How am I doing? Need help (30P MCAT, 3.8 cGPA, Asian)

[msj6403]

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Any comments or advices will be so much helpful. I seriously don't know what to do at this point. Thanks in advance for help.

NY resident
Math major
sGPA: 3.76 (but got 3.5 on my last semester senior year due to heavy course loads)
cGPA: 3.83

12 PS/10 V/8 BS (2nd attempt) = 30P

Lots of overseas experiences/projects, TA, leadership, etc.
3-4 years of research, but no pubs

Primary Submitted (7/16)
Primary verified (8/23)

Boston Univ. (rejected)
NYMC
Thomas Jefferson
Univ. of Rochester
George Washington
Georgetown
Columbia
Stony Brook
NYU

SUNY Downstate

Most secondaries completed early-mid September. The last one I submitted was done yesterday (9/24). I was unable to apply more schools due to financial reasons, but I think I have a good mix of safeties and reaches.


1) Is it reasonable to expect interview invites this cycle? Or with 8 on BS, is it hopeless and just wishful thinking?

2) Is it too late to add SUNY Upstate, Albany, and SUNY buffalo?

3) I am already taking a year off, but should I look into post-bacc for next year to make upward GPA trends?


I am currently studying MCAT again for my plan B, but I really hope to get into medical school this cycle.

​

 

[gmcguitar4]

Any comments or advices will be so much helpful. I seriously don't know what to do at this point. Thanks in advance for help.

NY resident
Math major
sGPA: 3.76 (but got 3.5 on my last semester senior year due to heavy course loads)
cGPA: 3.83

12 PS/10 V/8 BS (2nd attempt) = 30P

Lots of overseas experiences/projects, TA, leadership, etc.
3-4 years of research, but no pubs

Primary Submitted (7/16)
Primary verified (8/23)

Boston Univ. (rejected)
NYMC
Thomas Jefferson
Univ. of Rochester
George Washington
Georgetown
Columbia
Stony Brook
NYU

SUNY Downstate

Most secondaries completed early-mid September. The last one I submitted was done yesterday (9/24). I was unable to apply more schools due to financial reasons, but I think I have a good mix of safeties and reaches.


1) Is it reasonable to expect interview invites this cycle? Or with 8 on BS, is it hopeless and just wishful thinking?

2) Is it too late to add SUNY Upstate, Albany, and SUNY buffalo?

3) I am already taking a year off, but should I look into post-bacc for next year to make upward GPA trends?


I am currently studying MCAT again for my plan B, but I really hope to get into medical school this cycle.

​

Overseas experiences won't help much. If you don't have any shadowing of doctors or clinical experience in the US. Your chances are not too good at ANY MD school. Do you have more EC's?

 

[cheechootrain]

1) Is it reasonable to expect interview invites this cycle? Or with 8 on BS, is it hopeless and just wishful thinking?

No, it isn't hopeless. Most cutoffs, if they do have one, is usually around 7 or 6 for each section.

2) Is it too late to add SUNY Upstate, Albany, and SUNY buffalo?

Never too late. Your chances of getting in might decrease but you still have a chance!

3) I am already taking a year off, but should I look into post-bacc for next year to make upward GPA trends?

You're GPA is fine. MCAT is fine. The only improvement I think you should do is to get some EC with clinical experiences in the U.S. What specifically did you do overseas? Mission work?


Other than that, I think you have a fair chance of getting into one of the schools you've listed. If you don't get in this cycle, you already know where you can improve on. Good luck and stay on that positive train!

 

[msj6403]

Thanks again for quick replies.

I am considering to add Maryland, the other two SUNY schools, and Albany, but I was hesitant in spending more money since I thought it was too late. I will add them and complete secondaries asap.

I will definitely look into more shadowing. Here are other main ECs:


Currently for my gap year, I am volunteering in:
- Patient transport at a large hospital (getting more patient contact and improve my communication skills with patients, hoping to do ER volunteer next year)
- Managing data for clinical research at a local oncology center (near full time)

Previously:
140 hours of shadowing (pathologist, breast surgeon, ER physicians)
Local small clinic volunteer helping the underserved (admin staff, 1.5 years)

Cancer-related project in Ghana for a semester (with community outreach I helped)
Electricity project in Cameroon
Clean water project in Kenya (I'm interested in MPH as well)

4 years of teaching music lesson to Hispanic children (Started the organization)
3 years of breast cancer research
1 year of comparative genome research

 

[msj6403]

The only improvement I think you should do is to get some EC with clinical experiences in the U.S. What specifically did you do overseas? Mission work?

If you don't have any shadowing of doctors or clinical experience in the US. Your chances are not too good at ANY MD school.

When you say "clinical experience," does patient transport count or managing data for clinical research count as such?


For the transport, I can smell the patients, so I think it seems so. However, it also seems like one of "scut" jobs, besides practicing my communications..

Data management is mostly computer work, but I get to read hella of EMR and other charts, so they are helpful, though. But I don't think it's part of clinical...

 

[basedbear]

why did you apply to so few schools? I know that money is tough but dude if you really dont want to apply again add way more

 

[msj6403]

why did you apply to so few schools? I know that money is tough but dude if you really dont want to apply again add way more

Well, a good question. With family crisis recently (including my mother's diagnosis with cancer), I barely finished all secondaries within 3-4 weeks.

The second thing is I want to stay reasonably close to NY and there are not many MD schools nearby whose lowest MCAT average starts at 8. Per MSAR, the lowest BS (10th percentile) was 9-10 for even SUNY schools. I lost a lot of my self-esteem after seeing 8 on my BS, and I heard that for the "Asian" standard, 8 BS is not even funny.. Many told me to save money, instead...


I could add Hofstra in addition to what I said above, but I feel I don't have much options.. DO is not my cup of tea, either.

Do you have suggestions on where I should apply more? It will be very helpful

 

[basedbear]

Well I'm thinking you have to loosen the geographic restrictions... I know how it feels to have to be far from where you want to be but ask yourself how badly you want to be a doctor.