In Need of Advice

[jimjoneskufi]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Long story short: my GPA is not great (about 3.2) and my first MCAT stunk- 500. I'm trying to plan for a really but I'm trying to get some perspective. I've had friends tell me that a high MCAT would be sufficient (515+) and other people tell me that I need both a new MCAT and SMP. In addition, I have many Ws on my transcript due to medical illness but they're not marked as such (i.e. I can see why medical schools would be hesitant to accept me).

I recently got a job as a scribe and I'm studying for the MCAT but I'm still unsure of what to do after I take the MCAT. Should I seek out SMPs and if so, which ones? If my MCAT is high enough, should I just reapply (keeping in mind I didn't study for my first exam)? I tend to worry about the future and this is driving me nuts.

 

[libertyyne]

have you considered DO?

 

[jimjoneskufi]

have you considered DO?

Yes, I've considered DO; how would this change my planning? I know a lot of DO schools want a physician letter and I do not know how to get one.

I'm interested in EM- would DO allow me to pursue this specialty?

 

[libertyyne]

Your odds as they stand are 25% or less. A lot of this depends on your state of residence and what the local admission medians are for those state schools. And other characteristics of your app. URM , Vet, etc.

On the DO side:

Your chances are much better as they stand.

 

[jimjoneskufi]

Your odds as they stand are 25% or less. A lot of this depends on your state of residence and what the local admission medians are for those state schools. And other characteristics of your app. URM , Vet, etc.

View attachment 239795
On the DO side:
View attachment 239797
View attachment 239798
Your chances are much better as they stand.

I'm a URM resident of Florida

 

[libertyyne]

I'm a URM resident of Florida

florida seems to be median in terms of competitiveness. I would post on the URM board to get some advice. It is possible you might get into an MD school, but your odds at DO are much higher. Special masters will not help your gpa and generally do not help unless there is a garunteed interview to the affiliated medical school with the masters.

 

[Goro]

Long story short: my GPA is not great (about 3.2) and my first MCAT stunk- 500. I'm trying to plan for a really but I'm trying to get some perspective. I've had friends tell me that a high MCAT would be sufficient (515+) and other people tell me that I need both a new MCAT and SMP. In addition, I have many Ws on my transcript due to medical illness but they're not marked as such (i.e. I can see why medical schools would be hesitant to accept me).

I recently got a job as a scribe and I'm studying for the MCAT but I'm still unsure of what to do after I take the MCAT. Should I seek out SMPs and if so, which ones? If my MCAT is high enough, should I just reapply (keeping in mind I didn't study for my first exam)? I tend to worry about the future and this is driving me nuts.

You're African-American, as I recall? With your current stats, chances best for the FL schools, the HBCs and any DO school. Yes, all DO schools require a clinician LOR, but not all require a DO LOR. Find a doctor to shadow and hit him/her up for one, or ask your primary care provider.

 

[gyngyn]

I'm a URM resident of Florida

I saw African American men get into Howard with your gpa and a 502 last year.

 

[raiderette]

What is your sGPA? Is it higher than your overall GPA?

 

[jimjoneskufi]

What is your sGPA? Is it higher than your overall GPA?

Little lower

 

[jimjoneskufi]

Is the consensus that an SMP would be a waste of time? I'm willing and ready to retake the MCAT and tackle an SMP but how would this maybe help me?

 

[jimjoneskufi]

I calculated my amcas gpa and it's actually lower than I thought:

3.19c and 2.98s

Would it still be unwise to try to do an SMP? I've been looking at a few and Cincinnati's seems good, assuming I improve my MCAT.

 

[libertyyne]

I calculated my amcas gpa and it's actually lower than I thought:

3.19c and 2.98s

Would it still be unwise to try to do an SMP? I've been looking at a few and Cincinnati's seems good, assuming I improve my MCAT.

Your mcat is in the lower half of AA matriculants. However it is within a standard deviation. Your GPAs are also within a standard deviation of the means, although on the lower end. SMPs DO NOT improve your ug GPA and will not add value.

Your best course of action would be to enroll in a postbac and maintain a gpa above 3.7 to drive up your ugpa to a higer level. or do much better on the mcat , if you honestly think you can get your MCAT to a 515 + level you would have a near certainity of getting admission.

I would invest in an MSAR and look at HBCUs and see what their 10th percentiles are for matriculants and see if you are above those levels. Your gpa by itself is not a disqualifier, nor is your mcat by itself. the combo however makes your chances less than ideal. But there are still people who get in with those stats.

 

[jimjoneskufi]

I'm honestly just considering applying to the 4 HBCUs next year; I cannot buy the msar now but im thinking this is a good idea?

 

[Med Ed]

I'm honestly just considering applying to the 4 HBCUs next year; I cannot buy the msar now but im thinking this is a good idea?

I know at this point the goal is to get in somewhere, but there is a very important secondary goal: to spend the first two years of medical school not struggling academically.

To that end, with your GPA/MCAT combo I strongly suggest revamping your approach and completing 30+ more credits, probably in a post-bacc, with strong grades. That will tee you up to do much better on the MCAT.

 

[jimjoneskufi]

I know at this point the goal is to get in somewhere, but there is a very important secondary goal: to spend the first two years of medical school not struggling academically.

To that end, with your GPA/MCAT combo I strongly suggest revamping your approach and completing 30+ more credits, probably in a post-bacc, with strong grades. That will tee you up to do much better on the MCAT.

There's no more undergrad sciences for me to take. I thought an SMP would be a good idea coupled with an MCAT retake but I guess not?

 

[676188]

There's no more undergrad sciences for me to take. I thought an SMP would be a good idea coupled with an MCAT retake but I guess not?

This is actually why I chose to do a biology masters. I was out of undergrad science credits and I could get a masters degree funded with a graduate assistantship. I know some masters programs are looked down on and they don’t help your undergrad gpa, but most DO schools look at masters work separately from undergrad, and some MD schools will only look at the last 30 hours if you show an upward trend.

 

[libertyyne]

There's no more undergrad sciences for me to take. I thought an SMP would be a good idea coupled with an MCAT retake but I guess not?

There is literally zero chance that you have exhausted all UG science courses.
Math
Physics
calc based physics
(all upper level physics courses)
Biochem
Upper level Bio
Immuno
Anatomy
Cell bio
chem
phy chem
orgo


There are literally dozens upon dozens of classses that would qualify as science credits that you could still probably take.

 

[Med Ed]

There's no more undergrad sciences for me to take. I thought an SMP would be a good idea coupled with an MCAT retake but I guess not?

SMP is fine, or a post-bacc. The key is that you'll be better off in the long run figuring out how to handle challenging upper level coursework. A 2.98 sGPA does not bode well we you consider that four semesters of medical school can be the equivalent of over 120 credits of undergrad science classes.