Help with school list

[Premedgirl27]

Hello,

I made a list of some schools that I plan on applying to. I was able to get it from 46 down to 30! I am not the most competitive applicant so I want to cast my net wide...

Personal: I live in CA, I am African-American. 5 LORs

My GPAs are:

Cumulative undergrad including post-bacc: 3.1 * strong upward trend

Cumulative undergrad BCPM including post-bacc: 3.3

Cumulative all other including post-bacc: 2.95

Cumulative post-bacc GPA (all BCPM courses): 3.5

Extracurricular:

All with underserved communities: 2 years of research @ UCSF, 1 year of volunteering at safety net hospital, shadowing (20 hours and counting)

MCAT
-so far scoring 500 on Kaplan diagnostics. Will take it in April.

School list: I made this list based off of Goro's guide for applying. Since I have a low GPA I made this list using the school's 10th percentile scores, and those that accept OOS.

Total reach, let me dream schools 🙂

-Columbia
-Mayo
-Georgetown
-J-Hopkins

My state schools:
-all of them, except for Loma Linda... because, no thanks 🙂

All others:

-Albany Medical College
-Boston University School of Medicine
-Eastern Virginia Medical School
-Emory University School of Medicine
-Dartmouth
-Howard
-Louisiana State Uni, New Orleans
-Marshall Uni Joan C. Edwards
-Medical Uni of South Carolina COM
-Meharry
-Michigan State University
-Morehouse
-Tulane
-U of Arizona COM in Tuscon
-U of Arizona COM-Phoenix
-U of Illinois COM
-University of South Carolina SOM

And some DO schools

Thoughts? 🙂

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[crunchywhit]

I will let those more knowledgeable than myself offer their advice but from a purely n=1 perspective, I applied this cycle with many of the schools that you list (no California schools though). Overall my school list included many many more less selective schools than you have listed as well. My mcat is 514, and my GPA is generally comparable, a bit higher. I also have a PhD, tons of pubs, I've served as a professor for med school prereqs, lots of clinical exposure etc etc. I am not urm - can't comment on the impact of that.

I received two very late ii from my state schools which I have yet to hear from. There are two more schools that I haven't heard from post secondary, although one of those has ceased interviewing.

Take that as you will... Maybe I would consider focusing on DO and some less selective MDs.

I'll defer to goro and other adcoms who gave me good advice.

I know that you have worked hard to improve your GPA and I commend you. Unfortunately the low GPA is a tough one to overcome. It's been frustrating for me to accept but I think it's not something that you can compensate for in other ways.

Like I said, just my experience so far. I wish you great success 🙂

 

[Premedgirl27]

I will let those more knowledgeable than myself offer their advice but from a purely n=1 perspective, I applied this cycle with many of the schools that you list (no California schools though). Overall my school list included many many more less selective schools than you have listed as well. My mcat is 514, and my GPA is generally comparable, a bit higher. I also have a PhD, tons of pubs, I've served as a professor for med school prereqs, lots of clinical exposure etc etc. I am not urm - can't comment on the impact of that.

I received two very late ii from my state schools which I have yet to hear from. There are two more schools that I haven't heard from post secondary, although one of those has ceased interviewing.

Take that as you will... Maybe I would consider focusing on DO and some less selective MDs.

I'll defer to goro and other adcoms who gave me good advice.

I know that you have worked hard to improve your GPA and I commend you. Unfortunately the low GPA is a tough one to overcome. It's been frustrating for me to accept but I think it's not something that you can compensate for in other ways.

Like I said, just my experience so far. I wish you great success 🙂

Thank you for the feedback! That is crazy, you should get in somewhere with those stats..... I thought the schools I listed besides my dream schools are the schools with the lowest stats according to the MSAR, am I wrong?

Like you said a GPA is very difficult to overcome 🙁 I wish you luck as well. Things should turn out well eventually, don't give up.

 

[crunchywhit]

Edited to remove duplicate post ... Sorry

 

[zero0]

I wouldn't bother with any MD schools except Howard and Meharry if I were you. That may sound harsh, but you'd be throwing money away. Focus on DO but even there your chances aren't great, URM or not.

 

[crunchywhit]

Well, I think Louisiana state NO takes no out of state, and although schools like Dartmouth reward reinvention with a truly holistic review and therefore have lower stats, they are still reaches in the sense that the applicants tend to be truly outstanding in what they bring to the table outside of stats. Truly outstanding.

I am happy that I did apply widely and to some reaches though. At least I know that I tried. I don't discourage you from this list - just know that the rejections will likely come and don't let it be a gut punch. It only takes one acceptance 🙂

Rooting for you. Thanks for the kind words.

 

[candbgirl]

It's impossible to help you until you have areal MCAT score. In the mean time spend some time researching some more DO schools. You have so many GPAs I'm not really sure what your GPAs are. Did your cGPA go down from 3.1 after under grad to 2.95 after your post bacc? IMO your list is very top heavy.

 

[Premedgirl27]

I wouldn't bother with any MD schools except Howard and Meharry if I were you. That may sound harsh, but you'd be throwing money away. Focus on DO but even there your chances aren't great, URM or not.

Thanks, will keep that in mind! At the same time applying two only two schools may limit my chances as well. Going to apply DO and MD and see how it goes. Won't not apply out of fear of rejection 🙂

 

[Premedgirl27]

It's impossible to help you until you have areal MCAT score. In the mean time spend some time researching some more DO schools. You have so many GPAs I'm not really sure what your GPAs are. Did your cGPA go down from 3.1 after under grad to 2.95 after your post bacc? IMO your list is very top heavy.

Yea, true about the MCAT. 2.95 is my "all other". Since I didn't take any classes besides BCPM during my post-bacc, it's just my all other for post-bacc. My cum overall GPA is 3.1. My undergrad GPA is 3.0 with upward trend and my post bacc GPA is 3.5.

What schools would you consider easier to get into, I thought my list included all of the easiest schools to get into as well?

 

[crunchywhit]

Thanks, will keep that in mind! At the same time applying two only two schools may limit my chances as well. Going to apply DO and MD and see how it goes. Won't not apply out of fear of rejection 🙂

What would your GPA be with grade replacement (ie your DO GPA?)

 

[toiletbowl]

I wouldn't bother with any MD schools except Howard and Meharry if I were you. That may sound harsh, but you'd be throwing money away. Focus on DO but even there your chances aren't great, URM or not.

Zero, are you implying that she does not have enough money to apply to all of these schools because she is URM???

 

[zero0]

Thanks, will keep that in mind! At the same time applying two only two schools may limit my chances as well. Going to apply DO and MD and see how it goes. Won't not apply out of fear of rejection 🙂

I admire your fearless intrepidity, but you should know that reapplicants are viewed more harshly my med schools. Your best bet is to apply once with all your ducks in a row. If you apply now, you may close the door at schools you would've had a shot at if you waited a year to work on your application and apply.

 

[Premedgirl27]

Are you implying that she does not have enough money to apply to all of these schools because she is URM???

LMAO

 

[zero0]

Zero, are you implying that she does not have enough money to apply to all of these schools because she is URM???

ARE YOU?!!?

 

[Premedgirl27]

What would your GPA be with grade replacement (ie your DO GPA?)

It actually goes up to 3.5! So that part is good... I am just hesitant to go to a DO school because I don't think I am interested in primary care. But I will definitely apply to DO schools as well. Did u apply DO as well?

 

[candbgirl]

Zero, are you implying that she does not have enough money to apply to all of these schools because she is URM???

Really?

 

[order66.exe]

Your GPA and MCAT practice score put you at a high risk of board failure. In fact your GPA alone will get you auto screened at a lot of schools. Your ECs are also quite thin on paper. Emory and Dartmouth are T20 schools and BU is high middle tier. You also have a ton of state schools on the list which will put you at a disadvantage as a cal resident. URM can help but this is a weak app even for DO. Your only hope is to beef up the ECs and give a very strong showing on the mcat (90%+)

 

[candbgirl]

What schools would you consider easier to get into, I thought my list included all of the easiest schools to get into as well?

Well no school is easy to get into and many of these are definitely not among the easiest to get into even by very competitive applicants. Does Marshall even take OOS students? The only ones that might be okay are the HBCU ones and even that depends on your MCAT score. If you only score 500 on the MCAT you should not apply this cycle.

 

[Premedgirl27]

I admire your fearless intrepidity, but you should know that reapplicants are viewed more harshly my med schools. Your best bet is to apply once with all your ducks in a row. If you apply now, you may close the door at schools you would've had a shot at if you waited a year to work on your application and apply.

Hmm... Would I be viewed poorly as a reapplicant if I did a post-bacc for URM in the mean time? Like say I apply now and do a formal post-bacc in the mean time, and don't get in this year. If I apply again the next year would I still be viewed poorly as a reapplicant since my application will have changed significantly in the mean time?

 

[crunchywhit]

It actually goes up to 3.5! So that part is good... I am just hesitant to go to a DO school because I don't think I am interested in primary care. But I will definitely apply to DO schools as well. Did u apply DO as well?

I did not, but should have. I also am interested in moderately to very competitive specialties, which scared me away from DO initially. However, I have come to realize that being a physician is much more important to me than anything else, and if DO gives me that opportunity in any context, primary care or otherwise, I am thankful for that opportunity. I would actually really enjoy working with rural and underserved pops which is certainly in the MO of many DO programs. In my case, I have a large amount of upper level graduate work in science but I have not repeated lower level courses for grade replacement. I think it would be prudent for me to do this first before applying DO.

 

[crunchywhit]

It actually goes up to 3.5! So that part is good... I am just hesitant to go to a DO school because I don't think I am interested in primary care. But I will definitely apply to DO schools as well. Did u apply DO as well?

3.5 is so much different from 3.0. I think this combined with some progress on the mcat makes DO within reach.

 

[zero0]

Hmm... Would I be viewed poorly as a reapplicant if I did a post-bacc for URM in the mean time? Like say I apply now and do a formal post-bacc in the mean time, and don't get in this year. If I apply again the next year would I still be viewed poorly as a reapplicant since my application will have changed significantly in the mean time?

As long as you significantly improve your application form the last time you apply, you should be fine.

If your GPA with replacements is 3.5 for DO then you can definitely net an acceptance in one go though. Just apply early. As for specializing as a DO... Let me put it this way: that ortho surgeon you know would have been an ortho surgeon no matter what school they went.

 

[candbgirl]

It actually goes up to 3.5! So that part is good... I am just hesitant to go to a DO school because I don't think I am interested in primary care. But I will definitely apply to DO schools as well. Did u apply DO as well?

This is exactly why you need to spend some time researching DO. There are many opportunities for DOs to get into competitive residencies. And there is absolutely no guarantee that by only applying MD you will waltz into a competitive residency. Actually based on your GPA and your practice MCAT you will have your hands full at whatever med school you land at. To say nothing of your board scores. Take your time and get yourself ready to do your very best.

 

[Premedgirl27]

Well no school is easy to get into and many of these are definitely not among the easiest to get into even by very competitive applicants. Does Marshall even take OOS students? The only ones that might be okay are the HBCU ones and even that depends on your MCAT score. If you only score 500 on the MCAT you should not apply this cycle.

I thought I may be competitive this cycle considering this data, even with a 50th percentile score. I think I will be able to bring it above that anyways.

https://www.aamc.org/download/321514/data/factstablea24-2.pdf


Also I sorted the MSAR to only include schools that accept OOS students.

 

[Lannister]

Emory and Dartmouth are T20 schools

No they're not. They're 23 and 37 respectively.
Sorry, don't really have an answer to OP's question, just needed to correct that.

 

[Premedgirl27]

As long as you significantly improve your application form the last time you apply, you should be fine.

If your GPA with replacements is 3.5 for DO then you can definitely net an acceptance in one go though. Just apply early. As for specializing as a DO... Let me put it this way: that ortho surgeon you know would have been an ortho surgeon no matter what school they went.

Interesting... Will definitely look more into DO. I am interested in EM and infectious diseases, which I think EM is kind of out of reach for DOs but not sure.

 

[Premedgirl27]

Your GPA and MCAT practice score put you at a high risk of board failure. In fact your GPA alone will get you auto screened at a lot of schools. Your ECs are also quite thin on paper. Emory and Dartmouth are T20 schools and BU is high middle tier. You also have a ton of state schools on the list which will put you at a disadvantage as a cal resident. URM can help but this is a weak app even for DO. Your only hope is to beef up the ECs and give a very strong showing on the mcat (90%+)

https://www.aamc.org/download/321514/data/factstablea24-2.pdf

 

[crunchywhit]

Interesting... Will definitely look more into DO. I am interested in EM and infectious diseases, which I think EM is kind of out of reach for DOs but not sure.

Can't link on my phone but google aoa 2016 match... EM seems well represented to my admittedly untrained eye.

 

[candbgirl]

Well right now your practice MCAT is around a 25 so that brings you down to around a38% number. And you really have no idea how you will score. That 38% accepted includes students at the HBCUs and legacy and big donors etc. .And as someone else said your ECs are rather weak.
As to the OOS issue, many schools are listed as accepting OOS. What you should be looking at is the breakdown of the numbers. How many OOS applied, interviewed and we're finally accepted is what's important. Schools can be listed as accepting OOS and they may have accepted one in the last three cycles. It would be foolish for you to apply to that school. Usually OOS accepted are great students and bring a fully developed application to the table. Public schools always favor the home team.

 

[Premedgirl27]

Can't link on my phone but google aoa 2016 match... EM seems well represented to my admittedly untrained eye.

Oh really? I didn't know that!

Also, I agree with you about becoming a physician regardless of whether its primary care 🙂 so if you don't get in this cycle, will you apply again next as DO?

 

[zero0]

Interesting... Will definitely look more into DO. I am interested in EM and infectious diseases, which I think EM is kind of out of reach for DOs but not sure.

EM is really common for DOs and infectious disease is just a subspecialty of IM (also well within reach).

 

[candbgirl]

Interesting... Will definitely look more into DO. I am interested in EM and infectious diseases, which I think EM is kind of out of reach for DOs but not sure.

My ID doc is a DO and is a Professor of Medicine and a section director at a major university hospital in Chicago.

 

[crunchywhit]

Oh really? I didn't know that!

Also, I agree with you about becoming a physician regardless of whether its primary care 🙂 so if you don't get in this cycle, will you apply again next as DO?

Awesome perspective 🙂

My current plan, if I do not gain acceptance this cycle, is to take as many classes as possible this summer and next academic year and to reapply in summer 2017 to DO and probably a limited number of MD programs.

I've also considered SMPs but this is tougher from a logistical perspective.

 

[terra330]

Interesting... Will definitely look more into DO. I am interested in EM and infectious diseases, which I think EM is kind of out of reach for DOs but not sure.

ID should be feasible as a DO. It's not a particularly competitive specialty to get into from what I understand, probably because compensation is pretty poor compared to other specialties.

 

[Premedgirl27]

ID should be feasible as a DO. It's not a particularly competitive specialty to get into from what I understand, probably because compensation is pretty poor compared to other specialties.

Thanks! Something like neuro would be out of reach, right?

 

[WedgeDawg]

Moving to WAMC

 

[terra330]

Thanks! Something like neuro would be out of reach, right?

No specialty is technically out of reach, but the more competitive ones will be harder to get as a DO. I do know of DO neurologists so I know they exist, but I'm not sure on how many make it, what their step scores are like, etc.

 

[Premedgirl27]

You need to see what you actually score on your MCAT. I went from a 498 on my first Kaplan test to a 513 on the real thing while working full time minus two weeks of full time studying. For the new mcat, Kaplan really deflates their practice scores. So don't get set on a certain school list until you have that score. Good luck

Wow. That's a significant increase... I hope I am able to score in that range ! I will see how things go in April. Thanks!