yet. Along with this, the MS classes I took had the same material as the MS-1 cirriculum at the school I attended, minus the clinical aspects related it, and I didn't do amazingly while taking them (breakdown can be provided if asked, lowest grade was one B-).

With this all in mind, my problem is that I don't know what my long term plan should be. I'm trying to stay hopeful that I'll hear something before the end of the year, but I like to have my plan B ready before I need it. So given that my MCAT is only good for one more cycle, but I don't have any new course work for this year that would change my gpa stats next cycle, I don't know if its worth applying again next June or if I should wait a few years and work on improvements. What do you all think? If I pick some more gpa-forgiving schools next cycle, do I have an ok chance? Can I retake classes next fall even though I'll have completed a MS degree that has MS-1-like classes in it? I'm just really unsure of what to do and I'm worried I've put myself into a corner with no options to improve and no real chance of getting into an osteopathic school.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

 

[mathnerd88]

I think what makes your situation uniquely tough is your MS GPA. That is going to hinder you an acceptance from DO schools since it doesn't show any improvement. Your best bet was to retake courses and bring that GPA up to around a 3.4 and not do a MS. Also, BCOM was a new school that did take stats of students with even lower GPA than you that you should've applied, but their class is full now.

If you are to plan next cycle, apply to newer schools like BCOM, ACOM, (not CUSOM- they have a cutoff of 3.2).

If you want to improve your application, retake some of your courses to bring that GPA up! You would be surprised how much each "A" that replaces a "C" would bring up your GPA.

You may have to ask @Goro for advice here.

 

[Azete]

Honestly I'm surprised you haven't gotten more love in this process. I don't think there's any question about your ability to pass Step 1, so I have no idea why being mediocre in the classroom would even be relevant. But I'm sort of on the train that anybody can pass med school with the right work ethic.

Grade replacement is really your only play since the rest of your application is outstanding. My guess is you'll get some late cycle interviews though.

 

[Goro]

Based on the data from my own school's SMP, you are likely to struggle in med school and on Boards.

So, for background sake, here's what I got:
3.27 cgpa / 3.17 sgpa / 32 MCAT (12 BS / 9 PS / 11 VB) undergraduate
3.08 gpa for MS in Biomedical Sciences at a med school I'm applying to, awaiting thesis defense on cellular research project to complete degree (hoping to finish before the end of 2015 pending forces outside my control)
LORs: 3x Ph.D science faculty from professors that worked with me on my thesis project and 1x DO
ECs: varied hours in EMT, non-medical volunteering (alpha phi omega), international lacrosse player
Currently employed as an ER tech with ~500hrs on the job, but not documented in this cycle
2nd time applicant, rejected after interview at one school
Schools applied: LECOM-Erie, UNECOM, VCOM-VA / SC, NOVA, CCOM, PCOM-PA / GA, and NYIT (in hindsight I should have applied to a few more lower-gpa tiered schools, but I was limited in cash and I was also worried about travel expenses for interviews not close to where I live or people I know in the above areas)
Currently in this cycle all supplementals are in and verified by early August except two schools that had problems with my LORs and weren't verified until mid-September.

Obviously I do not have competitive gpa stats with my cgpa just barely above minimums and my sgpa making me "underdawg" status, but I wasn't screened out or rejected anywhere yet. Along with this, the MS classes I took had the same material as the MS-1 cirriculum at the school I attended, minus the clinical aspects related it, and I didn't do amazingly while taking them (breakdown can be provided if asked, lowest grade was one B-).

With this all in mind, my problem is that I don't know what my long term plan should be. I'm trying to stay hopeful that I'll hear something before the end of the year, but I like to have my plan B ready before I need it. So given that my MCAT is only good for one more cycle, but I don't have any new course work for this year that would change my gpa stats next cycle, I don't know if its worth applying again next June or if I should wait a few years and work on improvements. What do you all think? If I pick some more gpa-forgiving schools next cycle, do I have an ok chance? Can I retake classes next fall even though I'll have completed a MS degree that has MS-1-like classes in it? I'm just really unsure of what to do and I'm worried I've put myself into a corner with no options to improve and no real chance of getting into an osteopathic school.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

 

[EMwanabe]

Thanks @Goro for the prospective. Is that data published in anyway that I could become more educated on how students like me fair during med school? If not, would you mind elaborating on what struggle means (low class passage rate, high drop-out rate, multiple board failure, ect)?

Also, based on what you see in this thread, can I step away, retake classes to get my GPA up and retake the MCAT (it'll expire) and, given good improvement, have a decent chance of getting in? Or has this program left its mark and adcoms won't be able to see past the data you're talking about? I'm worried that I put myself in a corner because of my so-so performance in the MS program.

Based on the data from my own school's SMP, you are likely to struggle in med school and on Boards.

 

[takis]

the 3.08 gpa SMP(?) is quite bad for any school, although shouldn't your alma mater give you a courtesy interview? it feels like you have exhausted your opportunities if this cycle doesn't work out. this is why students hesitate taking SMP. besides very high cost in money and time for a masters, if they fail to achieve a high GPA in the program, their chances for a US med school is basically done.

 

[Goro]

I don't know of any published data. I'm just telling you what we observe at our school.

YOUR SMP is med school lite. It's an audition and you're supposed to be acing it.

The students at my school who fared poorly in the SMP failed classes, had either to remediate, had to repeat a year and/or failed COMLEX. They historically have done so poorly that at my school, while you would get the courtesy interview, you would not be accepted.

I strongly recommend Plan B

Thanks @Goro for the prospective. Is that data published in anyway that I could become more educated on how students like me fair during med school? If not, would you mind elaborating on what struggle means (low class passage rate, high drop-out rate, multiple board failure, ect)?

Also, based on what you see in this thread, can I step away, retake classes to get my GPA up and retake the MCAT (it'll expire) and, given good improvement, have a decent chance of getting in? Or has this program left its mark and adcoms won't be able to see past the data you're talking about? I'm worried that I put myself in a corner because of my so-so performance in the MS program.

 

[EMwanabe]

Thanks, both of you! It sucks to hear it, but its better then feeling rudderless or having over-inflated false hope. I may investigate podiatry, though I'm not sure if the same data holds true in regards to performance in my MS program and success in podiatry school / what the adcoms there will think when they look at my app. Medicine is my passion and I really want to be in a clinical setting, but since it seems I may not be well suited for the schooling it takes to be there, I'm not sure what to look at next.

Any suggestions I'd greatly appreciate it! Otherwise, thanks again for your candor and advice!

the 3.08 gpa SMP(?) is quite bad for any school, although shouldn't your alma mater give you a courtesy interview? it feels like you have exhausted your opportunities if this cycle doesn't work out. this is why students hesitate taking SMP. besides very high cost in money and time for a masters, if they fail to achieve a high GPA in the program, their chances for a US med school is basically done.

I don't know of any published data. I'm just telling you what we observe at our school.

YOUR SMP is med school lite. It's an audition and you're supposed to be acing it.

The students at my school who fared poorly in the SMP failed classes, had either to remediate, had to repeat a year and/or failed COMLEX. They historically have done so poorly that at my school, while you would get the courtesy interview, you would not be accepted.

I strongly recommend Plan B

 

[TUVIX]

Thanks, both of you! It sucks to hear it, but its better then feeling rudderless or having over-inflated false hope. I may investigate podiatry, though I'm not sure if the same data holds true in regards to performance in my MS program and success in podiatry school / what the adcoms there will think when they look at my app. Medicine is my passion and I really want to be in a clinical setting, but since it seems I may not be well suited for the schooling it takes to be there, I'm not sure what to look at next.

Any suggestions I'd greatly appreciate it! Otherwise, thanks again for your candor and advice!

If you are going to consider something other than medical school I would look into Anesthesia Assistant programs. It's actually a pretty great career and very clinical. You are doing the majority of what an Anesthesiologist does, you get paid 100K+, and you can do shift work with no call if you want.