Help me with my school list? Pretty please?

[kbRD2MD84]

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Hopefully, this is in the right spot. If not, yell at me and move it 😉

Background info: 34, 2 bachelors degrees (sport management in 2006 - 3.2ish, nutrition in 2016 - 3.9ish), cGPA ~3.53, sGPA 3.65, not much wiggle room on grades but might be able to pull each up 0.05-0.10 between now and apps. Currently working on prereqs, taking MCAT in May or June. Technically a TN resident right now but I'll qualify for NC residency in Oct, so ECU is a definite possibility.

I've gone through the MSAR about a million times but I think all of these meet my criteria - need to be places that are willing to take online prereqs (I know, I know). Haven't really looked at DO schools yet - should I? Ultimately pretty sure I want to go into heme/onc, so I don't know if MD vs DO matters too much for that.

Here's my list. Hoping to apply for about 20 max.

Albany Med
Arizona (Phoenix)
Chicago/Rosy F
Colorado
Cooper Med
Dartmouth (?)
Drexel
East Carolina
Florida State
Iowa
Kentucky
Minnesota
Mt Sinai (only if I crush the MCAT)
Oakland
Oklahoma
Rutgers RWJ
S. Alabama
SUNY Downstate
Texas Tech
Tufts
Tulane
UT Houston
Vermont
Wake Forest
West Michigan
Wisconsin

 

[Talkbirthytome]

Hopefully, this is in the right spot. If not, yell at me and move it 😉

Background info: 34, 2 bachelors degrees (sport management in 2006 - 3.2ish, nutrition in 2016 - 3.9ish), cGPA ~3.53, sGPA 3.65, not much wiggle room on grades but might be able to pull each up 0.05-0.10 between now and apps. Currently working on prereqs, taking MCAT in May or June. Technically a TN resident right now but I'll qualify for NC residency in Oct, so ECU is a definite possibility.

I've gone through the MSAR about a million times but I think all of these meet my criteria - need to be places that are willing to take online prereqs (I know, I know). Haven't really looked at DO schools yet - should I? Ultimately pretty sure I want to go into heme/onc, so I don't know if MD vs DO matters too much for that.

Here's my list. Hoping to apply for about 20 max.

Albany Med
Arizona (Phoenix)
Chicago/Rosy F
Colorado
Cooper Med
Dartmouth (?)
Drexel
East Carolina
Florida State
Iowa
Kentucky
Minnesota
Mt Sinai (only if I crush the MCAT)
Oakland
Oklahoma
Oregon H&S
Rutgers RWJ
S. Alabama
SUNY Downstate
Texas Tech
Tufts
Tulane
UT Houston
Vermont
Wake Forest
West Michigan
Wisconsin

OHSU is in-state heavy and will only consider out of state if you are in one of their missions group. Did you look at their mission group criteria?

 

[kbRD2MD84]

OHSU is in-state heavy and will only consider out of state if you are in one of their missions group. Did you look at their mission group criteria?

Didn't see that until now! Don't think I qualify - no ties to Oregon, and nothing else that fits. To be honest, I wasn't real excited about OHSU and secretly looking for a reason to take it off my list!

 

[Dave1980]

Hard to say without more information and also a lot of it depends on how you do on the MCAT and also what you were doing for the 12 years after your first degree. What were you doing? Also any research or volunteering?

You should probably look into DO...

 

[Talkbirthytome]

Apply to all in-state schools. General rule of thumb.

 

[kbRD2MD84]

Hard to say without more information and also a lot of it depends on how you do on the MCAT and also what you were doing for the 12 years after your first degree. What were you doing? Also any research or volunteering?

You should probably look into DO...

Yeah, I wish I had an idea of how I'll do on the MCAT. Generally a decent test-taker, but I have no idea.

After first degree - worked in pro sports for about 7 years, then moved back to the northeast and went back to school to become an RD (that took about 6 years) while working FT in logistics (just a job to pay the bills, nothing more). No research that I can think of. Tons of volunteering - mostly soup kitchens, food pantries, and ~1000 hours clinical volunteering during my dietetic internship. Working right now on setting up a volunteer placement at a local hospital.

Also of note - my brother was KIA in Iraq in 2006, about 7 months after I finished my first bachelors. In retrospect, I realize I was a hot mess for a while. Does that help to explain the randomness/aimlessness of the next decade or so? Sorta, but I know it's not a get-out-of-everything-free card.

 

[kbRD2MD84]

Forgot to mention the obvious. I'm an RD with current credentials. Realized during my internship that dietetics wasn't where I saw myself, but finished it out and took the credentialing exam as to not be a big quitter 😉

 

[kbRD2MD84]

Apply to all in-state schools. General rule of thumb.

I took Duke off my list for some reason or another (probably the average GPA/MCAT). Do I have any chance there for being in-state? Really like UNC's program but they don't accept online prereqs so that's not happening this cycle.

 

[Goro]

Hopefully, this is in the right spot. If not, yell at me and move it 😉

Background info: 34, 2 bachelors degrees (sport management in 2006 - 3.2ish, nutrition in 2016 - 3.9ish), cGPA ~3.53, sGPA 3.65, not much wiggle room on grades but might be able to pull each up 0.05-0.10 between now and apps. Currently working on prereqs, taking MCAT in May or June. Technically a TN resident right now but I'll qualify for NC residency in Oct, so ECU is a definite possibility.

I've gone through the MSAR about a million times but I think all of these meet my criteria - need to be places that are willing to take online prereqs (I know, I know). Haven't really looked at DO schools yet - should I? Ultimately pretty sure I want to go into heme/onc, so I don't know if MD vs DO matters too much for that.

Here's my list. Hoping to apply for about 20 max.

Albany Med
Arizona (Phoenix)
Chicago/Rosy F
Colorado
Cooper Med
Dartmouth (?)
Drexel
East Carolina
Florida State
Iowa
Kentucky
Minnesota
Mt Sinai (only if I crush the MCAT)
Oakland
Oklahoma
Rutgers RWJ
S. Alabama
SUNY Downstate
Texas Tech
Tufts
Tulane
UT Houston
Vermont
Wake Forest
West Michigan
Wisconsin

You have way too many state schools on this list. These schools favor the home team pick the state school that is in your home state.

Trying to draw up lists without an MCAT score is a waste of your time. So come back with an actual MCAT score and then we can properly advise you.

 

[lalalallala]

I took Duke off my list for some reason or another (probably the average GPA/MCAT). Do I have any chance there for being in-state? Really like UNC's program but they don't accept online prereqs so that's not happening this cycle.

Duke is a private school. Private schools do not have strong preferences for in-state applicants.

 

[lalalallala]

Here's my list. Hoping to apply for about 20 max.

Albany Med - accepts a good amount of OOS
Arizona (Phoenix)
Chicago/Rosy F
Colorado
Cooper Med - look at MSAR - not a lot of OOS - but if you really like the school...
Dartmouth (?)
Drexel
East Carolina
Florida State
Iowa
Kentucky
Minnesota
Mt Sinai (only if I crush the MCAT)
Oakland
Oklahoma
Rutgers RWJ
S. Alabama
SUNY Downstate
Texas Tech
Tufts
Tulane
UT Houston
Vermont
Wake Forest
West Michigan
Wisconsin[/QUOTE]

When you get your MCAT score back I would go on MSAR - set the GPA and MCAT ranges to reasonable amounts below and reasonable amounts above your numbers and then would look through the schools and would go to the Matriculation data and see the IS/OOS ratios. If you are OOS for the school and not many OOS people are getting interviews, then I would not bother applying unless there's some reason you really want to go. UNC Chapel Hill interviews 2.66% of OOS people but they interview 49% of IS applicants. Therefore, as a MD resident I didn't bother applying because I would rather use that money/time/effort to apply to a school where I have a better chance. It is also good to change the GPA Data to OOS if you are OOS. Some public schools have much higher standards for OOS applicants. Once you have a list of schools that includes private and public schools (your state schools and then OOS schools that are friendly to students not in their states), then you can choose from the schools that you would like to attend for geographic, special program, fit reasons. Then come back and people will be able to give their opinions on your list.

 

[whorobbedthewoods]

Hey so like Goro said, I advise against making a list in earnest until you have your MCAT score back. It will seriously change everything. I think it's fine to make a sort of "wish list" of places you might be interested in, but don't get attached yet!

Anecdotal supporting evidence: I made a list based on my FL practice scores of 517/518. Could've saved myself the time--got a 511 on the real thing and had to change like 50% of my list.

 

[kbRD2MD84]

When you get your MCAT score back I would go on MSAR - set the GPA and MCAT ranges to reasonable amounts below and reasonable amounts above your numbers and then would look through the schools and would go to the Matriculation data and see the IS/OOS ratios. If you are OOS for the school and not many OOS people are getting interviews, then I would not bother applying unless there's some reason you really want to go. UNC Chapel Hill interviews 2.66% of OOS people but they interview 49% of IS applicants. Therefore, as a MD resident I didn't bother applying because I would rather use that money/time/effort to apply to a school where I have a better chance. It is also good to change the GPA Data to OOS if you are OOS. Some public schools have much higher standards for OOS applicants. Once you have a list of schools that includes private and public schools (your state schools and then OOS schools that are friendly to students not in their states), then you can choose from the schools that you would like to attend for geographic, special program, fit reasons. Then come back and people will be able to give their opinions on your list.

Ohhh, you know what - I thought I had been through MSAR with a fine-toothed comb, but I didn't notice that I could select OOS for the GPA and MCAT scores. Definitely will go back and look at those. I reached out to UNC again - I really like the program (far and away my #1 choice), but they seem to be pretty set on no online prereqs. Between that and their recency requirement, I'd have to take literally everything over again. They also have an option to take 30 upper-level science credits - which would be more fun, but I'm waiting to hear back whether those can be online or not.

 

[kbRD2MD84]

Hey so like Goro said, I advise against making a list in earnest until you have your MCAT score back. It will seriously change everything. I think it's fine to make a sort of "wish list" of places you might be interested in, but don't get attached yet!

Anecdotal supporting evidence: I made a list based on my FL practice scores of 517/518. Could've saved myself the time--got a 511 on the real thing and had to change like 50% of my list.

Oh geez. That had to be a bummer when you got your score! Hoping to take the MCAT in early June if I can get my act together by then. Since it will already be July by the time I get my score, I want to have some kind of an idea where I'll be applying just for sanity's sake, but yeah - totally hear you about the MCAT changing everything!

 

[kbRD2MD84]

Update: called UNC, apparently I don't qualify for the 30 credit upper-level option (since I didn't already have all of the prereqs) and they won't budge at all on the no-online-prereqs thing. A bit of a downer - that was easily my #1, but I can't justify the time or expense to take every single prereq in a classroom setting just for 1 school's app. NC says I'm not a resident until Oct for tuition purposes, so community college tuition would be nearly $300/credit... no thanks. I could do a legit postbacc for that much.

OK, I'm done whining. Just don't understand why so many schools are so against online classes. Sure, some are a joke, but then again, so are plenty of butt-in-the-seats classes. Anyway. Back to the drawing board.

 

[lalalallala]

Update: called UNC, apparently I don't qualify for the 30 credit upper-level option (since I didn't already have all of the prereqs) and they won't budge at all on the no-online-prereqs thing. A bit of a downer - that was easily my #1, but I can't justify the time or expense to take every single prereq in a classroom setting just for 1 school's app. NC says I'm not a resident until Oct for tuition purposes, so community college tuition would be nearly $300/credit... no thanks. I could do a legit postbacc for that much.

OK, I'm done whining. Just don't understand why so many schools are so against online classes. Sure, some are a joke, but then again, so are plenty of butt-in-the-seats classes. Anyway. Back to the drawing board.

Sorry to hear that it didn't work out. Yes - I think the problem is that far too many online classes are a joke and it is difficult for schools to verify each applicant's online classes individually. Best of luck to you - there are still many great choices.

 

[kbRD2MD84]

Sorry to hear that it didn't work out. Yes - I think the problem is that far too many online classes are a joke and it is difficult for schools to verify each applicant's online classes individually. Best of luck to you - there are still many great choices.

Very true. I get it - but it's so frustrating! Oh well, I'd like to think it's their loss 😉